Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-02-28
"BIG COULEE COUNTRY"
The Prolific Garden Of the "Golden
Northwest"

Lying between Devils Lake lin the
18th degree of latitude) and the interna.
tional boundry line 1.-THE 10th degree of
latitude), and extending west from the
valley Of the Red River of the North TO
the Turtle Mountain Ia distance of about
sixty miles,, lies the finest body of agri-
cultural land to be found anywhere in
the United States or Territories-a an ele-
waited plateau, watered by numerous
lakes and coolies, devoid Of hills or
swamps, and sufficiently undulating to
provide ample natural drainage.
The climate is the finest in the world.
Owing to its elevated position, the at
mosphere is pure, dry and invigorating.
There is no malaria, and no dampness,
to create or agravate pulmonary diseases.
The season of spring is very short, the
snow disappearing rapidly, to be imme-
diately succeeded by rank and vigorous
vegetation. The summers are a contin-
GUS dream of joy. There is but little
rain, and none of those hot, moist days
experienced in lower ATTITUDES. Although
the mercury occasionally rises among
the nineties during the day, sunstroke
is almost unknown, and there is no suf-
fering from heat, as cool breezes con-
stantly prevail. The nights are cool,
insuring healthy and restful sleep. The
autumn is bright, sunny, and free from
chilling rain storms, giving the farmer
time and opportunity to make ample
provision for winter. The winters are
cold and dry; and from the time that
the ground freezes up until it thaws out
in the spring, the season is winter, and
nothing else-no rain, no mud, no slush,
no january thaw. Cloudy days, except
during snow storms, at this season, are
rare, and the winter sunlight is power
full and stimulating, The mercury is
frequently below zero, ranging froms 90
to 80, and perhaps once or twice as low
us Is; and, owing to the dryness of the
atmosphere, there is scarcely any suffer-
ing on account Of cold-dry cold being
invigorating, whereas damp cold is de-
%bilitating.
The soil is a rich, black loan, from
eighteen inches to three feet in depth
underlying which is a clayey mari, from
ten to thirty feet in depth, which rem
ders the soil practically inexhaustible.
The secret of raising such extraordinary
crops with so little rainfall lies in the
fact that in the winter time the ground
freezes to the depth of FIVE or six feet
and is nearly all summer thawing out,
thus furnishing the roots of plants a con
slant supply of moisture. The heavy
dews of summer keep the surface suffi-
GENTLY moist. A failure Of crops is al
most impossible; there need be no ap-
%prehension of drought.
The water supply is abundant and in
exhaustible. The numerous ponds and
coulees can be depended upon for an
unfailing supply Of pure, soft water for
stock, that never becomes stagnant or
putrid, while for culinary and drinking
purposes, cool, limpid water can be OBJ
tanned from the gravel bed that under
lies this whole region, by boring Or dig
ging from fifteen to thirty-fve feet.
All the cereals thrive here in their
greatest perfection. The finest quality
Of No. l hard wheat is grown only upon
this plateau, the yield being from twen-
ty to thirty-five bushels per acre, and
maturing within 100 days after seeding.
Barley yields from twenty-five to thirty
five bushels; oats from forty to seventy
five bushels; flax seed from fifteen to
twenty bushels per acre. The SUPPOSE
ton that corn would not do we'll in this
region has been proven to be = great
mistake by actual cultivation, and the
northern varieties have been grown with
eminent success. All varieties of root
crops and garden vegetables grow to
wonderful perfection and in extraordi-
nory quantities. Plums, strawberries,
~raspberries, blackberries, gooseberric c,
and cranberries grow wild here, and in
act all the large and small fruits of the
temperate zone do we'll, with the excep-
ton, perhaps, Of the peach and apricot.
Upon nearly every 160 acre tract will
be found more or less meadow land
upon which the native grasses grow in
rank luxuriance, yielding from two to
FIVE tons of the most nutritious hay,
which a be had for the slight expense
Of cutting and putting up. Tho haying
season extends from July l to Septen,.
Der 1, SO that the farmer has ample time
to ecure his forage. Horses, cattle and
sheep, fed upon this hay alone during
the entire winter, come out in the spring
fut. sleek and healthy. On the higher
lands the pasturage is unlimited and of
the best quality.
The school fund of the Territory Of
Dakota already amounts to the enor-
nous sum Of SIS, 100000, and is rapidly
increasing. Our school laws are exceed
ingly liberal, and under their influence
the best of schools are springing up even
in the most newly settled districts.
Nearly all the leading religious denomi-
nations are represented in the popula-