The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-08-15

miles or more following the valley from the
mouth. there are fertile stretches of bottom
land OF perhaps mile In extent, by half
that distance in width. These bottom lands,
so far as tried, produce splendid crops of
corn and oats. Back Of the valley are ranges
OF hills more or less elevated we'll
covered, however, with grass Beyond
the forks OF the river for perhaps q
hundred miles, the same condition exists,
though the bluffs are here much more pre-
cipitous and the valleys narrower. The
country back from the river on the north is
much broken. being series of table lands
furrowed by ravines and separated from
each other by deep gulches. In the bends or
The river may be found timber in small guam
titles. Further from the mouth the lumber
becomes heavier and in greater abundance
In the Bad Lands the prevailing kind Is pine
ana cedar. with an occasional elm and cot
tonwood. Water is found in the valley at a
depth varying from so to $50 feet, and is
usually pure and wholesome. The water in
the White river is clear and pure, but
slightly impregnated with alkali below the
mouth OF the South fork Stock drink this
water with impunity and with seeming
relish.
An old timer in the Black Hills, who has
roamed over the reservation thoroughly, in
formed the writer that he had discovered
traces of silver and lead ore IN the hills on
the White river, neaf the western boundary
of the reservation, and from all indications
in paying Quantities. He announced his in
tention Of making thorough search through
this region as soon as it should be thrown
open.
One regularity of the White river is that
all the principal tributaries flow into the
river from the south side, thus making the
most extensive bottoms on that side, which
remains still in the reservation. Bad river
rises in the extreme western part OF the res
ervation and flows in an easJerly direction
through the middle of the land thrown open,
emptying into the Missouri river directly Op-
poSite Pierre. The sam3 general description
applies to Bad river, which has been given
OF the White river, though in some
| important particulars it differs The
| most essential difference seems
| to be in the larger number of tributaries
which contribute their quota to swell the
river in seasons of heavy rains until it be-
comes in reality "bad liver" A large tract
| of bottom land lies just at the mouth of the
| Bad river, extending along the Missouri up
| stream for nearly ten miles The soil OF
| this bottom is q sand mixed gumbo, which
| has been found here to grow excellent corn
| where there has been rain enough Oats
| also yield well upon this soil. The first trib
| utary of the Bad river is Willow creek
which empties into the river about five miles
| from its confluence with the Missouri. The
| bluffs along the BAD river are very precipi-
| tous and in nearly all cases devoid of veg.
citation except near the smaller streams
| which empty into the river. At these places
the valley widens and embraces Il tract o1
land of from one TO four sections. In many
places the bluffs overhang the river on either
side, then stretch away forming an arc OF
circle, the radi resting on the
river. These bends in the contour Of
the cham of bluffs usually enclose nice
level-Iying tract of land, well adapted fol
farming or grazing purposes. Many cattle
ranches are found along the river, and it Ii
highly probable that these will continue tC
occupy the fertile lands along the streams
the proprietors being in nearly all cases
white men who have married Indian women
and will now seek to take their lands under