The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-02-21
UNCLE SANS NEW DOMAIN.
Full Description of the Opened
Sioux ReservatiOn-A COnserya-
tive Statement of the Value of
the Land, Nature of the soil,

9lOuA
tive Statement OF the value of
h Land, Nature of the SOIL,
tfron the st Paul Pioneer Prsss.l
Continued from last weekly
Between the White and the Bad rivers
lies a large triangular tract Of land, the
anex Of the triangle pointing westward,
while the base rests upon the Missouri
river. E~qui-distant between the two
rivers extends q ridge which forms the
watershed of the region. The surface Of
the country Is presented to the view from
the higher points In the range Of eleva-
tions forming the divide. is like tumult-
uous sea, acted upon by winds from all
points Of tho compass. suddenly CONCEALED
leaving a rolling, %unheaving surface with
level stretches for perhaps two or three
miles. Then an abrupt elevation, ascend
Ing which there lies before you a narrow
valley with gradually sloping sides.
Here and there some elevations higher
than others stand out as a land mark.
visible from long distances. Plateaus.
and valleys-more often called draws or
ravines-cut the surface of the country
into a variety Of shapes. This region is
entirely t~reeless, except in small portions
along the creeks, and has never been cul-
tivated, former settlers having all located
along the water courses. Several small
streams find their sources ear the water
shed between the rivers. the principal Of
which ia White Clay creek. These streams
furnish water for stock and some timbers
for stabling. fence posts, and other pur-
poses. White Clay creek has a total
length Of about n hundred miles, all
contained in a distance direct from source
to mouth OF Twenty miles. temples in
to the bad river aboht thirty miles from
the confluence with the Missouri river.
A heavy body Of timber marks the place
where tho creek joins the river. The
grass in this region is luxuriant, being
of the alkali bunch variety, with some re-
naming patches Of buffalo grass. The
cattle feeding up0u these hills have been
shipped In August to market and COM
manded tlrst-class prices. The water in
the creeks is generally pure and whole
some, and is found in abundance. Much
good and desirable land may be found Oh
cheese plateaus, which are we'll drained
and have a fertile soil. In all this region
the general water shed is to the south,
there being but two streams flowing into
the Bad river Oh the south side. while
there are about ten which empty their
waters into the north side Of the river.
One feature Of this country is that in the
region of the streams on each side for
five miles the land is very broken and IT.
regular. Back from Bad river about ten
miles Il ascends one hill only to descend
it on the other side. Once free from these
breaks along the streams and the traveller
sees q beautiful level-lying tract stretched
out before him. But there is one thing
which he should write down in his mem
DRY if he is a land seeker, and that is
this: Never look for the long rolling
prairies Of Illinois or Iowa, for he will be
doomed to disappointment. Between
the Bad and the Cheyenne rivers the
land is much better watered than to the
south, though perhaps the water is not
80 pure and wholesome, the soil here con-
tanning more alkali in its composition
than in the region tributary to the White
river.
The country north Of the Bad river and
south Of the Cheyenne river contains,
probably, the land best adapted for mixed
farming, being less broken and irregular
away from the streams. and therefore bet
ter adapted for tillage. The soil ia very
fertile where it has been tried, yielding
magnificent returns Of potatoes and other
vegetables, those being the only crops
planted so far on the uplands. The
Northwestern Stage company formerly
had a number Of stage stations located
about ten miles apart across this tract,
In the gardens at those stations many
varieties Of garden stuff were cultivated,
and with success in all those varieties
suited to that latitude. Potatoes, beets,
and all roots especially yield in abund-
ance. The soil on this upland tract be.
tween tho Bad and Cheyenne rivers is a
mixed gumbO and sand, the gumbo pre-
dominating nearest the Bad river. while
there is found more sand in the soil as
one approaches the Cheyenne river,
There are bhtween each Of the smaller
streams tributary to these rivers, pla-
teaus which, go far as can be judged
from observation, will produce splendid
crops Of wheat and oats. The soil, where
excavations have been made, has been
from two feet to forty inches In depth
OVERLAPPING q heavy gumbo clay subsoil
which resists the penetration Of the water
into its depths. Below this subsoil is q
soft shale which readily becomes pasty
when Immersed In water. The depth t.
which wells must be sunk to obtain {
supply Of water is unknown, Is none
have ever been sunk in this region with
in the knowledge Of the writer.
To sum up these descriptions and give
them In the form Of a manual for til,
home-seeker would be a difficult task
Differences of opinion will exist in indi
viduals, and the country which please
one may another to feel disgust
Within the boundaries Of the land sool
!, to be thrown open to settlement are con
tanned such a variety Of sell and condi
ton as would seem adapted to fill tn
wants Of anyone seeking a home in tn
newer portions OF the West. The write
has e%ndeavored to give in this article
t fair and impartial description of the sol
streams, waters and woods in this trac
Of land, and has hoped to make 1t clea
enough to indicatc in some measure wher
may be found the best localities for ayr
cultural and st0ck-raisiGg purposes. Tn,
. bottom lands along the streams afford tn