Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-15
GLOWING REPORT
j. H. MITCHELL RETURNS FROM
INVESTIGATION OF SOUTH DA.
KoTA LAND.
Brings Specimen Grasses and Soils
Finds Lands are Fine Rolling Prai-
ries Covered With Many Kinds Of
Nutritious Grasses.

j. H. Mitchell, secretary of the com.
mercial association, who was select
ed by the Ottumwa parties interested
in the proposed South Dakota colony,
returned from his trip of investigation
Thursday afternoon. He brings back
glowing reports of the land which he
was sent to inspect and states that
he found it to surpass in every way
the opinion he had formed before MAX
ing the trip.
Mr.. Mitchell left Ottumwa on Tues
| day, Sept. 1, and reached Pierre, S..
D., early Thursday morning. In COM
pany with party of eleven people a
start was made at $50 o'clock the
same morning for Hayes about 40
miles west of Pierre. The drive con-
sumed the entire day.
Hamlet of Four Buildings.
Hayes is little hamlet of four
buildings, consisting of general
store, a road house, barn and a
dwelling house occupied by ranch
man who owns about 10000 sheep.
! The party stayed over night at Hayes
and in the morning drove across the
| country about Is miles north and ate
their dinner upon the claim taken on
Plum creek about fifteen days ago by
Dewey Smith of Ottumwa. In the
| afternoon the party drove in wide
circle west and south and again arriv-
ed at Hayes over night.
| On the following day Mr.. Mitchell
started out in company with one 9TH
er party and the surveyor made a
careful investigation of number of
different sections. He returned to
Pierre late Saturday evening and be-
fore returning made some investiga-
ton of the territory east of Pierre.
Will Report Tonight.
| Two townships were selected by Mr..
Mitchell as being the most promising
for the purpose desired by the Ottum-
wa people and tonight at meeting
which will be held in the rooms of the
| Commercial association he will make
a report of his trip. He has brought
samples of the soil which he found
there, and of the wild grasses. He has
also some samples of corn and potatoes
which were gathered from the growing
crops planted by a homesteader.
Have Plenty of Water.
Mr.. Mitchell describes the country as
being a rolling prairie. There are on
ly about two sections in the townships
which he traversed which could be
called rough. The townships which
were especially favored have creeks
| running through them. These creeks
have no running water during the dry
season, but during the rainy season are
full of water. In these creeks there
are numerous water holes from 20 to
$50 feet deep, in which large quanti-
| ties of water remain and which fur.
nish the supply for the grazing stock.
Soil is Black Loan.
The soil is described as rich, black
loan from eight to twelve inches deep
Mr.. Mitchell has brought samples TAX
en- from the surface, from twelve inch
es and twenty-four inches below the
i surface. The surface soil in almost ev
| rey case has much the same appear
ance that is presented by the best O.
4 the Iowa soil. There are no big boul
4 ders as on the east side of the rive
and no gravel or small stones. In 6
few places there is an outcrop of brit
tie sandstone.
The entire surface of the country il
covered with natural grasses. The buf
falo grass is the most common ant
furnishes the chief subsistence for thu
cattle on the range. There is consid
cradle quantity of other grasses sucl
as Turkey grass, Blue Point, Wir'
Grass, all of which are eaten by tn
stock and is said to be a good food.
The thousands of head of cattl
which were seen We're all without eS
ception in the best of condition. The.
looked fat, sleek and well rounded AM
were fine and large. Mr.. Mitchell miss
ed the great feature of the season, tn
annual round up by only one week