The Dickinson press., 1910-09-24

1t is expected that the October sales will
bring the Indians a total of approxi-
mately $225, 600.
DUNN COUNTY HISTORY
DETERMINATION OF BUFFALO
Dunn county was created by the pro-
clamation of Governor Burke. issued
from the executive office at Bismarck
January II, 1909. 1t was created from
u%noreanized territory and comprises
within its boundaries that portion of
the Fort Berthold reservation which lies
west of the Missouri river. 1t was
named for Hon. J. P. Dunn of Bismarck.
a former mayor and now an honored
citizen of that city.
The acreage of the county consists Of
1 ,057. $50 acres of land and 1,278 acres
of water surface. Notwithstanding the
fact that there is no railway as yet
penetrating within its limits, Dunn
county has made during the past two
years, a most remarkable progress in
agricultural development. In soil,
climate and every natural requisite for
successful farming operations Dunn
county is the equal of any in the state
and an immediate response. in in
creased product will most assuredly fol-
low the entry of the first railway.
In former days the country was a fav-
orite resort of the vast herds of buffalo
which at one time roamed the western
prairies, and in its rich pastures and
shaded hooks they found their ideal
feeding grounds. Here the last herds
made their final stand about the year
before modern arms and the avarice of
man completed their determination.
Following the buffalo came the large
ranchmen, and for many years their
droves of semi-wild cattle held the
ranges. In the trail of the latter soon
came the homesteader and the prairies
were dotted with the shacks and sod
houses Of the pioneers of agriculture,
gradually curtailing the pasturage of
their predecessors. Since the organiza-
ton of the county the farming popula-
tion has increased rapidly in anticipa-
ton of the day. which seems close at
hand, when transportation facilities will
be ample for the commercial marketing
of the increasing production. At pre-
sent much of the county's outpu, finds
its way to market by the Missouri river,
on which the Benton Transportation
Company maintains a fleet of steamers.
The gen eral topography of the county
is rolling prairie. except in the vicinity
of the Kildeer mountains and along the
Missouri river. where it is better adapted
to stock raising than agriculture. At
Oakdale, in these mountains. was fought
the deciding battle of the Sully cam
paign against the Indians in 1864. This
was the expedition which started from
St. Paul in the spring and established
Fort Rice on the Missouri river, since
abandoned. In July the soldiers sur
prised the Indians at their big village
near the foot of the mountain an d the
rout was complete. Six of the troops
were killed and buried on the slope of
the mountain. Solid shot and unex-
ploded shells were found buried in the
ground ninteen years later when a ranch
was established on the old battle field.
The Sully expedition was the first to
penetrate the Badlands of North Dakota
under the guidance of q Blackfoot
Indian guide. The northern part of the
county is crossed from west to east by
the Little Missouri river. which empties
into the Missouri above Fort Berthold.
The Knife river traverses the southern
half and enters the Missouri above STAN
ton in Mercer county. There are no
organized cities or towns in the county,
the seat of government being located at
Manning, in township 143. range IS.
With the coming of the railway the
location of the permanent county seat
will be definitely decided.
There are now 40. 1913 acres under
cultivation, being a gain of nearly TO-
600 over 1908. The chief products are
wheat, oats, barely. flax, speltz and
potatoes. besides all kinds of garden
produce. Over 1, 200 cows are used for
dairying purposes and the future pros
poets of this industry are very bright
North Dakota Magazine.
AF