Year: 1879

we eXtraCC Tue IOllOWlnS from an artlCle
in the Pioneer Press; the writer thereof
having approached the valley by way OF
the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad,
and the new town near Lake Kampcska.
, AS natural consequence
from its being the terminus of the road we
found the new town completely overrun
with new corners s-strangers-nearly all
seeking new homes; some few were found
the James river valley, some in our 1irec>
tion and some in others, but mostly, if not
all, sought the valley south of our con-
templated point From the railroad our
route passed over what is known as the
"Coteau des Prairie" which consists Of
high, rolling hills, intersperced with small
lakes and few scattered groves of timber.
In places there are level spots which
would be suitable tor farms, but generally
these elevated pmiries are more suitable
for grazing than for agricultural purposes.
Leaving. the hills after some thirty-tive
miles travel, we dropped down some four
hundred feet on to a slightly rolling plain,
with not thing to obstruct our view.
This is really the wonderful james river
valley, but the timber along the river
being so far distant it was not visible to
linn ted visions In the winter it is said
to be plainly seen. owing to some more
favorable condition of the atmosphere


Twenty five miles over this enchanting
prairie brings US to the James river, our
attention being attracted during all the
iay by the wild game common to this
section, the antelope being the most com.
Non. For the several days We remained
along the river, taking in some fifty miles
oft, our eyes were feasted by the sight Of
millions of geese, ducks, brants, swan and
pelican, and many other prairie wild
fowls. The season seemed to be some two
weeks earlier down in the valley from
what we found it on the "coteaus," and
back here in Minnesota, so that the grass
was getting quite green when we were
there; and hence the reason that we were
so much gratified by the presence of such
great number Of water fowls. In places
they would Utterly cover the gentle slopes
leading from the bench lands down to the
river, feeding on the green, tender grass.
These bench lands have all the appear
ance Of some day being the bottom Of a
great lake, the coteaus being the we'll
marked shores Of it. East Of the river the
valley is from 20 to 30 miles wide, and
west Of it, it il still wider, extending from
80 to IS miles. The soil cannot well be
surpassed; there seems t" he no limit to
its depth. Considering all of its advan-
tages, it would be difficult to estimate it's
great natural resources for immense pro.
,luctive wealth. Its length beng several
hundred miles, and from so to 100 miles
wide, with scarcely foot of waste land
in its entire area, some day, not far distant,
it Will become one vast wheat field; for
which it seems 10y nature more especially
adapted. The water in the river we found
70 be soft. indicating that wells driven,
which could be done anywhere in few
hours. would produce the same, quite AL
advantage ever the Red river valley. The
river flows south, hence in breaking up in
spring, it would commence breaking from
its mouth hrst, so that the water and ice
would be carried off without danger from


jams and overflow, unlike the Red river
in this respect; besides, the bench lands
are high enough to insure them against
such contingency in any event. The
settlers in this valley, while they may