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A Dakota Letter

A Dakota Letter image A Dakota Letter image
Parent Issue
Day
10
Month
August
Year
1883
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Mr. D. M. Joslln of Unaclüla, Livingston Co., receiveci a letter frora hls brother T. M., who recently went to Dakota. Thinking that nis friends in tbls county would like to hear frora him and what he thlnks of the country we publlsh the letter. [Ed.] Bismarck, D. T., July 2(i, 1883. Buo. D. M. - Faithful to tne proinise given, when lust at your home on the sliores of Lake Joslin. I will give you a brief account of my trip here, and impressions of this Dakota land. Time will not permit me to enter "into detail, hut I will try to give yon a superficial glauce of thlnga as I see thera. July 11, 1883, I boarded the steamer China, Transit Line, laying at the doek at foot of Woodward Ave., Detroit, Mich., prompt to the minute 11 o'clock p. M., our boat swung out in the broad channel of that grand oíd river Detroit. Keeping close to the American side, passing Belle Isle (our uew city park), passing the light-house on Grosse Point, and headlng out amiU spray aud foam into the open lake of St. Clair. At this moment we retired to our state-room, reached Port Huron at 0 in the morning, and breakfasted aboard ship while running out of St. Clair river into the waters of Lake Iluron. Our voyage across this sheet of water was deliglitful. Old Neptune was in one of his amiable moods and did not as is his usual custom here, lash the waters into angry waves and heavy swells, a fine cool breeze just fanned the face of the waters and all aboard were delighted. At saven o'clock p. m , we passed Thunder Island in Thunder Bay, and when morning dawned we were looking from our post on the liurricane deck off on the fine seenery upon the ruggy banksof St. Marys river. The beach here is dotted with lishermen's huts and an occasional unpretentious dwelling. Soon, however, we were tied up at the doek at the village of the Soo, or Sault Ste Marie the capítol of Chippewa Co., Mich. Here is the famous ship canal built by the State of Michigan for the purpose of passing the rapids on St. Marys river. The locks here are perhaps the largest and best constructed in the world. There are two locks 515 feet long and 80 feet wide, having a lift of 18 feet. Our boat made a stop of two hours here giving passengere ampie time to look over the villnge, inspect the locks and see the Indians net the fish from their birch canoes in the rapids. An Indian offered to run us over the rapids in his canoe for half a dollar, not feeling adventurous we declined the proposition. After passing the locks at the Soo, our gallant ship ran out into Lake Superior and headed toward Duluth, passing the light-house on Hnron Island. This island is apparently in area about 100 acres of rocks and bluffs, covered wherever root could be found withscrubby pine. All along the beech from the Soo, is bluffy, hilly, mountainous and one vast forest of pine of doubtful quality, and not one house or cabin for a hundred miles along the southern shore. We made a stop at Marquette, thechief city of the upper península, the county seat of Marquette Co., and named after Pere Marquette, the great French missionary and explorer. This llourishing lake city s closely indentified with the extensive ron mines whiuh are from 12 to 30 miles distant. Passing Portage river and lake whose waters are red with copper washing from the stamp milis at Iloughton and Hancock, we stopped several hours at the :wo latter places and visited the copper mines, wliere we obtained some line specimen of copper. We subsequently touched it Bayfield, capítol of Baylield Co., Wlsconsin, here is a good harbor, protected y Apostle Islands. We made Duluth at 2 o'clock r. m., ïavingbeen out on the lakesfrom Detroit 'our days. Duluth is a flourishlns; town at the head of Lake Superior and stands upon a bluff. Here we visited our old 'riend David Dankin, who is the senior mrdner in one of the largest lumber companies in the vort. Dave is not only rich but just as good looking and genial as ever. That evening, Monday, July 10, '83, we ook sleepcr on N. P. R. R. at 8 o'clock p. m. and moved along with oil like locomotion for Bismarck and the west, here br a long distance through Minnesota we could not view the seenery as the shades of night forbid - were informed however hat the view, for miles, for grandeur vere unsurpassed. In the early morning 17th inst., we made a short stop at the small but bright little village of Detroit Minnesota. Here we longeil to stop, as ii is said to be one of the tinest pnints for hunting and fishing in the state. Moorehead in Minnesota on the Dakota line is a nice town and has severul ñne hotels, one about the size of' the Islam House in Toledo. Fargo and Jamestown are nicely located places and wore the air of business and bustle - froni Jamestown west for about 50 miles, do not think the land very good - but wheu within 50 milea of Bisinarck the pan Mioma changos - no better land in the world. Bismarck is finely located, and is bound to be a larjre town, situated as it is upon a navigablo river wilh the Northern Paciiic road and several other roads already cbartered to center here. This will be a great jolibing point for the west, north and soutli, here without question will be the sblpping point, and great cattle yards for Montana and the farther west. As I now write looking out fi-om my window I behold the broad waters of the Missouri, with its towering blufl's and adjacent landscapes and say in my heart ot hearts, who would not be a resident of the Banner City. At my right in the distance I behold upon a crowning Bluft' Fort Lincoln whose sundown guns jar our town, father to the right is the niammotli iron bridge spanning the river.built by the N. P. ït. R. company, at the cost of one and one quarter millions. A little beyond nestles the yonng and flourishing city of Mandan. The broad acreage of rich prairie stretching out as far as eye can reach in one grand ocean of vastness is a novelty at least to a Michigander. Come with me upon Capítol Ilill, look out upon this broad expanse of undulating prairie, examine closely the quality of this soil - from 2 to 6 feet - loam, on subsoil. Will you, or the farmers of old Washtenaw and Livingston teil me this is not productive land? They cannot. Come with me down to the river side, we will board a steamer, run up 20 or 25 miles to the extensive coal iields and see the quality of soft coal that can be, and is being laid down at our doors in the Capítol City for three and a half dollars per ton. But you say how about the winters? I answer, when I have been here a winter, will write you all about it, my belief now is that there is a good deal of bugbear about Dakota winters in the eastern niind. Very cordially,

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Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News