306 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



state that my opinion is not based upon direct experiments in this im- 

 mediate section, and that the soil as a general thing is good; also that 

 it is very iDrobable the bottom-lands along the streams will form an ex- 

 ception to this rule. I should also state that Mr. Roberts, the chief 

 engineer of the Northern Pacific Railroad, expresses a somewhat more 

 favorable opinion in regard to this section. He may be right and I may 

 be wrong ; I only give my opinion, which is based on certain evidences 

 which will be more fully set forth in my report on the climatology of 

 the West. 



I was informed by a gentleman who was for three years connected 

 with the Indian agency at Fort Totten, on Devil's Lake, that the sur-' 

 rounding country there consists of undulating prairies, much the same 

 as fouud at the same longitude farther south along the line of the 

 North Pacific, but that the lower lands immediately around the lake he 

 thinks will, as a general thing, produce crops without irrigation, and that 

 he founds his belief on some experiments which were made there. 



I have been able to learn very little in regard to that portion of Da- 

 kota south of the Northern Pacific road until we approach the south- 

 eastern extremity. This section has seldom been traversed with a 

 view of studying its agricultural resources ; yet from the little I could 

 learn with reference to it, I am satisfied that there is a gradual im- 

 provement southward. The valley of James Eiver, south of 45° 30', 

 gradually expands and gives evidence of a greater degree of moisture. 

 Even the southern portion of the Coteau of the Pi^airies will in all proba- 

 bility prove productive and adapted to agriculture, notwithstanding its 

 isolated elevation. I know from personal observation that the section 

 drained by the Big Sioux is one of the most desirable and beautiful por- 

 tions of Dakota, almost every acre here being susceptible of profitable 

 cultivation. And in order to give something like a correct idea of this 

 portion of the Territory, I will copy my notes taken while crossing from 

 Yankton to Sioux Falls. 



After leaving the immediate bottoms of James River, we ascended 

 -some 60 or 70 feet to the upper or general prairie-level, where the sur- 

 face is quite undulating, not broken, but interrupted by long, rounded 

 swells, with a dark, rich soil, thickly covered with a heavy growth of 

 luxuriant grass, but entirely treeless. Such is the general character 

 for twelve miles ; I might add that most of this distance there appears 

 to be an ascending grade. Here we reach a small stream calleil Clay 

 •Creek, which runs through a deep, narrow valley, its pathway marked 

 by a few scattering bushes or trees. Beyond this we cross a broad, 

 Tounded ridge for some eight or ten miles, the soil and covering being 

 similar to those already described ; and I may state here, in regard to 

 this ridge, that which applies to all the principal ridges in this part of 

 the Territory, its direction is nearly north and south, running a little 

 west of north and east of south. Descending from this to Swan Lake, 

 ■we enter upon a broad, level prairie, which, beginning in the vicinity of 

 Turnersville, continues eastward to Sioux River, a distance of some 

 twenty-five miles. Although I call this a level prairie, I do not intend 

 thereby to convey the idea that it is a " dead-level " flat such as Red 

 River Valley, for such is not the case, but the undulations are slight, 

 and, although sufficient for drainage, are scarcely noticed by the eye. 

 The soil and grass are similar throughout the entire route, but running 

 water — a stream of any kind — is wholly wanting on this level prairie- 

 belt, save that at Turnersville, and the entire region is timberless. 



It is apparent from these notes that there is a great sameness through- 

 out this portion of the Territory ; and any attempt to give a descrip- 



