III. DAKOTA. Organized March 2, 1861. Capital, Yankton. Area, 152,500 square miles. SITUATION AND BOUNDARIES.-Dakota lies imme- | of the main channel thereof, to the mouth of the diately west of Minnesota and the northwestern part of Iowa. Its boundaries are as follows:"Commencing at a point in the main channel of the Red River of the North, where the 49th degree of north latitude crosses the same; thence up the main channel of the same, and along the boundary of the State of Minnesota, to Big Stone Lake; thence along the boundary-line of the said State of Minnesota to the Iowa line; thence along the boundary-line of the State of Iowa to the point of intersection of the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers; thence up the Missouri River, and along the boundary-line of the Territory of Nebraska, to the mouth of the Niobrara or Running Water River; thence following up the same, in the middle Keha Paha or Turtle Hill River; thence up the said river to the 43d parallel of north latitude; thence due west to the present eastern boundary of the Territory of Idaho (which is the 104th degree of longitude west from Greenwich, or the 27th west from Washington); thence along said eastern boundary of Idaho to the 49th parallel of north latitude; thence east along the 49th degree of north latitude to the place of beginning. The Territory may be defined in general terms to embrace all the public domain lying between the 43d and 49th degrees of latitude, and between the State of Minnesota and the 104th meridian of west longitude." REMARKS.-The climate of Dakota is mild and healthful. The soil is unsurpassed in richness, and well adapted to agriculture and grazing, producing all the varieties of grains, fruits, and vegetables found in central Illinois. The principal settlements are Big Sioux Point, Elk Point, Bruley Creek, Vermillion, Yankton (the Territorial capital, on the Missouri River, 65 miles from the Iowa line, and nearly due west from Chicago), Bonhomme, Greenwood, and Fort Randall. The Yankton and Ponca Indians, who ceded to the Government their lands (about 14,000,000 of acres), also the Santee Sioux and Winnebago Indians (recently moved from Minnesota), have extensive reservations on the Missouri River and Niobrara, from 40 to 150 Indian Population. Annuity. 2,393 893 $65,000 20,000 1,376 Forfeited. 2,410 65,000 8,500 5,768 Presents. Presents. miles above Yankton, and have become domesticated and are giving attention to agriculture and stock-growing. The Territory yields large amounts of furs and peltries; and recent explorations indicate that the Black Hills; about 300 miles west from Yankton, abound in gold, iron, and coal of the finest quality. For a new Territory, Dakota has devoted considerable attention to public edu cation, while the gospel is dispensed by ministers supported mostly by a missionary fund. Dakota has one battalion of cavalry in the service of the United States, which is stationed within the Territory for the defence of the frontier settlements. IV. IDAHO. Organized as a Territory, March 3, 1863. Area, as estimated by the Commissioner of the General Land Office, 326,373 square miles; area, as estimated in the table in the article "Territories" in this volume, 333,200. The Territory of Idaho is formed of all that part of the territory of the United States included within the following limits, to wit,-beginning at a point in the middle channel of the Snake River where it is intersected by the northern boundary of Oregon, then following down the channel of that river to a point opposite the Kooskooskia or Clear Water River, thence due north to the fortyninth parallel of north latitude, thence eastward to the 104th meridian of longitude west from Greenwich (or 27th west from Washington), thence due south to the northern boundary of Colorado Territory, thence west to the 110th meridian west from Greenwich (or 33d west from Washington), thence due north to the 42d parallel of north latitude, thence west to the eastern boundary of Oregon, and thence due north along that boundary to the place of beginning. This Territory comprises the eastern halves of old Washington and Oregon Territories, the western half of Nebraska, and a small section of northern Utah. It lies immediately north of Utah and Colorado, and extends in that direction to the British Possessions. The judicial power of the Territory is vested in a Supreme Court, District Courts, Probate Courts, and in justices of the peace. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief-Justice and two Associate Justices, who are appointed by the President of the United States for a term of four years. One session of the Supreme Court must be held annually at the seat of the Territorial Government. For District Court purposes, the Territory is divided into three judicial districts, in each of which a justice of the Supreme Court holds the sessions. The Supreme and District Courts respectively possess Chancery as well as common-law jurisdiction. DESCRIPTION OF IDAHO,-ITS SOIL, CLIMATE, SETTLEMENTS, MINES, &c.-Except among the records of the Land Office at Washington, there is no map that gives a good popular idea of the country embraced within the new Territory of Idaho. The portions of the Territory most generally settled and explored are embraced within that part of the old Territory of Washington comprised within the counties of Shoshone, Nez Perce, and Idaho. Shoshone county, or rather what is left of it, lies north of the South Fork of the Clear Water River, and embraces the original Nez Perce mining-region of Oro Fino and Pierce City, the latter place being the county seat and 560 miles distant from Olympia, the capital of Washington Territory. Nez Perce county comprises a belt of land lying south of the Clear Water River, and extending from Snake River eastward to the Bitter Root Mountains. A settlement, called Elk City, in this county, is the centre of the gold-mining district. The county seat is Lewiston, at the head of navigation on the Snake River. Nearly all the travel to the Salmon River mines passes through Nez Perce county. Kansas Prairie, another settled tract, includes a fertile agricultural expanse within the limits of this county. Idaho county embraces a large breadth of land lying south of the dividing ridge between the Clear Water and Salmon Rivers. The greater portion of this county abounds in auriferous wealth. The county seat is the town of Florence, quite a flourishing settlement, containing from 3000 to 5000 inhabitants. It was, before the Territory of Idaho was organized, the largest town in Washington Territory. At the time when this is written (December, 1863), the Territorial capital for Idaho Territory has not been named, but it will probably be located at Florence. The name Idaho given to this county, and which is now made coextensive with the new Former Residence. Term ends. Salary. $2,500 2,500 2,500 Ohio Illinois. Washington Ter..... | $250 and fees. $250 and fees. Territorial lines, is said to be an Indian word for "a star;" but a more liberal interpretation of the word and that which attaches to the popular apprehension of it, is, "gem of the mountains." The rich gold-fields of Salmon River, already so widely known, lie within the limits of this county. The scenery along the Salmon River in the vicinity of these mines is described as grand and impressive. In some places the stream flows along between perpendicular walls of rock from 500 to 2000 feet in height. The gold-mining regions of Idaho Territory are but the prolongation to the northward of the mineral regions of California and Nevada. Until within the last three years, what is now Idaho was uninhabited, except by Indian tribes. It owes its present activity and rapid progress of settlement to the discovery of the gold-mines in the British Possessions north of its boundary. This discovery drew from the gold-fields of California thousands of adventurers, who in their search for new fields of wealth discovered the placers of eastern Oregon and western Idaho. Since then the exploration of this new region has been constantly and rapidly pressed; flourishing settlements and towns have sprung into existence, roads have been opened, rivers navigated, mail-routes established, and farm-improvements commenced; and, besides all this, the Territory has attracted the attention of the monetary and commercial world. Of the receipts of treasure at San Francisco from the 1st to the 11th of September, 1863, amounting in all to $1,500,000, full half a million was from the new mines embraced within the Territory under description. Gold has been discovered on nearly all the tributaries and head-waters of the Missouri and Yellow Stone Rivers, and still farther north, reaching to and going beyond our national boundary. Platina has been gathered in small quantities from the streams by the Indians; and some of the explorers are of the opinion that extensive deposits of this valuable metal will be discovered. Copper and iron exist in abundance, and salt is plentiful in many localities. also is found on the Upper Missouri and Yellow Stone, and has been discovered upon the Pacific slope of the Rocky Mountains. The higher mountain-ranges of this region are bleak and barren, but the lower hills are generally well wooded, and the soil of the valleys productive. The whole is watered by numerous streams and springs, the former of which by their rapid flow afford immense water-power, which is of the ut Coal most value for driving mills, and otherwise aiding in separating the rich mineral deposits from the sands and rocks with which they are intermixed. The climate in the valleys is mild and salubrious, but upon the plains and hills it is cold, and the country is subject to deep snows. V. NEBRASKA. Organized May 30, 1854. Capital, Omaha City. Population, 1863, estimated, 40,000. Area, 63,300 square miles. Nebraska Territory formerly comprised a very | extensive region, but its dimensions have been recently reduced. Its boundary now commences at a point where the 40th parallel of north latitude touches the Missouri River, thence extends up the Missouri to the mouth of the Keha Papa and westward along the river to the 104th meridian west from Greenwich (or 27th west from Washington), thence south to the 41st parallel of north latitude, eastward to the 102d meridian west from Greenwich (or 25th west from Washington), and south again to the 40th parallel of latitude. It is situated immediately west of the State of Iowa. Though Nebraska has had heretofore but a slow growth, it is now gaining rapidly. Its mineral products have never been largely developed, and the more attractive features of Colorado, &c. have diverted emigration; though the valleys of the Platte, Elkhorn, and Snipe Fork, Big and Little OFFICE. Governor. Blues, and Big and Little Nemahas are very fertile, and afford superior advantages to the agricul turalist. About 75 miles south of Omaha there is a very extensive salt basin, containing innumerable springs of the most concentrated saline waters, sufficient in quantity to supply a dozen populous States with salt of the purest quality. More than a thousand teams are continually employed in freighting goods and Government stores to western Nebraska, Colorado, Idaho, and Utah, from Omaha, Plattsmouth, and Nebraska City, on Missouri River. The climate is dry, pure, and healthful, being therefore particularly favorable to consumptives. Emigration over land to California, Oregon, &c. passes through Omaha City and up the great valley of the Platte. From five to ten thousand Mormons yearly pass through on their way to Salt Lake. Anthracite coal and gold are found in the Black Hills. Government for the year 1864. NAME. Alvin Saunders The foregoing officers are all appointed by the President of the United States. The legislative power of Nebraska is vested in a Legislative Assembly, which consists of a Council and House of Representatives. The Council consists of 13 mem 1st infantry was raised in June, 1861, numbering | the other regiments upon the basis of the first, 800 men, under the command of Colonel John M. the aggregate contribution of Nebraska would be Thayer, of Omaha. This regiment in July, 1862, 2400 men; but no details of this force have been was in the service near Corinth, Miss. Estimating received. VI. NEVADA. Organized March 2, 1861. Capital, Carson City. Estimated Area, 83,500 square miles. Estimated White Population, 1863, 40,000. |