Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1879 — The Longest Stream in the World not Navigable. [ARTICLE]

The Longest Stream in the World not Navigable.

The Dakota river, vulgarly known as “Jim” river, is a stream worthy of more more than passing notice. Geographical writers have heretofore paid little attention to this great watercourse with its commonplace nickname, mostly, we presume, because they have never had their attention directed to the fact that it is the longest river in the world not capable of being navigated in any of its parts. Having directed attention to this striking feature of its physical make-up, an explanation of how it acquired its homely pseudonym may prove of interest. The early French traders and missionaries who came this way gave it its original appellation; and among them it was known as the River aux Jacques. This was afterward anglicized to plain James river, and speedily vulgarized into the more repugnant title of Jim river. Congress, in 1861, took the subject in hand, having, perhaps, a vague idea of the part which this extensive stream is to take In the future of the new west, and decreed that “it shall be hereafter called the Dakota river.” But Congressional enactments are not always strictly obeyed, and in this case there seems to be no disposition to accord to the Dakota its legal cognomen. It is known as the Jim, is spoken of as tile Jim, and printed the Jim oftener than any

other way. But there is not much of anything in a name. The river is there and it will doubtless flow on forever, whether it be known as the Dakota, the James or plain Jim. We have stated thatritisthe longest stream in the world which cannot be navigated in any portion by steam vessels. This we believe to be the fact. It rises near latitude 48, and traverses 525 miles of country, It is an exceeding crooked stream, constantly doubling upon itself, and crossing and winding along its prairie bed. Though we have no official measurement of its crooks and curves, its actual length cannot be less than 1,000 miles. Throughout a large portion of its length it maintains a nearly uniform depth and breadth, and moves with a sluggish current. These are a few of the characteristics of the Dakota river, which waters a valleyjof incomparable native richness. Settlers are now flocking to its banks, and hi a year or two every quarter section of the valley will be occupied and worked.