The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-20

MONDAY ...... ............JULY 20, 1858.
The Rocky Monntafns-New Cities
Insfan Depredatfons-The Pacific
Rs iway.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati Com
me { al writes from Benton City, Dakota,
undo T date of July 4, as follows:
MAGIC CITIES.
"North Platte and Julesburg, Nebraska,
Cheyenne and Laramie City, Dakota, have
been denominatsd magic cities, and, per-
haps, not unjustly. Before the Pacific rail
way was begun, all freight destined for
points west of the Missouri was conveyed in
overland trains, and no matter which road.
route, or trail these tedious trains passed
over, ranches were located every FIVE or ten
miles. The construction of the Union Pa
cifc railway to North Platte, Nebraska,
was the commencement Of the downfall OF
ranchmen. Those located between Omaha
and the North Platte railroad focked to the
latter place, or else sought other localities
where railroads would not interfere, for
| years at least. The graders, tilemen, and
iron men of the road must be fed, clothed,
amused, and bled and SO, like mushroom,
up sprang city, or, more properly speak
ing, a town, and it was called North Platte.
Whiskey saloons, gambling places, and
dance-houses predominated.
"The road was pushed on as far as Jules
burg, and North Platte became almost as
desert-barren and deserted. Julesburg
fourished for season, houses of every de-
scription were erected, and great was the
prediction Of the future Of the town bap-
tized after the Monsieur Jules. But 1t re-
| quired no large amount of shrewdness to
| foresee that the station at the foot of the
Black Hills would ultimately become per-
| manent town. Railroad workshops were to
be erected there, huge round-house was
to be there located, and besides, the road
was still being pushed on, and sosn Ii
branch road from Denver would terminate
at Cheyenne. And so Julesburg fell, and
Cheyenne, Ph9nix-like, arose from the
ashes. The latter town still stands, but
much of it's glory has departed to Laramie
and Benton cities.
"The first place Of consequence after
crossing the Black Hills is Laramie City,
situated on Laramie plains, near the Big
Laramie river, and in sight of the apex Of
| Laramie Peak, and not distant more than
| twenty miles from Little Laramie river. II
| might, perhaps, be as well if Fort Laramie
were brought down to this town, that tn,
whole Laramie family might be contiguous.
Workshops and round house are being con
.tructed there, and, like Cheyenne, we
think Laramie City is destined to become
permanency. Wyoming City, built in a
4 A. of ~
laramie. 1t is distant twenty miles from
The latter, and is located near the contiu-
ence of the Big and Little Laramie rivers
There is nothing about this place to war
rant an idea of longevity. One hundred
miles further west, and you are put dowl!
at the last of the magic cities-Tiz.,
| BENTON CITY.
"Benton City, as it now is, is on the east
side of the North Platte river, 175 miles
west of Cheyenne, in Dakota territory
Until within few days this town Was
generally known as North Platte, but the
,ioneers that be, who are constructing the
Union Pacific railway, have declared Il.
favor of Benton City. Following this deci-
sion Of the railroaders, Brevet Colonel
Richard Dodge, major of the Thirtieth in
fantry, commanding Fort Steele, contiguous
to the town, issued circular requiring al
persons now on the east bank OF the rlve'
to forthwith move to the west side, as thC
town is now located on military reserva-
ton, which must be freed from all citizen
residences. The moving has already be-
gun, but it will be fully month before al
the tents, houses, and contents will be OF
the east bank. AS yet, the railroad has moi
been completed to this place, but it is thought
the iron horse will make his advent i,
about ten days. The crossing Of the river
by the railway is to be over very gooc
bridge, which is now almost completed
| The population of the town may be SCI
down at two thousand souls, most of whom
are either gamblers, prostitutes, or owner'
of whiskey saloons. Scarcely night passes
but what some one is shot or robbed. Tht
greatest decentralization and degradation
prevail at present; which state OF affairs
| however, is destined to be of short dura
ton, as talk of vigilance committee is OIL
dit, and every person, good and bad, stand:
in dread of the unprincipled 'vigilanters.
"Already, even before the iron head o.
the railway is pushed into the town, are
many taking up their course for Greer
river, where it is expected the road vii
make winter quarters.
INDIAN DEPREDATIoEs.
"Indians have turned up in this section
of the mountains, and are evidently as poor
as ever in the way of horse and mule flesh
| A party of twenty attacked Hamil's outfit
| working on the grade about twenty miles
west of here, and succeeded in carrying of
| four head of horses and dozen mules. One
| man, named Mitchell, while trying to save
his own stock, was killed, and the animals
carried off. But few days ago they stole
eight mules within two miles of this town
Lieutenant Petit, of the Second cavalry, re-
turned yesterday from o scout after the
redskins, and reported falling in with a
band of Red Clouds men, but no fighting
occurred why or wherefore We know not
1t is said that the Lieutenant was pursued
by stalwart son of the forest, who struck
him several blows over the head with his
war-club, but offered no further molesta-
ton. The hostile Indians are doing the
best they can in collecting live stock from
those employed ON the railroad grade, but
so far have killed but two or three men.
OVER THE MOUNTAINS.
Your correspondent has just returned
from q trip to Bitter creek, which stream is
on the Pacific slope of the mountains, one
hundred and fifteen miles west of this town
Our train, consisting of twenty-four four
mule teams, was loaded with grain for the
use of stock employed on the grading now
being done on the aforementioned creek.
We struck the line of the railroad twenty
miles west of the North Platte river, and
followed its course up valleys, over bluffs