New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-09
THE GOLD or THE BLACK HILLS.
70 fhe Editor Of The Tribune.

70 tho Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The reported discovery OF gold in the
Black Hills is attracting much attention throughout tho
West and IL the statements In regard TO the matter
prove to be well founded they seem the discovery
will be one OF great national importance. For several
months past the Indians and whites connected with
Spotted Tails tribe OF Sioux have shown rich specimens
OF gold bearing quartz but until very recent date they
have persisteny refused TO make known the exact To-
caty where 1t obtained 1t has long been believed
that gold would ultimately be found In large quantities
In the Black Hills but the entire country surrounding
them In the undispued possession OF the Sioux no
effort could, until recently be made to verify these I'M
prcssions At different times adventurous fr0ntersmen
have penetrated this almost wholly unknown region, and
hayo brought back specimens gold that certainly lett
10 doubt Of the existence of the precious metal In pay
ing quantities. In 1866. J. Ross Browne was
appointed by the Government Special Com
missioner to collect trustworthy statistical information
concerning the gold and silver mines of the Western
States and Territories In 1867 the results OF his nves
CATION connection with those of his cosborer James
W. Taylor were published by the Government under the
title OF "Reports upon the Mineral Resources OF the
United States" In this work 1t Is stated that the ex-
poratlons OF Lieut. G. X Warren In Is47 and Of Capt
W. F. Reynolds In ls595O under direction OF the United
States Typographical ONCE satisfactorily established
the fact that the Black Hills OF Dakota Territory stu
aed on the th parallel OF latitude, and between the
1884 and O5th merdians Of longitude, were rich In gold
and silver, Veil coal iron "copper" and pine for
ests The report further says: The occupied by
the Black Hills delineated map which accompa-
Mod Lieut.. waTen's report, Is 5000 square miles, or
about the surface OF Connecticut Their bases ee
waited from $500 $500 feet and the highest peaks are
about 600 feet above the level The whole geo.
logical range OF rocks from the granite and metam0r-
phosed azoe to the the creaceous formations Of the sur
rounding plains, are developed by the upheaval OF
tho mountain mass. Thus, at the Junction OF
the silurian rocks, gold becomes accessible,
while the carbonferOus strata brings coal measures
Indians and the establishment or enlgran roads, ths
district of Dakota would doubtless DO the scene OF great
mining excitement as the goldheds OF the Black H1s
accessible at distance OF 10 miles IRON the missouri
River" AS far back 1861 the people OF Dakota were
firm the belief that the Black Hills were rich In gold
ard other minerals. In the year named. an expedition
was organized by Byron NJ Smith, for the purpose OF
Exploring that region and people from the East went 10
Yankton to join It, but the Government, instead OF
furnishing OF cavalry was expected ordered
IL TO disband In 1863 Capt j. b. Davey OF Minnesota
started similar scheme. but the Government again re-
Indian country believing that the result would be
eral Indian war Last season d party OF men, having
the same object In vew assenDled a Cheyenne ana pro-
compelled to dsband for the same reason Previous TO
last reservation had ever been established In
the Black Hi country. About year ago Spotted Tail,
9he nominal head of tribe OF peaceabe sioux was pre-
va lied upon TO ask for the removal OF his agency from
the Missouri River back into the interior about 200 miles,
The movement considered very strange one at the
time and has since came to light That money ana pres
epts were freely used the prime sought for being
the opening Of this region for mining purposes.
Spotted Tail found that he had been deceived, and
taking large portion Of his followers, moved into the
Platte Valley where he has since remained, leaving the
reservation In possession Of large party OF white and
halfbTeed adventurers IL Is now generally DeneVed
the way Of any expedition exploring this region and
less scientific explorations dating back for years and
present are %S "a, suc @
Sour Citp I0rG, Feb. n, 1871 d. H. o.