The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-09-03
NUMBER lS.
The New III Dorado

The New ii Dorado.
The following correspondence from
Gen. Custar's expedition was forwarded
by the New York Tribmnes special cor.
respondent to Fort Laramie by special
scout:
The country which the expedition
has traversed has proved to be one of the
most fertile and beautiful sections in the
United States. Indications of gold were
discovered about week ago, and within
two days its presence in sufficient guam
titles abundantly to repay working has
been established beyond a doubt. How
large an area the gold section covers can
not be determined without further ex-
ploration, but the geological character
istics of the country, the researches of
our prospectors, and all the indications
point to valuable fields. So far we have
obtained surface gold alone. Our miners
hope yet to find good quartz lead. The
expiration of the Sioux treaty will open
to settlement a beautiful and highly pro-
ductive area of country, hitherto en-
tirely unknown. Grass, water, and tim
bers of several varieties are found in
abundance, and all of excellent quality
small fruits abound; game is plentiful.
The valleys are well adapted for cattle
raising or agricultural purposes, while the
scenery is lovely beyond description.
The flora is the most varied and exuberant
of any section this side of California. In
this respect it is new Florida; it may
prove to be a new FL Dorado. The COM
mand is in good health, and exploration
are being rapidly conducted.
send by Charley Reynolds, a special
messenger, the following summary of
Gen. Custar's official report, as made to
date, covering the history of the expe-
dition from July ii, starting from Pros
pectValley, Dakota. Leaving this point,
the expedition moved in a southwest
direction until it reached the valley of
the Little Missouri, up which we moved
twenty-one miles. The valley was al
most destitute Of grass, and we left it in
search of a better camping ground,
making march of over thirty miles and
a dry camp. In ORDER to secure camp
during our march up the Little Missouri,
we entered the Territory of Montana for
a short time. From the Little Missouri
to the valley of the Belle Fourche the
country was generally barren and un-
inviting. The Belle Fourche was reached !
on the 18th of July, and good grass,
water and wood were abundant From |
this point, just west of the line separating |
Dakota from Wyoming, we began a
skirmish through the outlying ranges of
hills. The country was very superior
one, covered with very excellent grass,
and having an abundance of timber,
pine, oak and poplar. On the
22d we halted and encamped within forty
miles of prominent peak in Wyoming,
called Inyan Kara, $500 feet high, which
peak we ascended, lying over here one
day. The expedition then turned due
east, and attempted the passage of the
Black Hills. After q short march we
came into a most beautiful valley. ats
equal" said Gen. Custer, 81 have never
seen." Such, too, was the testimony of
all those who beheld the panorama
spread out before us. Every step Of our
march that day was amid flowers of the
most exquisite color and perfume, some
belonging to new or unclassfied species :
The flora of the valley embraces one hun
lred and twenty-five species The water .
n the streams stood at 44o. This beautiful
,ale was named Floral Valley. We )
ollowed this valley to the top of the |,
Western ridge of the Black Hills, winding
'ur way through little park of great
latural beauty.
In no portion of the United States, not
xcepting the famous Blue Grass region G
f Kentucky, have l ever found grazing
uperior to that which grows wild in these G
itherto unknown regions. l know of no '
Ortion of our country where nature has
one so much to prepare homes for hus-
andmen and left so little for them to do :
S here. Everything indicates an abun- I
ance of moisture within the space
coupled by the Black Hills. Gold has y
cen found in several places, and it is the :
pinion of those who are giving attention
, the subject that it will be discovered
4 paying quantities. have upon my c
ible forty or fifty small particles of gold, i.
l size about that of small pin-head. b
lost of it was obtained to-day, from 81
ngle pan of earth, but as we have not a
longer at any camp than one a
ay, it will be readily understood that
lere is no opportunity to make salts #
lctory examination in regard to deposits
valuable minerals. Until further. in
estigation is had regarding the richness St
the deposits of gold, no opinion should ft
e formed. Veins of what the geologists W
Ill clearing quartz" crop out on al W
ost every hillside. All existing ge- S,
ogical or geographical maps of this re- p
on have been found incorrect. Of
The northward march begins in few o,
iys from this date, and Gen. Custer ex- il
,cts to reach Fort Lincoln by the 3lst h