New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-29
An American Terre Incogni.n,

Ihe following interesting sketcr ot Gtn-
eral Clusters expedition in the Territory st
Dakota is furnished by its special core
spondent TO the New York World:
The Black Hills expedition having with
It's arrlvai at this point terminated cEe ex-
plorarion or the Black Hills, brieI review
OF the work performed may now Re made.
The discovery OF god VIII, no dcubt, ~
inst be ciassed as the most importan- .es,lc
attained by the expedition, but tns trns
value and importance Of this discovery VIII
only pc made evident after deve,opnent
OF the gold. This development should 10.
be expected from an expedition OF MS
character. compelled, from the vasr scops
OF country included within its operations
| 10 move rapidly and make but few and
brief halts. Gold has been found at aumer-
GUS points, and of sufficient quantities 20
! justify high estimate to be placed apon
| this region as rich mineral region.
Ihe miners who conducted the prospect
ing estimate many of the places examined
| as rich enough in this precious metal 20
yield $I00 per day per man. Should any-
| thing Like this prove true, it is easy 10 see
| tnat rhe longer exclusive occupation OF this
ble territory by the Indians 1nusF
cease at an early Cay. While the ultimate
value OF the newlv-explored countrv as a
gold bearing region remains partly p-ob-
lematical. the real and perhaps it's greatest
value mas been already determined. viz: its
character and desirability as an ag-ical-
tural and stock raising country. The IN
terror OF the Black Hills is divided into
succession Of timDereG hills and open parks
and valleys.
The valleys aye covered with high, lux
uriant pasturage, made up of variety OF
| the best grasses, and a different bu- NOT
| less valuable. quality of pasturage, extends
through the forests and covers the hilisides
So completely sheltered are these valleys
| from the winter storms bv the outer bonn
dary or belt Of hills that the Indians, who
are familiar with this region, say most
| excellent grazing can be obtained for cattle
! throug hopt the entire winter. The SOL is
| beyond al doubt of the most fertile and
| irexhaustible character. and will richly
| repay tie labor Of the farmer or the stock
| raiser. Almost every Hillside has its never
| faI.lng spring OF pure water of almost 6nv
| cordness, and soRe OF the springs are strong
| enough and have the requisite fail to ren.
| der them available for water power.
Ibis coAntry, although now in the posses
sion OF The Indians, who seldom visited and
never occupied II, is surely destined al
very early day to become the home of
! dense. thrifty and industrious population,
This is inevitable, and the sooner the gov
ernment recognizes and acts upon this idea
he better. All the available troops within
the limits OF this military department VII
not avail to keep out the enterprising
frontlersman who is seeking home tor life,
or the equally enterprising and indefatig-
able miner who is searching for gold The
military occupation of the country will soon
become necessity. In any event should
the government intend to maintain the
present title Of the Indians to theeBlac K
Hills region, troops will be necessary 10
keep out ne whites, and should the country,
as is TO be hoped, be thrown open to settle,
menr. the presence of troops will be neces-
sary 10 prevent Indian hostilities and give
safety ard protection TO the settlement
The country explored by the Black Hills
expedition is undoubtedly the most fertile
portion of Dakota, not excepting even the
famous Red river valley. It is about 2iO
miles on direct line from Bismarck, the
present terminus OF the Northern Pacific
railroad, and about $50 miles from the
nearest point on the Missouri river. Among
the civilian employees of the expedition,
numbering over 100 persons, companies
have already been organized and claims in
the gold district staked out, looking 70 the
future early development of the resources
OF The Black Hills. These men have seen
the precious metal taken with but little
labor and expense from the earth, and. sat
listed that it exists here in large quantities,
they only await the action OF the govern
ment 20 enable them to begin practical
working OF the mines