New-York tribune., 1874-09-14

ourselves in new country The whole character Of our
grass timber fruits and flowers, and what per
haps better appreciated than ALL an ample suppg
OF pure cold These advantages. with fe e.
cepuons we enjoyed until We lst the hlns
for the return journey. oar eourse arss srrapsh
of the Belle Fourche--to luyan Kara: thence I,sN
easteriy and soltn-easterly into the heart OF tue
Valley leads into valley. the beautiful park country
always until now mar ked unexpored" the maDs o.
which had heard much. but hardly hoped 70 Ied
iofry eran,e mass with an altitude OF sos fee
above the and surrounded with erasgy peat the
south FORK Of the Chey nearly due south OF u.s. Win
five companies of cavalry and the exit from the ihiei
aseertained 70 be not difficult on tnat slut
Returning the course noriherly and DortheasIe
looking for an exit Bear Buttr Failing 10 hla M au
covered pass near Ek Creek which let us out 90 Ine
prairie. The change to the hot dry ar and yeqw mi
OF the prairie was wonderfully sudden and anything o
pleasant From Bear Butte the return Journey ed Dsa
past Slave Butte touching the head waters ,, 4L s
MOreau, crossing tue down trail IN Prospect van val1y .
thence tapping the head Grand River aud foloS1s
roughly the east side Of the Litte Missouri
to where the trail OF the felo"stono ha
petition crosses 1t, and thence into Lincoln, on inc
north side of Heart River. The return route was u .
ueh better one for large force than tne olheI =,
nad no difficulty Ia finding good camps, with plenty ol
water and The country passed over 80 "a
the Moreau Is barren but the riVer valley ltsei
favorable the head OF Grand River Is lnaeh De
country than lower dowu From Grand hvvr h"rnS -
above Heart River grass had been thoroughly Durne
by the Indians 1t caused some Inconvenience, Dut We
we're Away fortunate in finding camp OF sonle io'A
ties which the tre had spared. -,
With regard TO the geology OF the Black Hills PrqI'
winchelPs report Will be nearly exhaustive Bon MI
Grnne and he we're as Industrious as posslDe III eo
ecting Information and only that the want
OF time prevented much opportunity for study can
attention TO the preliminary reports iroM oO.u %
gentlemen presented herewith. Their detailed re, re-
ports will be prepared soon as possiDle, as WI
as one from DR.. Williams on the Flora of the hIs'
II a region admirably adapted 10 settlemenI aDouuu
ing in timber, in grass and h0wlng streams WIN
OF pure cold water almost everywhere Tne IdLeys VI
South Slope ready for the plow; the son OF ~
ful fertility evidenced by the nxuriance OF the .he
grass and profuson of flowers and small fruits he
climate entirely different fron that OF the Pains gHins
evidence Of being much more agreeaDle-eooer h n
mer and more moderate in Winter; not suDJeot ~
drouh for the nightly dews are very heavy not nhpe
TO excessive SNOWFALL for In narrow valleys oontahns
a large creek indications OF overflow cOuiu DC ue
tected -, ,,,,, rrnor
reaching the exterior range they pass thFonsn
eaons sometimes of great depth, and arriving al te
outer foothills sink into the ground ana disappear,
TTpon the mineral resources OF the Hills Pr0f Wlncn
ellis report will throw full light. No coal was lOunu
Extensive deposits OF iron OF good quality exist
Immense beds OF gypsum we're met with specimens H oi
gold we're washed from the soil IN the vicinity OF mar
neys Peak and quartz in bed and bOwder was visible III
large quantities. specimen OF something whlch they
discovered believed be silver, but which more re-
sembled platinum, was shown. PluuDago also ,n, va,
found IN small quantities. Any amount OF excellent
buildin gsOne limestones sandstone, ana granite ue
present Some of the limestones particularly IN tne
vicinity Kara fine enough Tor marDies anu
handsomely cOlOred. The timber is mainly red pine
and spruce OF large size. Oak ash, aud elm are ouu
on the exterior slopes Game Is abundant; Dear Elk,
and deer OF two kinds were found aud many killed On
the praries ahteOpes were found In large numbers.
The complete report, accompanied DY the reports ol
Prof Winchell Mr.. Grtnnel. aud DR.. HllIatns, VIII pe
transmitted at the earnest possible Day togelnei WI"
map showing the route pursued, with bordering couu
try Fort Lincoln and return. and special map on
a larger scale OF the Black Hills proper. -
The photographer secured negatives for about KY
views, a set OF which Ylll accompany the report
Respectfully submitted - WIN LUDLOW,
Captain OF Engineers, U, = ~,
Chief Engineer Department, Dakota.
ST. Paul, Hmm, Sept 7, 1874.