Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-09-04
BLACK HILLS.
BLACK HILLS.
Latest From tIsS:,. GISste''s Exped''
aa..eral An ef9iiaIst:r iItr-"- - '''.
olOO q nay Cold Diggiugs.
Report from Gen. Caster.

l 9eRO1t 1bOSW 9SO0e &UotSts
ST. PAUL, August oo.-A repor
from Gen. Custer to the Department
commander dated Bear Butte, Blacl
Hills, was received this morning al
Gen. Terry's headquarters. The Gen
eral says:
II propose to return by different
though perhaps not shorter, route
than that adopted in coming to tho
Black Hills. l am induced To make
this change III order to embrace a
larger extent Of unexplored country
and particularly to follow and locate
as much as possible that portion OF
the Little Missouri Of which nothing
is now known. l expect the expe.li.
tion vii, reach Fort Lincoln about the
3lst of August. The health of the
command IS most excellent. This eX-
pe<lition entered the Black Hills FROM
the west side, and penetrated through
the eastern and most southern ranges
which form the boundary Of the Black
Hills. The Black Hills are not i'm
penctrable, as heretofore represented,
though their appearance from the ex-
terror indicates an interior full of Oh.
stacles. | can only repeat what have
stated in previous dispatches, that no
portion Of the country can boast Of
richer or better pasturage, puler water
Of natural temperature which in sum
mcr flows from the earth but II de-
grees above freezing point, and Of
greater natural advantage to the far
mcr or stock raiser than are to be
found in the Black Hills. Building
stone Of the best quality is found III
abundance, wool for fuel and lumber
plenty, rains frequent, with nc evi-
! .ic,...e., i. tLe, country ot either tirouth
or freshets. The season, perhaps, is
too short and the nights too cool for
corn, but believe all other grain could
be produced here III wonderful abund-
ance. Wheat would particularly yield
largely. There is no doubt as to the
extent of the various minerals through
out the hills, as the subject has re-
ceivel the especial attention Of experts
who accompanied the expedition, and
will be reported upon in detail. | will
only mention the fact that iron and
plumbagO have been found, and beds
Of GYPSUM in apparently inexhausta-
ble guaatity. l referred, i'll a former
dispatch, to the discovery of gold ;
subsequent examinations at numerous
points confirm and strengthen the fact
Of the existence of gold in the Black
Hills, is men without former expert
ence in mining discover it at the ex-
lense of hut little time or labor. As
an evidence of the rich pasturage to
be found in this region, ! can state
that my beet herd, after marching up
wards Of 600 miles, is in better cOndi-
ton than when started, being now
as fat as consistent with marching
condition, and the same may be SAID
of the mules and hOrses.n
A telegram from Bismarck conveys
a dispatch from the special correspon-
dent Of the Daily Press, with Clusters
expedition, as follows:
CAMP CUSTER, Black Hills
Expedition, Bears Butte, d. IT,
August Is, 1874.
The command reached here yester
day in good health and spirits. Lett
Custer Valley on the 9th; short
marches and good camps. Gold and
silver found in several places in guam
ties. Game in abunlance-bear, elk
and deer; several bears have been
killed. The command leaves here to-
morrow for the Little Missouri, from
thence home to Lincoln.
Another dispatch says the expedi-
ton has completed the exploration Of
the Black Hills, which prove even
richer than was before reported. Gold
and silver was found in numerous
places, and in quantities. SO great that
miners estimate that with pick and
pan single miner may take out 800
DER day. The distance from Bismarck
to the gold regions is about $50 miles,
over a practicable route. The citizens
of Bismarck are greatly excited, and
already expeditions are organizing.