Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-12-11
BLACK HILLS.
PROF. DONALDSON AND HIS BLACK HILLS
LECTURE-THERE Is GOLDIN TIE BLACK
HTT.IS

1
PROF DONALDSON AND MS BLACK HILL.
| LEcTURE-THERE Is GOLD1N TIE BLACE
HILLS.
Prot. Donaldson lectured in Minneapolis
few nights ago, on the Black Hills, to q
| large anu interested audience. The Pro
fessor was, until recently, connected with
the Minnesota University. and was the
bOtnniet Of the Custer Expedition anu
the able and versitiIe correspondent Of the
st. Pau Pioneer He is keen observer.
thoroughly educated and honorable in
every respect. The folioxing is from a
! Minneapolis Tribune account of the lecture
Trails of the buffalo traversed the plains
in every direction. and the antelope were
everywhere. This savory game was the
main subsistence Of the party. and aff,rd-
ed the sport. Firing from the column.
though contrary 10 o,ders, was INDUCED
in. The Professor related Ar amus,.. y
anecdc:e of the teamster in charge of the
terrible Gatling gun who Was Oegniled by
the antelope int, taking shot. His team
embraced the opportunity fora little frolic
Of their own, and depioysd with the Cat
Ing attached, over the plain The driver
was promoted to the walking brigade" :"
Tue type of the Western muleteer was
the subject of some humorous remarks,
and the guides of the expedition proved
interesting characters.
The course of the train tended due west
into Montana, south into Wyoming, and
then cast into the table lands. The first
u...::. IT,. in he Hills was joyful one; the
ear,l, was beautiful, the heavens grand,
and the band awoke the e~..9es OF 'he soii-
tude with the poetic tones Of civiI'zas..?n
In the valley Of the Red Water immense
gypsum formations We're found sufficient,
the Professor thinks, to fertilize all the
arabic land of the country, and keep the
world in u superior article of plaster of
Paris Springs of pure cold water abound.
pasturage Was good and the floral display
was varied and SO attractive as to excite
the admiration even Of the most prosaic
natures. The valleys and h;Ilsldes were
found well wooded, mostly Norway pine.
and III msnv places the forests were black
ened by the fierce fires which occasionally
rage in that wilderness. Great difficulty
was found in serpen'ing their way into
the Hills through the almost impas. able
canuns. and equal difficulty in findlng
egr,ss. Once fairly on the Parks, moves
ment in any direction was easily accom-
pllsned. The Professor pike III glowing
terms Of the nat ural beauty and plctur-
esqueness Of the Hills, and thinks the
Grand Park, for richness, beauty and sub
Unity superior to any tract of equc! area
On the continent.
There are about 400 square miles in
Park. Many of the minor hills
are round and bald; others lightly timber
ed. Immense fragments of rocks lie scat
toreu, in'oieP~.s~A -->A .--.". Every
of tn 1N0 YnSf VC0
found. The beavers We're building their
dams, and the grizzly lmprinting !he
sands The tea,hered tribe were as varied
and numerous rs their home Was secluded
and favorable. rhe perils OF wandering
ney's Peak, 5000 feet above the level of
h. sea, were graphically described. The
lecturer commenting on the imprObabllity
Of Indians ever having raised the lethargic
bodies to that romantic height. Such a.
exploit would have been registered in a
rude heap of stones, and all evidences Of
his sort We're Wanting. The Organ noun.
tains are great wenders, and the Bad
Lands, east Of the Hills, in General Sui
y's language ''the bottom OF hell with
Ihe fire put out" The Professor had con.
to say in regard TO the mineral
wealth. OF the region, Dut as 10 iue presume
If gold, he could only refer to gen. Gus.
er, and other reliable men Of the expedi.
lon, as his authority for stating that he
believed there was some gold there. He
vas absent with another party during
;hc five davis principal prospecting; the
geological evidence Is not over assuring.
He would advise nobody. or bodies of
nen to 20 near the Black Hills before the
government has opened settlement Then
t they do not find gold they may at least
ind beautiful home At present life
would be endangered. and disappointment
llmost certain to follow. /. IS doubtful
f quicksilver or even silver exists. There
5 no indications of coal. but traces of llg.
ute were found. Limestone aud sand
tone could be easily quarried. The Hills
re probably rica in iron.