The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-22
A Promised Land.

Our exchanges have, for several days, been
giving accounts of an enchanted land dis
covered by the government expedition under
command of Gen. Custer. The Black Hills,
now becoming SO famous in connection with
this newly explored and marvelousy des-
cribed country, lie in the southeastern part
of the large Territory of Dakota, the lati-
tude being A north and the longitude about
103 west. The country is well watered by
tributaries of the Missouri. OF this country
less hitherto has been known than of any
other portion of our domain. Indians have
now and then reported the existence of de-
posts of the precious metals and the eXtraor-
binary richness of its valleys. At length the
government determined 10 make an explora-
ton of this country, and accordingly, attend
Ell by scientific gentlemen and military es-
cort of nearly thousand men, Gen. Custer
has undertaken the work.
Since leaving Fort Lincoln, Dakota Terri
tory, two reoorts have been received from
Gen. Custer. The first was dated July Is,
and was written when he had reached dis
lance of one hundred AMI twenty miles due
west from his starting point, in which moth
ing was said except that the country is well
watered and remarkably fertile. The second
report dated August 2, has been published in
full. 1t was written when the expedition was
eight miles southeast of Humez Peak, in the
very center of the Black Hills. Approach
ing the Black Hills he found for the most part
excellent grazing and abundance of timber.
With the intention Of ascending peak of
the hills, Gen. Custer, while exploring the
country for favorable point to ascend, en-
tered valley of which he gives the following
description:
This valley, in one respect, presented the
most wonderful az we'll as beautiful aspect. Its
equal [ have never seen, and such, too, was the
testimony of all who beheld it. In no public
or private park have L ever seen such prOfuse
display of flowers. Every step of our march
that day was amidst flowers of the most ex-
quisite cOlors and perfume. SO luXuriant were
they that the men pucked them without DIS
mounting from the saddle. Prof. Donaldson,
the botaniSt OF the expedition estimated tine
number of flowers in bloom at fifty, while an
equal number of varieties had bloomed or were
yet to bloom. The number of trees, shrubs
and grasses were twenty-five. making the total
flora of the valley embrace one hundred and
Other valleys are noticed Of similar rich
ness which lead to the supposition that amid
the Hills there is considerable area of this
fine country. Only twenty-seven Indians
were seen and these refused to fraternize or
be interviewed by the gallant cavalry leader.
Gen Custer further states that in NO por-
ton of the United States, not even in the ia
nous blue grass region of K entucky, has he
ever seen finer grazing than is found growing
wild in Dakota. He knows of mo portion of
our country where nature has done so much
to prepare homes for husbandmen and left
so little for the latter to do, as here" Open
and timbered spaces succeed each other at
such intervals that farms of any dimensions
can be selected having both. The soil is
moist, rich and well-watered, and the grazing
such that in That climate cattle can live dur
ing the winter running at large.
In other portions, gold has been found in
paying quantities, but Gen. Custer does not
indicate in his report that it is loosely laying
about, as other reports have declared. There
are also indications of lead and silver; but
the country is evidently one of rare agricul-
tural. capacities rather than mining.
The public will await further reports of
Gen. Clusters expedition with great interest,
particularly as this portion of Uncle Sans
any purpose except for Indian reservations.