The Hickman courier., 1874-08-28
AN FLDORAnO.
Rich Mines of Gold and silver DiscOv
cred by Custar.

cred by Custar.
The report of Gen. Custar to the
department commander, dated Bear
Butte, Black Hills, August 10, has been
received at Gen. Terry's headqualt ters.
After detailing his operations and ex-
plorations, and the finding, IN one di-
rection. of an impossible barrier, which
was finally circrmvented, the general
saws 81 propose to return by a diff
ferent, though perhaps not shorter route
than that adopted in coming. 1 am IN
duced to make this change In order to
embrace a larger extent OF unexplorad
country within the limits Of our explo-
rations, and particularly to enable us to
locate as much as possible of that por-
ton of the Little Missouri of which
nothing is now known. L expect the
expedition TO reach Fort Lincoln Al
gust 81. The health of the command Ids
been and is most excellent. This expe-
dition entered the Black Hills from the
west side and penetrated through the
eastern and most southern ranges ex-
plored the major portions Of the interi-
or aud passed ont the eastern range,
which forrn the boundary of the Black
Hills. From the fact that IN all our
principal marches through the Black
Hills we have taken, without obstacles,
heavily loaded train of over one hun
dred wagons, it may be inferred that
the Black Hills do not constitute the
impenetrable regions heretofore repre-
sented. Entering the Black Hills from
any direction, the most serious, II not
tho only s1lseaoloS, NVoro encor1D tcrod
once near the center base. This prcba
bly, accounts for the mystery which has
so long existed regarding the character
of the interior. / can only repeat what
I have stated in previous dispatches.
No portion of the United States can
boast of richer or better pasturage, or
purer water. The natural temperature
is but II degrees above the freezing
point, and of greater advantages gener-
ally to the farmer and stock raiser than
to be found in the Black Hills, build
ing stone of the best quality is to be
found in inexhadstible quantities. Rains
are frequent, with no evidence In the
country of either drouth or freshets.
The seasons perhaps are too short a&d
the nights too cool for corn, but be-
lieve all other grain could be produced
here in wonderful abundance. Wheat
would particularly yield largely. I Twill
only mention the fact that iron and
plumbago have been found, and beds
of gypsum of apparently inexhaustible
quantity. I referred in a former dis
patch to the discovery of the gold.
| Subsequent examination at numerous
points confirm and strengthen the fact
of the existence of gold IN the Black
Hills ON some of the water courses.
Almost every pan full of earth pro
duced gold in small, yet paying quanti-
ties. The miners report they found
gold among the roots of the grass, and
from that point to lower point reached,
gold was fourd in paying quantities.
The men discovered it at the expense of
little time or labor. AS evidence of
the rich pas nrage to be found in this
part, / say my beef herd, in marching
upward Vi six hundred miles, is in bet
ter condition than when started, being
now as fat as consistent with marching
condition. The same may be said of
the mules of the wagon train. The
horses of the command are in good
working condition. 4 have never seen
as many deer as are in the Block Hills.
Elk and deer haye also been killed.
We have had no collision with hostile
Indians.