The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-26
aI.e Ser aTnppy yaaIey,.
GOLD AND OTHER VALUABLE M1TERALs

I GOLD AND OTHER VALUABLE 9iiNEHAhr
| rFrom the View York Times, 24th.j 84594
Public attention is attractedsto The regiol
known as the country OF the Black Hills
now being explored By q United States expe
ditiop comma nded by General Custer. Here
tofore the greater part Of that country ha
been an unknown land; it is off from th'
great emierant routes across the continent
| in region difficult Of access, and embraced
in the limits Of a reservation set apart fol
1.-The Sioux, warlike and jealous tribe 0
Indians. The system Of mountains BnoWr
as the Black Hills proper Is not large, being
about one hundred aud fifty miles square
II is situated on The boundary line between
| Wyoming and Dakota Territories, lying ID
| the northeastern corner Of the former, anf
1.-The southwestern corner Of the latter. The
chain forms an irregular circle, inclosing an
area of level country. The Cheyenne branch
of the Upper Missouri here makes sharp
turn westward, aud FORKS abruptly nearly
north and south. The t5fo forks almost sur
lround the circular range, and innumerable
small streams, fed by mountain rivulets and
torrents, empty into these forks. The Chey.
enne sooa empties, in its turn, into the Up
per Missouri, which here has general direc-
ton southwark. But the country originally
known as that OF the Black Hills was
roughly described as stretching from the
North Platte to the Mandan country, far up
into the Yellowstone region. The old Cali
fornia emi9rant road, which followed the
North Platte, entered the Black Hills, as
they were then callsd, Immediately on leay.
ing Fort Laramie, on the borders of Nebras-
ka. That portion of the hills, however, is
ONLY spur of the main chain, which is far
to the uorthward. The country, as far as
heretofore explored, is not inviting. Cross
ing westward over the ridge Travelled by the
emigrants, there was nothing TO enlice set
tiers except fair pasturage and good wa.
ter. The hills were covered with scrubby,
dark frs and pines, whose sombre hue gave
name to the mountain system, but which
disappeared as the traveller descended into
the Sweetwater country on the other side,
where abundant settlements have been
made in these later days.
heretofore exploring parties have content
ed themselves with an exterior view OF the
circular chain now known listnctirely as
the Black Hills. The forbldding aspect Of
the region, the abruptnesS of the outer walls,
and the moat-like line which the forks OF
tie Cheyenne have formed about the hills,
have deferred any more intimate acquaint-
ance. General Clusters expedition made Il
half circuit to the westward, and entered the
charmed circle between the head waters Of
the two forks, and where the mountain
chain is sufficiently broken down to per-
nit tolerably easy approach. Once in
side, the explorers found fertile val
legs, rich pasturage, and new and album
daut flora. It was virgin soil, hitherto
unknown to the foot of the white man. In
the gulches and canons that break into the
central valleys from the surrounding ridges
gold has been found in "payng quantities."
it is said, and iron and plumbago are also
reported to be among the mineral treasures
Of this new Ell Dorado. General Custer re-
ports that the grass is luXuriant and album
dant, the water good, and the climate mild,
though the days are thought to be too short
and cool for corn. Ii is pretty evident,
therefore, that the chief attraction for emil
grants will be in the reported riches OF
gold concealed in the bosom of the earth.
There are millions of acres Of arabic
and pasture land more accessible than the
heart of the Black Hills can be in this CEN
fury; and the tlord descriptions of the vir-
gin beauty of the region Will not greatly ex-
cite the imagination Of men who have seen
the same exhibition in kaDSaS within twenty
years, or who are now seeing it in the parks
of Colorado, where there is no possible OBJ
suce TO the progress OF the settler and
the herder. We must, moreover, caution
susceptible people against giving much
credit TO the reported discoveries Of gold.
1t is evident that the explorers have found
the precious ore; it would be strange if
they had not; it has been found, we be-
lieve, IN nearly every State in the Union,
from Maine to Alaska. What "raying
Guauti,ies' may be we can only surmlse.
Gold by the painful might be dear in a
country where 40 armed and powerful eX-
petition would be needed to protect the
hoDestmner. II would he cheap at eight
cents the painful of "pay dirt" if found in
Onondagu county. 1t is evident that the
explorers, fascinated by the pristine beauties
Of this new fairy land, feel great enthusiasm
over their new discoveries. Like De Soto
and his followers in Florida, they find them
selves in Land Of Flowers where the
streams run over golden sands-in inagina-
ton. The rosy dream is natural. 1t is
always so with ardent DISCOVERIES. Their
observations are recorded in August, when
the bright, pure mountain country is seen
at its best. But it lies far north Of the lati-
tude Of Boston, in an altitude OF ut least
1000 feet above the level Of the sea. In the
lesser Black Hills, considerably to the south,
the winters are often severe, the SHOWS being
sometimes tremendous in depth. General
Clusters floral valleys and blue grass must
have only brief summer.
Precisely what this expedition is designed
to accomplish we do not know. It's addi-
ton TO the general geographical knowledge
of the country will not be large. The whole
region, as we have said, is small in area.
Moreover, it is not open to- settlement; il is
the property of the Sioux, so far as solemn
treaties of the United States can make it so.
The spreading of these feverish reports
about the universal wealth of the country is
sure to arouse that wild and reckless class Of
men who rush wherever there is q rumor
of gold, and who would prospect" for
gold on the brink of a volcano or in valley
of tigers if they thought they could "get
the color" Whatever the special occasion
for the expedition, it will be a real misfor-
tune if its immediate results shall be the
temptation thilher of rush of men, who
will suffer privation, danger, and disappoint.
ment themselves, and who may, beside,
bring upon us another dispute with the war.
like Sioux.
WHY IT WAS DoNE.-The action of the
Pennsylvania politicians in thrusting the
Presidential question into the State canvass
is attracting the attention and discussion OF
the papers of the State and Of the country.
The Pittsburgh Eoening Telegraph explains
the real object of the resolution to be slap
or tho President heca,lse of his refusal 10