The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-11-20
From bismarck 20 the black MiIIs.-The
Shortest, Safest and Hest Route--
what an ola ronticrsman, who Inns
Travelled over all Routes, Knows
Ab0ut ~

what an OLD frOntiersman, who bns
Travelled over all Routes, Knows
About IL.
To the Editor OF tho Bismarck Tribune;
So many refer TO mo for information
concerning the Black Hills, that, with
your indulgence, / will give a brief
sketch of the several routes suggested,
and make such comparison as seems
to be called for to further the interests
of those who ut an early day will seek
to reach the New Eldorad0,p
Let me premise, however, by saying
that | am familiar with all the routes,
having been engaged for the past sew
enteen years in trading with the In-
dians, or frelghting for the government
in connection with the Indians. |
have travelled all over the routes men,
toned, have been on every side of the
Black Hills, and through them, having
accompanied Custer's expedition on its
recent trip.
give below table showing the dis.
tances in detail, via each route, and
follow with brief description of each,
comparing them with the Bismarck
route, which is preferable above all
others:
From Ydnktoa
To Fort Randall, (stage road) rs miles !;
Old MILESTONE agency, 80 forks OF
White river, $50; forks of Cheyenne
river, northwest, 70; up South Chey-
enne to point southeast or opposite
Clusters Gulch, so; northeast through
the mountains to Custer's Gulch, 50 /:
total, 425 miles.
From Cheyenne, u r. Il. r.,
To Fort Laramie, stage roadD, 100
miles; Niobrara, 81; Red Clouds
agency, %; Spotted TAILS old agency,
~ south fork Cheyenne, So Custer's
Gulch, through mountains, So; total,
BAT miles.
From Columbus, Ne6., Ella Loup Fork,
TO Niobrara river, travelling north, 300
miles; Spotted Tails new agency, ON
White river, so; South Cheyenne,
south OF west, 80; Clusters Gulch,
through mountains, 50; total, 400
miles.
From BoSemdn, M T.,
To crossing of Yellowstone river, wag-
on road, 80 miles; Big Horn told Fort
G. f. Smith), wagon road, $50; Big
Piney (old Fort Phil Kearney), wagon
road, 95; Powder river told Fort Reno),
wagon road, IS; head Of dry fork of
Powder river, 40 lnyan Kara, travel
ing east, intersecting Custer's trail, rs;
Custer's Gulch, following trail SOUTH
east, IS; total, SIS miles.
From Boseman, uia Bear Butte,
To crossing Of Yellowstone, 85 miles !:
mouth of Tongue river following
down Yellowstone), 1850; Powder river.
south, so; little Missouri
river, travelling south, IS; Bear Butte,
north fork of Cheyenne, 20; Custer's
Gulch, following Clusters return trail,
40; total, 470 miles.
From Bismarck, ID. T.,
To Cannon Ball river, %; Battle creek,
2S; Grand river, d. North branch, %
Owl river, IL; South branch, IS; Cher
~ creek, %; Cheyenne forks, 81 Bear
Butte, 81; Clusters Gulch, 35 total,
$50 miles.
The route from Yankton passes i'm
over the Sioux reservation,
and in close proximity to several large |
Indian agencies; and the road from |
The forks of the White river 10 Gus |
ter's Gulch will be extremely tedious
On account Of the dreaded "bad landsu
through which 1t passes.
From Columbus, one would en-
counter an immense sand desert lying