Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-27
The Lands ON the Northern Pacific.

The Lands ON the Northern Pacific.
Some time ago General Hazen wrote
a letter in which he stated that the por-
lions of Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and
Washington Territories through which
the route of the Northern Pacific Rail
way passes are entirely worthless. Now
General @. A. Custer comes forward and
says that Gen. Hazen knows nothing
about 1t that he (Custer) has been
over every mile Of the route lying be-
tween the Missouri and Yellowstone
Rivers. "I find," says General Custer,
6 from careful reference to my diary,
that we left Fort Rice on the Goth of
June, and began our march toward the
Yellowstone. The horses and mules
accompanying the expedition num-
bered upward of [ 900, while in addition
to this we had about 600 head of beef
cattle. The daily marches averaged
perhaps Is miles. My diary shows that
my command encamped every night,
with single exception, where wood,
water, and grass were to be had. The
horses were put out to grass every even
ing, their allowance of grain being in
consequence reduced to less than one
third the usual amount. The beef cat
tie subsisted entirely upon the grazing
obtained, and their condition was good -
Along the course Of the Little Missouri
he admits that there are chad lands, y
but that they do not extend for more
than Is miles from the water courses,
and that their reputation is far worse
than their real character. After pass
ing the bad lands the arabic lands are
found again, and the grazing country
continues until within few miles of
the Yellowstone River, where the chad
lands begin again. In regard to these
never be used for farming or stock rails
ing, but they are valuable for the min
eral wealth they contain. Between the
Yellowstone and Musselshell Rivers the
expedition found beautiful country
The land was fertile and productive,
well watered and well timbered. While
in this district three head of cattle that
had stampeded from Col. Bakers com
mand the year before were captured
Their fine condition testified to the
grazing qualities of the country, From
the Little Missouri to the Musselshell,
with the exception of the bad lands, a
belt, say of rs miles in width, extends,
which is a vast meadow. The expedi-
ton frequently crossed old trails, and
in many places they found grain grow
ing, evidently self-planted, where it had
been scattered from the wagons or left
after feeding. At one place oats were
found having stalk four feet high sup
porting head of grain five inches in
length, and this, too, on the upland
Gen. Custer thinks that there can beno
doubt but there is in thelocality named
an almost boundless area of rich avail
able land, that waits only the touch of
the husbandman to call forth abundant
harvests. .
LudicrOus Use of the Word ''He.o .
Highlanders have the habit, when
talking their English, of interfering
the personal pronoun "he" where not
required, such as "The King he has
come," instead of "The King has
come" Often, in consequence, a SEN
tence is rendered ludicrous. A gentle
man says he has had the pleasure of
listening to the Rev. Mr.. - Qet his
locality be secret), and recently he
began his discourse thus
"My friends, you will find the sub
ject Of discourse this afternoon in the
first Epistle general of the Apostle
Peter, chapter 5 and verse 8, in the
words: 'The Devil he goeth about
like a roaring lion, seeking whom he
may devour.' Now, my friends, with
your leave, we will divide the subject
of our text to-day into four heads.
Firstly - who the Devil he was p
Secondly - We shall inquire Where
the Devil he wasp and Where the
Devil he was going?' Thirdly-'Who
the Devil he was seeking?' Fourthly
and lastly-'What the Devil he was
roaring about?'" -.