The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-30
A Western Paradise There is no Place
like HOmn

march and the active operations OF his grant
expedition to the Black Hills in Dakota Terri
tory. He has carrie his cavalry through fal
fields and pastures new, where hitherto tn
foot Of the white man had not trot, nor ths
white mans horse struck spark from the
fiinty rock with his iron hoof If but the hal
he tells us Of this fairy land be true. it excels
all others in beauty and grandeur, AS well rs
in fertility and material wealth. The picture
he draws is an enchanting and entlclng one
and will not fll to have powerful Influence
in stirring our adventurous Young countrymcl
to seek their fortunes in this new Fl Dorado w.
this Land of Flowers. After st ting that on
the goth Of July they had crossed the Belle
Fourche River and moved through Very srI-
perior country, covered with fine timber, and
excellent grazing, he tells rs that the follow
ing day they entered valley, which he thus
describes
We here found grass, water and wood OF
the best quality, and III great abundance. On
| the following day we resumed our march np
| this valley, which we had explored several
| miles the preceding evening" and which led
| us by an easy ascent almost southeast. After
marching nearly twelve miles we encamped at
an early hour in the same valley This valley,
in one respect, presented the most wonderful
as well as beautiful aspect LIS 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 q profuse display
OF flowers. Every tep Of our march that day
was amid flowers Of the nose exquisite cOlors
and perfume. SO luxur,ant were they that
| men plucked them without disnounting from
| the saddle. Some belonged to new or I'M
classified species. 1t WAS strange sight to
glance back ut the advancing columns of cav
airy, and behold the men with beautiful bOu-
quets in their hands, while the head-ge Of
! their horses was decorated with wreaths OF
flowers fit to crown queen Of May Deeming
it most fitting appellation, | named this
Floral Val ey.
General Forsyth at one Of our hating
places, chosen at random, placed seventeen
beautiful flowers belonging to different species.
and within a space of twenty feet square.
The same evening, while sitting at the mess
table, one Of the officers called attention to the
carpet Of flowers strewn nnder our feet, and
it was suggested that it be determined how
many different flowers could be plucded with
out leaving our seat at the dinner table. Seven
beautiful varieties were thus gathered Prof
Donaldson, tre botanist Of the expedition
estimated the number of flowers in bloom in
Floral Valley at fifty, while an equal lumber
OF varieties had bloomed or we're yet to bloom.
The number of trees, shrubs and grasses were
twenty-five, making the total fora of the val
species.
Through this beautiful valley meanders a
stream Of crystal water, so cold, as to render
ice undesirable, even ut MONDAY. The temper
atnre OF two OF the many springs found flow
ing into it, was taken and .scertained to be
A and AL degrees, respectively.
The next morning, although 10th to leave so
enchanting locality, we continued to ascend
this valley until gradually, almost impercepti-
bly,, We discovered that we were on the crest
Of the western ridge Of the Black Hills; and
instead Of being among barren, rocky peaks,
as might be supposed, we found ourselves
vending our way through little park whose
natural beauty may well bear comparison with
the love lest portions OF Central Park. Favored
as we had been in having Floral Valley for our
roadway to the west OF the Black Hills we
We're scarcely less fortunate in the valley
which seemed to me to meet us on the interi-
or slope. The ripping stream of clear, cold
water, the counterpart Of that we had ascended
the day before, flowed at our feet and pointed
out the way before us, while along its banks
grew beautiful flowers, surpassed but little in
beauty and profuson by their sisters who had
greeted us the day before. After advancing
down this valley about fourteen miles, our
course being almost southeast, we encamped
in the midst Of grazing, whose only fault, if
any, was its great luxuriance.
But this is not all. As the expedition pro- |
ceeded the wonders Of this golden West were
still more prolifcally untolded to their pleased
vision. In second dispatch, dated four
days subsequent to that from which we have |
quoted, and written in sight of Harney's Peak,
the golden-haired cavalry hero tells us:
Everything indicates an abundance Of |
moisture within the space inclosed by the |
Black Hills. The soil is that OF :. rich gar
saI nf Iurk ~ |
ceedingly fine grain. We have found the |
country in many places covered with wild |
raspberries, both the black and red varieties.
Yesterday and to-day | have feasted on the
latter. 1t is no unusual sight to see hun
dreds Of soldiers gathering wild berries. No
where in the States have | tasted cultivated
raspberries of equal flavor to those found
growing wild here, nor have l ever seen them
larger or IN AZ great profnsion rs have seen
hundreds OF acres OF them here. Wild straw
borries, wild currants, gooseberries, two va
fieties OF pine berries and wild cherries are
also found III great protusion, and of exceed
ing fine quality. Cattle could winter in these
valleys without other food or shelter than
hat to be obtained from running at large"
Was ever anything outside of Chesterfield
or Fluvanna equal to this? Then. too we
nave gold galore amid these bleak hills and
air Wales, and at the mere mention of this
precious meta! the blood quickens now even
rs in the days OF CorteZ and Pizalro Of Ponce
lie Leon and d. Soto. OF the richness OF the
mineral deposits there too; We have not only
he testimony Of the general Of the expedition,
,ut of that OF the correspondent Of the New
York World, who acc mpanies the column
The latter, writing TO his paper, besides fully
'orroboratinS General Clusters account Of the
natural beauties and great fertility of the
country, says:
The agricultural value and resources Of the
rable portion OF the Black Hills-and this
embraces widespread area is beyond all
present estimate. This much can be said
without exaggeration. No portion Of the
United States presents more inviting pros
'ect so far as natural resources are concerned,
o the farmer and stock raiser through the re- )
ion Of country just tlaversed by this expedi- {
ion, l would 90 more into detail did not ,
elleve that the official dispatch Of the officer
commanding the expedition of which send
on 4 copy, contains all that is important !
hat there is gold here, and perhaps through !
ne Black Hills, cannot be longer doubted. i