The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1875-03-26

The Denver Ncus has quite an
interesting correspond dent travelling
in the company Of Major Stanton,
PaymRster. He has given a very good
description OF the country Between
here and Fort Laramie, and between
the latter place and Fort Fetterman.
We make the following ca tracts from
his last letter, dated Mt the latter place,
March l.:
ELK HORN VALLEY
and creek considerable valley, but
little water TO be denominated creek.
y splendid stock range, with n heavy,
tall growth Of grass, is the principal
attraction here, and when the Sioux
can Ue kept within proper bounds,
cattle or sheep raising in the vicinity
cannot fail to be a profitable business.
But a ride OF tsn miles further, across
as good a grazing country rs man
could wish, brought us to our beau
ideal spot for the creation of a home
that j., il the Indian was away, and
the railway near-the
l. VALLEY OF THE LA BoNTE,
so named because of the significance
Of the words, La Bonte-Teautiful val
ley, or fertile valley. 1t Is in truth a
remarkably pretty stream and won
dcrfully beautiful valley. The stream
rises near the base Of Laramie Peak,
and cmpties into the North Platte,
about forty miles distant. The quality
Of the water is unexceptionable, and
exceeds in quantity that of any Of the
other streams crossed between Fort
Laramie and Fort Fettermrn. The
valley proper is from two to five miles
in width, all of which is covered by a
luxuriant growth of grass, and n fair
portion, adjacent to the stream, is well
covered with II growth OF various var
icties of soft wood timber and with
wild fruit trees. OF this latter, the
plumb, cherry, currantand gooseberry
are quite plenty, and said to bear an
immense quantity Of
DELICIOUS FRUIT.
Wide stretches of magnificent hay
lands line the creek on either side,
and above these are broad uplands
which lie well for irrigation, aud no
doubt would produce excellent crops
of both cereal and vegetable produce.
Next above these are the elevated pas
tares, just sufficiently broken by bluffs
covered with pine timber to afford all
the shelter stock would really need.
The upper portion of the valley
abounds IN elk, deer, antelope, and
other game, while beaver dams and
unmistakable signs of the existence,
in quantity, of other f~ur-bearing ami
mails, were found by our party on every
hand.
Z Y FORT FETTERMAN,
the outpost of civilization in this
direction. The Fort is situated upon
a commanding bluff overlooking the
North Platte, nearly 300 miles north
west of Denver, u little north of west
from Fort Laramie, and ninety miles
due moth from Medicine Bow, the
nearest railroad station on the Union
Pacific. The Fort, named in honor of
Colonel Fctternlan, killed at the Phil
hearney massacre. was established in
1867, by Major William McE'Dyc,
who also built the fort.
The mOUn of wood used at the
fort averages 1900 cords, per annum.
1t is all seasoned yellow pine from the
forests in the vicinity. Excellent
coal has been discovered twenty-five
miles up the Platte, but it is not used,
because wood car be supplied cheaper
and is preferred while the quality is so
good. Hay for the cavalry and trans
p~ortation horses is cut from the mea-
dows of the Platte above and below
this point. OF this provender, 400
tons are used annually.