The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-19

guns, and train of one hundred wagons
total about 1000 men. The country wa
favorable for grazing, and so level that thu
trains moved in four columns. He reached
the North Butte on the 18th of July, and tn,
second day after ehcampel in Floral Valley
| so named by him from the abundance q
various kinds of flowers Here the expedi
ton found wood water and grass in abund
ance. He assembled Floral Valley to the
dividing ridge there discovered the source Of
a creek which descended on the eastern
slope OF the ridge into the heart of the Black
Hills country. The interior was found tc
consist of alternate ridges AMI valleys, pro-
ducing abundlnt pasturage. "No finer
stock region, says the General. "can prob
ably be found in any portion of our country
Nor is the grazing confined to the valleys
and warehouses;. Far up to the timbered
c.ests of the hills We found plentiful supply
Of nutritious grass. Every examination Of
the soil revealed depth and richness, which,
coupled with the frequent showers with which
that region is blessed render the latter a
most desirable one for the purposes of agri-
culture. Scouts sent in all directions found
abundance of wild fruits, currants, strawber-
ries, ETC., often larger and better in flavor
than the growth of eastern orchards and car
dens. They found everywhere a plenty of ex-
cellent timber, streams favorable for water
power, and handsome building stone in I'M
mense masses. The Indians told Gen. Gus
ter that the winters We're mild, that cattle
supported themselves all winter, and that
grass was green and plentiful early in March
In the opinion of Gen. Custer, " the coun-
try possesses every characteristic and quality
calculated to fit it for the home of dense
population Gold having been found in con
siderable quantities in the Black Hills coun-
try, with every prospect of remuneration to
the miner, there is every probability that the
whole region will soon be oyerrun by adven-
turer5 il the eager search after sudden riches.
Large expeditions are already planned to start
from ST. Louis and other cities of the West
The enterprise will enlist great many hun
dreds of the more daring sons of the great
West, among whom crossing the plains is gem
orally regarded as the finishing degree of
young mans education.
Mining claims Were located as early as
August, 1S1i Whenever the Indian title or
right of occupancy by reservation is extin-
5ulshed, there will be a rush of emigration to
this beautiful, healthful, fertile region. Many
who first 50 to find wealth, will return thither
% build houses and open farms for their fam
lies. 1t is not extravagant to predict that in |
1880 there will be. within a radius of seventy
niles around Castle Park, permanent popu-
alton of more than fifty thou sand souls
With bat one more quotation from Gen
'aster's report. which we find in the Chicago
inter- Ocee.n. W. must leave this attractive
beme:
The country through which we have passed
ince leaving the Belle Fourche River has
een generally open and extremely fertile
he main portion of that passed over since
nterlng the unexplorea portion of the Black
Ills consists Of beautiful parks and valleys.
through which flows a stream of clear, cold
'ater, perfectly free from alkali, while bound
lg these parks or valleys there are invariably
)und unlimited supplies of timber, much OF
being capable Of being made into good lum-
ers In no portion OF the United ates, not
zcepting the Blue Grass region of Kentucky,
ave | ever seen grazing superior to that
ound growing Wild in this hitherto unknown
egion.
know OF no portion OF our country where
allure has done SO much to prepare homes
II huSbandmen, and left so little Tor the lat
II to do as here. In the open and timbered
oaces a partly prepared farm of almost any 1
LIn nf ND o,I l.
'und here. Not only is the land cleared and
mbered both for fuel and building convent
atty located. with streams of pure water flow
g through lis length aud breadth, but nature
ttmes seems to have gone further and
aced beautiful shrubbery and evergreens in
re lost desirable locations for building sites
lille on Htrney's Peak, 1 could contrast the
light green verdure of these lovely parks =
it'll the sunburned and dry, yellow heritage
be seen on the outer plains. Everything
dicates abundance Of moisture within the
ace inclosed by the Black Hills.
The soil is that of a rich garden, and COM
'sed Of a dark mould of exceedingly fine
AIN. We have found the country in IN any -
aces covered with wild raspberr;es, both :,
e black and red varieties. Yesterday and )
day we feasted on the latter. 1t is no unu-
al sight to see hundreds of soldiers gather
6 wild berries. Nowhere in the States have
asted cultivated raspberries of equal flavor
those found gro wing wild here, nor have |
er seen them as large or in as great pr1fu-
IN. | have seen hundreds of them h. re.
lid strawberries, wild currants, gooseber-
S, and wild cherries are also found in great g
ofusion, and of exceedingly pure quality.
Cattle would winter in these valleys without
Ter food or shelter than that that can be
tanned from running at large.