The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-19
THE BLACK HILLS AND THEIR
TREASURES.

> VI
II the north and east by the Missouri River, i
y large region set apart by the United State
e for the exclusive use of various Indian tribes
q The largest reservation is tia. assigned to tn
Il Sioux, and it comprises the larger and as viii
u be seen, the better part Of the reservation
described in the treaty as follows:
y Commencing on the east bank of the Mis-
: souri, River, whore the forty-sixth parallel OF
q north latitude crosses the same; thence along
4 low wafer mark down said east bank to 4
point opposite where the northern line OF the
State Of Nebraska strikes the river thence
: west across said river and along the northern
1 line OF Nebraska to the one hundred and
fourth degree OF longitude west from CIR en-
wich; thence north said meridian to a
: point whore the fortysiXth parallel of north
: latitude interceptS the same: thence due east
along said parallel to the place Of beginning;
and ia addition all existing reservations on
) the east bank OF said river shall be, and are,
I set apar. for the occupation of the Indians
named, and for such other friendly tribes or
individual Indians as they may be willing,
with the consent of the United States, to ad-
nit among them.
The other occupants OF the reserve are the
Brule Ogallalah, Minnceonjoa Ianctonias
Cncpapa, Blackteet, Cutheals, Two Kettles,
Sans Arcs and S1ntees.
The treaty provides that no person or per-
sons, excepting those authorized shall ever
be permitted to pass over, settle upon, or re-
side in the territory described, or in such
territory as may be added, and said Indians
relinquish all Claims etc, in and to any por-
ton Of the United States or Territories ex-
I ,,oba oh 81 Ar
be added thereto.
The extradition 0. criminals is stipulated
the right to build railroads reserved, hunting
privileges are extended beyond the reserva-
ton, and an agreement is solemnly made by
the Indians that they will not attack capture
or carry off white women or children, or mo
lest wagon trains, mules, herds or coaches.
| Within this Sioux Reservation lies a very
rem arhable region known as the Black Hills,
| comprising a mountainous territory about one
hundred miles long from north to south and
about eighty miles wide from east to west. The
center Of the Black Hills is about where the
forty fourth parallel is crossed by the twenty.
sixth meridian west from Washington. The
Hills are drained to tee cas-. by the Belle
Fourche, Bear Butte, Elk and other branches
Of the Big Cheyenne, which flows eastward
to the Missouri, at Fort Sully. distant two
hundred miles.
From Fort Lincoln, on the northeast. the |
Hills are distant about two hundred and fifty |
miles, and from Sioux City. on the southeast, |
about three hundred and fifty miles. a part
of the Black Hills country lies in Wyoming.
The highest land is the peak Of Inyan Kara,
six thousand six hundred feet above ocean
level. the average elevation being abou: four
thousand feet.
The scenery Of the Black Hills is described
as supremacy beautiful Astounding in rom ane
tic valleys, CLASSY lakes, pluaging torrents.
crystal cascades, piles Of transparent gypsum
rocks, myriads Of flowers and abundance of
grasses, pine spruce, poplar, oak timber. The
climate is described as exquisitely mild. TEN.
perate and uniform. Besides many species Of
timber, more than ono hundred and tw1ntye
five varieties of flowers, the native grasses
are equal in beauty and nutrtiye qualities to
the hes. blue grass OF Central Kentucky,
while the rich soil is adapted to the produce
ton of any grain, vegetables or fruits on the
Continent. While the surrounding plains
and prairies are subject to the parching sun of
summer and the SHOWS and biting blasts of
winter the sheltered valleys of the Western {
paradise are secure from either extreme. i
The thickly timbered mountains furnish IN
falling springs and streams OF ice cold water !
even in July and August. y
Besides gypsum and quartz and the best |
md purest of building stone of many descrip- ,.
ions the Black Hills abound in coal, iron /;
olumbago lead and silver. s
An expedition from Fort Lincoln was made
y Gen. q. A. Caster, Of the army, July 2, I
S7l. He reached the country in sixteen days 2
march. In one Of his dispatches he writes : t
I'm regard to the character of the country y
nclosed by the Black Hills, | can only repeat ;;
What have stated in previous dispatches. No =
,orton of the United States can boast OF =.
icher or better pasturage, or purer water, the y
atural temperature Of which, in summer, as
t flows from the earth, is but twelve degrees "
boye the freezing point, and of greater advan- =;
ages generally to the farmer and stock raiser, :
han are to be found in the Black Hills. Build =
az stone, Of the best quality, is to be found -,
a inexhaustible quantities, aud wood for fuel y,
nd lumber sufficient for all time to come. -
,aips are frequent, with no evidence in the
ountry Of either drouth or freshets. The
ea,on, perhaps, is too short and the nights
DO cool for corn but believe all other grain
ould be produced here in wonderful abun-
ance. Wheat would particularly Yield large in
:. There is no doubt as to the existence OF =,
arious minerals throughout the hills, as thu ~
inject has received the special attention of AZ
le experts who accompanied the expedition
al will be reported upon in detail. will n,
ally mention the fact that iron and plumbago be
ave been found, and beds of gypsum of APP trt
arently inexhaustiole quantity We
+" | referred in former dispatch to the dis VII
'very of gold. Subsequent examination st re
amerous points confirm and strengthen the sa
et OF the existence OF gold IN the BRch pc
ills. Ia some of the water courses, almost re,
'ery pan full Of earth produced gold in pay sp
p nuanfitiaS Onr hrief haltS and ranil 3