, 1875-07-01
THE BLACK HILLS EXPEDITION,

eight companies Of tho United States army
four companies Of tho Third Cavalry, two
companies of the Second Cavalry, aud two
companies Of tl.e Ninth Infantry. 1t started
from Fort Laramie, mud reached tho SOUTH
west slope of the Dlack Hills, about lntitude
~ degrees aul longitude 10i degrees, Juno
g. after some ten dnys' easy march, where
the base Of operations was established, under
the name of Scamp Jenney." From this
point surveying parties will be sent out over
tho whole Black Hills country, which covers
an AREA Of 10 miles from east to
west and 100 miles from north to
south. The purpose Of tho expedition
Is to make thorough scientific exploration
Of the entire section, as a means Of detsr,nin-
ing whether 1t Is worth whilo to proceed with
the effort to dis1odge tho Indians md sponge
out their title. Prof. JENaEr Is tho chief Of
the scientific corps, and the soldiers aro sent
out primarily to protect him and hia asBoci-
atcs in tho Government service, Rnd incident
ally all the other uhits men who stroll into
the reservation, from the possible attacks Of
the Indians. There has bean no conflict with
tho Indians 60 far.
The letter which VIC printed yesterday from
onrspecial correspon pondentaccompanyingt thoex-
petition gave an account of the first of tie IN
vestigating- tours made from Camp Jenney. Tho
party proceeded little to the east of north,
and encamped near the base Of Harncy's
Peak. The most important discovery TINT
wna malo in this expedition was that of
yast forest Of pine timber. The treos are
described as great pines, towering above the
sky, and It is thought that they extend over
the entire ridge which reaches from east to
west. Our correspondent says TINT 25 or 80
miles Of this dense forest Was travaraed, and
that It WAS only broken by occasional parks
OF valleys and little mountain strea1na The
trees arc from to 3 feet in diameter,
and the forests may in the end provo to be Of
greater value to TINT northern country than
all tho gold TINT shall ever be discovered
thero. The forest is about midway between
the prosout Pacific Railroad and tho projected
limo OF the Northern Pacific, and equally &C.
cessible from tho vast, troe1eas wastes OF
Montana, Dakota, and Wyoming. When the
time comes in future to demand tho ocoupa-
ton OF that country, this forest may con-
tribute indispensable did to Its growth and
habitation.
In addition to tho adyicea sent usby our own
correspondent, We have seen private letter,
written by Lieut.. ]. H. CoAn, an army officer
with tho expedition, datod June 10, and
brought by the Same courier. The writer
reports that about twenty men {the core-
Bpondenta speak Of 1907 were found scattered
about among tile hills, digging for gold, and
that they were not interfared with by the
military. Speaking Of the gold, the Lieuten-
ant says: II have seen 1t panned out in
n7ian quantities, but cannot gay how much
it will yield to the pan. Tho minors who arc
working say they can pm out S6 per day, and
whom they can get s'uice-boxes they assert
that they can make $50 to $50 day." This,
Of couzae, Is mere guess-work, and to be
taken with much allowance in view of Prof.
JExszY's opinion that the character Of the
streams will not permit Of sluioe-boxes, The
army oi1lcar writes further: ~ have tried
to get little gold myself, but the work is SO
hard that have come to the conclusion
find hore." We fem that the majority Of
those who 60 to the Black Hills 10 mike thcir
fortunes will be forced to the samo conclusion
after much e1pouse, fatigue. hardship. md
sorcnesa OF heart.
There Ia nothing ia any OF the advices We
con Get which warrants ths conrsa a,1onted hv
certain nawspepera lint eiyo the mort Glow.
ino aceounts Of the now Elaorado, and exo;tx
lie ovidtty Of all tho yenturasoma md un,
enn1ovod clasaes thronohout tho country
9noh asoounta aro ma;n1y In tba inter
ast Of thoso who are enoaoed t1
attino ont a1neditions. and thav will
briuo hack more oursa. th.n b}esa,np,
upon those who are responsible for thou,,
II will bo tine enough to encourage a ruat
:. s"'6'".'on :, A''"o~ 41.A' "A'4 w. '.
Aa1"us AnaA n"se oson o'''oaeea An" ~
scientific men shall have reported tho exist
| ence OF gold In sufficient quantities to pay l
crowd for its mining. Even then the Dlacl
! Hills will differ from almost oyerv other oold
mining rsoion II every dollar nina, ,loas mn
ooa, t,so en1 70 tba a,,co.o. ~ oro no, {. M
- I.,,s - ~ r-,,~.S :. =,
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