New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-12
RESO OF THE BLACK HILLS.
PROF. JENNY'S REPORT.

|
| by THUNDER STORMS.
| W.surNcToy. Nov 1.-THE following is Prof.
Jenny's complete report regarding the Black HIS
country:
srRs; In compliance with your request for preni-
mary statements respecting the mineral aud agricultural
resources of the Black Hills In Dakota, and the WORK
done under my direction during the past Summer in eS-
porinc and mapping that portion OF the territory
have the honor 10 make the following report Ia bref
In accordance with instructions received from you ndef
date of March o. fitted out the expedition at Cheyenne
wyoming and proceeded to Fort Laramie where was
joined by escort Of six companies OK cavalry ana t"o
companies OF infantry, under command OF Col h. l.
Dodge Ny party consisted OF Henry Newton Assistant
| Geoloust; V. +. McGuycuddy, NJ. b. Topogfhpher !
Capt H. p Tuttle Astronomer; and W. II. Root, Head
Miner assisted by number OF prospectors, iabores ana
| practical miners. The expedition left Fort Laramie May
25 and reached the southern base OF The Black Hls
June g. after a march Of about 135 miles, ant aa'nIe"
upon the fork Of the Beaver Creek when the WORK
OF exploring the His Immediately entered into; ana
continued unceasncly nntIi the return OF inc eApe'o
to Fort Laramie, Oct. 13. nearly iVe inontns. 49,.
The Black Hills of Dakota located between the two
forks OF the Cheyenne River, and occupy an area IN
cluded between the 1854 and 1o5th meridans OF 9hg
extend about 100 miles in northerly direction, win
breadth of from 40 TO GO miles i2e nnd D
kota through the central portion OF te 1 '
leaving the greater area IN INC dSr9g % oonS Of
worsing OF the ncdcnta IN the history OF the e1ped
reaching the Hills found miners pOspeCl-
ing French Creek; how, after MONTHS vol pg nt
was found ia paying quantities on sprln8 ald fapu
GIfek now cc .ne e great asssancG
in prospecting the country; will briefly state tuen re-
sult OF The work viii tend to throw hight on the prop
able future value of the region
WHERE The GOLD FIELDS ARE.
That portion Of the Black Hills which may ne dese-
mated as Harneys Peak Gold Fields Is almost wholly III
Dakota and extends about 30 miles north and SOUTH
with an average breadth OF nearly 90 miles, covering an
tl,a GOO u1ilp ~
gold deDosits however, found in the valeys OF the
streams which drain that area the gold being derived
from the dsntegraon OF the quartz lodges, which are
very numerous in the rocks of that region The most
extensive and valuable deposits Of aurferous gravel dis
covered during the past season we're In the
valleya of Spring and Rapid Greeks and their
tributaries, wneIe. in almost every case, Tue
graye bar are very advantageOusly sated FOR work
ING and many natural circumstances contribute ma
teIiay the profitable extracting Of the gold when
they contain. Timber # suitable size ana quantity Tor
The construction Oi dunes and sluiccs Is abundant me
water supply is in most localities ample and ne iall OF
the streams sufficiently great TO enable the water TO he
readily carried above the level OF even the more elevated
blrs and deposits ~ gravel. . . =, -,
While there have been discovered IN the BACK
Hills no eposs of gravel sufficiently rich in gold TO be
proably worked in the primitive manner win pan OF
rocker, yet there are many bars m me afey feiS
Held especially npon Spring Greek the forks OF Castle
and Rapid Greek aud the valleys OF those mountain
streams which, wien Tkiilfdlly worked by gangs OF
MINERS With suices, viii yield good return for thc labor
employed and the moderate capital required t. DC IN
vested. But little could he done IN single season III
prOsp citing the numerous 'cgieedhn quart NtIns "
4
lave procured abundant samples Tor testing thef Naue
10y assay. 49,, ,
northwestern portion of the Hills, is wholly IN WON
ing and entirely separated from the Barneys Peak
gold deposits are small, compared with those on RAPID
Creek, and remarkable for the absence OF quartz III
the gravel the god being derived from the d'ntesa
ton of feld1paT pophyIy carrying irregular MASSES oi
iron ana manSalese ores
THE DAILY SHOWERS or SUMMER.
IL difficult to determine the agricultural resources or
! ,I,a. ~ glo
season especially could gain but little information
resuectng the severity Of the Winter the prevalence
Of early ana late frosts. The Black Hills rise ike an
island OF rasscOvercd aud treeess plains,
watered by lsional and scany supplies OF rain The
winds IN passing these plains gather some moisture,
which they part with rain, on being chilled by
oontact with the colder ard elevated region
Of the central portion Of the Hps. The result OF
This il the prevalence OF frequent though not heavy
rainfalls giving to the Hills a most peculiar climate.
or two showers yet owing TO the dryness OF the amos-
pierre the climate found TO be very healthy Dur
g the past season. after Aug very little rain was cx
peronced, and some Of the smaller streams contained
where the average fan does not exceed ten inches for hc
whole year, not the exhibition OF peculiarly wet
ire plants aud The abundance of trees and the
coarseness Of their grD as vel As the growth OF plants
dry hllsides exposed TO both sun and wnd tnn 20
show that the which witnessed was by no means
very anonaou9 one though the amount OF rain ma!
have been somewhat greater thah usual
SOME GOOD FARMING AND TIMBER LANDS.
The area OF land suitable for cultivation is. from the
mountainous character OF the region, limited "a com
pared TO the vast area embraced in the Hills but the soil
along the and in most OF the valleys deep and
fertile and will sufficient for the requirements Of the
population which the Hills viii support as stock-rasng
community should Judge from the observations which
have had the opportunity to make that at least
twentieth OF the 5000 square miles embraced IN the
Black Hills may he fairly described as arabic lands and
~ fnoug these lands lying near the streams and
v,
land forming slopes Of the hilides. which, while not
arabic viii afford nnc grazing, thus largely enhancing
tb" vane of lands 10 which they contiguous
Amoag the rocky Of the Harney's Peak range.
and in the northern portion of the hills there are regions
where the grasses comparatively wanting; bur gem
criy throughout the whole area OF the hills lunur;
ant growth the finest is To- he found even COW
ng the ground the shade Of the pine trees upon
the elevated divides between the streams The ahnnd-
Afforded 10 0c by hedcnsey tmbered slopes and deep
valleys will make ita region well adapted TO stock-rais-
u TIE timber OF the Hills il variety OF pine known
yellow or heavy p me rc gGa 81 ann e wSsre S ne
have escaped the action OF fires and violent gales, good
T o "i from TSe S to inches in das can oH bee Oh
tanned abundance. Spruce OF good quality il 10 bc
oak and elm of medium size, among the hills on tile
ecrn s,ole qhc water throughout the hills is excel
lent in quality mostly derived from springs among the
mesone or Inc grant, schstoso rock. Only in locai
ties among the foothills is coniinatsd BY alkali
lived ia the Hls ever ysitcd them except IN inc
spring to cut lodge poles or occasionally 10 stop AMI
srences 70 fhe Upper Missouri. The only rca-
a9n advanced for the cause OF their not living the
ujs IL the prey aence OF unerstorIns and tho
frequency oi trees being struck By lightning
AN ELABORATE REPORT 10 BIZ MADE.
Inregard to the work done by the survey, Hay state
tina, the whole area between the forks OF the Cheyenne
River as well the OF both these streams, has
been carefully mapped by the topographer, v T. Me
Gycuddy, who has also located the position OF the I'M
potant peaks the hills and mapped the course OF The
different mountain ranges and streams In Ibis work he
has been assisted by the astronomer, Capt H. p Futile
who has wherever practicable, determined the latitude
and longitude OF important points The scientific
th,. liz ~