Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-02-10

know -''the truth about the Black Hills"
But little was heard from them after
their departure, save by way of an occa.
sional prairie ranger who came into Bis.
ma, ok who had met the expedition en-
route, and reported them as going along
finely and having jolly good time gen.
orally on the trip. They were gone from
Bismarck some five or SIX
weeks, when their expected return
became the a'l.absorbing topic Of conver.
sation, and eye glasses from Fort
Abraham Lincoln (across the Missouri
river from Bismarck) came to be popular
"arms." as both citizens and soldiers
spent hours gazing away off to the south
west, up the Little Heart Valley, in 4
laudable effort to see who could first dis.
cover the van Of the returning party in
which were numbered friends Of all re.
naming behind.
As the sun sank down one evening be.
hind the western buttes common in west.
ern Dakota, the cry came from the look
out, "They come, they come!'' and in a
few hours more the little band so anxious.
" looked for were ensconsed at the fire.
sides kept warm for their reception, and
they were received by the huzzas of all
the villagers. while the cannon of the bar.
racks pealed out a welcome to the adven-
turous explorers.
Soon as little rest had refreshed the
travellers they gave to the public brief
account Of their explorations and travels.
which is something in substance as fol-
lows:
They had gone from Bismarck, as
nearly in direct line for Harncy's Peak
as practical, and after = most pleasant
journey of seven easy days. travel they
arrived at Custer City, which is located a
few miles south Of Harncy's Peak, where
they made their headquarters during
their explorations throug ghout ths mining
regions. On their trip from Bismarck
through they had encountered no In
dians; there was no snow on the route
whatever; each night they camped ON the
banks of beautiful streams of water, with
an abundance of wood and natural advan.
tages for easy defense, in case of molesta.
tion by rowing bands Of red skins. Good
grazing was found in the vallcys-green
and tender rushes, while the buffalo
grass on the table lands afforded tolera.
bic pasture, even in the winter months.
They found some twelve or fifteen hun.
dred miners at work in the Hills, engaged
in placer mining, and they did not find
any one who was not panning out
even by the rudest method--gooi wages,
while . majority were making ext, aordi.
nary wages an some fabulous amounts
of glittering nuggets of gold.
Tho ~ u m 10 q fhorn,,nh and vnAcf
exhaustive exploration.of the ranges Of
country occupied by the miners, and
much more besides. They found all the
miners we'll supplied in all the necessa'
ries Of life, which could be bought At rea.
sonable prices from all who had brought
a surplus or supplies into the Hills to
sell.
The party having spent some three
weeks in exploring and looking over that
noted country, bade the jolly miners
adieu. and set out on their return, &C.
compa,,ied by the famous California
miner and prairie guide, California Joe, -
who returned to Bismarck with the par.
ty, and who will pass through Brainerd
the Rrst of next week, in company with
several Of the leading business men ol
Bismarck en- route for st. Paul: .
En- route from Cheyenne teams re.
quire eighteen to twenty days, while the
Bismarck party made the return trip in
the dead of winter in seventy.two hours,
and party made it last summer, with
pack mules, in eight days.
These comprise bare outline of the
facts concerning the richness and extent
of the diggings in the Black Hills, and q
proof that cannot be gainsaid that the
route by the way of the Northern Pacific
with Bismarck as fitting out point, is
the route of all routes to reach the Hills
il. the shortest time, and is the most
economical. pleasant, and safest route tc
60. Allthat is necessary, is to give thu
facts to the outside world, rs to tho many
and eminently superior advantages Of the
Northern Pacific route, and in . few
weeks more thousands of people de
sirous of going to the Hills will b<
pouring this way-as safety, speed con.
veniences and economy are the items
that will be sought after by expeditions
moving toward the gold fields, and tht
Northern Pacific route has no. been
| proven " W AucSO " all COupeSuSE
! routes on every *count."
We have authority for stating that thu
Northern Pacific company will be pre-
pared any day to deliver expeditions and
outfits through from st. Paul to Bis
narck, on the shortest time and the most
reasonable rates. So oil that eastern ex
petitions have to Go is to come to Saint
Paul and put themselves in the care o
the Northern Pacific folks more eff
cient, careful, otliging and thorough SCI
of railroad men and gentlemen do mo-
exist they will very quickly there
after find themselves in Bismarck, in fin,
shape to start across to the Black Hills
the finest of oil overland routes yet dis
covered-and in six days easy travel cal
commence panning out the precious meta
for themselves.
Now that We have given, III the rougl
all that need be said at this time concern
ing tho mineral resources Of the sectio,
of country under consideration, and givel
something Of detailed description Of th,
route and best manner to 90 about to &c
to the mining region, We shall conclud
by = few words % to the general charac
ter Of the Black Hills country, outside it
mining or mineral features.
The country. - might be naturally
supposed, is, Is whole, : succession Q
hills, buttes and valleys. With occasions