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

IT, ~ AOIos
Rlack Hills Facts.
tBrainerd Tribune, Jan 29]
by the recent advices from Bismarck
the facts concerning the much talked of
Black Hills country, we esteem, have final
~ been reached. Being personally &C.
quainted with the men who subscribe to
the news and reports now coming in from
the Hills, VIC place the fullest confidence
in the statements now abroad over their
signatures as they are men Of we'll
known veracity and integrity, as
we'll as being well educated, intelligent,
business men, who have lived ncighbors
with US ever since the commencement of
tho Northern Pacific railroad. 1t seems
that as early as during the autumn months
the leading men of Bismarck conceived
the idea Of going to work systematically
to discover the truth about the Black
Hills, in all its phases and not to be sat.
isfied to say yea or nay concerning what
they believed to be true of them, until
they knew all about the subject from per.
sonal knowledge after . thorough inves-
tigation of the subject and the Black Hills
country as we'll. Accordingly some two
months since party of the leading men
Of Bismarck, abundantly equipped for the
journey, left for the new Eldorado for
the purpose of learning what they, and
the public at large so earnestly wanted to
know 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.
maj 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 al.absorbing topic Of convcr.
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 a
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-
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 we're received by the huzzas of all
the villagers. while the cannon Of the bar.
racks pealed out welcome to the adven-
turous explorers.
| Soon as q 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 q direct line for Harncy's Peak
as practical, and after a most pleasant
journey of seven easy days travel they
arrived at Custer City, which is located :
few miles south Of Harncy's Peak, where
they made their headquarters during
their explorations throughout ths mining
regions. On their trip from Bismarck
through they had encountered no In
dams: there was no snow on the route
whatever; each night they camped on tn
banks of beautiful streams Of water, with
an abundance Of wood and natural advan
tages for easy defense, in case of molesta
ton by rowing bands of red skins. Coco
grazing was found in the valleys-gree1
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 amount:
of glittering nuggets of gold.
The party made q thorough and most
exhaustive exploration.of the ranges Of
country occupied by the miners, and
much more besides. They found all the
miners we'll supplied in al the nccessa
ries of life, which could be bought At rea
sonable prices from all who had brought
sell.
The party having spent some three
weeks in exploring and looking over thai
noted country, babe the jolly miners
adie,l. and set out on their return, &C
compared by the famous Californi.
miner and prairie guide, "California Joe, >
who returned to Bismarck with the par
ty, and who will pass through Brainerd
the FIRST Of next week, in company with
several of the leading business men O
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 II
the dead of winter in seventy.two hours
and a party made it last summer, will
pack mules, in eight days.
These comprise bare outline Of tn
facts concerning the richness and exten1
of the diggings in the Black Hills, and .
proof that cannot be gainsaid that tn
> route by the way Of the Northern Pacific
with Bismarck as fitting out point, i
> the route of all routes to reach the Hill
> in the shortest time, and is the mos
economical, pleasant, and safest route t.
> 60. Allthat is necessary, is to give tn
facts to the outside world, as to tho man,
J and eminently superior advantages Of tn
, Northern Pacific route, and in . few
t weeks more thousands of people de
r sirous Of going to the Hills will b
: pouring this way-as safety, speed con
venienccs and economy are the item
that will be- sought after by expedition
? moving toward the gold fields, and tn
Northern Pacific route has no" bee,
proven to be ahead Of all competing
: routes on every "count."
We have authority for stating that tn
Northern Pacific company will be pre-
, pared any day to deliver expeditions an.
outfits through from st. Paul to Bis
marck, on the shortest time and the mos
reasonable rates. So all that eastern ex
|, petitions have to Go is to come to Sain
: Paul and put themselves in the care o
: the Northern Pacific folks i more eff
Gent, careful, otliging and thorough Sc
,, of railroad men and gentlemen do NO
exist-and they will very quickly there
. after find themselves in Bismar Ok, 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 ca
commence panning out the precious meta