The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-03-21

abouRds with all kinds of game, and
a r sport Was bad By the party al
Cunning, though their attention Of
course was chiefly directed to pros
peeting. Deer, grouse, partridge
and mountain hare are found in
abundance. During a two hours
cunning tour two of the party
brought down seven deer, and the
Captain himself, during his stay
there, shot twenty-three deer. He
very frequently saw other game but
resisted the temptation to kill it. The
game alone would furnish subsist-
nee for a large population. The
soil is also uery fertile, and could
not be more favorable to stock rails
ing. The district is described as be-
ing the finest agricultural region in
the West. The climate is unsurpass-
ed, and during all last winter there
were but three weeks Of cold wealth
er, and but one or two sever snow
storms. These may appear minor
advantages TO gold hunters, but when
it is remembered that all the emf
grants will have to depend upon the
region for their subsistence, the ex-
cellenee of these natural features
Will not appear as unimportant.
Besides they show that the country
when settled will be a valuable addi-
ton to the great west in an agri-
cultural point Of view.
THE CHIEF ATTRACTION,
of course, however, is the vast miner
al resources Of the region. Gold is
the attraction to the miner. Cap
tain .Russell's party had but limited
facilities for prospecting, yet they
found the precious metal in abund-
nee and of the finest quality. A
sample Of gold dust was shown us
which, cleansed merely by pan wash
ing was worth $40 an ounce. The
reports of General Custar, and OF
Walter p. Jenny give reliable in
formation in regard to the immense
resources of the district, and have
been already presented to our read
ers. In these, it will be remembered,
accounts arc given also of the fine
quality of silver which is found. The
first party in their prospecting too
found specimens of silver as rich as
ever came from Nevada or Colorado.
Judge KuykEndall, of Cheyenne,
who visited the hills last month, in
a letter to the Omaha Repub lican
gives his testimony of the abundance
Of gold. lie mentions instances OF
his own personal knowledge of mug
gets having been found which weigh
ed from II ounce and three penny
weights down. The Judge expresses
his confidence that a great deal Of
the precious metal will be taken out
this season. At present prospectors
are scattered all through the terri
tory, and all along French creek, the
land is being staked off for mining
purposes
ROUTES TO THE REGIONS
Our informant gave us some in
formation in regard to the two routes
to the Black Hills, viz: The Chi
cago Rock Island & Pacific and the
Union Pacific, and the Yankton &
Sioux City route. The former is
preferable. The regions are about
I,200 miles from Chicago by that
route. AT Cheyenne the railroad
travel terminates. and the country is
reached by comfortable coaches and
wagons. To this place, however,
tina travel is all by rail, on good and
safe roads, and from here to the hills
protection is had. The route from
Cheyenne is under the protection Of
the troops stationed at Fort Laramie
and at the Red Cloud agency, either
point being within a half days ride
from any point on the route into
the hills. The hostile red men are
avoided by this route, whereas the
Yankton and Sioux City route leads
the emigrants through the midst o
the hunting grounds occupied by the
Sioux Nation. The short overland
journey from Cheyenne is another
advantage. The Captain informs us
that about $46.50 will carry the en-
igrant from this city to the regions.
ORGANIZING AN EXPEDITION
Captain Russell proposes organ
izing an expedition from this city.
He is stopping at the Robinson
House where he may be found by
any person anxious to visit the Black
Hills. lie will gladly give any in
formation in regard to the regions.
1t is his intention to take out as
large a party as possible by the first
of April at the very latest.