The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-07-04
csPt, Geo. B. Meulton on the Resources
N&HEa Of the Black Hills.

who 30 successfully piloted the last
expedition from Fort Laramie to
DeadEood. under the auspices of the
Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage and
Transportation Company, writes as
follows to the Salt Lake Tribune:
CHEYENNE, w. T.,
June 10Th, 1876.
1t is a matter of congratulation to
us who have just returned from the
Hills that we have our hair and usual
good health, for Notwithstanding
every precaution to guard against
danger from the 'snoble reds, it is
certainly contingen. to some extent
upon every n travelling the road.
Earlier in the season, when people
we're travelling in small parties and
poorly or entirely unarmed, they
were often surprised and murdered
in bed, but at present the travel is in
large parties and properly organized
for self protection, keepingout scouts
and iankers. So long as the troops
engage them, west and north of us,
in Sitting Bulls country, we may
hardly expect to encounter any very
large party on the Custer road, as
they are probably all agency Indians
from Red Cloud and Spotted Tail,
who are committing de~predations
within reach of their supply base.
So W might safely say that the
greatest danger now is from a stray
shot thrown into a train from some
ambush, which isliable to take effect,
or at least may do SO. This seems to
be about the only mode of war from
these "nobies" just now, and 1 re-
greet to say that they succeeded in
killing one man on the 18th inst,
within seven miles of Custer, from a
train, whilelying up at Pleasant VAL
ley, an account of which has already
been published. Myself and party,
consisting of twelve men, with seven
teams, came oycr the route in two
days after, without seeing ever an In
dams track, SO that all who travel
must hope to get through, but never
fail to be ready for an attack, day
and night; however, we hope soon to
be able to ride through by stage in
safety, as troops are being stationed
along the line, and while we are not
advised as to the future movements
OF the military, yet we have every
confidence in Gen. Crook and the Of
fcers commanding, as Indian fighters,
and that only will crush them out.
A glance at the Hills from Custer
to Deadwood reminds one of st.
Paul's definition ofFaith, Substance
of things hoped for" In Custer
there is a "silence that speaks"
population having dwindled down to
sixty or seventy persons with a few
one-horse business houses and no
real estate Office; still they hope and
occasionally sell a dollars worth of
town lots and houses.
Hill city's silence doesn't speak
for two reasons-this is decidedly
the most desirable city to live in;
first, because the grass in the streets
is better than in any of them; and,
secondly, because the inhabitants do
not ask one to subscribe on rector's
salary. This l suppose is partly
owing to the fact that no one lives at
Hill city. Still it is a good town
consisting of $50 or 200 we'll built
cabins, many of which are yet bare
headed.
Deadwood city's magnitude is hard
to portray. 1 did not measure it. but
think it about three miles long and
fifty feet wide. No silence here,
particularly on Sunday. This re-
minds us of the good old days when
men used to mine and make money,
get drunk and shoot; days when aris-
tocracy did not choke out the natural
bent Of mems minds and sacrifice
the man on its altar of fashion.
AS to mining interests, about all
that can be said il that Whitewood,
Deadwood and tributaries are gener-
ally paying fair where opened, some
claims are paying big, some wages,
and some nothing. So far, however,
there is probably not to exceed one
third of the claims yet opened, and
with few exceptions what are opened
are being poorly worked; but from
what is being worked and its results
we may safely pronounce it a good
camp for three or four years to come,
asst will take fully that time to work
it out. Gold dust is the circulating
medium at SIS and 500 per ounce,
and everyone seems to have a sack
out of which he pays for what he
gets. From what 1 saw and learned
there are some twelve or fifteen of
gulch mining which will yield good
returns, with some hill diggings. Of
course, like all other mining camps
some will get rich, others Ioor.
So. much for placers, and we take