Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1876-01-26
! Missouri River at

Fort Lincoln.
Making, in al, 793 hours, or
about two hundred ard sixteen miles.
The route may be shortened at least
twelve miles by striking tho Little Har
River nearer Fort Lincoln, and tho Can
non Ball little lower down.
1t should be remembered that the
drive was over tracklsss prairie all the
way, as We tried to shorten our out.
going trail. The road from Golden
City to Rapid creek foot hills had to be
pioneered. and here We lost over an
hour which is included in our driving
time. Forage for, our horses played out
as we'll as grub, for the men. and
the long drives noted OF were longer
for that reason, as any horseman will
understand. l have given the exact
time between camps or creeks. The
teams were also quite heavily loaded.
As will be seen, water was struck at
points ranging from two to eighteen
miles apart. with plenty Of wood at every
point except in the two instances noted.
Fine grazing may be found at all points.
Their. are no bad lands; no bad
hills; no impossible streams. Tho
hest natural road, California Joe declar-
ed, tha, he has ever seen during his twen-
ty years experience as a guide, and the
hest country. The statement of Cen
Custer in his TRIBUNE interview IS fully
justified in everv particular.
-...... Ed. DoNAHuE.
California Joe Interviewed.
Aver pumping Donabue for an hour
or two with the result given above
The TRIBUNE reporter brought his pump
ing process to bear on California Joe
with the result given below:
Reporter-Joe. have heard.much Of
YOU during the past summer through
CORES poudence from the Hills, to east
ern newspapers, and have read Of you in
Custer''s Life on the Plains. Ijudge you
are familiar w,,h the plains; at any rate
the Bismarck boys give you much credit
for the successful manner in which you
b,loted them on their return.
California Joe-Yes, have spent
twenty years on the plains, acting most
of the time as guide. l was with Gus.
ter in Colorado, and was employed By
Dodge IN connection with tae Jenney
survey last season. ....@ ...
r porter-You ere familiar with
ui"es aud miners, judge?
Joc--Ycs. | have seen much Of all
our west.ru mining regions, including
California, Idaho, Colorado and Mon-
tana.
R.-How long were you in the Black
Hills
Joe-I went there early last summer
with Prof. Jenney and Gen. Dodge, and
when they got through with their wosk
| managed to remain. and so spent the
fall aud winter there as l. a. the sum
mer. a - ssf
RI notice you were travelling much
of the time when Jenney was IN camp,
pro .pect'ns on your own hook, perhaps?
Joe-Ye>. wanted to sac the Hills
for myself.
R.-Well, what conclusion
Joe-The Hills are good enough for.
me; Ihave taken up. mining claim,
but am in no hurry to work il; and a
ranch at the foot hills o.. the nor heast
side, which is the b est thing in its way
L.ver saw. have also other interests
,isIhe&ll,Is which lshall aim to develop
after I get through prospecting.
R-Are Luc Halls generally pros
pected?
Jre-No, indeed There arc hundreds
OF guich.s in which the miners picks
have never been struck.
R.-How extensive are the placer
mines in the Black Hills from the pres.
en: outlook lsa
Joe-Suticients to employ twenty thou
sand miners.
R.-How will they pay?
Joe-Cenainly from four to twenty
dollars day. I saw 1874 so taken FROM