The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-04-13

How to Reach the New Ell Dorado.
Dispatch.
In compliance with the request of
large number of your readers who intend
going to the Black Hills, l now write to
give them all the general information l
can, from this point, ON the subject.
Having called on HI. F. Alexander, of st.
Paul, who is General Manager and
Freight Agent of the Northern Pacific
Railway, he gives me the following rates
from Chicago to Bismarck, and from Pitts
burg to Chicago:
First-class fare from Pttsburg to Chicago 90
second class fare from Pittsburg to Chicago 10 80
First-class fare from Chicago to Bismarck 81 90
Second-class fare from Chicago to Bismarck. rs 90
From st. Paul miners can be landed in
the Hills, for forty dollars, allowing each
man one hundred pounds of baggage and
fifteen days ratiOns to take with him.
These are the latest rates established by
the Northern Pacific, as it now works in
connection with line of freighters from
this point. The above rate, first-class, is
ten dollars cheaper from Chicago to Bis
marck than from Chicago to Cheyenne,
and on second-class is eight dollars
cheaper, thus making the route via
Union Pacific Railroad and Bismarck,
nearer, cheaper, and safer. There is no
road in the West can offer cheaper rates
or quicker transit. Plenty of transpor-
tation can be had from here, and those
wishing to purchase wagons, horses, and
cattle can have an opportunity of doing
so. AS the season advances there will be
great completion among freighters, and
the rates will be run down to very low
figure.
A miners complete outfit for mining,
and provisions for thirty days, consists
of the following articles: Shovel, pick,
and pan; pair gold scales Twill do a
party); pair gum boots; camp kettle
and coffee-pot; frying pan, tin cup, and
plate; fifty pounds -four; 40 pounds
bacon; 10 pounds beans; 10 pounds
coffee; 20 pounds sugar; pounds salt;
l box pepper; 2 boxes baking powder; 8
pounds soap; pounds candles 6pounds
crackers. The above mining outfit, with
provisions for thirty days, will cost
thirty-five and forty dollars. Those not
being used to soap can of course dispense
with that article, and save that much
money for whisky or tobacco.
From the lst of April to the 1st of May
will be early enough to start, as the
weather has turned cold and disagreeable,
and it is best to wait until it mOderates,
as nothing can be gained by making
rush and forgetting half of your outfit.
By that time trains will be leaving this
point for the Hills every week, so that
parties will not be delayed unnecessarily
here. The firm of James w. Raymond
& Co. are prepared to outfit parties with
everything necessary to take along, and
constantly keep a full line of goods re.
quired on hand. Those being delayed
here will find good hotel accommodations
and board at reasonable rates. Parties
would do well and avoid extra expense
aud delay by sending their head men in
advance at this point, so they could have
everything ready for them (the parties)
when they arrive. The excitement here
is unabated, and tomorrow morning
large party leaves for the land Of gold.
Some freighters are expected in from the
Hills this week, and we all look forward
to their arrival with eagerness, knowing
they will bring reports of new discoveries
and richer fields. AS the miners advance
to the Big Horn region, where the richest
deposits are said to be found, they come
nearer and nearer to Bismarck, so that
our little city in few weeks will be the
only route to go by. Even now other
towns via southern routes claim to be the
nearest point, but any one looking at
true map can see for themselves which is
which. Several very fine specimens of
pure gold in small nuggets have been
shown me, and it only serves to strengthen
my faith in the mines. Chicago jewelers.
say that the Black Hills gold works up
better than any they have ever handled,
which speaks well for the quality.
In conversation with General Custer
a few days ago, mentioned about going
into the Hills. His reply was: eff /
were young man, and had nothing to
hold me back, l would 60 myself, as
know the Hills to be rich in gold. gypsum,
marble, coal, and variety of timber u
asked il he did not consider the Big Horn
region richer in gold than the Black
Hills. He replied: 81 am inclined to
think it is, as it has long been known to
be gold-bearing region, although as yet
it has never been thoroughly explored.
l expect to make some valuable discov-
cries the coming season." California
JOe," who was here short time ago,
having guided party from the Black
Hills to this point in seventy-nine hours,
was asked the difference between the
southern routes and the. route via Bis
marck. He replied that he had been over
every foot of ground in the Hills; had
also been over all the different routes
leading there, and that among them all
he found the Bismarck route the favorite,
as the other routes lay over dry sandy
country, where wood and water could
only be obtained in long distances, and
you could not reach either in days
march. He also stated that he never saw
finer natural road than the one leading
here; there was nothing wanting to make
| it pleasant for travelling.