The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-02-07
THE BLACK HILLS.
Facts of Interest to Those Who
are Going There.
Cheyenne as an Quitting
Point.

In answer TO the many communica-
tions which we receive daily, we have
compiled the following budget of infor-
nation, for the benefit of all those who
are afflicted with the Black Hills fever.
While it is not as complete as we
might desire and promise to make it,
we think it will answer most of the
questions asked. The first query pro-
pounded is whether We really believe
there is gold in the Black Hills. This
has been too well proven to admit Of
doubt. Good judges who have the
means of knowing, estimate the amount
of gold brought from the Hills during
the year 1876, at a million and a half of
dollars; as much more remains undoubt-
ly in the hands of miners and merchants
in the several settlements; for it is only
recently that the Cheyenne and Black
Hills Stage company has commenced
to carry gold dust with a guarantee of
safe delivery.
Gold is found in paying quantities in
nearly all the mining districts opened.
The richest discoveries in placer and
quartz mining have, however, been
made on Deadwood and Whitewood
creeks, and along these creeks cluster
the principal mining towns in the Black
Hills.
Owing to the hostility of the Indians
the mountain ranges west and north of
Deadwood received last year but lit
tie attention from the p~rospector; but
it is known that that section also
abounds in gold and silver, which dur
ing the present year will be brought to
light by the hardy miner.
How to Reach the Black Hills.
Without decrying any of the propos-
ed routes from points on the Upper
Missouri river, we assert that the route
from Cheyenne northward is the safest,
speediest, cheapest and best to reach the
Black Hills. Cheyenne is at the juno
ton of the two competing railroads from
the East-the Union Pacific and Kan
sas Pacific. 1t will be two days rail
road travel to Cheyenne from Chicago
or st. Louis. The following table will
show the distance and present rate of
fare from these two points to Cheyenne:
LIST class I'd class
Miles. Fare. Fare.
Chicago to Omaha. $50 SIG 0O Sl3 90
St. Louis via st. Joe to Omaha lI 10 90 10 90
Omaha to Chey enne"..""-.. BIG ~ 20 = 70
Chicago to CheHybennsnn Via 100 $40
L~eavenworth and Denver..l03 40 90 40 20
We are credibly informed by the rep
resentatives of these two railroad COM
panies, that special rates will be given
from Chicago to Cheyenne, to Black
Hills parties, which will be at least one
third less than the above rates.
From Cheyenne to the Black Hills.
A fine natural road, over which the
United States mails have been carried
for many years, leads from Cheyenne
to Fort Laramie, a distance of ninety
miles. This Route passes through u
settled country, and good ranches are
found at convenient distances from
each other. From Fort Laramie to
Custer and Deadwood City a good wag-
on road is found, which has recently
been shortened by our county officers,
thus reducing the distance necessary to
be travelled by freight teams over sixty
miles. The whole distance from Chey-
enne to Deadwood over thisroad is about
two hundred and thirty miles. The
Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage COM
pany, Luke Voorhees,, superintendent,
makes at present tri-weekly trips over
this road to Custer and Deadwood, car
rying passengers, express matter and
the U. S. mails. Early in the spring this
company will puton a daily line of coach
es and, with Il superb outfit of horses
and stages, well-kept stations at con-
venient points, and reasonable charges,
this stage line will continue to be the
only first-class line of communication
between the Black Hills mining towns
and the outside world.
Outfits for Miners.
Those who desire to purchase their
own teams for the transportation of
miners and miners, supplies, can pro-
cure an outfit to much better advantage
in Cheyenne than elsewhere. Grocer
les, provisions, clothing, mining tools
and all other necessary articles can be
procured at this point. The following
may be considered average prices for
animals and wagons.