The Lake County star., 1877-04-19
Black Hills Correspondence.
BEAR GULcu, BLACK HILLS, w. t.

had not been there since last Au-
gust. | was surprised to see how
much Deadwood and vicinity had
increased in population since then.
The streets arc crowded with peo-
pie; town of a years growth. yet
l venture to say, of as much busi
ness as the city of Grand Rapids.
The hills around are being pierced
in every direction, for gold. Quartz
mills and Saw mills are in full blast
along Dcadwood Gulch and vicinity.
A sea of emigration is pouring in
from Iowa, Dakota and Nebraska.
"A daily line of stages arc running
between here and Cheyenne, carry
ing the L. S. Nail; and tri-wcekly
line will commence running over the
Bismark route April, 18th. They
agree to carry passengers to the
Hills from Chicago via St. Paul and
Bismark. for 500 first class and S45
second class. Time from Chicago
to the Uills-06 hours. Only five
days from Baldwin to FL Dorado.
How is that for high? The report
is that two railroad routes are now
being surveyed to the Hills; one
from Cheyenne, and one via of Ft.
Pierre. Goods arc comparatively
cheap-hour SO per hundred, pork
$40 per hundred, other provisions
in proportion. Butchers retail beef
at from 10 to 20 cents per pound.
Potatoes are 25 cents per pound.
They will be lower now, a.' they can
be brought in without danger Of
freezing. They can be raised here
in the valleys .as well as in any of
the States. Hay is $50 per ton in
Dcadwood, and within eight miles
of a good grass region. Going to
Bear Gulch from Deadwood Gulch,
the road leads two miles up the hills
westwardly, to the divide, then down
the valley of a stream called False
Bottom, 8 miles, to the foot hills in
the valley of the Spear Fish River
At the upper end Of the False Bot
tom some quartz lodes have been
discovered and city laid out--Gar-
den City. PlaccrdigginSs have been
found along the stream, but not in
paying quantities. The best thing
now in sight along the lower end of
this valley is the pine timber. Easy
of access to the farming country be-
low; easy of access to the mining re-
gion above; it is splendid opening
for some lumberman. Lumber is
S35 per NJ, and shingles are SO per
VI, at cost of manufacturing Of $40
for lumber, and 50 for shingles.
Send some good Lake county man
to take this chance. The land in
the valleys at the foot Of the hills is
prairie. The grass is iii ffcrcnt from
the prairie grass of Illinois, Iowa,
&C.; it is a better quality. The low
hills arc composed of gypsum and
limestone. The limestone is in quar-
ries, and makes excellent building
stone. Five miles from the outlet
of the False Bottom valley, is Spear
Fish city, located on splendid
prairie, on the banks of the Spear
Fish River, one of the most beauti-
ful streams in the country, with low
banks, skirtcd with Ash, Oak and
Cottonwood. Choice farming land
is now being taken mp along this
stream. These lands can be easily
irrigated. The choicest locations
are already siczcd upon. Hay is
worth $50 per ton here. Stock has
wintcred well here without feeding.
The hay is bauled into the mines.
After crossing the river, the road
leaves the valleys, up over the high
hills, through the pine timber, %
miles sonthwcstwardly to Bear
Gulch. The ascent to the top OF
the hill is long and tiresomc.
stop to rest about -fourths oI
the way up, just before entering the
timber, turn and view the scenery
below. Many grand. and beautiful
scenes has nature formed on thee.
o, Earth. and this is one of them
/ sec the Spear Fish River breaking
the gorge of the mountains, and
winding through the green plains
far away to the northward. 10 the
westward, ten miles distant, through
another valley, fertile and green,
can trace the course cf the Red
Water by its fringcd grove of tim
Der Beyond, where tho Spear Fish
and Red Water unite, and u range
of low hills twenty miles distant,
see the vallsy of the Belle River,
dim and misty. Far to the north
west. see the dim outlines Of a
range of mountains. To the left
rising from the plains,is Inyan Kara
the holy hill of the Indians; the
home Of Wakantanka (the grea,
spirit. Lofty and full of majesty
arc you, O, Inyan Kara! with youl
steep sides and rugged masses o.
rocks! / hear the wind as it passes
through the mountain gorgcs ane
groves Of pine and fir, giving sol
,omn and plaintivo notes; and below
me, ! hear the music of running
waters. \ sublime duet to one oI
Natures most lofty hymns.