Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-10-25
Were the precious meals unknoxn ia the

Were the precious metals unknown ia The
Big Horn region it would etill possess 1t.
fractions sufficient to encourage and main.
tain . large emigration. No section n the
greet wet Saaords more luxuriaat finland
erd16es q more beautiful and fertile vslley,l
6pasklin9 mountain streams, aboSndinG
viii trout, aSe found at frequent intsrvas,
while plains and mountains furnish the
grandest hunting grounds in America.
Forests OF towering pines furnish inexhaus-
6bls quantities Of building material, and
with large deposits Of coal make the fuel
supply complete.
The matter Of routes s-here of even great
er importance than when applied to the
Black Hills. From the eastern or Missouri
river frontier approach IL entirely impracti-
cable, from the fact hat a section of country
800 miles wide1nd unmarked by . single
Wagon track interyenes. By q glance ct the
0apit will also be discovered tint points on
the Union PaciHc railway In Western wy
oming are separated from the Big Horn BY
several high ranges of mountains-travel
Q which in the winter is simply un-
thought of. In fact by none of these routes
ID there q wagon road direct to the base of
the Big Horn mountains.
From Cheyenne there is q continuous,
we'll travelled road to any portion of the
Big Horn range, with . good branch road
leading westwardto the Wind river region.
There are Of easy grade and open the year
round. Following the regular Black Hills
road to Hunton's ranch, on the Chugwater,
the emigrant then branches off to the north
vest upon the old and constantly travelled
government highway to Fort Fet.erman.
Such streams as the Laramie river, Horse
shoe, Big Cottonwood, Elkhorn andLA Bonte
creeks are crossed en- route, affording fne
camping places with plenty of wood and
clear mountain water. The only unfordable
8 ream, the Laramie river, is spanned by q
fine public bridge.
At Fort Fetterman an excellent ferry
facilitates the crossing of the Platte at
seasons Of high water. From thence north
west . distance of ninety miles, over choice
grazing lands, the traveller will find as fine
q road as crosses any portion of our prai-
ries. This stage ofthe journey completed
.Cantonment Reno, = we'll garrisoned posi
on Powder river, is reached. Forty miles
distant the grand Big Horn range rises in
plain view and the journey thither il
finished easily in a days ride. AT the
Powder river crossing a good stock of pro
visions is always on hand and that poin,
will be found a most convenient outpost. A
weekly mail now goes to hat point Wis
Cheyenne and it is expected that the service
will be increased to a semi-weekly before
the middle of June, as the military at posts
On route have taken the matter in hand. A
fine government bridge spans the Powder.
The following is an accurate table of dis
lance over the old reliable Cheyenne route
Cheyenne to Lodge Pole creek..... II
Lodge Pole creek to Bear springs.... e
Bear springs to Chugwater..... ..... Il
Chugwater to Hunton's ranch.. Is
Hunton's ranch to, South Laramie
~
Laramie river to Cottonwood ranch..... 20
Cottonwood ranch to Elkhorn..... 25
Elkorn to Wagon Hound. ........... Is
Wagon Hound to Fort Fetterman.... Is
Fort Fetterman to Sage creek*....... IA
Sage creek to South Fork Cheyenne
Is
South Fork Cheyenne to Antelope
81
Antelope springs to Dry Fork of Pow
der Ia
Dry Fork Powder to Cantonment Reno %
Cantonment Reno to Crazy Woman's
q
Crazy Woman's Fork to Base of Big
Horn Mountains. IS