Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-11
COL. GRANTS
He Recommen ends the Fl. George Land.
Ing and Route.

The following is the official report of Col.
Fred D. Grant of his investigations rela-
i've to a route from the river to the Hills
and a steamboat landing. 1t was received
by Governor Pennington last night:
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY
DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI,
CHICAGO, July I'd, 1877.
Co.. r. G. Drum, Adjutant General MI
Dso. Mo-, Chicago:
6IR.-I have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing report of my trip up the Missouri
river, il obedience to special orders No. 43,
dated Headquarters Mil. Div. of the Mis-.
souri,, Chicago, May 20, 1877.
l left here the morning Of May Both, ar
irving in Yankton, Dakota, the evening of
May 31st. After calling upon Governor
Pennington, who gave me a letter from
1t. Gen. Sheridan asking him to appoint a
gentleman to visit the different points on
the Missouri river with me, we talked the
matter over, and the governor came to the
conclusion that it would be best to send
three commissioners; Mr.. Sheafe, mayor of
Elk Point, Dakota; Judge West, a lawyer
Of Yankton; and Gen. Beadle, a surveyor.
The governor gave them directions to take
TT. George as a starting point and proceed
west until they were opposite Pinos
springs, and then to return on the route
surveyed by Mr.. Palmer, of Dakota.
Accordingly, on the morning of June
18th, we started from Fit. George, and going
almost directly west for S0mlles, found the
country SO broken that a ~wagon-road
through it wculd be almost impracticable.
So, feeling confident that this was not a
fair trial of the country, and that a better
road could be found nearer the divide be-
tween the Bad river and White river, we
turned to the south and kept the divide
until we got to where we made our first
camp from FIT. George, on Antelope creek.
This out WI found would make a prairie
road, with wood, water and grass in great
abundance, and with no steep hills to climb
after once reaching the high land. We
then returned to Fit. Pierre, and started ur
to Chantier creek, which is the terminus O.
the Palmer survey. As a landing, Chan.
tier creek could not be used, for a large
sand-bar has lately formed IL such a posi-
ton that a boat could not land there now
although | believe there was suficien,
water for a landing when the survey was
mo1a Tho Hill (. xo,r - Az. -.
E also. The Ft. Pierre route and the Chan
tier creek route run close together aftel
crossing Willow creek, and virtually be
come the same route. This route is quit,
hilly, and | am told is destitute of boil
wood and water. This road also run!
through the black cretaceous soil found il
The northwest, which when wet, become
stiff like putty, and sticks to the wheel
of wagons so that it is impossible to NOV
them. When dry, it makes a splendid
road-bed.
| found all the citizens at Fl. Pierr
anxious to go to Ft. George, provided
better road could be found than the pres
ent one from Ft. Pierre. AS a landin,
-
place, TT. George is the best on the Mis-
souri, river from Fit. Benton to the Missis
sippi, and frem Ft. George west for 81
miles, there is only one hill to climb. Thi
bill, believe is not as high as that at Fl
Pierre, and has a distance Of three miles il
! which to make the ascent-an ACTIVITY no
greater than many railroad grades. AS
landing place Fl. Pierre, (the mouth o
Bad river) is subject to everflows, and a
Chanticr creek a boat cannot land at low
water.
t | therefore respectfully recommend tina
the landing at TT. George be determine
upon as the initial point Of a road to tn
Black Hills, and that a surveyed route b
made from Fit. George west to the Chey
enne river. | believe that it would redoun,
to the general benefit of all the people il
Dakota, and particularly TO the settlers il
the Black Hills.
am, Sir, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
lSigned F. d. GRANT,
1t. Col. s. A. D. G.