Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-07

IAI Win tuAt patt vi TUG Souotty w
came to the conclusion that . better
road could be found from Rapid City
to the Cheyenne river than from any
other point OF the loot hills and in ac-
cordsn,e with that conviction we
our work of locating the
territorial highway from the Black
Hills to the Missouri river by taking
u farEs rock Oh, the north side Of /
r R.pid Creek as initial point; then run
= line south across Rapid Creek to 4
to point ofa hill known as the south .
side Of Rapid gap, there we set : !
large stone firmly in the ground and
from this po.nt We commenced our /
survey OF the angles building proper !
mounds aud carefullv claiming the
distance. The marking Of the initial
point, the number Of c6kxns 10 the
point Of beginning together With all
typographical n.tters viii appear in
the carefully kept notes Of the survey
and are submitted as part
of thi. report. We ruin the line Of
Rad east from the point Of beginning
below Rapid city, then crossed to the
north side Of Rapid creek, then follow
ing said creek down thirteen miles to
. point where timber exists in abund-
ance, then passed to the north east on
to the divide between Rapid and Box
Elder creeks, following said creek di-
vide to the Cheyenne river finding an
excellent natural road with moder-
ate supply of water. We passed from
the divide into the Cheyenne bottoms
about two miles above the mouth Of
Box Elder creek and found good
crossing with low banks and gravel
bottoms, with from twenty inches to
two feet of water The hills upon both
sides OF the river ars low at Mis- point
We found . good natural ridge road
leading from the high lands down TO
the RIVER over which Al ordinary team
can handle from twenty to twenty-five
hundred pounds with ease. We then
run the road northeast crossing
four running creeks with an
abundance of wood and grass
interesecting the old road ata point
two miles and half west Of Pinos
spr ing. We followed the old road the
greater part Of the way from there to
lance creek, making several short but
important changes.
FROM LANCE creek We run north-eas,
to the forks OF Willow creek, then
eastto point on the Missouri rive,
forty seven chains south from til,
mouth Of Chanter creek, where We
found good landing for steamboat
and good road from the high lands
down to the river, therby avoiding
all the-b bad roads along the river bot
tom above the present landing also III
, Willow creek hills, which are muc
OF the time impossible for loade
!. IteAms. This route shorteus the dis
/ tauce from the river to the Hills, owe
sixteen miles of the worst road OH tn
route. The road located by us is j
our opinion the shortest aud mos
practicable, road that can be foun
: from the Missouri river to the Blac
Hills with a better steamboat landin
than the one at the mouth oe Ba
: river.
From the initial point Of this roa
. There is already very excellent roa
i leading TO Crook city, sDcadwood an
a other important points within th
!. Hills.
n The above report together with til
. field notes, maps, expenses &c. hay
: been prepared in duplicate, one cop
:. for transmission TO the secretary (
/. war, the other is on file at Governe
Penningtoh's Office where all intereste
!. in the matter are invited to exami,
), them. This with accompanying y
y pers is most respectfully submitted.
- ED. PALMER
u F. II. NYMAs.
IN -
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