Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1878-04-12
TONGUE RIVER NOTES.

Tho City OF Sherman-Comp1otion OF
Fort Custer--The Valley OF the Yel-
lowstone-Head OF Navigation.
To the Editor OF the TRIBUNE.
SIBERIAN. CUSTER Co., NJ. T., March
20.-Sherman, Custer County, Montana,
where's that? your readers will exclaim.
Well, it is on the Yellowstone river, 2
miles below the mouth of the Big Horn
river, 35 miles from Fort Custer, 11s
miles from Fort Keogh, 240 from Boze
man and about $50 from Bismarck, all
these distances being by land, and that
from Bismarck by the short road, or
Stanley trail. One other land mark-
Fort Pease-is doubtless known from
the heroic defense there made BY brave
little band of Montana pioneers against
the whole power of the Sioux nation.
Sherman is located two miles above the
old Fort, in fact part of the houses were
removed from there. One other fact:
The place was first named Etchetah,
and by that name the postoffice is still
called.
This preliminary is due, for although
occupying historic ground, the names
Of localities hereabouts are new to most
of your readers.
Fl. Custer, our nearest military post,
has been pushed to near completion,
under the able command of Lieut.. Col.
Geo. P. Buell., 11th Infantry. Colonel
Buell. has labored under many disadvan
tages, but has succeeded far beyond
what was expected, and to day Fort
Custer presents handsome and finished
appearance. Three million feet of the
lumber used in the. buildings was sawed
on the ground by two small mills, the
logs being foated down the Big and
Little Horn rivers. The post is garri-
soned by four companies of the Second
Cavalry, of which regiment it is the
headquarters, commanded BY Lieut..
Col. Bracket, and four companies of
the 11th Infantry. will endeavor to
give you moro deta: lied d:scrip tion of
Fort Custer and its people soon.
Fort Keogh is located about two miles
above the mouth Of Tongue river, is the
headquarters of the military district Of
the Yellowstone. but as you have cor
respondent there will leave that point
and Miles City to him.
The valley Of the Yellowstone is the
last best heritage, our people have to
make homes for themselves. Not but
there may bc IS productive land else
whore. but it combines more advantages
is more like home to those coming from
east of the Missouri, and while the
season of navigation on the river may
be short, it will be of .incalculable ad-
vantage in shipping the productions OF
the country, and bringing necessary
supplies from abroad. The one crop
planted here last season demonstrated
that the soil will produce in abundance
the small grains, potatoes, cucumbers,
melons, and in fact all manner and
kinds Of vegetables. Although, for
want of time it cannot be proclaimed
for a certainty that apples, peaches, DC:
will be adapted to soil and climate. All
conditions are favorable. 1t is the par
adise of the stock man, everything to
his hand, and soon beef from the Vel
lowstone will adorn the blocks of Bis
marck butchers, and its bellies and beaux
be clad with wooden. goods from the
same source.
The head Of navigation on the Yellow
stone river is a disputed point, some
claiming Bakers Battle Ground, abou:
IS miles above the mouth of the Big
Horn to be the place, while others stop
| at tho foot of Clark's Fork Bottom, ten
miles further up, and cry "Eureka."
This much is known, steamers like the
Western, Fanchon, &C., came as high as
Sherman, and it is farther known that
the Josephine overcame alt difficulties
and went about 100, miles above. Rea
son and experience teaches that above
the confluence Of two large streams there
is less water, and their navigation at.
tended with more difficulty than below,
unless the river bed is more confined;
this is not tho case with either !thesBie