The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-08-22
NEW FORT MCKINNEY.
Something About the New Site
for a Military Post.
"A Beautiful locaiion-The Soil Excellent
and Wood and Wafer Plenty.
FORT MCKINNEY, Wyoming, |
Aunnsf IL 1873 L

FoRT MCKINNEY, Wyoming,
August II, 1878.
To the Editor of The Leader:
1t may not be u~ninteresting to your
many readers to know that a new site
has been chosen for the military post of
Fort Mckinney, Wyoming, some forty
miles from the first location on the Pow
der river.
The new site is located upon Clear
Fork, where It debouches from the
mountains, and has been well chosen
for its military advantages as well as
being favorable towards reopening the
northwestern portion of the Territory to
settlers, so long practically closed here
tofore to all but the hardy trapper and
adventurous mining prospector. Lying
between this site and the posts of Keogh
and Custer, is a vast tract Of fertile
country well watered, the land arabic
and susceptible of a high state of cult
walton, rich in meadows yielding the
finest qualities Of hay, while the streams
and mountains are furnished with cot
tonwood, poplar, beech and pine.
The mineral u are as yet I'M
developed, though some explorations,
under considerable difficulties, were
made during the two past winters and
yielded but meagre results. However,
this country needs no mines. AS graz
ing facilities, and natural agricultural
resources must ultimately be apprecia-
ted, and bring to its welcoming a race
Of settlers who will abide to increase the
population and wealth of the coming
State.
New Fort Mckinney is situated upon
the left bank of Clear Fork, about two
miles distant from the mouth of the
cahon, through which it descends by a
very remarkable ~declensioH, which is
perhaps two hundred feet to the mile,
for a distance of four miles, making a
brawling stream, flowing a large vol
ume Of water, which is as clear IS crys-
tai; cool from its mountain springs,
where its head hides under the SHOWS
Gaping the Big Horn mountains.
As yet only the stills of one storehouse
for the new post have been laid, aside
from a general survey Of the ground,
but two mills are now set up within
the %cafon, with which lumber will be
prepared for the remainder of the
buildings. Excepting the aid of a
small number of skilled mechanics, it is
expected the post will be erected by the
labor Of the troops, and something
towards that end has already been
accomplished. But many are appre-
hensive 1t will be almost impossible,
with the means at hand, to secure
shelter before winter approaches, and
view it as ill-adviscd commencing so
late in the season. The troops, how
ever, willingly have performed good,
hard, efficient work, though to many Of
them it has seemed al unfair imposi-
tion Of labor, inasmuch as they have
for two years past been engaged upon
similar work, with little remission, but
without complaint. They do not COM
plain now, but they know a post can
not be erected from the earth by the
most passionate desire Of ambition;
neither invoked from the clouds, though
hands be prayerfully uplifted, and they
feel that a task is set before them be-
yond their capacity to accomplish, how
ever hardly or inconsiderately they may
be driven. Probably the first evidence
OF their sense of the injustice will be
derived from desertion, which is antic-
ipated by many of experience in their
ways.
All that could be desired in location
seems at hand. Nature has worked
upon a noble scale here. The scenery
is grandly picturesque, and were time
taken to digest plans, procure and Sc
cure materials and lumber, with COM
petent skilled labor provided to fashion
them, a post might be constructed
which would be.the favorite of the De-
partment. LABoRER.