New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-04
GOLD IN THE BLACK HILLS.
BY sTAGE-coACH TO DEADwooD.

BOYS" AND THEIR WILD LIFE-cATHEDRAL AND
CHIMNEY RoCKs-A LONG SHOT AT SOLITARY
BUFFALO.
IRON STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRBUNEl
DEADwoOD, OAK, July 21.-The ride from tho
Union Pacific Railroad to the Black Hills cannot DO
called pleasure trip The road, most of the way,
Is excellent, the coaches are comfortable and the
time at this season of the year, is good, but the
scenery except at long intervals, is neither grand
nor beautiful aud although at first IL has the charm
Of novelty for one who has travelled principally
east of the Missouri River. it grows monotonous
after the first dsy and very tlresome before the
journey is pleted. The favonte mode OF reach
ing the Hills among those who have lived hero
longest, IS by private conveyance. Although tho
ranches are long distance apart, the journey may
be so arranged that the party shall reach one OF
them each night if camping out is not preferred.
and the trip may be comfortably made In about
week. The daily arrivals in the Hills by private
outfit are just now much more numerous than those
by stage-coach but the latter is the much more ex-
peditious means Of reaching the mines. 1t is I'M
comfortable and tiresone only in comparison with
the luxurious travel on the trunk lines OF railway.
The country between Sidney and the South Fork
Of the Cheyenne River, which separates the Black
Hills from the Plains is, for the most part an ele-
waited plateau traversed by several rivers and creeks
and broken by dry cafons and low ranges of hills OF
bluffs. The level country is entirely destitute OF
and shrubs and, large areas. the grass Is
very scanty. The streams are generally bordered
with timber, and there is often scsnty growth OF
pine trees on the sides Of the dry caons, but no for
ests are seen until the mountains reached about
twenty miles from Deadwood. The valleys for sixty
miles this side of Sidney are occupied by stock
raisers. and there are few herds in the vicinity q
the old Red Cloud Agency and among the foothills
this side of the Cheyenne River but the ranches are
widely scattered No towns are passed between
Sidney and Rapid City, distance Of more than 200
miles. There are two or three houses about some OF
the stage stations q largest settlement being st
old Red Cloud. and amp Robinson, an important
military post is to 10 seen from the old agency
buildings. about mic distant
This side Of the Cheyenne River the country Is
rolling the foothills are covered with the hneso
grass and the valleys of the streamsar exceedingly
fertile. Rapid City. situated on Rapid Creek, about
fifty miles from Deadwood, is an important town IN
the midst of rich valley. about fifty miles IN
length, and was, a year or two ago. the centre OF
some placer mining excitement. It's present i'm
portance is due TO the productyeness Of the farms
which surround 1t. Fort Meade. new United
States military post, establishes by General Sheri-
dan last year, is on Bear Butte Creek eighteen
miles from Deadwood. and near Bear Butte Noun
tain one of the most noted landmarks Of this cOun-
try There is no more beautiful spot in the West
than tbe site of this post nearly level plain,
mile in diameter. is surrounded by beautiful rolling
hills covered with rich grass 10 their very tops, and
skrted by stream whose banks arc thickly wooded.
The surrounding country Is extremely fertile. stur-
Qis and Crooke Cities are two small towns, the
former on Bear Butte and the latter on Whltewood
| Creek both were more thriving year ago than
thew are now. From the latter the stage coach en-
and nUao On
which there are some steep decnyites. Deadwood
Is on the southwest side of it.
Last Tuesdays coach of the Sidney and Black
Hills Line was not crowded. young business man
of Dead wood returning from trip to the East, and
a " tenderfoot pilgrim" were the only through pas
sengers One of jim" Boser's partners in the
stock-rasng business came up as far as the crossing
of the North Platte River, aud two or three way
Messengers were picked up this side Of Rapid City.
The absence of crowd in the coach enabled us to
make the journey very comfortably, especially at
night when instead of being obliged to sit bolt up
right we rolled ourselves up In our blankets and
made bed OF the seats Soon after the train on the
Union Pacific Railroad had disappeared inthe west.
the coach drove up to the principal hotel, the mail
and express matter was quickly packed in the boot.
the driver received from the agent tho great leather
pocket.book containing the way-bll, gathered up
the reins aud we were Off for tho Black Hills.
Leaving Sidney the stage road runs for half mile
along the bluffs that lie north of the town. and then
turning TO the right, follows up SMALL canon I'VE
should call it gully in the East to the level OF
the plain.
The cattle raising business, OF which Sidney and
the country surrounding 1t Is one OF the centres, Ii
probably more profitable than any other IN Ne
braska Mr. Bosler's partner, who was MY travel
ling companion during part Of the first days jour
IL han, tfra gto
range about four years he Is very Intelligent and
has had considerable business experience, and he
said that any who would begin With small
herd and attend to it five six months In the SUM
mer for few years could not fail TO Eot rich. The
cattle arc herded on Government land at very little
exnense The owner of the stock has, Of course, no
valid legal claim to the range wnleh he takes up.
but the right Of the first conner to the occupancy OK
the land of which he takes possession il one that has
thus far been almost universally recognized. 10
take up a range, man selects = section Of unoccu-
pied country lying along some stream, builds
house upon it and drives his cattle to it. The extent
of his range will depend upon tse size OF his herd.
The Boser herd of 27 900 cattle occupies the valley
of the North Platte River for a distance Of forty
miles. From May to October the cattle care
fullv watched driven where tho richest feod is To be
found. aud gathered up at night. This requires an
outGt the size of which is governed by the size of
the herd All the conveniences for camping are car
ried IN wagons, and for five months the Cow
boysp are in the saddle eighteen hours day, and
sleep at night either on the open prairie or iii tent
In October that part of the herd that Is not to be
sent to market is turned loose upon tho plains to
shift for itself until the next Spring. OF course,
during severe and long continued storms many
cattle die, but most of them come through.
though they generally rather lean In the
Spring. During the Winter no effort is made to
keep tho different herds separate, and the cattle
ali run together and often wander as far as 200
fror, 4hoir rama In Anril and MAY there Is