New-York tribune., 1879-08-28

OF Indians on the old overland route and nearly all
bear the scars of wounds received in such encoun-
rers. If the treasure-coach ever attacked they
will fight as long as one of them remains alive. For
this responsible, dangerous and fatigung service
they each receive a salary of $50 a month and
board.
Only one treasure coach has ever been captured
between the Black Hills and the railroad, and that
which contained only $4,000, was guarded by
only two messengers. telegraph operator was
also passenger. This coach left Deadwood about
year ago. and the agents, expecting 1t, captured
one of the relay stations in the night, bound and
gagged the stOck-tonder. and awaited its arrival.
As the coach drove up the telegraph operator first
got ont and was shot down. One of the messengers
followed him and received a bullet through his
wrist. He succeeded in getting behind a corner of
the building, and shot of the robbers, woundng
him so that he subsequently died. The other mes
senger made what resistance he could and then sur
rendered The road agents took the treasure. but
two OF them were afterward captured. and SlSOOo
worth of the bullion was recovered.
More dangerous and fatIguing even than the mes
seuger service was that Of the pony mail and ex-
press In 1876 il required courage and endurance
of no ordinary character in the Young men VINO Tor
mon this rode alone by night ana by day, beneath
the burning sun of the plains aud through terrific
storms, surrounded on every side Oy hostile Indians,
and threatened by highwaymen. One of these
young men named ROckaiellOw, and known IN
DeadwOOd as Rocky" was native of Albany, y.
Y. lie is slightly built, of highly nervous temper
ament, but as wiry as a bronchO pony. HIS service
was between Red Cloud and Custer, distance of
100 miles. Every time he started ont there seemed
to be i've chances that he would not get through TO
of his safe arrival but fortune favored him and
not hair of his head was ever injured. The expert
euces of these men carry us back for half genera
ton to the days when those heroes OF the plains,
the pony express riders between the Missouri River
aud the Pacific Coast, delivered Eastern mails in
San Francisco IN One-ha the time taken by the
ata ppn "a N no ne
only temporary, and with 1t the Institution passes
iutO history surrounded with the romance Of the
days IN which 1t existed
One hears a great deal at DeadwOOd about pro-
posed railroads to the Black Hills The Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul Company is pushing its
line to the Missouri River, and It's engineers have
inst made q reconnaissance of a route to Rapid City
and DeadwOOd. The Union Pacific is also talking
about a branch line from Cheyenne, Sidney or
Grand Island, and there Is talk about line from
the Northern PaClnc. do not believe that either
Of these companies will build a railroad to the
Black Hills within the next four years. The
amount of freight traffic with the Black Hills is not
likely to increase very much for several years to
come OF the 20OOO,OOO pounds which arrived he
tween June 80, 1878. and June 30, 1879. a large
proportion was heavy machinery ana grain. Dur
ing the current year the amount of machinery
brought IN viii be even greater than I'm lS7SJ70,
but there will be a large falling OFT IN the amount
OF gram Imported. The aggregate movement of
freight Will not probably decrease. But 1t Is hardly
probable that the demand for machinery will con
tnue as great as 1t is now. The mammoth mines
ABOUT DCduE JDil VII soon Dt supplied Win an the
mills they need, and ii seems hardly probable that
any other district, all of them together will
need much machinery for years to come.
Inc impOrta,iOns OF grain and other pro
duce Will certainly decrease, and the agri-
cultural machinery, for which there will be
growing demand, Will only partially hll ITS place
III the wagon trains. The outward freight is of
comparatively htJle consequence. The bullion is
in the form OF liIe gold bars the transportation
of which the stage company does not receive more
than $500 $1,000 a month. he passenger
traffic would probably increase with the completion
Of railroad, but can never ne very great until the
population of the Hils Is greater than 1t now Is
From this review it will be that for several
years to come there is not likely to be business
enough TO make a railway line to the Black Hills
pay fair profit its cost 1t would have TO be built
Tor at least 200 miles through a country which will
only be occupied cattle ranges for years 70 come
and which will furnish little no way business. Ine
opening of railway communication would unques-
tiODaby he Of great advantage to the people OF the
Hills. Freight would be some lower, aud the cost
OF manufactured articles would be cOrrespondngly
reduced. Merchants would receive their goods much
sooner after their purchase, aud would DO obliged
TO carry only six months ; oek Of goods instead
OF whole years. Thus saving a large sIm n int.i-
cs' md cscapln2 the great risks Vi iOsa Jy are that
are uU. lnCurisd, since no insurance company viii
at DFe gen. take -lsks On D-adwopd property. The
pre-. M RAJ OF freg are very low. Contracts
are made from Cmca 20 to DeadwOod at from ~ 80
10 S3 per hundred weight. lhe rates go up to from
to cents pound III the winter. L. L. ".