Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-03-04

Word was brought iii last week by a
gentleman from Pine Ridge that a con-
tract to grade two hundred miles further
Of the Sioux City and Pacific had been
let. This will extend the road from its
present terminus, Long Pine, 10 some
point on the Cheyenne river i'm Custer
county, and not more than twenty-five
OF thirty five miles from this place.
Track laying will follow the grading and
it IL intended to complete the extension
by next fall. 1t will he remembered
that about II year ago We calIed.a.ten-
ton to this company and stated the
route to be followed would be along the
northern boundary line of Nebraska un-
til Forsyth county was entered when it
would probably bear northwest through
Custer county, and the following items
from Il Minneapolis paper and the
Fremont Herald proves that We we're
correct:
The Minneapolis paper says: 1.-THE
Sioux City and Pacific made consider
able strides Hillwards last year, and will
approach much nearer ere the close of
the present season, but as it is generally
understood that its objective point is the
Yellowstone Park, and that it will pass
around and some distance from the
southern extremity Of the Hills-l00
miles distant from Deadwood-it will be
OF very little advantage to this people"
One of the engineers Of the Sioux
City & Pacific says: "Tbe railroad over
the Long Pine is ninety-one feet above
the water; that over Ash creek, now
being built, ninety-three feet, and one
over the Niobrara river, four miles from
Fort Niobrara, will be eighty-two feet
bridge the track will cross from the bluff
on the south side of the river to tongue
Of high prairie that come down between
the Minnichaduza river and the Mo
brara. For the first fifty miles west of
this route will be through a pretty fair
prairie country. Then comes twenty
five miles of sandhill country that will
be hard to get a line through. Beyond
that is a pretty fair country, as | under
stand from those who have been over il,
to Fort Robinson, near the northwest
corner Of Nebraska. l think that the
sand hills | spoke ofdo not extend north
Of the line between Nebraska and Dako-
ia, but the company does not care 10
swing into Dakota to get around the
sand hills, on ccou Of the trouble it
is 10 get a treaty for right of way from
the Sioux, and then to get it approved
at Observation-Disclosures Herald.
The probable cause Of the present
move is to extend the road far enough
this spring to secure the immense cattle
trade to the south and west Of Custer.
From the information given above it is
certain that the road will run south, if
not through this place, as no road enter
Ing Dakota at the southeast corner of
Forsyth county would ever think OF
touching the eastern side Of the Hills.
But supposing that it did run to this
place 1t is not reasonable to suppose that
it would run through the Hills to Dead
wood unless some i~ndurement was offer
ed. The article published last week
from the Rapid City Journal is evidence
enough that they propose to vote bonds
t. no other road than the Homestake
and that Lawrence and Custer counties
will be left to paddle their own canoe
as far as all other roads are concerned
and If we use our paddles in unison
and with reasonable amount of expedi.
ton there is no reason why we should
not have our canoe, in the shape of the
Sioux City and Pacific, running through
Custer and into Deadwood, by way Of
Rochford and Tigerville. And righ,
here we would mention the fact that by
the time we are enabled to vote bonds
the western end Of Pennington county,
which would be benefited by this road
and which Rapid seems inclined to ig.
more, might have the population to
, carry them in spight of the latter's op.
position.
According to the Cheyenne railroad
, bill We will have to wait until 1883 be.
fore anything can be done with a road
from that direction, and it is our humble
opinion that Lawrence and Custer com
ties better unite on the Sioux City and
Pacific, which will give as good railroad
connection as any other route.
FL Tho maoharu re Tho Ccoura.,t;o,~