Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-12-05

THE BLACK HILLS.
Dakota's Yet UndeveIoped Mineral
Regional Sketch of EARLY Days.
Chicago Inter Ocean

Dakota's Yet UndeveIoped Mineral
Regional Sketch of Early Days.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Dakota has made unparalleled strides
during the past ten years. 1t seems al
most incrsdltable that in half that time
its population has trebled, and its pro-
gress and prosperity have been cores
pondingly great. But with all its growth
and attractions for enterprising settlers
and broadguage business men. it ap-
pears like the dream of an enthusiast
that in few weeks that remote portion
of our leading territory known as the
Black Hills--the Sioux Pah-Sappa-is
to have railroad of it's own, connecting
1T with the rest of the world. There is,
however, no doubt of 1t, and this month
the ranchmen of the Cheyenne will hear
| the steam engine roaring up the valley,
and the iron trail will traveres the "Race
| Coulse," us the Red Valley is called,
which gjrdles the Ellis.
1t is scarcely more than eleven years
since the brilliant reconnaissance of the
dashing but ill-fated Custer was made
into what was then practically an un.
known land. The gold discoveries then
made were given to the country by the
Inter Ocean, which was represented in
| the Custer expedition of 1874. These
statements with reference to the wealth
of the Black Hills were discredited by a
great majority of the press, which of
course knew nothing about it except the
art of robblng an enterprising rival of
we'll earned glory. The frontier was
fired by these reports. Sioux City took
the lead in oatfitting party OF adven.
turous spirits, who were the fret pio-
neers and conveyed the first white
woman who ever entered the Black
Hill. The Gordon train spent Christ
mas, 1874, in camp on French creek
near where Custer City now stands
But the Hills district was yet Indian
ground, and these ice-breakers were re-
moved by Captain John Mix to ForI
Laramie. The stories related by Cor
don, Russell, Bishop, Long and Talent
simply served to spread the news o.
placer discoveries Miners from Cali
fornia and prospectors from the Gunnl.
son gulches stampeded to the new dig
gings. And the voice of the pilgrim
and tenderfoot was heard in the land.
The government aent out another ex
pedition. This left from Fort Laramie
for the hills IN May, 1875. under Profes
sor Jenney and the lamentea MIR. New
ton, escorted by large military com
mand under Colonel Richard Irving
Dodge, an excellent soldier. a:.;
as bright writer resembling
his kinsman, the distinguished
Washington Irving. That expedition
and surveying party confirmed to thu
fullest all the reports published in the
i inter Vcean regarding the Weaith OF thi
Black Hills, not only as mining coun-
try, but also as to climate, timber, graz
ing and the surprising beauty of III
scenery. AS Clusters old scout ant
plainsman, California Joe, used to say
There was gold from the grass root
down, and there was gold from th,
grass roots up"
1 The Black Hills country was quite
thoroughly prospected III 1875, but 1t re
NAMED for the next year to discove
Deadwood, and even "Uncle John
] Aliens we'll known "Standof Bar" il
Spring Creek was distanced.
From that time the Black Hills ceaset
to be an experiment, o frontier fable; i
never was "salted" district, although
Its detractors charged that with many
other baseless accusations. Since thel
millions Of gold have been taken out o
its mines annually. Flourishing town
have sprung up all over that plctur
: esque region. The vision of Father DE
Smet has been realized. Custer
prophecy has been fulfilled. Professo
Jenney's and MIR. Newton's reports hav
been contirmeu. Col. Dodge's state
ments have been verified. In short, th
Inter Oceans reports for 1874 and 1877
have since then received the fullest win
dlc2tiop.
/ Less than ten yeare ago the Cheyenn
and the Ogallalia spent their summe
vacation in sampling the stock of tn
ipoineer ranchman among the foothiil
near Speartisb, or in racing with th
stagecoach in the famous and fatal Ho
Greek run. But these early settlement
! have gone out of fashion. And only tn
other day the Inter Oceans Dakota cor
respondent, "Palnud" informed ou
readers that the beginning of this montl
. would witness the completion of lea6
, ing railroad up along the Big Cheyenn
where the Belle Fourche Or
cles down from the north an
: the west to meet and mIngl
, its waters with those of the South Forl
!, It may not be long before there will b
a.summer resort at the foot of lofty Ii
van Lara, or hard by the mysteriou
, Devils Tower, or among the tradition
haunted Sun Dance Hills. Custer
splendid Floral Valley will be as fam
iliar to the tourist as the Gloves of th
! Catskllls, aud Castle Creek be as muc
r frequented as Watkins Glen. An
!, many of the '75ers will be there to sc
and enjoy and profit by this march {
civilization.