Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-02-14
Chadron.

ers, who are little stuck" on Shadron,
We reprint the following article from the
Journal Of that place:
The beautiful Chadron creek makes
confluence with the White river in sec
! ton 10, township 80, range 40. This
point is in almost the exact center. east
and west, of Sioux county. 1t is about
- miles from the Dakota line, 90 miles
from Rapid City, and 30 miles from
Wyoming In every country there are
| points where the population will gather,
In answer to some gravitating influence;
1T th~se points cities and towns spring
| up and thrive, and no power can control
or regulate them. From these points
radiate the magnetic lines made by
| nature. and men are irresistably attract
ed thither, The vicinity of the Chad
ron's mouth is just such a natural center,
a natural townsite. The red man, who
but short time ago owned and occu
pied this region, III looking for central
spot on which to build his village, to
which his people could most easily
gather for the dance or festivity lool-
ing, loo, for the strategic point Of the
country, where his village could be best
defended; the point from which the
natural lines Of travel would radiate,
picked upon this spot, and it is a matter
IF iafn h,t a,,,ht
ago large village stood here, while
near $1,000 Indians gathered to attend
the horrible and barbaric festivities Of
the great annual sundance. The site,
covering thousands OF acres, was found
by the present settlers thickly strewn
with their tepee poles and stakes, and
evidences Of the fires and feasts of q
great village When the Black Hills
troubles arose, and the Indians rebelled,
one Of the most important engagements
OF the campaign occurred but few
hundred yards from the present site Of
the Journal office. That engagement,
known as the battle of Chadron creek,
is noted rs of much consequence by no
less a parsonage than Gen Sheridan.
After the Indian was removed the place
lay ia solitude, unoccupied save by the
Wild beast. or the roaming cattle and
their hcrismen. The spring Of 1884
brought the first returning echo, when
The pioneer made his appearance. The
engineers Of the great railway line soon
~ be completed here, surveyed the line
down one of the conversing pathways
unit! they reached this natural center,
and here ;hey rested. They noted, as
did the Indians before them it's strategic
position its superhly advantageous loca.
lion for The bnilding OF 4 great city.
The Eikhorn valley extension has al
ready 90 miles of grade finished, and the
contract for the remaining distance, al.
ready let; calls for completion July l5.
Tracklayin. will commence April lst.
and the cars viii reach Chadron about
Aug lst The White river will be
bridged about 50 rods below or north OF
the mouth Of the creek On the other
side of the river, or as corporated ar
ticies Of the company put it in section 4,
the Black Hills branch will leave tie
main hue, running northwest out the
Lone Tree valley. No contracts for
further grading have yet been let, and
Chadron is destined to be the terminus
of one, perhaps both Of these continuing
lines, for an indefinite time. A division
Of the road will occur here naturally,
and il is thought that extensive railroad
repair shops viii be erected on the west
bank of the river Other railroads are
reported building this way, to get around
the Indian country to the Black Hills.
The topography Of the country and the
present establishment Of the Indian
reserve, necessitates thecrossing of such
roads at this place or very near here.
The probabilities all point to a railroad
center, a booming, rushing city, in this
immediate vicinity, and with its ad-
vantages and start, who will gainsay
that Chadron is more than likely to be
the place.
Our post office and town are named
Chadron, an old, well-establshed, wide
ly known, respected name. The town
site is not yet located, but it is to be de-
voutly hoped-it is the universal wish
Of the people, that the appropriate and
well-advertised name be retained. Six
months ago not more than three or four
settlers houses could be seen here; now
we count % business houses and resi-
dences in sight and Is others count
themselves "in town"