Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-14
Letter from Chas. Shankland.

Hot SPRINGS, OAK, Aug. Z, 'S6
Bro. SAINT was with feelings Of
regret that on last Wednesday | bid
farewell to Custer and its beauties; az
the rainy weather while there had de-
prived me Of the pleasure of many
strolls to scenes romantic which | wish
ed to revisit, but the trip from your
city to this point partially repaid the
loss, The Southern Hills seem to re-
tain their surprising attractiveness, still
presenting one continued scene Of ever
varying beauties. Bounteous nature
must have exhausted herself in dis
persing romantic beauties within the
limits of Custer and Fall River counties,
and when she reached Custer, | think
her apron strings parted and she dump
ed the remainder in one grand heap.
The route from Custer to this point is
one unkroken scene of enchantment,
which must be seen TO be appreciated.
There is fair natural road with easy
grade the entire distance, but it needs
some attention, and it certainly would
be to the best interests Of Custer to give
attention to this route; for she surely
would reap great benefit, and be richly
repaid for the outlay; for with the adj
vantages of good road, many who visit
these spring would, for change, avail
themselves of a trip to your city to take
a ramble through its many delightful
parks, and II climb to Sentinel Rock.
Buckhorn, and Calamity Peaks, or prob
ably take in wider range, and HE
themselves to the celebrated needles Of
old Harvey range, which walls your city
on the north SO beautifully grand. This
trip TO Custer with its many attractions,
would send the pleasure seeker back to
this place, refreshed in spirits and pre-
pare them for another course of plunges
in the crystal, health inspiring baths Of
Minnekata. Custer and Hot Springs
should be inseperably and harmonious
Iy united. Custer has has her mines of
precious metals, and this place has her
wonderful curative waters, and both are
richly endowed with natures beauties.
which in the near future, on becoming
more widely known, will be the meccas
70 which eastern tourists will turn their
attention. / have sometimes thought
that the author of Killarney must have
visited the Southern Hills, previous to
composing the verse commencing "No
place else can charm the eye, with such
bright and varied tints, every rock that
you pass by, vcrdure, broiders or be-
prints" etc.-.or "Angels pause while
passing there, iouLt if Eden were more
fair" etc.
l meet quite number here from
Deadwood, and all are loud in praise of
this pleasant resort. The change is so
great, and the transformation so COM
plete, that / can scarcely realize that it
is the same place visited six years ago,
and before the present owners had cast
their longing eyes upon it. At that time
log cabin sufIiced for cooking, dining,
and sleeping apartments, yet, never
theless, / was most royalty entertained
by Uncle Joe Laravie, whose kindness
mas by no means been forgotten. At
that time basin roughly hewn in the
solid gypsum rock, served as the only
bath in the place, which is now
making such giants strides toward
worldwide reputation. A nice, quiet,
orderly village, and a magnificent and
commodious hotel, frst-class in all it's
appointments, and Of ample capacity to
comfortably accommodate, / should
think, $50 guests, and the conducting of
the waters into baths Of more modern
construction, are prominent among the
many changes here since my last visit.
Many other improvements are under
consideration, which will add additional
attractions to the tourist and the in
valid.
/ take the stage in few hours for
Buffalo Gap, where will, for the first
time in over three years, see a railroad
train, and if i have not entirely for
gotten the modus operandi, l will get
aboard and pass like herd Of antelope
over the plains TO Council Bluffs, and
on to the old home Of our childhood in
the Buckeye state. Kindest regards to
citizens of Custer
Your Bro. Charley.