Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-04-03
Dakota Hot Spings.


descriptive account o fthem, from which
we quote:
Having just returned from a visit to
the Hot Springs of Dakota, in company
with A. S. Garretson and Ct. G.. Searle,
the artist, AID finding o many inquir-
ing as to the curative effects of the
waters, climate and surroundings, l
thought l would explain things as | un-
derstand them through the columns Of
tine Journal. and thereby save me con-
siderable chin music.
The present route from here is over
the Sioux City and Pacific railroad to
Missouri Valley, thence westward with
the star Of empire" over the Northwest
ern NATURALIZATION valley line--to
Buffalo Gap. This stretch of country
forty years ago was called the great
American desert, but now the land OF
pure delight, where mortals dwell, with
resources and richness enough to feed
this great Yankee nation. This route
is destined TO be the great shipping
thoroughfare for all the cattle and pro.
duets of Colorado, Wyoming, western
Nebraska and southwestern Dakota to
the east. Every train going west is
filed with capitalists, p~leasurists, land.
seekers, explorers, miners. ranchman,
railroad contractors, invalids and cow
boys.
Buffalo Gap is the fastest growing city
on the continent, except Sioux City.
ONLY three months old, with a popula-
ton Of nearly 1000, and at a distance
looks like a large lumber yard, not
having had time to paint a single house,
The merchants here carry large stocks
Of goods and are doing a heavy bust.
ness. Every man has his coat off and
brimful of energy and hopeful to the
last The ride to the springs from the
Gap in one Of Evans tally-ho coaches is
through one Of the most picturesque
countries on the globe. Much has been
said and written about the grandeur
and beauties OF these western wilds, bul
to be enjoyed and appreciated they
must be een | can say SO little and
that to so little purpose, l fee, like keep
ing a golden silence and will not at
tempt to describe scenic beauty of this
romantic drive.
would / might utter all my heart can feel
But there are thoughts weak words cannot revea
Rarest fruitage Is the last to fall,
The strongest language hath no words at all"
II o SPRINGS
are located in Fall River county, tn,
southwest county Of Dakota, twelv,
miles west end south of Buffalo Gar
and is abundantly supplied with water
timber and good soil, making it good 70
agriculture and grazing. The countr
around the springs is mountainous
some Of which are perfectly grand
especially Battle mountain, noted be
cause Of the great battle fought on tn
summit between the Sioux and Chey
enne Indians. These mountains, hill
and plateau, are dotted over with beau
tiful cedars here and there, formin
groves unsurpassed in beauty. Tn
valleys or canons are rich and the seer
cry perfectly charming. For the gener,
topography of the country l would refe
: to Gen. Dan SCOTS article, written o
the 9th OF December, 1885. Here i
the fertile valleys they raise some
the largest and best vegetables in tn
. world. The potatoes are not of tn
Maumee kind either. Further up in til
hills you have plenty of nearly all kind
Of minerals, gold, silver, tin, iron, Cyl
sum and mica. These mines seem to b
inexhaustible. Several large and pay
ing mines are shipping great quautitie
of gold, silver and tin to the east. Gres
quantities Of good coal and petroleum
have been discovered a little further I
the west, making this section yer
|, prominent and important to the worl,
The altitude of this section is abor
$500 feet above the sea level, maxim
the climate clear, dry, bracing an
healthful, moderating the temperatur
very materially. The weather is neve
oppressive hot in summer time. Tn
uniformity cool nights give quite RI
freshing sleep, making it very invigol
ating for those worn out by overwor
or mental toll. The winter months ar
indeed delightful, having more clea
sunshine than any spot on the face
the earth. The evergreen grass an
evergreen trees make it cheerful an
pleasant. Catarrh and biliousness al
unknown here with the natives, an
undoubtedly it is destined to be tn
greatest health and pleasure resort o
this continent. The curative powers
the waters are no longer experimental
+, for many diseases that were though
incurable have been cured by their us,
Their wonderful! properties were know
to the Cheyenne Indians centuries bt
fore their discovery by the whites.
While at the Hot Springs of Dakota
took pains to inquire Of those not in
terested in the springs rs to the curativ
properties of these waters. They al
without a single exception, spoke j
praise and told what wonderful thing