Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-03-24
3. q Nj. Exteheicn.

The Crawford Clipper says, that one
of the b. & NJ. surveying outfits passed
through that place recently going north;
and also notes the return OF Chief En-.
gineer Tucker, who had been looking
up the line Of survey Of the h! Il NJ
branch north from that place.
The following TT. Mckinney special
to the Omaha Bee. while it may, to a
certain extent, outline the intentions Of
the B. & NJ company will be produc-
tive Of considerable amusement on the
part of local readers who are familiar
with the points named on this peculiar.
ly circuitous route, and their relative
positions with each other:
Fort Mckinney, March lS.-Informa
ton that is believed to be thoroughly
reliable has been received here concern
: ing the location of the b. x NJ. railroad
Crawford, Neb., to Hat Creek, and from
there to Circle ranch, thence TO the
Cheyenne river and thence to the hills.
1t will then pass through Red Canyon
to Custer City and from there TO Har-
ney, Hill City, TigervIlle, Hayward and
Rockervile. From thence it will run
to Sundance, Powder river and Clear
Forks, to Buffalo, Wyc., which will be
its terminus for the present year Towns
will be built at Crossing, Hat Creek,
Cheyenne river, Red canyon, Powder
river and Clear Forks crossing. The
country through which the road viii
run Is very rich one In both agricu-
tural and mineral resources. Salt, sill
yer, copper, tin gypsum, mica, marble,
coal and hone stone have already been
found along the proposed route The
immense beds of coal recently discover
ed on the Powder river and Clear Forks
will be tapped and opened up by this
road. 1t is believed the road will reach
Buffalo by December !, 1888, from the
present indications.
The Crawford Crescent sums up the
course of the b. & Nj. branch north Of
Crawford as follows
From Crawford it takes northwestern
ly course, crossing the divide near Sugar
Loaf butte, and following the Long
Branch to Hat creek which it crosses
about two miles below the old Circle
Bar ranch. Here is large section of
| good farming land that is very thinly
settled on account of being so far from
railroad. A town will be built here and
the country soon settled up. From Hat
creek the road will pass through fertile
valley for about twenty-five miles to the
Cheyenne river, where another town
will be built which will be the gate city
to the Hills. Situated in the heart Of
rich agricultural country, it will supply
all the Hills with farm products besides
being the shipping point for the cattle
kings. The town will be near the
mouth of Red canyon and only a few
miles from the rich coal fields which
were opened up last summer. Passing
|up Red canyon, it enters into rich
mining country, and numerous towns
will spring up along the line. Follow
| ing up Red canyon distance of forty
! three miles, it reaches Custer City, one Of
| the richest mining camps in the United
states and only needs a railroad to out
rival Denver Harnev, Hill City, Tiger
vile, Hayward, Rockerville and other
mining camps, will be benefited by1this
road Leaving Custer it runs almost
directly west through what is known as
the Lime Stone range, which is covered
| with heavy growth of pine trees.
| Thirty miles from Custer they strike
Salt creek, near the Black Hills Salt
works, an industry that promises big
| returns for its working. The road will
then pass through Sundance on to Buf-
falo, Wyoming, the objective point.
| There is no doubt that this will be the
| line selected, and it opens up business
that will be worth millions to the rail
road company.
f., f. NJ. V.
The following interview appearing in
the Deadwood Times Of the 18th inst. is
| reproduced in the CHRONICLE for what it
is worth. The channels through which
railroad news Is obtained is Of the most
unreliable character as a rule, but
newspaper is supposed to note 1t all the
same, and submit it to the option of the
reader for his acceptance or rejection:
j. w. Andrews, locating engineer FIRE.
mont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley,
quietly dropped into town last evening
not he assures the Times, on par
ticuar railroad bus,iness He denies
the report circulated here few weeks
ago that he had severed his connection
| with the ElkhOrn, and established in
| private business at Fremont. While
imparting no information of moment,
we are satisfied that he conceals nothing;
that, as he assures us, he don't believe
the company has fully determined its
plans for the season, and will not until
the annual meeting in jane. We infer
from the little he let drop, that beyond
little work in Nebraska and ironing of
the grade completed west Of Douglas, no
new line will be constructed this year.
Asked concerning the intentions Of
the Milwaukee and the b q NJ, he said
of the former that in the event of the
opening of the reservation, it would be
reasonable to suppose that line would
be extended TO the Hills. The company
has had force at Chamberlain all
winter making souldings. &c, and the
road would, doubtless, come from that
point, but would hardly follow the route
of the preliminary survey.
The b. < NJ. contemplates line skirt
ing the Hills on the west corresponding
to the Elkhorn on the east, but whether
any portion thereof would be constructed
this year remains to be seen. At present
the company has its hands full with
| ctr;lra ,,ott.ro ua tnoo NOT haliayo