Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-11-02
THE BLACK HILLS OF DAKOTA

l'y FREDERICK ote2rGS.
The Territory Of Dakota is nearly an
Oblong square, abOa5 tn &c times the area
of New York State, aud containing in
round numbers about 10000 square
miles. The general surface consists of
vast, grassy plains covering thick sedi-
mentary deposits.
In the southwest corner Of Dakota is
the Black Hills region, with an area of
5000 square miles.
The name Black Hills comes from the
fact that from whichever side the region
is approached over slightly undplating
plains of p Greenish yellow or reddish
brown, this hilIs loom up upon the hori-
zOn dark or almost black with the somber
green of the evergreen timber clothing
their tops.
The Black Hills are peculiar in so much
as they are younger Or more recent than
the plains, and have bees pushed up by
volcanic force through the vast area of
level strata which forms the surface else
where.
1t is evident that at one time the whole
Black Hills region, in the form of loaf
like elevation, Bas several thousand feet
higher than it is now, and was an isolated
island in the midst of narrow inland
sea, the upheaval carrying with it, with
out much disturbance, all the sedimen-
tary formations peculiar to the upper
Missouri. reg ion. Since which vast erod
lug agencies, aqueous ard glacial have
cut and carved down the surface of the
loaf to its present condition, and the
geological sequence in this chapter III
the book OF natare can here De read with
the utmost facility and ease.
al no 81
cla5s of the Tertiary period down to the
gray arChieau rocks.
The hig hest attitudes where the granite
abounds, Harvey Peak, is $500 feet, while
the average elevation of the hill region
may be stated at 5000 feet, this above
the sea: but above the plains Surround
ing the hills from $500 to 4 500.
While the plains themselves are abso.
luteiy treeless, the hill tops and peaks, as
stated before, are covered with timber,
principally species of pine, "pinus
ponderose," not Unlike Norway pine, con
tanning much more pitch than our Michi-
gan pine. This affords abundance of
fuel an timber for mining purposes.
The erchean rocks which form he can
ter of the uphesval of the z aek Hills,
consist of a very coarse granite crystal
iine, containing much feldspgr. Togeth
er with HuronIan nchists and states, these
cCvsr an area of over 5000 square miles
and, of course, contain the important
mineral deposits.
Over these lie successfully red sandstone
and a congiomeraJe of drift pebbles &C.
mented by gypsum or cslcic carbonate,
over this the subcarboniferoas limestones,
then the tIisssic and iurass1c deposits, in
al n mn 1- ~ he ohn ynA
and tertiary formation.
The scenery Cf the Black Hills is ex
tremely varied ana interesting. The
foothills rise gently from the plains,
clothed with edible grasses to their sum
mits, and as one drives slowly up the
draws or canyons into the higher regions,
these become deeper ana darker, waters
come tumbling down more rapidly, the
ascent more abrupt, the peaks sharper,
the canyon walls more precipitous and
dark, tie ridges of which appear cut
sharp and clear oat of q sky OF deepest
blue, while the air you breath seems cool
and bracing as if richer in oxygen than
that of the open plains.
The temperature of the Black Hills
saldom rises above 800 or sinks below
minus 20. The so-cailed Chinook or
warm winds Of the Pacific slope affects
this region so that snow never remains
long. This however, is also true of the
entire territory, at least its western part,
though possibly in s slightly lesser de
gree.
A curious fact is noted that since the
settlement OF the region the annual rain
fall has gradually increased. In the
Black Bills in the past six years it has
increased from IA to 26 inches annually.
As stated in former letter, to the In
dian the Black Hills was region OF mys
ters, the abode of the Great Spirit, his
treasure house. In its parks he herdsd
the Buffalo. From the red sandstone
cliss flowed his great medicine water and
herein did he expect TO find his final
resting place and home when driven from
the plains By the white man.
Little nuggets of gold shown by chiefs
to the early brave missionaries, members
of the Soc!sty of Jesus, who long age pene-
trated alone into the country, became
magnlfed By time into legends of barrels
of the yellow metal filling the gulchss.
Within twenty years this stimulated ad
venturous pros pectors into penetrating
the region while it vas still Indian cozR-
try especially reserved by this govern
ment. Hardy fellows whose endurance
quately picture we're the pioneers il that
work of gold mining which oar recent
history has made SO familiar. Thousands
of these men came, prospected. stsSed !
out claims in cGlcbes and hillsides. !
Some few made money bat many more |
consumed their substance. Eearied, heart
sick With waiting, died or walked away
There Is abundance OF mineral wealth !
in the Block Hills, the principal deposit /
being that of gold, the placer or surface /
depo,its of which .sve been largely eI- /
hsassed, but tbs gold bearing rock exists 4
a euormous quantities.
The lat. Gen. Ssiomon, president Of /
Hayti, was splendid specimen of tie /
negro race He vas essentially polish
ed, digrihsd geatisEac, and outside or
politics had fo~ if any enemies One of
his marked characteristics Was his love
for classical music.