Omaha daily bee., 1888-05-27
THE A HILLS.
Their Many Advantages Interestingly
Described.

BRADLEY FLAT, d. T., May 25.-
Especial Correspondence of the BEE. l.
In wandering over this Black Hills coun-
try l I'm more than ever surprised Mt
the wonderful resources that present
themselves to the view Of the most
casual observer. The pioneers who
came here at III early day were looking
for gold and silver, little dreaming of
the wealth they were %tramping yer IN
the shape of tin, coal, mica and other
minerals that are TO- attracting the
attention of eastern and European cap
~italists. There is also marble by the
tons, marble by the acres, and marble
by the square miles, of good quality,
and easy to work and handy to get at.
There is also q superabundance of
gypsum, and likewise the finest
and most beautiful v~ariegated build
ing stone on the continent.
Then there are salt wells and
oil wells. Probably no one country on
the face of the globe combines so many
resources for the investment of capital
with a sure profit in the future as does
the Black Hills to-day. The beautiful
parks or valleys surrounding the Hills
are all susceptible of cultivation and are
very productive.
Timber is abundant and one is re-
jolced to strike this country after tray
cling over the arid plains OF Western
Nebraska. Then in these Southern
Hills we have our beautiful Minnekahta
or Hot Springs. AS a pleasure and
health resort the time is not far distant
hen she will have no rivals, certainly
no peers. A few days since I took a
yopnfipp on bnrcn honly IN thn ,p,th ,n1
west of Brady Flat over the low rolling
foothills that trend away northwest
toward Custer, over miles and miles of
the finest grass land L ever saw, with
here and there groves of pine timber
ever and anon crossing small parks
or valleys, 1 %journeyed on feast
ing my eyes on the beautiful
scenery whilst my mind was
absorbed with the future of this great
and glorious country. Away toward
the setting u was Elk mountain run
ming southwark toward the Cheyenne
while still north and west were the
Bear Lodge mountains at the head of
the lnyan Kara. Who can tell how
many comfortable homes will be nestled
around these placed in the lapse of the
next few years. From high points on
my journey l could look away south
ward across the Cheyenne to the bad
lands and | wondered in my mind at
the peculiar stretch of fancy that called
them bad when l know of so many
places in different parts of the world
That were so much worse. There was q
time not many years Ggsc when this was
the hunters paradise. Deer, elk, bear,
antelope n bison ranged here in great
numbers. Continual hunting has ex
terminated the bison entirely whilst
other and smaller game is considerably
thinned out. Everywhere you may go
you will see evidence of the red mans
occupation of this country in the past
and it is not hard to imagine why they
were so 10th to leave it for a less desir-
able locality. Sheltered as it is from
the bleak winds and bowling billiards.
with plenty OF grass for their ponies
and WOO and water at hand and game
in abundance it is not surprising that
they were jealous of the white mans
encroachments and resisted as long as
possible their occupation of this coun-
try. Every one of the roads and trails
too, coming into the hills from different
points-was the scene of many
sanguinary conflicts between road
gents and emigrants and stages---and
are truly historic grounds. 1t was here
that Wild Bill and other desperadoes
of national repute met their fate and it
was here that riot and lawlessness run
rampant for years retarding the de-
velopment and prosperity Of the coun-
try and furnishing victims for many an
unknown and unnamed grave.