Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-29

Horn and Powder mountains are beyond
view. Immediately below you is wilder
ness OF granite plunacles, hills, ravines can
ons, gulches parks, and streams, and beyond
the circle an ocean of yerdure and dry grass.
Just now the view is dimmed by the smoke
from the Montana prairie fires. Great
black patches on the plains below
tell you that such fires are not
confined TO Montana The farmers
along the Elkhorn railroad NOW the grass
and weeds along the track and then burn IL.
They thus prevent fires that might prove
disastrous to their crops and cattle. A thou
sand farmers are at work along the track
this week and the heat in the cars is at times
almost insufferable.
The fruit of the Black Hills is remarkable.
Apples, pears, plums, cherries, and grapes
grow to n large size aud are unusually lus-
cious. Hale & Thompson, who own q nur-
sery five miles above Rapid City, are send
ing 10 the state fair n choice collection of
fruits. They include Duchess of Oldenburg
and Welthy apples. ana Martin, Hyslop,
transcendent and Siberian crab apples, and
Concord grapes. They would do credit 10
California.
The Hills cover 5000 square miles, and lie
in the extreme southwestern part of South
Dakota. The scenery Is magnificent. In
years to come they will undoubtedly be
tavorite resort for tourists. There are no
trout in the brooks, nor are there any lakes
in the hills. Small chubs and suckers are
ore the only fish to be found The pine
trees are filled with red squirrels, but they
are not tit to eat They feed upon pine cones
almost exclusively. When cooked their flesh
retains the taste of the pine. The ground
squirrels are striped like chipmunks, and
are not much larger than MICE They in.
fest every dwelling and granary. A mole
as large as a rat is curiosity He heaves
bushels of subsoil to the surface and seems
to enjoy himself immensely. Elk and buf-
falo have disappeared. A few cinnamon
bears and black tailed deers are left The
deer are already protected by game laws.
Rabbits are found, but the hawks and the
eagles prevent their rapid increase. There
are no beavers minks nor fur bearing ami
mails. A few quails have been brought from
the east and are said to be doing well. Rob-
ms and meadow larks are plentiful, but there
are no brown thrushes nor orioles Blackbirds
hover over the wheatfields in dense clouds.
stray mocking bird is sometimes seen, but
he quickly wends his way back to Texas
The English sparrow has not yet found this
paradise, and the ground chippy has the
country to himself. There are n few oaks
and quaking aspens in the valleys, but the
most of the timber is yellow pine. Goldenrod,
wild roses, blackberries, thistles and wild
suniiowers are plentiful. L saw no mullen
stalks nor wild parsnps.
The climate Is delightful. The summer
months are characterized by warm days and
cool nights. The air is pure and wholesome.
Light showers are frequent. Tornadoes are
rare. The autumn months are lovely. Warm
weather remains until after the holidays. 1t
is asserted that there are more days of sum
shine in the Black Hills thar in any other
part of the United States. The winters are
cold, but there is little snow Sleighs are
never used. The mercury seldom rises
above 9O7 in summer. In winter it some
times reaches 207 below zero. The climate
is especially favorable to those suffering from
pulmonary and malarial diseases. 1t has all
the good qualities OF the air of Colorado,
without the light, rarefed atmosphere. You
seldom hear OF sickness in the Black Hills.
The border days are past. The road agent
has disappeared. The hills are as safe for
travellers as the roads of New England. The
Indians are kept on reservations hundreds
of miles away. | have been here sixteen
days without seeing solitary savage. The
people are hosptable ana entertaining. They
are proud of the country and have glowing
hopes of its future. 1t is still in its infancy,
but it Is growing like giant. Thirteen
years have passed since the Custer massacre.
The Black Hills were tnen developing the
first germs of commercial life. To-day a
city of 5000 inhabitants squats at its gate
way, and there are $4,000 miners and laOorers
within sight of Harvey peak. 1t looks as
though somebody was monkeying with AL
addins lamp.