The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-01-12
BLACK HILLS.
The Treasure House of the In
dams Spirit.
Fabulous Wealth Was Dug
From Its Clutches.

ooiong square, about three times thu
area of New York State, and contain
ing in round numbers about $50. OO(
square miles. The general surface con
sists of vast, grassy plains covering
thick sedimentary deposits.
In tho southwest corner of Dakota il
the Black Hills region, with an ares
Of 5000 square miles.
The name Black Hills comes from the
fact that from whichever side the region
is approached over slightly undulating
plains of greenish yellow or reddish
brown, the hills loom up in the horizon
dark or almost black with the som bcr
green of the evergreen timber clothing
their tops.
The Black Hills are peculiar in 90
much a. they are younger or more re-
cent than the plains, and have
been pushed up by volcanic force
through the vast area of level strata
which forms the surface elsewhere.
1t is evident that at one time tho
whole Black Hills region, in the form
of . loaf-like elevation, was several
thousand feet higher than it il now,
and was IN isolated island in the midst
Of . shallow inland sea, the upheaval
carrying with it. without much dis
all tho sedimentary forma-
lions peculiar to the upper Nilsson re-
gion. Since which vast eroding sgen-
cisa, aqueous and glacial, have cut and
carved down the surface of the loaf to
its present condition, and the geologic
sequence in this chapter of the Book of
Nature can here DO read with the ut
most facility and ease.
The highest altitude where the gran
ties abound, Harvey Peak, is 5000 feet,
while the average elevation of the hill
region may be stated at 5000 feet, this
above the sea; but above the plains sur
the hills from $500 to 1900
feet.
While the plains themselves are alb
solutely treeless, the hill tops and peaks,
as stated before, arc covered with tim
Der, principally a species of pine.
The scenery of the Black Hills is ex-
tremely varied and interesting. The
loot hills rise gently from the plains,
with edible grasses to their
and as one drives slowly up
the draws or canyons iato the higher
regions, these become deeper and
darker, waters come tumbling down
more rapidly, the ascent more abrupt,
the peak sharper, the canyon walls
moro precipitous and dark, the ridges
'f which seem cut sharp and clear out
'f sky Of deepest blue, while the air
7ou breathe seems cool and brscing a.
4 richer in oxygen than that of the
open plains
The temperature in the Black Hills
eldom rises above 80 degrees or sinks
below minus 20. The So called chinook
" warm winds of the Pacific Slope af-
ect this region SO that snow seld ON re-
mains long.
A curious fact is noted that since the
settlement OF the region the annual rain
all has gradually increased. In the
Black Hills in the past six years it has
increased from fourteen to twenty six
inches annually.
To the Indian the Black Hills was q
'egiou Of mystery, the abode of the
Great Spirit his treasure hou,e. In its
parks he herded the buffalo. From the
ed sandstone cliff. flowed his great
water and herein did he ex-
oect to find his final resting plac, and
nome when driven from the plains by
he white man.
Little nuggets Of gold shown by
chiefs to the early brave missionaries,
members Of the Society Of Jesus, who
ong years ago penetrated alono into
he country. became magnifei by time
INTO legends Of barrels of the yellow
metal filling tho gulches. Within twenty
FEARS this stimulated adventurous pros
pectors into pen etrating the region
Wills it was still Indian country spc-
,ially reserved by tho govern ment.
Hardy fellows whose endurance AMI
no pen or tongue could ade-
3uately picture were the pioneers