Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1890-02-20
PROSPECTIVEPI EPIERRES
The Capital, Her Suburbs
and Reservation.
As Seen by a Press Repre-
sentative last week.
BooMs AND BOOMERS.

III COiupduy Win U lew mliitrltcS tnc
Press man spent q day IN Pierre last
week TO glance at the new capital. legis-
lature. reservation, etc. The capital
city is teeming with life and activity. work
of grading, building. etc., Is gbing on inst
the same rs in summer, although the citi-
xens state work has not yet really begun.
as IL is 700 early to start the larger enter
prises. Pierre is certainly lively little
city with all the modern accomplishments.
Tho Missouri river is very low. and an i'm
mense sand bar of about ne-half mile in
width almost spans the stream immediate
ly opposite Pierre. But two feet of Ice
makes bridge over the remaining chan
mel that bears the weight of any and oil
kinds Of loads passing over 1t. Work has
already begun on pontoon bridge and as
soon as the ice goes out 1t viii be pushed
rapidly.
However lively Pierre was, though, the
new Eldorado was the objective point, and
the party hurried thither in hopes Of see-
ing some Of the grand and thrilling spec
tacles reported by the space writer. Sure
enough people were crossing the river, but
not ''one continuous stream of humanity"
Ots party anticipated great exageration.
SO were not disappointed. We can vouch
for the correspondents in one particular,
for we reached the river in time to see
one good sized house crossing upon sleds
pulled by six or eight teams. The rivers
channel touches the Pierre side just above
the city and crosses the river striking the
other side near Ft. Pierre. 1t was an
easy matter to draw buildings across by
following the channel where the ice is
thick.
The most interesting view to the Mil
lerites was that over the river at Ft. Pierre
on the famous mile square. Here We saw
the primitive log hut Of the old trappers
and traders still occupied. and apparent
Iy in better condition than many board
houses Of later dates. These houses were
small, well plastered between logs, and
some were covered with thick canvass.
Others had narrow sideboards run around
the roofs which were covered with two or
three inches OF dirt Business was lively.
as strangers and teams were constantly
crossing the river. Notwithstanding the
C. 4 N. W. manifesto claiming all this
land, lots are staked of and buildings GO
ing up in every direction. The site OF Ft.
Pierre is not as good as the capital, but
IL there is demand for IL the knolIs will
be torn down and be,lows i,led, without
regard to natures notion OF what tie
earth's surface should resemble.
The stakes Of all kinds and shapes dot
ting the hillsides and hollows indicate a
city Of magnificent distances, beyond the
conception Of one not possessed Of the
boomers enthusiasm. As usual the
march of progress here desecrates a sacred
and historical spot. Where the enthusiasts
minds eve must picture the center Of
diminutive Omaha are erected six or
eight stakes different from all others, in
that they are rounded at the tops and
placed at the head of little mounds. and
as surely tell of lifeIs realization as sur
rounding stakes do its authorization. But
while temporarily protected, this histori-
cal little burying ground must eventually
be wiped out of existence by the demands
of a careless and unsympathetic future.
Besides the stakes some lots had other
evidences Of "a squatters right" con-
sisting Of square formed by mailing 4
pieces Of 2x4 together. To this may be
added rock bound oath Of all old citi-
zens to protect each others claims-ths
latter probably being the strongest safe
guard against disturbance.
The boom is yet too early to have re-
moved evidences Of the embryo city's
early frontier history In some other res
poets also. In Q lot back OF the main
street may be seen some twenty Ave old
wagons with five foot boxes. feed troughs,
big. heavy wheels and running gears, old
stoves, cooking utensils. etc.. pre- historic
of the freighting era. when the bull
whackers held sway between Pierre and
the Black Hills.
A few familiar faces were seen by the
party. w. W. Zansr, Geo. Lowell, Lea.
Robertson and Col Knappen are old Miller
citizens living at the west side town. One
OF the old frame houses, now nearly
tumbled down, was occupied by the SOL
diers we have heard so much about.
although there is no evidence OF them
being needed any more than In Miller.
Shanties were going up on the hills. and
In the hollows as far as could be seen
from the high points near the river. and
the country back seemed to consist Of
continuation of hills and hollows. In
dams and half breeds were plenty, most OF
them hauling stove wood to town for sale.
The great stacks OF wood around both
towns shows this 10 be an extensive bust.
ness. None Of our party were particular
ly impressed with the reservation although
We were assured ii was all right further
out, but that most Of the land dsemed
valuable near by had been taken by the
Indians and half breeds under the sever
atty clause. That close to town consisted
Of bald knobs with little or no signs Of
vegetation. except sage brush fourishing
In the low lands, Buegios aud wasOns
were seen winding ont threugh lhe hills
to the promised land
Ft. Pierre citizens think the South
Pierre boomers will make no further al
tempt to locate town. Still, another
town is talked Of west and north Of Fl.
Pierre. where nature has provided much
better site, and almost opposite the pres
ent end Of the railroad, to be known a.
West Pierre. An addition Of North Pierre
win probably complete the geographical
vocabulary Of suburbs TO the capital.
The citizens OF both towns expect big
immigration as soon as spring really opens
~. and are preparing to receive the cx-