The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-07-03
An Outing.

JULY s., 1871.
An Outing.
The UNION staff, which OF course aNa|
cludes the better-halves, at the earnest
solicitation OF friends in the northern
hills. took afew days v~acationlast week,
which. whether deserved or not, was
greatly enjoyed. The UNION outfit is
fortunate enough to own arigof it's own,
such as it is, and consequently was not
forced to travelpn passes. Leaving the
city OF the loot hills at 3p. M, OF We'd
nesday, we followed the old Deadwood
trail between the foothills and the main
range, past the Marshall brick yards,
which we 40 sliced are working a full force;
a new boarding house has been recently
built and other improvements are being
made. Past the Miller fish ponds, which
in their green surroundings are looking
attheir best. A year or two more growth
OF the trees surrounding these ponds and
the grounds will afford one OF the most
pleasant drives surrounding the city.
Black Hawk, while not a lively town,
yet seems to he doing considerable bust
ness in the shipment OF posts, ties and
lumber.
Piedmont, while it has not made the
astonishing growthprophesied for it, yet
has changed much from Springvalley
OF old. The Homestake store is
a fine brick building which would DO
credit to any town and ii satisfied to do
business on a small margin, this enter
,pl,se can make a good market for farm
9rrfii,cts withoutthe old tedious journey
TO the Mills.
We reached the residence OF that No. l
farmer, and yet: strange to say, prince oil
kickers, John Allen, early in the evening
and met with a cordial reception, After
supper we enjoyed a trip oyer the ranch.
Mr.. Allen has between forty and fifty
acres OF wheat, which is the finest we have
seen this season, with Mr.. Howarth, be-
tween BATTLE and French creeks a good
second. 1t is nearlyseady to head, very
rank and thick and perfectly clear Of
weeds. About the same acreage OF orn
while not as forward as atsome seasons,
still it is aboye the average OF this year
and a very even stand. Some fifteen
acres OF oats Of a new variety were also
looking well. But Mr.. Allen does not
take kindly to oats, considering them a
bad weed Tor the farm. Wheat and corn
are his grains and are sown in rotation,
the wheat following corn. The grandest
sight on his place is the vineyard, located
well up the slope OF the foothills. Here
we found rods OF healthy vines OF the
Concord and Isabella varieties, set full OF
While not sufficiently advanced
to tempt the appetite, as one OF the party
remarked, they show what be done
and tempt one to ranching. Last season
Mr.. Allen would haye reaped a rich har-
vest from these vines but alter picking
began a severe hail storm destroyed all
the fruit and set the vines back badly.
This season u tight board fence on the
west side of the rows will prevent u total
failure from the same source Every
farmer within reach should see these
grape vines (before grapes are ripe), 1t
would cure some OF the doubling ones.
With Judgment in the location and a
little work, many kinds of fruit can be
successfully grown in the Black Hills.
Although not in the gardening business
this season, Mr.. Aliens garden is large
enough to supply a good sized burg, and
scattered oyer and surrounded with il
variety OF fruits and forest trees, give it
a very home-like appearance. While Il
good farmer, Mr.. Allen and his worthy
wife and sons are also good readers. !
think it, is some eighteen different pub
licatlons that the family take and all
are weIl-read. 1t will take better logic
than good crops to knock such men out
OF the Peoples movement.
An early start in the morning enabled
us to reach at noon the pleasant grove
on the edge OF Centennial prairie where
the alliance people Of that vicinity had
gathered some 200 strong, for day Of
pleasure and consultation and study
of Alliance principles and the peoples
movement. Weary travellers are seldom
tempted with such an array ofgood things
as were placed before us, and the quaint.
ty,only western picnicers can understand
it, in spite OF the large crowd, baskets
full were carried away untouched.
The after dinner program consisted OF
songs by Mrs. Wilkinson and by the
choir. Recitations by Master Willie
Engle and remarks by Messes McCready
Reed, Knowles, Wilkinson, Nipp and Mrs
Hammond. We accompanied the wor
thy vice president OF our state Alliance
At. Adams, to his home and a very
pleasant n we found it. Mr.. Adams
has 4SO acres, a portion timber but the
majority OF it rich valley land. His1OC
acres of wheat is not forward. having
been badly injured by hail, but is coming
on rapidly and promises well. Some GO
acres o. timothy meadow looks good to
one who has been used to r~ustling forwild
-. lie mas also d good stand OF corn
and potatoes. This valley located equal
distance, seven miles, from Deadwood,
Whitewood or Centennial, will always
have the advantage OF good markets.
Friday morning at the invitation Of
Mr.. Adams, we turned our tired ponies
out to pasture, attached his norman
mares to the carryall and accompanied
by himself and Mrs. Adams proceeded
to do the upper camps. The team was
left at Deadwood and after dinner a TRIP
taken oyer the narrow gauge, and Lead
hastily inspected. For two OF the
party this was the first slghtof Lead anc
the whole tripwas asuccession OF surpri
SEES and greatly enjoyed. 1t will long bt
remembered with pleasure, even to thu
poultry detail, by the participants who
were enjoying there first vacation taker