New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
THE BLACK HILLS.
HERDS AND MINES IN THE REGION ABOUT
DEADwOOD.
PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTRY --Hoi ELEssNEss
OF THE BAD LANDS-HoMLsfEADs
STILL TO BE OBTAINED.

pposprR1Ty OF THE COUNTRY -aoi ELEsSNEss
OF THE BAD LANDs-HoMrsrEADs
STILL TO BE OBTAINED.
Deadwood, S. D., Dec. o1.-rhat great stretch OK
country extending westward from the Black Hills for
hundreds OF miles into Wyoming Is desola'c enough
most of the time Bands Of rowing cattle, horses ana
sheen are tcft TO wander for miles In those pasture
regions until the spring fall roundup. when the
herders who have gone south or farther west W
herd for the summer or WINTER as the case n"! oc'
return TO the company's employ to resume ther iorer
work. There several grades OF prefefment III ue
cowboys calling There is the roper, or expert
ariat thrower who with the grace and dextery born
OF long practice the calf to be branded In the
spring. or the unwilling victim that Is led TO the
slaughter in the fall. Then there Is the broncho-
buster or tanner of wild horses, the nighthawK VIM
is on duty at night; the hywrangler besides others
who ride the circle and perform all sorts OF duties
The chief occupation OF the settlers in this region
is grazing Our company pastures H.OOC head OF
horses in Eastern Wyoming. and the swan Lana ana
Cattle Company owns no less than $4,000 head OF
cattle and has selected the Black Ilils Range as
anoling the best pasurage in the northwestern part
of this country. On almost every little stream and
lake are humorous herds. Those half grown mountains
known as the Black Hills, which mark the boundary
line between South Dakota and Wyoming, take Their
name from the evergreen trees which cover them
lie tniDef winch Is UosHy yclloW piilc VII "o
ridges and birch poplar In the ravDcs. IS small,
low and of little vaue for humber. Unlike other up
heavais, the Black Hills wholly disconnected from
any mountain range, and for 200 miles on every
side are surrounded by gently undulating proiiieS.
The hills proper only about fifty miles from east
to west and 100 miles from north to south Ridges
like spiders legs extend out in every direction. One
Of the best known is Pine Ridge, which extends into
Nebraska and gives the name TO the Indian agency in
South Dakota. 1t will be remembered as the location
Of the cruel war with the Indians last winter.
A large tract OF country to the east OF The NUS
Is called the Bad Lands, because wholly unproductive
Neither grass weed nor shrub be found The soil
Is species Of clay, chalky and hard when dry.
slippery and sticky when wet. From distance u
has the appearance OF levcl prafrle but II Is so badly
washed as to be almost impossible. Thousands OF
men might hide in the irregular trenches which extend
In every direction and have depth of from hve to
fifty feet.
There are numberlcss small streams that have
their source in the Black Hills and flow In every
direction Both branches OF the Cheyenne River r1se
west of the hills, flowing TO the north around to
north end the other to the south around the south
end uniting the east and gathering up the small
streams long before meeting Missouri stlll further
TO the east may be found the White River one OF
whose tributaries is the famous Wounded Knee. II
was in the valley OF this stream that the savage
massacre Of and children was perpetrated by
United States soldiers last January. Days aferwari
nursing babies were found in the blood stained snow,
some frozen, few stl alive but the women dead or
driven away by the civilized mans bayonet. Had the
Black Hills hunting grounds been left to these Indians,
great deal OF trouble would have been spared But
The Indians driven from their harvest held ana
compelled to settle desert that could not SUSTAIN
animal or vegetable life. They were promised food.
but when in midwinter their ratons were cut
short by thicving agents, there was nothing
,tinp Thpv
chose the latter. 1t cost the Government more for
|every indian brave squaw, pappoose than to feed
ten during their natural lives IL would be stroke
OF economy to let the Indian live and supply him with
food.
1t is well known that these regions were the winter
quarters for the buffalo, elk deer, bear and antelope
but the discovery OF gold in the seventies was the
occasion for driving out animals as well as Indians
There Is an abundance OF minerals yet unmined-god,
silver, coal, and to extent tin. Gold was first
discovered in the bed of small creek flowing east
from the north Of the hills. Only few months
elapsed before all tho rverbeds were staked out Into
miners claims, and washing began. The outlay was
a million or two year. and thriving cities sprang
Iup in the different valleys whose prosperity was as
brief as the fever for gold In country. Several
large quartz mines still with profit, and the
coal found in the west side OF the hills is sufficient
to supply the surrounding territory. Although
great deal has been said about the Black Hills tin
Mines the first continuous vein is yet to be discovered
The strata Of rock broken and irregular that the
richest indications only last few feet The hills
ornamented profusely with prospect holes and new
ones are always being bored The region is easily
accessible by railroad. One line extends along the
east slde one passes through the centre and another
the west side Is pushing Its way into the Big Horn
country.
The Black Hills and the country extending hundreds
OF miles west are much ahead OF Vermont and
New Hampshire for farming purposes those states
are ahead OF Greenland The Government patch is
tha nfa
and pluck and nerve required OF the settler
There are scores OF homesteads waiting for settlers
now that will be sold for city lots In less than twenty
five years. Forty years ago Omaha and Lincoln were
the tracts Of the buffalo and wolf; now bare corner
lots bring easily from 10000 to $40,0O