The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-07-13
THROUGH The BLACK HILLS.
The South Dakota Press Ascecia-
tion'sAnnual Outing.

portlOn OF the state lying along the west
ern edge of South Dakota the Black Hills
is a misnomer and a misnomer of the
worst kind. The 'Green Mountains
would be more fitting term and better
convey the idea of what that portion of
this commonwealth looks like. For the
elevations are mountain ranges pure and
simple, as much so as the Alleghenies
the White Mountains or the Cumberland
ranges. Harvey Peak lifts its rugged
head 5000 feet above the sea level, which
is :: pretty good bit of chip we take
it. Then the whole face OF the Hills
country is so entirely different from
what its name implies that the tirst-time
visitor is lost in astonishment. From a
distance, however, the elevations bear u
dark and sombre appearance, hence the
name. Then again, unlike the Rockies
and most mountain ranges, no plateaus
run along the SUBMITS. Each particular
hill appears to be largely separate and
Independent of its neighbor. so that in
fact the Black Hills really consists of
lnnuElerable miniature mountains
grouped together with Natures most
lavish hand and utter abandon and the
tout ensemble affords some of the grand
est scenery on the American continent
ii not IN the world. Contrary to general
belief, great portion Of the Black Hills
is heavily clothed with spruce, popular,
white and black birch, and other forest
growth in addition to the smaller noun
tain pines and the tall and stately pines
which enter so largely into the lumber
commerce. The latter for building pur-
poses finishes with hard oil beautifully
ard sells at the mills at something like
So thOusand-and but 250 miles away
and no acknowledgements US while we
swear And throughout the Hills, par
tlcularly around and about Custer, are
the most beautiful little valleys heavily
coated with the rich and nutritive ma
tive grasses: clear and cold mountain
streams, which, like 1ennysOll's brook,
so on forever; now and then a clearing
occupied by some ranchman and natural
parks as pretty and attractive as the
most carefully tended lawn. Even in
the dense growth Of pines and other
timber there is conspicuous absence Of
underground and tho native prairie
grasses grow in TIE richest profusion.
Can finer pasture land be imagined? In
The clearlngs and in these beautiful nat
ural parks the ranclmen or settlers put
In good patch of potatoes. a little wheat
and some corn. The latter does not do
well, however, as the season is too short.
But there is generally sufficient rain to
bring out heavy yield of potatoes, and
as rule enough are raised in these val
leys to supply the whole Hills country.
In other portions of the Hills near the
towns and cities, vegetables are raised
by irrigation. The streams are damned
and by fumes the water carried to the
spot desired. The market gardeners find
a quick and ready sale for all they can
raise. Eastern Nebraska supplied the
hay, grain, butter and eggs which, with
railroad from Chamberlain across to
the Hills, would largely if not almost
wholly come from this section Of the
state. The need of railroad or rail
roads connecting the two sections of the
state never seemed so apparent, so much
OF necessity, to the scribes who visited
the Black Hills before. And now that
they have seen how much direct rail con-
nections between .he two sections means
TO the development of the state, it is to
be hoped that they will never rest con-
tent until the thing is done. The Journey
which now takes 26 hours time aud $50
miles of travel to reach Hot Springs
could then be done in eight hours, and
the market that would Immediately open
to our farm products cannot be overesti-
mated.
And What glorious, jolly, rustling,
bustling, plucky people the Black Hills
contains! We were not strangers bnt
they took US in Just the same--like a lot
OF long lost wondering brothers and be-
ing, tguratiyely, their own kin there was
nothing too good for us. The times Of
late have been no kinder to the Black
Hills than to the rest of the country, and
withal, almost unaded, the people have
blown i'll their dollars without stint in
developing the country and opening the
storehouse underneath their feet. Hence
there was but little formal and expensive
display Of hospitality, generally speak
ing, but the warm and hearty hand
shake, the familiar and fraternal slap on
tile back, the genial smile and neighbOr-
ly greetings met on all sides and the
true western spirit-of which the Black
Hills carries 200 pounds to the square
incll-made the visiting eXcursionists
feel that it was good to be there. This
coupled with the fact that the Black Hills
their towns, their cities, their gold
mines, their resources. and their grand
and magnificent scenery-was a com
plete revelation TO nine-tenths of the
visitors, made the eleventh annual out
ing OF the South Dakota Press assOcia-
ton the most delightful in its history.
1t Is doubtful il those who made the
Florida trip in December '92 saw more
to interest them during their 5000 mile
journey than was revealed to them in
the confines OF their own state last
month.
| We may be getting ahead of our story
little, but though our reception, home
ward bound, in Sioux City was the last
! of this delightful! outing, as in King
Lear, it shall not be the least, and it is
eminently proper before this tale is all
told that something here be said of the
open handed hospitality Of Sioux City.
The ..'SiouX City way began as we were
leaving the town for the trip in the
shape of box of choice cigars sent on
board our sleeper with the compliments
H. 7