The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-07-18

beautiful little city of Spearfish. The
trip was over the b. & NJ. high line,
standard guage road that is a
marvel of engineering skill. Inc
route is through gulches, winding
around mountains in n gradual as
cent until the summit is reached near
Bald mountain at a height OF over
1000 feet. Then follows the RAPID
descent down the Spearfisfl canyon,
along the winding course OF the river
of that name. Here is presented
wild and picturesque view OF noun
tain scenery that is truly startling
to the eye of person accustomed TO
a prairie country, and the rushing OF
train around curves, over water
falls and along side of towering rocks,
down grade 100 feet to the mile, for
the moment blots out all ideas OF
wheat crops and the price of fat
steers. Some of the curves of this
road are the sharpest in the world,
said to be II and II degrees, and
while passing high points several
other roads can be seen winding
through valleys and about themoun-
tains below to the various mining
camps. From several places one can
look into three states, Montana, wy
oming and South Dakota, which cor
ner in the northern Hills.
1t is with sense of restful relief
that person passes through this
rugged country and comes into the
city of Spearfish, lying at the foot OF
the mountains, where the Speartish
canyon opens out into broad level
valley of several miles in extent.
This thriving town is a supply point
to the vast stock ranges, and the
valley is dotted with homes of pros
porous farmers, who raise fine crops
by irrigation. Here is located the
Normal school. which has about $50
students in attendance. The large
grounds surrounding the school are
used for small fruit growing, and
there we saw some of the finest straw
berries that can be raised anywhere.
Their patch was nearly two acres in
extent, and the large crop is now be-
ing picked, and sold right on the
ground for % cents per quart. The
| grounds contain fine patches OF rasp-
berries and blackberries. A number
of thrifty young apple orchards were
also noticed.
The city is a little beauty, snugly
tucked away at the mountains foot,
level streets, fine residences, lovely
lawns, natural parks along the river
banks, and an enthusiastic people,
make it a desirable place to visit, and
Il delightful home for it's citizens.
The railroad from DeadwoOd to
Spearfish is Al miles, while the crow
can fly from one point to the other
in nine miles, and by wagon the trip
Is made in fifteen miles. The fine ho-
tel in SDeartish surprised the hungry
party with a mess of mountain trout
for breakfast, and stories OF fish
ing and sight of deer within q few
miles drive came near breaking up
the party, as several wanted to stay
over.
Back over the same route to Lead,
thence oyer the Black Hills x TT.
Pierre narrow guage road past the
wonderful chrystal cave, represented
at the worlds fair, to Piedmont to
connect with the Elkhorn, through
Rapid City, HermOsa, Buffalo Gap
and again to Hot Springs on Satur-
day night, completed the week S tour.
) In this time we had practically
though briefly, investigated the cele-
hrated Black Hills, 100 mile tract
OF the most wonderful formations
known to the world, with many Gifts
wild and weird conditions yet practi-
cally undisturbed by the hand of
man in his search for gold. Buried
in this comparatively small area,
lies about all the minerals known to
science, their richness having created
, what the visitor cannot refrain from
thinking, little world all to itself,
peOpled by citizens of every cline,
where their minds have been broaden
ed by observation of and contact
with the wonderful resources nature
has so lavishly strewn upon every
hand.
1t is to be seriously regretted that
this remarkable portion OF our state
is so isolated that II large majority
OF the people of south Dakota are un-
able to become acquainted with it.
After visit there we can more fOrci-
bly, see the benefits to be derived from
a railroad across the reservation,
forming a connecting link between
two portions of the same state so
different in all things. Here would
be afforded q market for nrOducts