The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-07-11
A TRIP TO THE BLACK HILLS.
of Prairie Man Among
South Dakota's Mountains
and Gold Mines.

Probably no apology is needed fo1
taking up considerable space in re,
porting the editorial excursion tothe
Black Hills, when the individuality
involved is merely incidental to dis
cription of a portion OF our own
state about which the people OF this
community know so little. Owing
to the lack of railroad facilities, there
are comparatively few of the states
citizens east OF the Missouri river
who have eyer visited the Hills, one
of the most wonderful spots upon
the face OF the earth, and about
which the average citizen has little
or no conception. However as the
main purpose of the editors in visit
ing that section was to broaden
their views and give them more defn-
tie knowledge concerning their own
state and its people, we may reason,
abb hope that some benefits will be
reflected through the papers to the
interest and profit of readers.
The PRESS man and wife started on
June Dist, and joined about 50 or
so editors and their wives at Sioux
City for the trip oyer the Elkhorn
road, a division of the Northwestern.
The only thing worthy OF note was
the appearance OF fine crops ali along
The line, until we reached the western
part OF Nebraska, in the historic
sand hill country, where from all APP
pearances there is about as desOlate
a spot OF mother earth us lies out OF
doors. Sage brush and sand hills
appear to be all right for stock, but
no crops OF any consequence are
raised. 1t is q bleak, barren country,
thinly settled, and one can readily
imagine fit place for hot winds to
originate.
The One-time bustling little city OF
Buffalo Cap was reached Sunday
morning. This point was for some
time the end of the railroad, ana at
tracted to it the restless, speculative
Westerner, who, as usual, lett it when
the road pushed On, until now it is
but half its former size. It's name is
obtained from a gap in the noun
taing near by through which the but
falo III days gone by passed from the
hills to the level plains with the
changing seasons.
4 noticeable thing to the visitor is
that al names in that section are
the result OF some circumstance hap
pening, or condition existing in the
early days. The name "Black Hills"
itself, is due to the black appearance
OF the top of the hills, because they
are covered by thick growth OF pine
and cedar, which ALWAYS look black
at a distance. At least a portion Of
this name however, is misnomer,
and largely assists in the wrong con-
ception one may obtain Of the coun-
try. The altitude of these hills fully
juStitieS the word ''mOuntains' in
stead OF hills. They are mountains,
and some high ones at that. Togive
a better idea OF what they are it
is only necessary to state that at the
top OF Harvey Peak a person is
standing about 1000 feet higher
than at Miller.
HOT SPRINGS.
What is called the Carlsbad of
Hot Springs, is situated in
the foot hills, and is reached from the
east by a spur of the Elkhorn road,
and from the west by branch of the
Burlington K Missouri River road.
1t is a health and pleasure resort.
pure and simple, visited by people
from all over the west, and promises
to be one OF the most important in
the northwest. 1t contains sometime
large stone buildings, among them
the Evans hotel, said to be the best
hotel between Chicago and thecoast,
the Gillespie hotel and the state sol
iiers home. The Evans hotel is five
stories high, and accommodates 400