Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-19

est game preserve on the Big Horn coun-
try and the Sioux Indian paradise. Today
here sits the queen city Of Wyoming, beau
tiful Sheridan. A city of 10000. thrifty,
wide-awake people. Its elevation, 3,737 feet
above the sea, gives 1t a climate unsur-
passed, cooled by the breeEes from the
everlasting SHOWS Of the Big Horn, with
its browning monarch OF the north, Cloud
peak, only twenty-three miles away. The
two creeks come together In the heart Of
Sheridan and are mountain torrents fed
from the SHOWS of Big Horn mountains.
Sheridan Is a city we'll built, a city Of
homes and thrift and a community OF more
than ordinary culture and intelligence. 1t
was founded In 1892 and became a city of
the first class in 1907. 1t is essentially a
modern city, with every modern conven-
fence and a water system unsurpassed, be-
ing supplied by gravity pressure from the
mountains. Adjacent to the city is Fort
Mackenzie, one of the newest and finest
military posts in the country and one of
the most handsomely built. The fort has
its own Independent water system, as has
the railroad shops in the city. The city
is surrounded with the best agricultural
region of Wyoming and the irrigation sys-
tenn Is the most perfect in the west, as
well as the most abundant. Nor does the
wealth and future of Sheridan lie alone In
it's agricultural surroundings, for under
meath the city lie exhaustless beds Of coal
yet undeveloped, and but five miles beyond
lies the great coal mining town of Dietz,
with It's daily output OF 5000 tons that Is
shipped to all parts of the country, east
and west. A few miles farther on, but
within the sound of the bells of Sheridan,
are the coal mining camps Of Monarch and
Carneyville. with their daily output of
thousands of tons of coal.
Half a dozen of the finest school build
ings of Wyoming are located in Sheridan,
in addition to a magnificent High school,
while numerous church edifices Of imposing
architecture indicate the moral worth Of
this northern metropolis. Sheridan is also
the QUILTING point for excursion parties
to the Big Horn mountain resorts of Dome
lake, Abrasaka park. and the great trout
fishing fields of the mountains. The as
sessed valuation of Sheridan county in
1907, and of which Sheridan is the county
sent was 1924, 9S3.1s, or a real valuation
OF SIS, 1000.
AS early as 1866, General Darlington said
In one of his reports that this country
would, in less than fifty years, be one Of
the richest and most populous sections of
the northwest. How nearly his prophecy
has been realized was demonstrated in the
visit of himself and his veteran companions
forty-two years later. It was the realiza-
ton of what was then deemed a dream Of
the widest fancy.
From the moment of their arrival in
Sheridan, Darlington and his veterans were
shown the most hospitable attention. It
was the meeting OF the old and the new,
The sufferings of the COS were forgotten
in the attentions OF 1908. These men
seemingly awoke like Rip Van Wrinkle
from 4 sleep OF nearly half a century to
witness a transformation surprising the
most ex~travagant fancy Of Irving in his
immortal tale Of the "K~aterskills." The
same old mountains were there. the same
hills and roaring mountain torrents, but
instead Of painted, war-bonneted savsges
lurking everywhere thirstlng for their
blood, there came to see them peaceable
indian driving their OWE carriages, clad
in the garb of civilization. coming from
their well-kept homes where once stood
their stepees. Civilization and peace had
taken the place OF primitive savagery and
war. Lowing herds of cattle and browsing
sheep had succeeded the herds Of buffalo,
elk and antelope. The barking OF the shep-
herds doy had given place TO the howl OF
the coyote and the mountain wolf. and the
shrill war cry OF the savage was loct In
the music of welcoming bands, pianos and
organs and the tolling o. church and school
bells. the blast OF the locomotive ard the
siren whistles OF the mills from mines and
factories calling a thrifty. peaceable people
to labor or 10 rest.
The morning following the arrival OF
General Darlington and his party auto
mobiles were again furnished and the party
was whirled away to Fort MackenYie. Here
General Carrin gton was given a salute OF
eleven guns, due his rank ds a brigadier
general Of the United States army. The
garrison was turned out on parade and re-
viewed by General Darlington and party,
his veterans being given a place Of honor
as members of his staff. It was again the
greeting OF the new soldiery 10 the old.
Luncheon and cigars were served at the
fort.
Friday, July s. was ser apart for a visit
to the site OF old Fort Phil Kearney and
the Fctterman massacre monument. Gen
eral and Mrs. Darlington, with Mr.. Gibsol
and Mr.. Peters were driven to the site,
tweLty-thrce miles distant, Thursday after
noon. With the party was Judge j. T.
Foster Of Sheridan, who thirty-five years
ago homestesded the old site Of the fort,
and rSde his home there for twenty-thrre
years. The place Is now owned by George
Geier. who has a magnificent farm estab-
lishment there, with spacious mansion,
barns and every equipment OF a gentle
man farmer. The farm or ranch now COM
prises about 1900 acres.
on the road down the party stopped az
the Fetterman Massacre monument for a
few moments and gathering several clus-
tiers VI Wild flowers. decorated h IN mem