Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-08-06
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THE BLACK HILLS.
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(Frome the PEOPLES Exchange. /,


Dakota and the northeastern portion
Of Wyoming, their sides al with
dark pines and their surface crossed
and recrossed by the many streams
which unite to form the two forks of
the Cheyenne River, are the Black
Hills. Their picturesque slopes,
dark and shining, rise in striking
contrast to the vast and rolling prai-
rie which surrounds them on all
sides, and enclose a region rich in
gold and silver, well timbered, well
watered, and possessed of a climate
unusually attractive, free from ex-
tremes of heat or cold, with a brac-
ing and invigorating air that is
famous for its health-giving proper
ties.
In fact, in addition to its mining
interests, the Black Hills region
forms one of the greatest natural
sanitariums in the world.
The pure air and happy combina-
ton of right attitudes with medicinal
waters, join to make it a noted
health resort. 1t is but thirty-seven
hours ride from Chicago and that
places it within easy reach of the
principal centers of population.
This mystic region, thrown up in
the midst of the plains by some
giant upheaval of past ages, has been
known since the time of the earliest
aborigines. 1t occupies an area
about sixty miles wide and one hun
dred miles long. Surrounding it on
the north, east and south are prairie
lands whose succulent grasses make
them especially suitable for the graz
ing of cattle, and of such extent that
their outer rim encloses an area
greater than that of Great Britain,
Germany and France; region
which is rich in promise to the farm
er, cattleman and ranchman. 1t is
estimated that the water supply
available in this region is sufficient
for the irrigation of millions of acres
of lands. Much irrigation develop
ment work is now being done, the
government irrigation at Belle
Fourche being especially important.
This rolling prairie land surround
ing the Hills is broken here and
there by square and flat-topped
buttes, with the grass land stretching
far away to the mountain eminences.
The streams which cross the levels
or break down through the gorges
are clear as crystal. Many of the
lesser buttes near these streams are
turfed over their SUBMITS, and the
tablelands raise high their surfaces
covered with nutritious pasturage.
Beyond this level district are the
Hills, clothed with Norway pine that
gives them a color of deepest blue,
the blue of the California plum; hills
so dark that cloud before the sun
will turn them to an intense black
against a sky that seems to twinkle
with electric flashes. On these beau
tiful hills one may stand and, look
ing far across the plains, see in the
distance the buttes of Bear, Slave
Grow, Deers Ears, Topknot and
Lodge, while nearer at hand one
valley rises above another, each
turfed and green, forming long ser.
pentine belts that stretch their way
among the trees of darker foliage.
The History of the Hills.
Black Hills history dates back
more than three centuries to the
| time when the Cheyennes jealousy
guarded the region as a hunting re-
sort, and as place where the Great
Spirit had mysteriously bestowed
health-giving powers on the air and
had given unusual medicinal value tc
the water. The natural formation ot
the region made the Hills well-nigl
impregnable, and the Indians helt
the place in great awe, guarding
with jealous care the health-givint
springs, the wonderful pine-coveret
slopes and the stores of precious
metal contained within the noun
tains.
| The Cheyennes held the Blacl
| Hills as their own until after a tire
mendous hand-to-hand conflict OF
Battle Mountain, overlooking tn,
Vale of Minnekahta, in which Ho
Springs is located. Here the Siou:
practically annihilated their old tim
enemies, and held for their owl
until the white men came, territor,
of some $4,000 square miles, witt
the Hills as center, driving fron
their newly won empire the fu
traders who had trapped and trade'
along the small streams which form
the Cheyenne.
The first organized exploring part
to visit the Black Hills was that un
der Gen. Harvey in 1855, in whicl
year it was followed by that of Lieut.
Warren, of the U. S. Topographica
Engineers, who made three survey
of the Hills.
After Gen. Harney's visit, interes
in the Black Hills grew rapidly, until
under instructions from Gen. Sherl
dan, Gen. Custer left Fort Abraham
Lincoln, on the Missouri River, oppo
site the present site of Bismarck, n
In Iupa 1914 ond u,;fb oho,,