Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-08-18
AT PIERRE LODGE
Hills Naturalist Shows Doane Robin.
son Wonderful Weather Record
(By Doane Robinson)

1t is astonishing to observe how
faithful a history of meteorological
conditions is recorded in the hea is o.
the big pine trees Of the Black Hills.
My attention was called to it by O.
H. Larson, self-educated old noun
taineer, who uses his eyes to about
the best advantage of any one | have
met Mr.. Larson has lived for quar-
crest of the Black Hills, and if any
thing has escaped his attention l have
not discovered it. There are trees
every departure from normal weather
is clearly revealed in the annual
growth circles. The proof of the &C
observations of the weather since the
one Of the gulches l asked Larson
plants, known popularity as snake
spit" or frog spit" really IS He told
me without hesitation that it is a
protective secretion for low order Of
animal life. Placing branch cover
ed with it in closed spice box with
a small opening in one end to admit
the light we found in few hours tina
the spit had moved up to the light.
Placed near a fire it moved away from
the uncomfortable heat. No plant o"
flower of the mountains, or other
phenomena seems to have escaped his
attention and analysis. The other
day upon a little walk about his home
he brought in forty-three varieties OF
towering plants native to the region.
Disregardiug technical geology moth
ing could be more interesting than a
popular study of the rocks of the
.BlAzk Hins. The tremendous up
thrust which reared these mountains,
throwing a thousand qualifications
into inextricable confusion, twists 6
at times, ten-foot thick courses of
quartz into cylinders, carving eat
gulches and greater canyons, Leaving
topography terrible yet picturesque
which has been softened by leap ng
trout streams, birchcovered GLAD es
| and pine forests, makes of the region
book for instructive study and a
retreat for rest and recuperation and
since railroads have made it more &C
cessible to the world, increasing num-
bers avail themselves of the delights
and the health restoring opportunities
afforded.
The state sanitarium for tubercpl-
GUS patients which has been located
at Custer is being pushed forward as
rapidly as possible The rules 70
its conduct have not yet been wholly
formulated, but it was the understand
ing in the legislature when the law
/ was passed that it is not to be alto.
gether benevolence. but that patients
who are able to pay for treatment
will be required to do so. Aside from
the Sioux Indians there are not a largt
number of conservatives in the state
although about two hundred person:
annually succumb to the plague.
I vigorous effort is being made to secure
/ from the government separate SAM
forum for the Indians.
Professor Perisho's statement tina
less than three percent OF the arte
sian flow of South Dakota is utilized
for practical purposes, has arouset
Wasta-There is complaint Of tn.
shooting of stock in this vicinity.
is the old trouble between stockmel
and homesteaders where the rang
law yet prevails. The hcmesteade
claims the right to protect his crol
! BY any means he may require, an.
the stockmen claim the right to ALLOW
his stock to feed where they will
The question of continuing free rang
conditions in this county will be vote
on at the fall election and if the home
steaders can have their way, TIL
I stockmen will have to get off tina
particular part of the earth" after tn
votes are counted.