The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-08-19
BLACK Hills NO
LONGER "BLACK"
Grim Visage, Which Sug-
gested Name, Changed
by Reforestation.

~ 49, $4,000 100000
ing should be attached to the name Of
the hills of western South Dakota and
eastern Wyoming which have recently
come into unusual prominence as the
setting of the summer residence Of
President Coolidge. True, the term
black" has been associated tradi-
tionally with danger or fearful power
as is evidenced by the phrases Black
Pirate, Black Death, Blackboard and
the Black Forest. But in the case
Of the Black Hills the word is used
in a more physically descriptive sense
referring especially to the pine for
ests which we many of the slopes.
Centuries ago when the Indians in
habited the western plains and high
lands unmOlested, they observed that
these hills appeared very dark in con-
trast with the surrounding plains. An
Indian when riding across the vast,
level lands would notice these hills far
in the distance, not only dimly out
lined, but dark like a cloud which
might bring rain. AS the Indian rode
nearer, the mountains continued to
have this glOOm-like aspect because Of
the thick pine forests which girdled
the slopes blackly. In accordance with
their custom Of naming places after
their most concrete and striking char
acteristic, the Indians gave to these
~ir-blanketed mountains the designa-
ton which we still S today, indica-
tive of their color.
French Added Their Opinion.
When the French penetrated the
prairie valleys and began to occupy
the western highlands they adopted
the Indian name and spoke Of the
Cote Noire.
Today the ~deforestation from which
no wooded area Of our country has
been free has altered the aspect Of
this region from that which it pre-
sented when covered with virgin forest.
Yet today, as the tourist approaches
this region, the mountains loom in
the distance, and as the traveller
drives higher and higher the forests
and shadows give full justification to
the ceEturies-old a%ppellation.
An identical instance Of a region
being named with reference to the eff
feet of the pine forests which cover
it's slopes is that of the Black Forest,
or Schwarzwald, of Germany.
The average American citizen in
parts of the United States other than
the northwest is likely to have a rath-
er hazy idea that there is an histori-
cal connection between the Black Hills
and the Blackfoot Indians because Of
the likeness in name and because both
have to do with the northwest. AL
though there are a few Blackfoot In
dams living In the Dakotas today, as,
for example, in the Cheyenne River
reservation and the Standing Rock
reservation, the majority Of the rem
nants Of this tribe live nearer the
Rocky mountains and the Canadian
border and have long been conferred
in that section.
5Iackfoot Indians Not Involved.
The origin of the name Blackfeet is
a story in itself and quite without ref
erence Il geographical location. It
is said that when the white people
first made the acquaintance Of this
tribe, the Indians came marching over
the wide plain toward the pioneer en-
campment. Shortly before their COM
ing 6 prairie fire had spread for v
eral miles away from the white mems
settlement. Because the Indians had
marched over such an expanse Of
freshly burned prairie, the leggings
which they wore had become black
ened. The whites selected this sur
prising and memorable characteristic
by which to indicate thereafter this
particular tribe.
For self-preservative reasons. pi-
oneers are necessarily observant of
the natural peculiarities of their sur
rOundings. Apparently the pioneers
who settled the western part OK the
United States were also apt In re-
ferring to a place to use a concrete
epithet descriptive of It's popularity.
DeadwOod, a small commercial town
northwest Of Rapid City, is an illus
tration Of this tendency. It Is said
to have received this name because
Of the chaos Of fallen. dead timbers
which once covered the site.
Rapid City itself Is named from
Rapid River, than which there could
scarcely be a more picturesque and
alluring name.
It is sometimes remarked that TO
look at q map and read the names OF
the places Is to know the history OF
the country. Although this is scarce
" true with regard to the Black Hills.
It is true that to look at a map Of
! this region and to read the names
OF the places Is 60 know the physical
: characteristics and the charm Of this
portion Of u country.