Year: 1874

BEAR BUTTE, Oak, August 15th.-The


Black Hills expedition having with its ar


rival at this point terminated the exnlora-


ton OF the Black Hills, brief review of


the work performed may now be made.


The discovery Of gold no doubt at first be


classed as the most important result at


tanned by the expedition, but the true value


and Importance Of this discovery will only


be made evident after development ofthe


gold This development should not be ex-


pected from an expedition of this character.
compelled from the vast scope of country


included within its operations to move


rapidly and make but few and brief halts.


Gold has been found at numerous points


and OF sufficient quantities to Justify high


estimate to be placed upon this region as


rich mineral region. The miners who con-


Quoted the prospecting estimate many of


the places examined as rich enough in this


precious metal to yield 500 per day per


man. Should anything like this prove


true, 1t Is easy to see that the longer ez-


elusive occupation of this valuable territory
| by the Indians must cease at an early day.
! While the ultimate value Of the newlv-ex-


plored country as gold bearing region re-


mains partly problematical, the real and
| perhaps Its greatest value has been already


determined viz, its character and desir-
| ability as an agricultural and stock-raisinc
country. The interior of the Black Hills
| IS divided into a succession of timbered
hills aud open parks and valleys.


The valleys are covered with big, luxu-
RANT pasturage, made up of a variety Of
the best grasses, and different, but not
less valuable, quality of pasturacc extends
through the forests and covers the hillsides.
So completely sheltered are these valleys
from the winter storms by the outer boun-
dary or belt of hills that the Indians who
are familiar with this region say most ex-
ccliemt grazing can be obtained for cattle
throughout the entire winter The soil is
beyond all doubts of The most fertile and
incxhaustible character, and VIII richly re-
pay the labor Of the farmer or stock raiser.
Almost every hill side has its never failing
spring OF pure water of almost any cold
ness. and some Of the springs are strong
enough and have the requisite fall to rem
der them available for water power.


This country, although now in the pos
session of the Indians, who seldom visited
and never occupied it, is surely destined at
a very early day to become the home of Z
dense, thrifty and industrious population.
This is inevitable, and the sooner the gov
crnncnt recognizes and acts upon this idea
the better al the available troops with
in the limits Of this military department
viii not avail TO keep out the enterprising
frontiersman who is seeking home for
life, or the equally enterprising and indie
featigable miner who is searching for old.
The military occupation Of the country will
soon become a necessity.


In any event, should the government in
tend to maintain the present title of the
Indians to the Black Hills region, troops
viii be necessary to keep ont the whites,
and should the country, as is to be hoped,
be thrown open to settlement, the presence
of troops will be necessary to prevent In
dian hostilities and give safety and protec-
ton to the settlement. The country ex-
plored by the Black Hills expedition is I'M
doubtedly the most fertile and desirable
portion Of Dakota, next excepting even the
famous Red river valley. 1t is about two
hundred and ten miles on a direct line from
Bismark, the present terminus Of the Nor
thern Pacific railroad, and about one hun
dred and fifty miles from the nearest point
on the Missouri river.


Among the civilian employees Of the
expedition numbering over one hundred
persons, companies have already been or
ganized, and claims in the gold district
staked out looking to the future earl de-
velopment Of the mineral resorces Of the |
Black Hills These men have seen the |
precious metal taken with but little labor |
and expense from the earth, and, satisfied |
that il exists here in large quantities, they |
only wait the action Of the government TO
enable them to begin practical working OF
the mines. General Clusters official de- |
spatch to his department commander, has |
been mailed, copy Of which | send you IN
advance, from which it viii be seen that L |
have not oyerstated facts.


GENERAL CUsTER's OFFICIAL REPORT


HEADsoUARTERs BLACK HILL EX-
petition. BEAR BUTTE, Oak, August 10.
TO Assistant Adjutant General, Depart
ment of Dakota. ST. Paul Ny last de
snatch was written ON the I'd and Sd inst,
and sent from the south fork OF the
Cheyenne from a point on the latter near
est to Fort Laramie On the morning OF
the 4th inst. [ began my return march
to our main camp near Harneys Peak, ar
irving there by a different route ON the
6th. On the morning of the 9TH the ex-
pedition began its march northward, Bear
Butte being our next objective point. We
without serious obstacle until
within the or twelve miles of Bear Butte,
when we found our further progress barred
by high range of impossible hills.