Year: 1876

the Black Hills.


From the Council Bluffs Nonpareil.]


Under date of Deadwood Mining
Camp, August 20, Frank Mcdonald,
we'll known to many of our readers, par
ticularly in this city, writes to friend
here as follows:


presume you think that I am long
time in fulfilling my promise, but cir
would not admit of my
writing at length before now. And as
| intended to give you somewhat of an
idea regarding the extent of this coun-
try and its resources when did write,
I have delayed writing in order that l
might gain fuller knowledge of my
and be better prepared
to do the matter reasonable justice. I
have just returned from weeks ram
BILE through these parts, or l might
more properly term it an 1njun hunt,
for we have been after them most of
the time, and that has given me a
chance to see a good portion of the
country in and adjacent to the
Hills. The Black Hills proper
are not very extensive in
themselves. They are about 100 miles
in length and about so miles in width,
and, being somewhat of an oval shape,
probably about 800 would be their cir
cumference. One to look at them from
a distance would be any thing but
pleased with their appearance. This is
particularly the case coming in by way
of Buffalo Gap, which is visible for
some so or IS miles, and at that dis
tance it appears to be a mere
crevice in the rock; but
as you approach nearer it widens out;
when finally you reach the foot of the
Hills, beautiful little valley opens out
to your view, with high mountains on
each side, adorned here and there by
punches of pine trees, through which
can be seen huge masses Of granite
rock projecting out from the sides of
the mountains, as if ready to fall upon
the first passer-by, and in the valley be-
meath runs one of the most beautiful
streams of water one could wish to see.
In fact, every portion of the Hills
abounds in rich scenery, unsurpassed in
beauty and grandeur by but few other
places. As for this being an agricul-
tural country, it certainly is not. The
valleys are not extensive enough, in the
first place, to carry on farming, and
even were they, don't think one could
raise a crop here on account of the
heavy frosts which occur almost night
ly. The vegetation here seems to stand
the frost though amazingly. As far as
I have noticed there is nothing affected
by. it but the strawberries. And, by the
way, let me add here that we have plen-
ty of fruit here, such as it is. The most
prolific among others is the red rasp-
berry, which grows in great abundance
in the valleys and on the sides of the
mountains. Besides these are red, yel-
low and black currants, gooseberries,
choke cherries, and various other small
fruits which we feast upon daily. We
visited the great Speartish Valley the
other day, which is considered the best
farming land in this portion of the


country. About all that can be said OF


it is that it is very pretty valley, and


is watered by one of the handsomest


streams in the Territory. The land is


poor, though, and the only way in which


you can produce good crop is by irri.
| dCluSs AAClO 10 o. GOWA 1dlO OA uAOA Z


of the same name, but at present only


a few cabins are completed, and the


population numbers less than twenty


five. Business has not been up to the


standard of late; several of the best


gulches have been laid over on account


Of the scarcity of water, and a few o.


those near the foot hills have not beer


worked much for week or SO, the In


dians being too troublesome. Thi'


has created a general depression in bus


mess, and with the large amount O


competition we have, a person can buy


goods very reasonable. The best Col


orado flour can be bought now for $1(


to $12, good bacon for 20 cents, will


other goods in proportion. We bay'


done but little on this gulch lately. W.
are only seven miles from the foot hills


and the Indians make it convenient tx
visit us quite frequently, and in conse


qnence Of that all the claims were lait


over, until the 7th day of September


by which time we hope that some set


Element of this Indian trouble will b,
made. But, if not, we will lay then
over until spring. Since the defea
and slaughter of Gen. Custer and hi
troops the Indians have become yer,
bold. They have stolen quite mum
ber of horses in this vicinity. The las
haul they made they rode into Crool


City and drove off large herd of horse


belonging to party Of Montan
men. This rather reused up the miner
| to sense of their danger, and a ,larg
, party was organized to follow them
! OF course we went, but by the time "
got on their trail they were too ia
, ahead to think of capturing them. Bt
+ sides, they struck directly north, int


the Gen. Sitting Bull country, and "


thought best not to go otoo far. One II