Hayden.] 324 [February. 



The south fork also rises in the same divide, flowing along the 

 southern base of this range, and also receives numerous tributaries 

 which have their sources in it. These two main branches unite about 

 thirty miles east of the Black Hills, forming the Big Sheyenne, which 

 empties into the Missouri about sixty miles above Fort Pierre. The 

 Moreau, Grand, (Jannon-ball, and other rivers, flowing into the Mis- 

 souri, north of the Sheyenne and south of the Yellowstone, rise in a 

 high tertiary divide north of the Black Hills, and are for the greater 

 part of the season quite shallow, and sometimes nearly dry; but the 

 Little ^Missouri derives a portion of its waters from the Black Hills, 

 through a number of small branches which flow from the northwest- 

 ern slope. We thus see that the Black Hills do not give rise to any 

 important stream, if we except the J^ittle Missouri, a few branches 

 of which flow from springs near the base of the hills; but supply a 

 comparatively small quantity of water from that source. The Shey- 

 enne is fed, the most part, from the numerous small streams which 

 issue from copious springs in the more elevated portions. It would 

 seem, therefore, that the Black Hills do not have a marked influence 

 on the drainage of the West. 



As I have before remarked, the Black Hills occupy an area of 

 about six thousand square miles. I regard it as within bounds to say 

 that at least one-third of this area is covered with a fine growth of 

 good pine timber. You can see, therefore, that within the limits of 

 the Territory of Dakota, you have 1,280,000 acres of as good pine 

 lumber as can be found in all the Western country. This timber is 

 of a fine healthy growth, from two to four feet in diameter at the 

 base, and often ascending eighty feet without a limb. 



The question in regard to the quantity of pine timber in the Black 

 Hills being settled, the next point of importance is to determine upon 

 a plan to transport it to the settled portions of the Territory. I think 

 that the future will show that there are no obstacles in that direction 

 that can resist the will of the Dakotians. Allow me to quote from a 

 report to General Warren, dated March 15th, 1856, when I used the 

 following language : "The Black Hills, which appear in the distance, 

 and derive their name from their dark and gloomy appearance, con- 

 tain an inexhaustible quantity of the finest timber, mostly pine, which 

 will doubtless remain undisturbed for many years to come. I will, 

 however, propose a plan for obtaining this timber, and rendering it 

 useful to future settlers, though I do it with some hesitation, lest it 

 may seem visionary. The left fork of the Sheyenne passes through 

 the northern portion of the Black Hills, and, even there, is a consid- 



