THE SOLOMON AND SMOKY HILL RIVERS. 471 



branches, as Maple, Pebble, and Logan Creeks, has carved out 

 for itself broad, finely-rounded valleys, so that every acre may 

 be brought under the highest state of cultivation. 



"The great need here will be timber for fuel and other eco- 

 nomical purposes, and also rock material for building. Still 

 the resources of this region are so vast that the enterprising 

 settler will devise plans to remedy all these deficiencies. He 

 will plant trees, and thus raise his own forests and improve his 

 lands in accordance with his wants and necessities. 



" These valleys have always been the favorite places of abode 

 for numerous tribes of Indians from time immemorial, and the 

 sites of their old villages are still to be seen in many localities. 

 The buffalo, deer, elk, antelope, and other kinds of wild game, 

 swarmed here in the greatest numbers, and, as they recede 

 farther to the westward into the more arid and barren plains 

 beyond the reach of civilization, the wild nomadic Indian is 

 obliged to follow. One may travel for days in this region and 

 not find a stone large enough to toss at a bird, and very seldom 

 a bush sufficient in size to furnish a cane." 



THE SOLOMON AND SMOKY HILL RIVERS. 



The Solomon and Smoky Hill Rivers, while possessing some 

 of the general characteristics of the Platte, have more timber, 

 and the entire surrounding country is uniformly rolling. The 

 Smoky Hill is a visible stream only after reaching the 

 vicinity of Pond Creek, near Fort Wallace. Above that point 

 a desolate bed of sand hides the water flowing beneath. We 

 have spoken fully of these sections elsewhere. 



