tory, known as the Salmon river gold mines, which are now attracting so much attention throughout the country, and already drawing great numbers to them from California, Oregon, and Pike's Peak.
And further, that our own people in Southern Dakota, have long contemplated an expedition westward, to a country as yet but little known except by the information gained from a few traders, trappers, and friendly Indians, who have invariably given it the brightest description, representing it as abounding in coal, iron, and gold. The presence of this latter mineral has been fully confirmed by Lieut. Warren, U.S. topographical engineer, in report of 1857, of the Black hills. And further, your memorialists would represent that there is unity of action between those parties in Minnesota, who contemplate an expedition to the Salmon river gold mines, and the parties in Southern Dakota, who wish to explore the Black hills. That those parties from Minnesota go via Southern Dakota to the Black hills, from thence bearing northward through the Crow country, to Lieut. Mullen's wagon road pass, through the Rocky mountains and into the valleys of Snake and Salmon river. That parties from Southern Dakota wish to join and accompany them to the Black hills, and there make a satisfactory exploration of the country, of so much interest to every Dakotian, and gain that knowledge, by personal observation, so long desired, excited by the narrative of every returned adventurer. Your memorialists would most earnestly ask that, inasmuch as an expedition of this character must necessarily involve a great expense to all parties engaged in it, that a portion of the recent appropriation made by congress to assist emigrants to the Pacific, be set apart for the use of this expedition. And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
- Approved April 21, 1862.
