as "Mentors" in the second round of proofing. Recently, others have
provided "beginners' projects", to help keep up with the demand of a
steadily increasing flow of new volunteers. These projects are also
useful for helping new post-processors learn the job.

I still have some ambitious projects planned; Granger's _Index to
Poetry_, the unabridged edition of _The Golden Bough_, Curtis' _The
North American Indian_, and the _Book Review Digest_ (volumes for
1905-1921). A couple of volumes are already waiting to be proofed,
others are waiting to be scanned on the PG tabloid scanner. But, in
the meantime, there are 23 new Wodehouse books in PG thanks to
Distributed Proofreaders, not to mention such remnants of early 20th
century popular culture as _The Sheik_.

I believe that a major accomplishment of Distributed Proofreaders
has been the creation of way to provide on-the-job training for PG
volunteers. Steady improvement in the quantity and quality of
training techniques and documentation, enhancements to the
user-friendliness of the site, and ready access to the collective
experience and advice of a wide range of volunteers in the Forums
have resulted in a growing core of active and experienced volunteers
in all the facets of e-book production. I'm sure that I could not
have progressed from a total newbie to a regular PG contributor
within a 5-month period without this support structure. Regular
communication and collaboration with book-lovers from around the
world has enriched my life. The fact that it is easier to get leave
from my job than from DP, is perhaps beside the point...

Tony Adam

How did you learn about PG?

It's been so long, I don't really remember!  I probably read about it
on a library listserv (I'm a librarian), and since making old texts
accessible has always been a concern of mine, I jumped right in.

What was your first contact like?

Great!  Mike Hart has always been easy to deal with via e-mail,
although we've never talked. He and the "crew du jour" directed
me to the FAQ and I took it from there.

What was the first PG job you did? How did it go?

My first job might have been Henry James' _Turn of the Screw_ (I
just found a note from September 1993 on copyright clearance for it).
Since in a former incarnation I was editorial assistant for the _Henry
James Review_, I thought that would be a good start. I've always typed
the files (I'm a fast typist), and I think we had few problems along
the way.

How did you develop your PG experience from there?

Helter-skelter, much like my reading habits.  I work at a historically
black university, so getting 19th C African-American works posted is a
central concern. I've done _Clotelle_ (the first A-A American novel)
and the autobiography of Henry O. Flipper, the West Point cadet, and
I'm always looking for something new in that area. Somewhere along the
way I got sidetracked into essays by Whittier and other U.S. poets,
and I've collaborated on early American historical documents and Sir
Walter Scott with a fellow PGer up in Ohio and Chinese documents with
another contact in Japan. A couple of years ago, I saw that someone in
San Francisco needed help with the Shakespeare Apocrypha, and that has
occupied my time on and off since. It's always something!

Can you tell us about the first text you produced?

I think it was _The Turn of the Screw_, which was
a good starting point--not too long, a good read, etc. Just plugging
away at the text a few pages a day made the process go quickly.

Why do you spend your hours contributing to PG?

I love the idea of making all of this print knowledge available to
anyone anywhere. Working in a library that has suffered budget
problems over the years opened my eyes to the need for acquisition of
as much free stuff as possible for our students and faculty. Besides,
in a perverse way, it's fun!

Do you specialize in any particular kind of work? of texts?

I've probably focused more on plays, historical documents, and
19th C U.S. works than anything else.

What do you like about making a PG text?

Having a project come to fruition--finally seeing an almost forgotten
text come to life again.

What do you dislike about making a PG text?

The work can be tedious at times, depending on the author.  But
sometimes you have to plow through to get something significant
processed. For example, we probably should have more philosophers
represented, but what a horrible thing it would be to scan Kant!

Where do you get your eligible books?

Mostly from my library's collection, although I finally purchased my
own copy of the Shakespeare Apocrypha (it's very hard to find, which
makes it very suitable for posting). I've interlibrary loaned some
items, but that's also been unusual.

Do you type or scan? What Scanner / OCR / Editor / WP do you prefer?

I still type everything--it's easier when working with a play, I've
discovered. But I'm purchasing a scanner in the very near future and
will do more with that.

How do you check your text? Any special tools? spellchecker? Do you
print it out and read it? Put it on your PDA and read it? Have a voice
synthesis program read it aloud to you from your PC?

I usually run it through the spellchecker, although depending on the
work, I read it line by line a second time.

Do you have any tips'n'tricks or special routines you go through when
preparing a text?

The best thing to do is put yourself on a schedule--do a set amount of
pages every day, and you'll be surprised how quickly you get to the
end. I also make a pencil mark in the book at a stopping point and
even read back a paragraph to double check what I last entered.

How long does it take you to make a text?

Depends on my work schedule, other assignments, time of year, etc.  A
play might take a couple of weeks, but a Walter Scott novel could take
six months. I think my record is probably one day for an essay, but
that's unusual.

Do you work alone, or do you share the work of each text? Does anyone
regularly help you proof the text?

I've worked alone and on teams, depending on the text.  No one
regularly helps to proof the text, but occasionally someone else does.

Do you do some PG work regularly, or drift in and out as opportunity
permits, or when you feel like it?

I consider myself a regular, as time permits.  In other words, I
haven't dropped out of the picture, but sometimes I might not enter
anything for up to a month.

How many different kinds of work, or different books, have you done?

Not sure how many different books I've done, but it's been a wide
variety: James' and Scott's novels, Whittier's essays, a whole
collection of early American documents (mostly New Netherlands),
Shakespeare (accepted canon and the apocryphal works), some odd works
(_The Psychology of Beauty_ comes to mind)--the list goes on and on.
I've even forgotten that I've done some titles!

What do you like about the PG process?

That it's open-ended--if I think I have something that should be
posted, I don't have to jump through hoops and ladders to get
permission (other than copyright clearance).

What do you dislike about the PG process?

Can't think of anything offhand.

Is there anything you'd like to see PG doing differently?

I know it's a bone of contention, but we probably need to explore
moving away from ASCII.

If one of your friends approached you to ask advice about how to get
started contributing to PG, what would you tell them?

Start with something fun, that's close to your heart, and keep
plugging away a little bit at a time.

What do you expect Project Gutenberg to be like in 5 years? 10 years?

We'll probably be a whole lot bigger (texts and personnel), with a
different look to the texts. Maybe we'll even have more audio versions
of texts, using some of the new software that's coming out.

Tonya Allen

I discovered Project Gutenberg in about 1997. After several years of
enjoying PG's texts, in June of 2002 I decided it was time to start
contributing. Via the PG web site I learned that the easiest way to
do this would be to help out with proofreading via Charles Franks'
Distributed Proofreaders web site. The day I signed on I proofed
nine whole pages of a children's book called _Curly and Floppy
Twistytail_ and felt very proud to be contributing.

At that time, there were probably only about 40 active volunteers
on the site each day. Often I proofed an entire book almost all by
myself over the course of a week or so. Things moved at a leisurely
pace; guidelines were few and simple; and I had fun reading old
books and discovering new authors.

After a few months a request was made for volunteers to post-process
texts in French. I volunteered to help with this, and that was how I
became a post-processor (PPer). Shortly afterwards, the web page
listing texts available for post-processing and sign-out was
unveiled. I remember several times checking and being disappointed
because there was nothing currently available (hard to imagine now
when there are always at least 40 texts waiting).

One day in November, I picked out a likely-looking text from the
proofing page, and settled down for an hour of reading. As I recall,
it was _The Greek View of Life_, a sizeable text of which only a few
pages had been proofed so far, and which I thought would last for
several days at least. At about that time, someone emailed me to say
that DP had been "/.ed." "What does that mean?" I replied. I soon
found out.

I had been proofing away peacefully for awhile when suddenly instead
of the next page, I got a page about twenty pages further on. The
same thing happened again and again, and suddenly all the pages were
gone; the whole text had been completed. DP had indeed been
slashdotted.

Since then, a lot of amazing things have happened. The number of
active volunteers per day has increased almost 1000%. The number of
texts that go through the site has increased exponentially. All
kinds of proofing and processing tools have been developed. I now
spend most of my time checking texts that others have PPed, and
submitting them to PG, at an average rate of one to four per
day--quite a leap from nine pages of _Curly and Floppy Twistytail_.
And I'm looking forward to everything that lies ahead as DP
continues to evolve.

Walter Debeuf

Quite by chance I became aware of PG when I was surfing and looking
for interesting sites. I vaguely knew the name because I had heard of
the Project a long time ago. After reading the "History and Philosophy
of PG", I immediately became wildly enthusiastic about it. This was
what I had been looking for for years, a meaningful use of my PC, and
because I am a fervent lover of good literature, I didn't hesitate to
contact the founders of the Project. I made a suggestion that I should
work on French and Dutch e-texts. The very same day I received an
answer from PG in which they told me they were very pleased with my
contribution but that I had to keep in mind that all books must be
free of copyright and published before 1923.

This wasn't so great. . . .  After I browsed in the "Help And FAQ" of
the PG site, I read that I didn't have to worry about all that,
because they are willing to do all the clearance!

On my own bookshelf I found an old book of Jules Renard, "Poil de
Carotte". It seemed old enough to me, but I couldn't find any
copyright notations. So, I mailed to Mr Hart all the information I
found on the title page and the verso, and asked him what he thought
about it. The next day I received his answer, he wrote: "We still have
to prove this edition was pre-1923, so I am forwarding to our
authority on such copyright research." This authority is Ms. Dianne
Bean who mailed me a few days later very pleasantly that I could start
typing, because the copyright issues had been resolved. She asked me
to send a "TP&V" (a photocopy of the title page and verso) of the book
to Mr. Hart, because they need that for legal reasons.

But something wasn't very clear to me concerning the format I had to
use. In the "FAQ" they spoke about "plain vanilla ASCII", something I
never had heard about in my life! In "How to Volunteer, PG Volunteers'
Board" Mr. Jim Tinsley answered all kind of questions about all kinds
of problems people have when they start volunteering. So I did the
same and sent him my question. I received an extensive answer about
all kind of formats in the "ISO 8859 Alphabet Soup" and he recommended
me to use "Codepage 1252" which is very common in Windows. Here are
the addresses which Jim sent to me:

"If you are interested in the differences, I recommend the excellent
web page

http://czyborra.com/charsets/codepages.html

in the excellent reference site http://czyborra.com"

I chose a French book, first because I had it already on my bookshelf,
and secondly because I wanted to perfect my knowledge of the French
language and typing seemed the right way to do it. When copying an
author's text, you are very close to it. You also have to pay full
attention to the spelling of the words. Gradually you come under the
spell of the story and you forget that you are typing . . .
Nevertheless, it is hard work, especially when it is not your native
language, and therefore you shouldn't try to rush it. At first I
started with two or three pages a day, which means that you would need
about two months typing for an average book. But good typists can do
it more quickly.

I can only applaud the aim of PG, to put books available on the net as
much as possible and without cost, for every one in the whole world. I
love to co-operate with it.

In the meantime there are thousands and thousands of books in the
PG-collection, and that makes it a little difficult to find other
examples which are free of copyright, because they must be from before
1923. Since I've got the "PG-bug" it's a challenge for me to find
suitable copies, and I look for them high and low. I can buy a few
books for a song and I take them home as a trophy, looking forward to
the work which is waiting for me . . .

In libraries you can find old publications which you can find nowhere
else.

It's amazing how fascinating old books can be and how much you can
learn from them. For the moment I'm working on "Pecheur d'Islande" by
Pierre Loti, in which I get acquainted with an old tradition of
fishermen, very interesting. Without PG I would probably never have
read this. There must be still a lot of little treasures in some old
and dusty attics, waiting to be born again by the magic touch of a
PG-volunteer.

If you do it, no compensation or payment is waiting, but . . . doing
something disinterested and unselfish gives you a good feeling.

Bookmarks:

B.1. Project Gutenberg:

Home Page and Search        <https://www.gutenberg.org/>
Contact Information         <https://www.gutenberg.org/contactinfo.html>
Donations                   <https://www.gutenberg.org/donation.html>
List of FTP sites           <https://www.gutenberg.org/list.html>
Web Browse to texts         <http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/>

Mailing Lists               <https://www.gutenberg.org/subs.html>
Volunteers' Board           <https://www.gutenberg.org/vol/wwwboard/>
Copyright Rules             <https://www.gutenberg.org/vol/pd.html>
Books In Progress           <http://www.dprice48.freeserve.co.uk/GutIP.html>
(The InProg List)

Greek Transliteration       <https://www.gutenberg.org/vol/greek.html>

Music                       <http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/music/music_helpex.html#what-software>

GUTINDEX.ALL                <ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/GUTINDEX.ALL>
(Complete list of posted eBooks)

B.2. Distributed Proofing Sites:

Charles Franks              <https://www.pgdp.net/>
JC Byers                    <http://www.wollamshram.ca/1001/index.htm>
Dewayne Cushman             <http://www.metalbox.net/dcushman/pgroot.htm>

B.3. Other On-Line eBook Pages:

The On-Line Books Page      <http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/>
  /In Progress List         <http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/in-progress.html>
Internet Public Library     <http://www.ipl.org/>

B.4. Lists of Suggested Books to Transcribe:

PG Books In Progress        <http://www.dprice48.freeserve.co.uk/GutIP.html>
On-Line Requested List      <http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/in-progress.html#requests>
Steve Harris' "To-do"s      <http://www.steveharris.net/PGList.htm>

B.5. Finding Paper Books On-Line:

Advanced Book Exchange      <http://www.abebooks.com>
Alibris                     <http://www.alibris.com>
Trussel BookSearch          <http://www.trussel.com/f_books.htm>
Library of Congress Catalog <http://catalog.loc.gov>

B.6. Character Sets

Overviews                   <http://czyborra.com>
                            <http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/chars/index.html>
ISO-8859                    <http://czyborra.com/charsets/iso8859.html>
Microsoft & Other Codepages <http://czyborra.com/charsets/codepages.html>
Unicode                     <http://www.unicode.org>


steam to run the plant. We do not see any fine work or finishing here.

We pass on through Pringle. A short distance from here we find some
interesting specimens which look like petrified acorns or small nuts
embedded in limestone. But the next is the most peculiar specimen of
all. As we cross the railroad well on the way from Pringle to
Minnekahta, there stands, west of the track, in a pasture, a peculiar
beast. It is made up of a log, with four prongs (branches) resembling
legs. Another log is attached for a head and two root systems attached
for horns. The result, with the addition of a little paint resembles
very much a grotesque elk.

In Edgemont we see huge specimens from the petrified forest, one tree of
solid rock weight 14,370 pounds. The specimens are remarkable, but we
are not destined to see the petrified forest itself. In Hot Springs
later we are to find all the petrified wood we care to carry home,
however. We will speed back to Minnekahta and thence over U. S. 18 to
Hot Springs.

               [Illustration: Gray Rocks, Custer, S. D.]

      [Illustration: Battle Mountain Sanitarium for Old Soldiers]

                              CHAPTER XVII
                              Hot Springs

We arrive in Hot Springs late in the afternoon and look for a cabin for
the night. All of them are filled up, so we look for a camp site. Evans
Heights is too steep for our heavily loaded car, and we drive down to
the Municipal Camp. After pitching camp we attempt to find out what
there is in Hot Springs to see. We find that there is much and
accordingly lay our plans for a big day.

After breakfast the first thing we do is to cross the railroad track on
foot looking for petrified moss and wood. From the stream bed we get
several particularly fine specimens of the moss. These we cache while we
go into a pasture up the slope across S. D. 79 looking for petrified
wood. Our search is soon rewarded. We find many fine specimens and
return to camp well loaded with stone. The phenomenon of the mineral
water turning vegetation into stone is a peculiar one.

We next take the twelve mile road down past the camp toward Cascade
Springs. Ten miles from Hot Springs we come upon what at one time
promised to be a fine modern city. Modern buildings were built,
including brick business buildings with glass fronts. The hope was that
“Cascade” was to be the center of medical baths instead of Hot Springs.
At the head of the would-be town is a great warm spring, or we might say
a geyser boiling out of a large hole in the ground. The water is highly
medicated. Other similar springs are in close proximity.

We take the road on through the town and two miles farther on. We pass
through a gate to the right and almost at once hear the rumble of
Cascade Falls just below us. We drive over to the brink of the hill,
dismount, and descend. A beautiful waterfall is before us. The water
falls only about eight or ten feet, but it is impressive in its speed
and volume. Vegetation of various kinds, petrified by the minerals in
the water or just in the process of petrification fills the channel
above. Moss, waving to and fro in the water is like sand when we feel of
it. It has a cool clammy mineral feeling rather than the soft sensation
we had expected to find in moss. The bank high up, is lined with
petrified moss of a coarse texture.

The whirl-pools just below the falls are deep enough for swimming but a
few feet farther down the stream is just right for wading. This warm
mineral water lives up to its reputation derived through long years as
Indian medicine. One just seems to feel that this is something that
tones him up ever so much. It reminds one of Ponce De Leon and his
Fountain of Youth. Many people are out here today.

    [Illustration: Battle Mountain Sanitarium, a National Hospital.
U. S. Veterans Bureau Hospital for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors at Hot
                                Springs
                                                          Stevens Photo]

We decide that no prettier or more inspiring place can be found for our
lunch, so we eat in the valley beside the falls. After lunch we inspect
the aqueduct, for irrigation, I believe, that crosses just above the
falls.

But we must be on our way. Some of us who are not accustomed to it
wonder at the composition of the red soil in the Hills region. We see
crops, good crops, growing on brick red soil. We can hardly credit our
senses, but it must be true.

Back at camp we climb Catholican Hill, just above and to the south of
us. From there we get an excellent view of Fall River, Cheyenne River,
Harney Peak, The Soldiers Home, The Country Club, the city, and
surrounding country.

We drive on into Hot Springs. This is one of the larger cities of the
Hills. It is one of the most beautiful, as well. Probably the medicated
springs and the hospital service are the things for which the city is
best known. Many sick people come here to be cured.

The great Evans Plunge is a large indoor swimming pool. Into it the
water at 90 degrees Fahr. pours in great volume. The mineral content
makes it pleasant feeling and restful. Hundreds of people swim here
daily in the busy season. This is a real swim.

Next we visit Minnekahta Plunge, the old original Indian spring. We are
told that each gallon of its water contains approximately 62.55 grains
residue consisting of Sodium Sulphate 16.07, Mica 2.46, Potassium
Sulphate 16.51, Magnesium Sulphate 4.32, Calcium Sulphate 16.33, Sodium
Chloride 13.79. Iron Sesqui oxide Trace.

The temperature is 96 degrees Fahr. This plunge is used as a medical
plunge, largely, with tub service as well as the swimming pool. There is
a hotel in connection with the baths.

               [Illustration: S. D. State Soldier’s Home
                                                                Stevens]

   [Illustration: Battle Mountain Sanitarium, a National Hospital For
             Disabled Soldiers and Sailors, at Hot Springs
                                                          Stevens Photo]

          [Illustration: Cascade Falls, near Hot Springs, S.D.
                                                          Stevens Photo]

We spend another night in Hot Springs and leave early the next morning
for Wind Cave over S. D. 85. We arrive just in time for the first trip
through, register, pay our fee, and start.

Wind Cave is a series of passages under ground formed by the erosive
action of water. Not all of the passages have been explored, but three
main routes are well marked. Above the ground there is no indication of
a cave, nothing but a low broad hill. There is a souvenir shop and
refreshment place above the entrance, and government buildings across
the road. The cave is a part of the Wind Cave National Park, owned and
operated by the United States Government.

       [Illustration: Wind Cave National Park, Hot Springs, S.D.
    Wind Cave Entrance. We enter through the little building in the
                               foreground
                                                          Stevens Photo]

Tradition tells us that the place was discovered by a cow-boy who was
riding by when a strong current of air carried his hat down through a
crevice in the earth. We wonder if he ever recovered his hat? Why is it
these stories leave out the one question our curiosity prompts us to
ask. Possibly his hat, though, was not as important as the discovery of
the cave. They are still looking for the other end of that current of
air.

Now we are ready to descend. We might profit by putting on clothes that
will not be harmed when soiled, tho this is not necessary.

To the right of the entrance is a stone carving of Alvin McDonald, the
first guide through the cave. As we enter, with gasoline lanterns, we
feel a strong downward draft. This disappears as we proceed. We go down
two long flights of stairs to start with. Down, down, down, we go,
emerging in the Bridal Chamber, 212 feet below the surface.

Our guide tells us quite confidentially that a certain young lady wished
to marry the young man of her choice, but she had promised her mother
that she would not marry anyone on the face of the earth. To keep her
word and still satisfy her love she was married down here below the face
of the earth. When the Government took over the cave, however, they
forbade the continuance of this, for it was running matrimony into the
ground.

                  [Illustration: The Sheep, Wind Cave
                                                            Lease Photo]

Farther on we see petrified prairie dogs, on a petrified mound. We hope
our guide is strictly truthful, tho he tells us that even he cannot
vouch for the accuracy of all he tells us. Then comes the Milky Way with
petrified stars in a petrified sky, and after this the Snowball Chamber.
The Post Office 240 feet down is filled with box work crystals in a sort
of cobweb pattern, each box having some depth. We are shown the foreign
department and the great Sears Roebuck mail chute. These formations are
beautiful and remarkable formations of water, heat, minerals, and
natural phenomena.

Room number 23 is Nellie’s room and the Beauty Parlor follows it. Rouge,
here is free. The petrified zoo confronts us; very interesting indeed if
our imaginations are up to par. The Bleeding Rock is colored with iron
oxide giving it a blood color, and sure enough the Liberty Bell is
cracked. In the rookery is a petrified bird on a petrified nest (believe
it if you can.)

                        [Illustration: Wind Cave
                       Frost Work, Garden of Eden
                                                            Lease Photo]

Again, quite confidentially the guide tells us that one guide went over
lovers leap the day before and six old maids followed. After the
petrified whirlwind, imagine it, we see a map of South America, and then
enter Opera Hall. From it we pass to Grant’s tomb on the Hudson and be
hanged if there isn’t an Alligator going up to see it.

The Devil’s Lookout is 80 feet high, with his Dinner Gong close by. The
Furnace Room, Hen and Chickens, Hanging Bridge and Bridal Veil Falls are
very realistic. Sure enough, there sits a water spaniel dog begging
for—daylight. Now we see some Swiss scenery, a mountain goat, cheese,
bread and beer. Only the beer is not there, it was drunk by the last
party through.

We next come to the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is the custom to bow
as you enter the low door and also bow going out. We are especially
requested not to spit on the altar. Bishop Fowler’s Cathedral is 190
feet across.

We can just see the appetizing popcorn in Popcorn Alley, and then we
pass on to the Hanging Rock. We carefully avoid going beneath it. Three
hundred feet down and half a mile in we come to Odd Fellow’s Hall. There
is the all-seeing eye and the three links—Friendship, Love, and Truth,
with the third slightly stretched. There also is the road to Jericho and
the Goat.

We pass Samson’s Palace, The Queen’s Drawing Room, Capitol Hall, and
Turtle Pass. Here the trail divides, the short route going to the Garden
of Eden, the medium route to the Fair Grounds, and the long route to the
Pearly Gates. We take the medium.

In order we pass Scalping Grounds, Masonic Temple, Elks Room, with an
elk head within and an American Eagle alighting on a rock, then the
Grand Canyon with its great clefts hundreds of feet underground.

Monte Cristo Palace is 390 feet down. Old Maid’s Glasses follows and Dog
Tooth, made of five points spar crystals. McKinley’s memorial is next,
and then Assembly Hall. Here, again is much artistic boxwork formation.
Next is A. O. U. W. Hall. In it is a stone book which, our guide tells
us, is the only Natural History of Wind Cave. From here we go to the
Giant’s Punch Bowl and on to Johnston’s Camp Grounds.

In the Bachelor’s apartments everything is upside down and all dusty. In
his cupboard is a loaf of bread with a mouse gnawing at it. This leads
us at last to the ticket office to the Fair Grounds. The Fair Grounds is
a beautiful large room with a white ceiling, the whole covering about
three acres. The first attraction is the South Dakota Teacher’s School
Room with its calcite crystal wall. The Elephant’s Foot has fallen
through the ceiling farther on. Then come S. D. Federation of Women’s
Clubs Room, Ice Gorge, and The Northwestern Hotel Men’s assembly
chamber. In the Farm Yard are a guinea hen, a little red rooster, a
polar bear, the little red hen drinking, a guinea pig, a rabbit and a
hen fighting, and a donkey. Last comes the jaw bone of a monster.

In the Meat Market hangs a ham, a goose, and some beef. Over high steps
and under a low ceiling we pass into the Coliseum. The seats are of
white rock. In Rambler’s Hall is a knife through the ceiling. Next are
the Catacombs. Here we go down a rocky precipitous descent. Last comes
the Elk’s Room, and then the return to the entrance. Everything we have
seen is made of rock and our imagination.

          [Illustration: “Buffalo,” the Monarch of the Plains
                        Bison in the State Park]

           [Illustration: Traffic Cop, on a turn in the road
                                                                  Lease]

This has been an eventful trip.

We drive on north over 85 and 81 to the South Dakota State Game
Preserve. Here we see elk, deer, and buffalo. On the way we find some
specimens of rose quartz. At the Game Lodge we stop to see the zoo. In
it are deer, mountain sheep, coyotes, foxes, bears, eagles, owls,
badgers, raccoons, porcupines, bobcats, prairie dogs, spotted rabbits,
and elk, all alive. These are particularly interesting to lovers of
animals.

                    [Illustration: Bear in the Zoo]

                       [Illustration: In the Zoo]

The Game Lodge Hotel, which is the structure used by President Coolidge
as the Summer White House of 1927, is a large well furnished affair, not
altogether unsuited to the purpose for which it was used. Now, in the
reception room on opposite sides of the comfortable fireplace are large
oil paintings of President Coolidge and Grace Coolidge. Here this first
lady of the land and her distinguished husband will, in the spirit of
the paintings, receive guests in behalf of the nation and the State of
South Dakota for years to come. Elk and deer heads also adorn the walls,
while huge fur rugs cover the floor. Great leather rocking chairs and
davenports add to the comforts of the room.

        [Illustration: The State Game Lodge in Custer State Park
                                                             Rise Photo]

So popular is the Game Lodge as a summer resort hotel that any one
wishing to secure a room here must do so several days or weeks in
advance. During the various hunting and fishing seasons of the year this
place is frequented by hunters from many other states of the Union as
well as South Dakota.

Special hunting licenses may be procured providing lodging here during
the hunt.

We, at last, must tear away our mooring to the Hills and head for home.
We still have a few things to see, but we have the feeling that it is
all over, and the total addition to our beings has been tremendous, too
great for measurement, and as time rolls by it grows still greater.

We miss one of the interesting spots of the Hills, Buffalo Gap. In
Calico Canyon three miles west of town are located the most beautiful
colored sandstone in the Hills and a great natural bridge of rock.

             [Illustration: Natural Bridge at Buffalo Gap]

At Hermosa is a neat little tourist park, but we cannot partake of it.
In Hermosa also we see the church which won so much publicity during
President Coolidge’s stay. Its picture does it justice. Hermosa Crystal
Cave is ten miles west of Hermosa. At last, we speed back to Rapid City.
Hidden City is on the way. This is the probable vestiges of what was
once an ancient building or buildings. We spend another night in that
inviting municipal park; and reluctantly with many a backward look, we
head for home. Long after we leave the Hills we can look back and see
those hazy black peaks rearing their majestic tops to the clouds. We
can’t help recalling Morse’s old phrase, “What hath God wrought.” He
indeed develops wonders here on earth at his almighty command.

                  [Illustration: Hermosa Crystal Cave]

We have been pretty much concerned about the sights, now we look around
and see what our car looks like. The food is gone. The containers now
house quartz, mica, granite, tourmaline, lithia, copper, gold ore,
pictures, pine cones, and various other souvenirs. The car glides
swiftly over the excellent roads, but nevertheless we feel it is heavily
loaded. We weigh the car, and consternation; it weighs 4,285 pounds, or
1500 pounds more than it does empty. We may as well look at the
speedometer too. It was 12,114 and now it is 13,584. We have gone 1470
miles. 250 of these might be subtracted as our trip inland from Pierre.

We have had our vacation, and now we go home to ponder. It has been a
glorious trip.

                [Illustration: CUSTER STATE PARK HIGHWAY
                           BLACK HILLS, S.D.]

                [Illustration: Moonlight on the Missouri
                              Pierre, S.D.
                                                         Miller Foto 39]

                               APPENDIX I

The following are some of the more important peaks of the Black Hills.

  Mountain                Where located         Height, ft.

  Battle Mountain         Hot Springs                  4431
  Bear Butte              Sturgis                      4422
  Crook’s Tower           Rochford                     7140
  Crow Peak               Spearfish                    5787
  Custer Peak             Deadwood-Pactola             6794
  Deer Sars                                            3500
  Devil’s Tower           Sundance, Wyo.               5117
  Flag Mountain                                        6900
  Harney Peak             Hill City-Custer             7244
  Lookout Peak            Spearfish                    4485
  Missouri Buttes                                      5372
  Mt. Coolidge            Custer                       6000
  Mt. Pisgah                                           6400
  Ragged Top                                           6207
  Roosevelt Mountain      Deadwood                     5676
  Sheep Mountain          In Badlands                  3500
  Terry Peak              Lead                         7070
  Tow Top                                              3732
  White Rocks             Deadwood                     5286

 [Illustration: Large Horseshoe Curve, a long way around to get a short
                            distance ahead]

                              APPENDIX II
              Elevation of cities and places of interest.

  Belle Fourche           3011
  Buffalo Gap             3258
  Camp Crook              3200
  Cascade                 3406
  Crystal Cave            4242
  Custer                  5301
  Deadwood                4543
  Deerfield               5900
  Edgemont                3449
  Fairburn                3310
  Ft. Meade               3300
  Galena                  4832
  Hermosa                 3300
  Hill City               4976
  Hot Springs             3443
  Interior                2381
  Jewel Cave              5090
  Keystone                4340
  Lead                    5119
  Minnekahta              4159
  Mystic                  4835
  Pactola                 4459
  Philip                  2159
  Piedmont                3463
  Pine Ridge              3250
  Pringle                 4879
  Rapid City              3229
  Rockford                5299
  Savoy                   4956
  Scenic                  3812
  Silver City             4592
  Spearfish               3637
  State Game Lodge        4400
  Sturgis                 3452
  Sylvan Lake             6250
  Terry                   6165
  Wall                    2813
  Whitewood               3644
  Wind Cave               4100
  Pierre                  1457

             [Illustration: Railroad track beside a stream]

                              APPENDIX III
                       Industries of Black Hills

  Mining
  Lumbering
  Fruit Raising
  Farming
  Cement Plant
  Sugar Factory
  Flower Mills
  Quarrying
  Brick Making
  Pickle Making
  Creameries
  Canning
  Souvenir Making
  Generation of Electricity
    150,000 H. P. estimated potential
  Gov. fish and game raising
  Grazing
  Health Resorts
  Publishing

                      [Illustration: River valley]

                              APPENDIX IV
                                Fishing

Originally there were no trout in the Black Hills. Now nearly every
stream in the Hills is stocked with trout. The U. S. hatchery at
Spearfish and the S. D. hatchery at Rapid City keep the streams well
supplied. Approximately two million trout are thus put out each year.
They are chiefly of four varieties: Loch Leven, Black spotted, Brook,
and Rainbow. During our visit to the Hills we see fishermen practically
in every part of every stream from the interior of the tourist camps to
the headwaters in almost jungles. They use anything from the bargain one
dollar complete angling outfit to the best outfit made. For bait they
use anything from worms to flies. The local fishermen are better
authorities on the subject than the author. However, many fine specimens
are seen, and many large messes of trout are taken by all types of
fishermen.

            [Illustration: Black Hills Streams—See Page 169]

                               APPENDIX V

Some of the more important streams of the Black Hills are:

  (1) Belle Fourche River is in the north with its tributaries:
  (2) Sand Creek
  (3) Sundance Creek
  (4) Redwater Creek
  (5) Spearfish Creek
  (6) May Creek
  (7) Whitewood Creek
  (8) Bear Butte Creek
  (9) Owl Creek

Eventually these empty into the Cheyenne River.

Below these come the tributaries of the:

  (10) Cheyenne
  (11) Elk Creek
  (12) Bolder Creek
  (13) Rapid Creek, with its tributaries
  (14) Castle Creek
  (15) Slate Creek
  (16) Spring Creek
  (17) Iron Creek
  (18) Battle Creek
  (19) Grace Coolidge Creek
  (20) French Creek
  (21) Lame Johnny Creek
  (22) Beaver Creek
  (23) Fall River

    [Illustration: A drive through the pines in the Black Hills (76)
                                                             Rise Photo]

                              APPENDIX VI
                           Camps and Camping

The camps themselves have been taken up to some extent in the body of
this book. In 1928 the camps in Rapid City and the northern cities far
surpassed those of the southern towns. But the people all over the
Hills, especially in the larger cities are fast awakening to the
realization that good parks play a tremendous part in the development of
their localities. Spearfish, Sturgis, Rapid City, and Deadwood were the
first to realize the value of service to their visitors. They have
doubtlessly reaped rich reward for their investment, judging from the
number of people who use those camp sites night after night.

The cost of the camps is generally fifty cents per car each night. This
pays for the site, police protection, lights, in some places shower
baths, swimming, laundry, toilets, pure water, firewood, reading room,
community cabin, piano, and any other services the locality might
afford; especially vegetable, milk, and grocery sales. Some of the camps
are almost wonders in themselves.

For those who prefer cabins most of the camps have small log, wood, or
tent cabins, variously furnished, accommodating from two to six people
or more. These rent at a dollar plus the car fee of fifty cents to a
little more for the larger ones. The added convenience of this method of
camping is considerable.

Some of the high spots of a life-time occur in our meeting tourists from
all parts of the state, nation, and world in these parks. These people
range all the way from sheep herders to aviators and from students to
corporatic magnates. They are all bent on the same quest, enjoyment of
nature’s wonders; and all are congenial. All are as one great family,
swapping yarns and experiences and discussing everything from the diet
of fishworms to managing an oil company.

              [Illustration: Deer in the Custer State Park
                                           Rise Photo, Rapid City, S.D.]

              [Illustration: A Log Cabin With Fire Place]

Hotel rates are reasonable in the Hills, for those who prefer the best
of conveniences rather than a complete outdoor vacation. Bus lines and
train service from these afford excellent sight-seeing facilities.
However, for some of us who enjoy freedom and independence the
conventional tour seems to savor too much of routine. We lose some of
the great pleasure of conquest and discovery of unusual and inaccessible
places. And the privacy of our party, our own division of our time for
the things that we personally are interested in, are features that make
or break the success of the trip.

When one is on a vacation he likes to plan his trip so as best to
satisfy his interests and humors. This can best be accomplished when he
is his own boss and can give as much or as little time as he wishes to
each place of interest. The scheduled tours are excellent, but if a
person wishes to spend more time at the mines, in the Needles, seeing
hydro-electric plants, or inspecting factories or mills he had best plan
his own tour.

The cost of the trip is not excessive if carefully planned. The food is
of course an item. Gasoline is another. Camp fees are small. The rest is
more or less a matter of individual taste.

The question of camping equipment and clothing is not the easiest one
with which we must wrestle.

First, possibly comes the food question. We might profit by carrying
meat, butter, vegetables, salt, sugar, flour, pepper, and lard from home
or bought in quantity at some point on the way, if we have a way to keep
them from the effects of the sun. Carrots, potatoes, milk, lettuce,
radishes, bread, fruit, canned goods, coffee, and groceries in general
can be bought in or near most of the camps at the prices about the same
as the home grocer charges. Carrying too much loads down the car
excessively.

 [Illustration: Head of Cottonwood Draw, in center of the “Bad Lands.”
 Layers of Sandstone in Clay Beds. The sandstone protects the clay from
   weathering and wearing away. The isolated caps are called “Ostrich
                                Heads.”]

Camping equipment is an enigma. A light tent, heavy enough to shed rain,
large enough to accommodate all, and not having unwieldy poles, is the
first essential; unless cabins, when accessible, or hotels are to be
used. Second, enough cots should be provided to accommodate all. Car
cushions and car beds are sometimes desirable. Probably the best is the
small steel folding double camp bed with springs and a thin mattress.
But these must be strong and not easily bent. Probably the greatest
mistake of campers is to try to sleep with plenty of covering but not
enough under them. Especially with the canvas cots the conduction of the
cold air from below is considerable. Three woolen blankets or two and a
pair of sheets and a mattress will keep two people comfortably warm
under ordinary circumstances though some people prefer an extra blanket.
High altitude makes the temperature drop perceptibly.

For clothing, khaki, whipcord, or corduroy breeches and high laced
leather boots are the ideal, both for men and women for mountain
climbing or rambling around through mines, forests, etc. They can be
cleaned and they stand rough wear. They look well also. Have a good
sunshade hat and khaki shirts; light colored ones or woolen ones are all
good. (I prefer the wool, even in the hottest weather, because of its
safeguard from cold.) Wear light underclothing of course. By all means
have two sets of this type of clothing if the stay is prolonged, as
laundry facilities are not always available. Two pairs of hose, well
pulled up, are best, as they do not permit chafing of the feet and they
protect the feet against bad results of sweat.

If at all possible to carry one without undue wrinkling, a good suit is
desirable. There are occasions when one wishes to go to church, or to
various other gatherings, dances or the like where a camping outfit is
hardly proper.

The car will appreciate having the load well balanced. If a heavy trunk
is suspended behind, the tent and cots had better be suspended above the
front bumper to balance it. Cover all equipment from dust and rain. Do
not pile up equipment in front of the radiator, in the uphill grades the
engine will need all the air it can get. Do not barricade any of the car
doors; you’ll be sorry if you do. It is best to supply a place for
souvenirs. Very few people go out without loading up with “junk” of one
sort or another before returning. (Our specialty was several hundred
pounds of rocks and minerals.)

   [Illustration: Railroad and Wagon Bridge over the Missouri between
                         Pierre and Ft. Pierre
                                                           Miller Photo]

Other desirable items of equipment are:

  1. Pocket compass
  2. Hatchet
  3. Field Glasses
  4. A good jack knife
  5. A trout fishing outfit
  6. Bathing suits for all
  7. Matches
  8. A pressure gasoline camp stove
  9. Small water pail
  10. Metal kettle, skillet, butcher knives, plates, knives, forks,
          spoons, cups, saucers
  11. Road maps

                         [Illustration: Cabin]

                              APPENDIX VII
                           NEWER DEVELOPMENTS

Since the body of this book has been written several new developments
have come up which should be mentioned.

The United States Government has made an appropriation for the
continuation of the carving on Rushmore Mountain. This work is going
forward now at maximum speed. The form of the first figure is taking
shape, and indications are that the work will go forward to rapid
completion. When these figures are finished Rushmore will be one of the
masterpieces of sculpturing of the world.

At the present time the roads to Rushmore are in very bad shape.
Indications are, however, that a graded, surfaced highway will soon lead
up to the mountain, the state and the local counties are putting forth
every effort to improve the main roads and to make new roads where such
are needed. In the not far remote future many of the scenic places not
now readily accessible will be opened up to Black Hills visitors.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Black Hills Commercial
Clubs, and various other organizations are calling attention to mining
possibilities in the “Hills.” Many organizations from within the state
and from outside the state are inquiring into these projects, and many
mining leases are being let. Some of the newer developments are
aluminum, onyx and glass.

Probably in the near future the Black Hills will have far greater
commercial importance than they at present have.

The United States Government has also made a national park out of the
Bad Lands. This means that many of the places that were not well known
before will be brought to the sightseeing world. It also means that some
of the heretofore bad roads will be surfaced, so the Bad Lands will not
necessarily have to be left out because of rain. The Bad Lands is a
truly remarkable sight, and should not be passed up by visitors to the
“Hills.” The added mileage is not great, but the added experience gained
through seeing them is enormous.

[Illustration: A typical scene, showing a valley flanked by hills, with
            prairie beyond, along a creek in Haakon County]

Many of the scenic spots in Rapid Canyon and Spearfish Canyon have not
been taken up in this volume. Either of these places afford many
beautiful sights, especially the latter. The Spearfish Canyon leads
clear up to Lead. On the way are many summer camps or taverns. There are
many side canyons leading off the main Spearfish Canyon, each of which
is in itself worth ascending. The best known of these is Little
Spearfish Canyon. All through the Hills these beautiful but not well
known canyons and gulches may be found.

The pools below Sylvan Lake is a place that should be visited, either by
descent from the roadside marker, north of the lake, or by the path down
from Sylvan Lake.

One place of interest not before mentioned is the beautiful “Pheasant
Dining Room” at the Game Lodge. In it, just below the ceiling, are
thirty-three pheasants, mounted in various positions, standing, flying,
and alighting.

The Belle Fourche Roundup has been taken up in some detail. Other events
of the summer season are not wanting. Rapid City has its Council of
American Indians, Custer its Gold Discovery Day, Deadwood its Days of
’76, Interior its Roundup, and so on. All of these affairs are worth
attending. They are first class, demonstrations of the things they
convey, and there is a liberal education in them for the person
uninformed in their field of thought.

             [Illustration: Trees silhouetted by moonlight]

                             APPENDIX VIII
                                 ROUTES

Sometimes requests are made for lists of things to see on one or two
days trips out of Rapid City. Following are four possible trips, calling
for one or two days or even a week each:

1. First, the Rapid Canyon trip.

See the School of Mines Museum at the Eastern entrance to the city. From
there go through the city past the “Old Mill Tea Room.” Take the Cement
plant road from the Bacon camp. After seeing the cement plant return,
and turn south at Bacon Camp. Take the road to Municipal Camp. Go
through the Municipal Camp, and if possible, take a swim in the pool,
over the ridge from the first row of cabins. You’ll remember that swim.

From Municipal Camp take the canyon road to the left of the camp gate.
From here ascend the canyon to Lockhart’s Inn. Here, if such is desired,
see Lockhart’s moss sculpturing. Go on foot up the track to the Dark
Canyon trail. This leads for several miles around crags, up Dark canyon,
to Victoria Falls. Go up as far as you wish. Return to Rapid City.

2. Northern Hills.

Take in any of the Rapid City sights before mentioned. Take U. S. 16
west, then north to Crystal Cave. Plan on a half day for this. Then
continue north to Sturgis. There see Bear Butte. Climb it, if you feel
ambitious. See the United States Military Post, Fort Meade, east of town
on S. D. 24. Return, and either take Boulder Canyon, S. D. 24, or U. S.
16 to Spearfish. See the Municipal Camp and United States trout hatchery
southwest of town, and possibly the teachers college north of the city.
Take a trip up the canyon, at least to Bridal Veil Falls. Stop at
Wildcat Cave on the way if you have time. Return to Spearfish, and take
U. S. 85 north to Belle Fourche. There see the sugar plant and Orman
Dam. Return to Spearfish and on U. S. 16 to U. S. 85 which takes you to
Deadwood. See Preacher Smith’s monument on the way. Stop at Pine Crest
camp. In Deadwood see Mt. Moriah Cemetery, White Rocks, and Roosevelt
Mountain. Return to Deadwood, and then take the road right straight
through main street west, over the old mines road to Lead. On this road,
(it is gravel surfaced,) see the vestiges of old mines and the old
Central City. In Lead see the Homestake Mine. This begins at the
Burlington station near the eastern end of main street. After the mine,
take Icebox Canyon road to Cheyenne crossing and return or go direct
over S. D. 83 to Pactola, and Sheridan. From here take S. D. 40 back to
Rapid City over the beautiful Spring Creek road.

                  [Illustration: Mouth of Dark Canyon
                                            Rise Photo—Rapid City, S.D.]

3. Central Hills.

Again, see Rapid City. Take S. D. 40 through the beautiful Spring Creek
valley to Sheridan and Hill City, and then back to Keystone, or you
might go directly to Keystone. The roads might be rather rough. At
Keystone see Keystone Consolidated Mines, Etta Mine, Juga Mine and a
mica mine. Then see Rushmore mountain. Return to Hill City, or the mine
trip may be left out. From Hill City take the road to Sylvan Lake. Here
see the Lake and the Gorge. Climb Harney Peak, the highest point east of
the Rocky Mountains. From Sylvan Lake take the Needles Highway
twenty-seven miles, and double back over S. D. 36 to Custer. On the way
you see the Tallent monument, and to the right a few paces the Gordon
Stockade. See Jewell Cave, gold discovery monument, rose quartz mounted
in masonry and the big log cabin and the museum. Take S. D. 36 through
Galena, the Game Lodge and Hermosa, to Rapid City. In Hermosa see the
church Pres. Coolidge attended.

If the roads are bad take S. D. 79 from the East end of main street when
leaving Rapid City, instead of S. D. 40 to the west. Thus you see
Hermosa, and President Coolidge’s little church, the Game Lodge, Custer
and Sylvan Lake in reverse order, and then double back over the same
route when returning.

                     [Illustration: Indian maiden]

4. Southern Hills.

Take S. D. 79 through Hermosa, Game Lodge and Galena. Leave 79 and take
S. D. 81 south past Mt. Coolidge to Wind Cave. Go through this. Drive on
to Hot Springs. See Cascade Springs and Cascade Falls. Ask the way at
any filling station. See the petrified wood and petrified moss over the
track east of the Municipal Camp. Take some of it with you. See Evans
camp, and swim in Evans Plunge before you leave. Visit the old soldiers’
home. Take the same route back, or go west to Custer when you reach S.
D. 36, and from there take in the Needles, Sylvan Lake, Harney Peak,
Hill City, and Sheridan, thence back to Rapid City.

Make it as intensive a trip as your time will permit. If the time is
limited some of the places must be left out.

If you wish, you may take the trip through the most interesting places
by motor bus. These busses leave Rapid City at short intervals, and
their trip is really enjoyable.

                    DRIVING DISTANCE FROM RAPID CITY

  Blackhawk                16        N. W.       7
  Piedmont                 16          ”        14
  Crystal Cave             16          ”        22
  Tilford                  16          ”        28
  Sturgis                  16          ”        30
  Whitewood                16          ”        38
  Spearfish               16-85        ”        51
  Belle Fourche           16-85        ”        64
  Newell                   16          ”        62
  Deadwood         16    Boulder       ”        43
  Lead             16    Canyon        ”        46
  Box Elder                16        East       10
  Underwood                16          ”        22
  Scenic                   40        S. E.      55
  Interior                 40          ”        70
  Pactola                  85        West       25
  Hermosa                  70        South      21
  Buffalo Gap              79          ”        50
  Hot Springs              79          ”        63
  Edgemont                79-85        ”        96
  State Lodge             79-36        ”        35
  Pringle               79-36-85       ”        55
  Sylvan Lake              85          ”        52
  Custer                  79-36        ”        42
  Keystone                           S. W.      27
  Hill City               40-85        ”        28
  Rushmore                             ”        30
  Phillip                  16        East       93

          DISTANCE FROM DEADWOOD OF VARIOUS PLACES OF INTEREST

  Spearfish                  85-16         N. W.       13
  Belle Fourche              85-16         N. W.        3
  Lead                        14            West       26
  Sturgis                   Boulder         East       12
  Crystal Cave            Boulder 14         ”         27
  Rapid City              Boulder 14         ”         43
  Pactola                     85           South       30
  Hill City                   85             ”         45
  Keystone                    85             ”         56
  Rushmore Mt.                85             ”         56
  Sylvan Lake                 85             ”         52
  Game Lodge                 85-36           ”         72
  Hermosa                    85-36           ”         86
  Custer                      85             ”         58
  Custer-Needles              85             ”         74
  Hot Springs                 85             ”         84
  Edgemont                    85             ”         95

                              Through the
                              BLACK HILLS
                                  and
                               BAD LANDS
                                   of
                                So. Dak.

                            Authentic Guide
                       History—Statistics—Scenery

                            Copyright, 1929
                                   By
                             P. D. Peterson

                              Price, $1.35

                          Transcriber’s Notes

--Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public
  domain in the country of publication.

--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and
  dialect unchanged.

--Transcribed captions within photographs, where they added information
  not in the printed caption.

--In the text version only, italicized text is delimited by
  _underscores_.