Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-10-15
THE BLACK HILLS.
Extract of the Gold Resi0n--Charac-
ter CT the niggings, Etc.
Cor. Chicago lnler-Orean.

viz HOl vi stlitt HOI INV tSU HIS DNCIi
prosecuted with such vigor that l am
enabled now to give accurately for
the first time to the readers of the
Inter- Oceun and to the country the
dimensions, principal features, and
the future possibilities of the gold
region of the southern portion Of the
hills. And here let me remark that
Professor Jenny has repeatedly call
ed my attention to the fact of the
hearty cooperation with which his
personal Investigations and those of
his party were seconded by the miners
while they remained in and prospect
ed the hills. And | am convinced
Of their friendly attitude after III OBJ
servation of their actions and express
sions for nearly two months. This
state, parenthetically, in justice to
them, and as indicative of the rela-
tons which existed between the geol,
ogist and the placer miners.
The territory which VIII hereafter
be known as the 'gold region em-
braces that part Of the hills situated
on the eastern and southern side.
For 900 square miles, OF south of Elk
Creek, north of the Sout,. Cheyenne
River, and east Of the sources Of Box
Elder, Rapid Springs, and French
Creeks, with Il number Of lesser and
unnamed streams that flow between,
and the innnmcrable forks of each of
these creeks, there is Il section of
country lying wholly in the Dakota
line, over which Il color of gold can
be found. Surrounding this region
are the limestone hills and the red
gypsum beds, which latter also take
the circle of the hills. The survey
up to this point has discovered that
the hills are much larger from east to
west than the maps have them at
present. The granite obtains more
III the southern half of the gold
region, while to the north the states
take its place. Throughout this
country are almost everywhere scat
tered the feeders OF the placer-dig
glngs, namely quartz leads, many Of
which have been tried and yielded
color. These quartz leads extend in
a northeasterly direction, which at
tords the creeks in the collaborating
belt, and running generally several
/ points south Of east, ample opportu-
nifty to form fine sluiccways tor pros
ecuting mining of that character.
The gold gulches find their greatest
richness, Professor Jcnney, from
whom | have obtained these facts, in
forms me, a little to the north Of the
middle portion o! the auriferious
region.
As the gold country leaves the
Rapid to strike the Box Elder, it
gradually takes 4 northwestcrly
course, the same general line being
pursued which | indicated in the
theory of IN old miner, published
sometime lgo III the Inter- ocean
The limestone encroaches a consider
able distance up the Box Elder,
which has numerous forks, but which
toward where it disappears at the
foothills becomes rather Il secondary
stream. In the upper portions some
excellent bars and flats have been
discovered on prospecting, and the
indications are promising as far up
! almost us it source, which is within
/ 700 feet OF the summit of Clusters
Peak, Rapid Creck-that is the main
stream-is something over sixty
miles in length, and its banks contain
Il good, if not the best, bars that have
yet been tried III the Hills. Castle
Creek, as you are aware, is its princi-
pal auxiliary, and the showing there
is universally conceded to be fine.
Besides this it has two other import
ant forks which give good promise.
1t would be a tedious task to attempt
the enumeration of the branches of
Spring Creek, rs they are nearly
without count; and with the French
Creek district | have in previous
letters been sufficiently explicit to
warrant its overlook in this reckon
ing. Rapid and Spring creeks be-
long properly to the same district,
and toward them with the upper por-
| ton of the Box Elder and French
Creek, the chietest interest is direct
/ ed. There are several minor creeks
flowing east from Harney's Peak,
of which but little is definitely
! known. These lie in location not
easily reached, and are propably Of
! Sncop1ory consideration Nnithur
does my record include "Tucson'S"
| Creek, which is SUPPOSED to exist, if
! 1t exists at all, to the south Of Clusters
Gulch, and probably forming the ex-
treme southern boundry Of the gold
! region.