The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-02-10
The Anti-Monopolist.


few care to develop their claims lest
something should turn up to interfere
with their occupation. Many, however,
are working few hours day taking
out GRUB stakes and few are prepar-
ing for business in good earnest. Florida
& Alien have taken out 5000; and Spen-
Ger & Co., just below Allen, over 5000
The latter cleaned up $l37, the work Of
four men six hours. There are not less
than 200 miners in the Hills.
R. Are the experienced miners salts
fed with the prospects!
| Joe. Every one Of them. lot Of
fellows came in ther" last summer who
knew nothing Of mining-who expected
to gather gold from the black loan in the
parks-dirt that would work easy and
being disappointed they left. genera ~
cursiHg the country. But this always oc.
ours. and in the richest regions.
K. What towns are springng up in
the Hills?
Joe. Custer City is located about four
miles south Of Harney's Peak. 1t has
about fifty buildings and more are going
up. 1t has two stores. Hill City IS nine
miles north of Harney's Peak; Golden
City is on the same creek--Spring creek
--about eight miles east of Hill City.
Hill City has about twenty buildings, put
up during the present month. Golden
City is just starting. 1t is located near
Allen & Florida mines. Jim Suther-
land is one Of the principal propretors.
r. What Of the agricultural advan-
tages Of the Hill?
Joe. The soil is rich, clear. running
wa: err abundant, grass plenty and nutri-
tious, the ground sheltered and timber
plenty.
R. What is the extent Of water in the
prominent creeks III the Hills. and their
fall to the mile.
Joe. The fail Of French Creek is so
feet to the mile, and it affords but forty
inches Of water: the fail Of Spring Creek
is Is let to the mile. and at the present
8 a,on 800 inches Of water; the fail Of
Rapid Creek is IS feet to the mile and
1900 inches Of water. Jenney estimates
the volume at 1000 inches. Rapid Creek
rises in the Bear Lodge mining region,
and passes clear through the Hills. Jen.
ney says The best mines arc found on
this creek. but the miners so far have
succeeded best On Spring Creek.
r. Are you familiar with the route
from Cheyenne to the Hills
Joe. Yes; have passed over It many
times.
r. How does it compare with the
route you came over from the Hills to
Bismarck
Joe. 1t connot be compared with it
except in distance. On the south side Of
the Hills there are no ranches, and no
chance to locate any successfully. The
region is dry and sandy, destitute OF
water much Of c way, and also Of
wood. The road is tedious AMI difficult,
particularly through the sard, and after
you strike the foot hills, and the route
has nothing to recommend it. Our party
struck the loot hills six hours from
Golden City, pioneering nine miles Of the
route, and they struck the finest country
4 ever saw. Hundreds Of good
ranches may be foun'i in sheltered
localities. atiording wood, water. grazing
and meadows in the greatest abundance.
Here have located rancho on which ]
can cut 200 tons Of hay. You will find
springs and clear running brooks on every
land and oak and ash wood in abund
escapes entirely the cold blasts CT winter.
The country is good from Rapid Creek
north to Bismarck. Streams affordine
wood and water cross our trail every two
to eighteen miles. We found no alka!i
plains on the route and no bad water. II
IS country adapted to agriculture all Of
he way. In fact think the best thing
the Northern Pacific can do is to turn
their road around and butt the id
thing up against the Hills which. with
their agricultural and mineral resources.
not to speak Of their mar bic. iron and
timber will afford abou, all the business
the road can handle with their present
resources for some years.
K. How long were yen on the route
Joe. Six days. travelling sevcnty-ninc
hours By the route we came the dis
lance to Golden City is about 2l6 miles.
but this can be shortened IL miles on the
start making the distance from Bismarck
TO Golden CITY only POI miles. The dis
lance from Cheyenne to Custer City IS
about the same but the road is bad. But
the excellence o. the road and country
is not the only advantage that the Bis
marck route possesses over the southern
Iouse- 90 soon As You stflke tue 1907
hills a, Bear Butte. or Rapid creek. from
Bismarck. 900 miles of Bismarck) you
strike rich mineral region, where pay
ing mines have already been discovered
while from Cheyenne you travel through
'he Hills thirty miles before you strike a
gold region. lhave travelled good many
years. having seen much Of the world,
but have nov determined to settle down
in the Hills. and make them my nome.
Iffon't want anything better than they
doer.