The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-11
acknowledgement:
THE BLACK HILLS.
, Reliable Report nj Lasl,A: l..
tones, OF Golden District IT4h
Custer city, Speaks from TX

SuSter city. speaks from tx
pCriencC.
l.. Jones, Of Golden, who is well
Lnowu in Colorado as the discovcrer' of
tho famous Blue Bird Mine, Bowlder
county, arrived at Grand Central Hotel
las, evening, direct lrsm Custer City, in
the heart Of the Black Hills region. A
Tribune reporter called on Mr.. Jones, and
the result Of the interview is given here
with:
Question. When did you leave for the
Black Hills? .I,,,
o, By what route did you 50 in?
4. | went from Denver to Fort Lara,
mic from thence 10 "Old Woman,,ss FORK,
and from the latter point to Cheyenne
amu " ,US;oh il within Is miles Of Custer
civ | reached Custer City on the 29th
Of January. This is the rou'e ''a' Is
usually Travelled. -, c.,,,.. r;,v =,
which direction did you prospect!
In ibe edge Of town and on the north
b,nk OF French Creek
O. What was the result
From the bottom OF n hole some
Twelve feet in depth l took out two or
three pans Of dirt, and the result, after
careful washing, was nine "colors" oil
gold, worth about one cent.
Q. From Custer City where did you
A. went directly to Hill City, on
Spring Creek.
O. How long did you remain on Spring
Creek, and what was the result OF your
prospecting thercY ni
A. was on the creek and its tributa-
res twenty days, and proSpected every
dav. In Ruby Gulch, near the creek,
and where the best prospects have been
found, my party-there were five OF US
sunk a nit 10 bedrock fourteen feet from
the surface, three feet wide and five feet
long. We then drifted to right angles,
taking ont about two tons Of. dirt, and
from this we washed out two dollars and
half.
O. Did you prospect at any other pQinE
4. Yes. In Palmer's Gulch, and in
other places near Hill City.
Q. What was the result Of this miscel-
laneOus prospecting?
A. got "colors" OF gold in every hole
sunk, but no where in paying quand-
ties.
Q. Do you know, Of your own personal
knowledge, Of amp point or points in the
Black Hills, where gold has thus far been
found in paying quantities-thati is, where
the diggings will pay an average OF So per
day?
i. do not. Allen and his five men,
who have been working on Spring Creek
Tor four months, have taken out some 5000,
or an average Of one dollar per day TO the
man. They had run drift on the Grim
rock" or bar, about forty feet in from the
south bank OF the creek, and two other
drifts, some thirty feet each in length, at
right angles from the end OF the first DRIFT
or tunnel; all the drifts followed the bed
rocks. They take out large quantity
of dirt per day, by the use Of dump car
and wooden track. This dirt is washed
in sluice boxes, and all the gold il con.
tains is carefully gathered.
@. Do you find any lode claims in the
country?
A. No. The leads | discovered and
those to which my attention was called,
contained nothing but barren quartz, and
gave no indications OF mineral.
@. What are the principal settle
ments? ,.,.,.
A. Custer City and Hill City. William
Martin, Of Denver, is startinga new town
near the mouth OF Rapid creek, on the
northeast side OF the Hills, and in a good
section Of country. The town is lao miles
from the Missouri, and will be distrib-
uling point for the travel from Sioux
civ 10 Yancton. Custer City contains
about two hundred houses, is located in
small park, and has moving population
Of some 500 souls. The houses are made
Of rough logs, and the business OF the
place is confined 10 whisky, groceries,
building hardware and mining tools, all
Of which are retailed at reasonable
prices. Colorado flour-the Rough and
Ready brand-selling at Sc per sack.
Hill City is good deal like Custer City,
only little smaller. The houses are OF
abetter class, the streets well LAID Out,
and the general appearance more tasty
and town like. y,
Q: What Is your general opinion Oh
the Black Hill country,
A. AS an agricultural anu STOCK fai s.
ing country too much can not be sald IN
Its praise. The climate Is warm anu
pleasant. there having been little or no
snow this winter ana no neaVy winus.
Timber is plenty Tor building ana other
purposes, and the water is decidedly good a:
French creek contains but little, put
Spring, Rapid and Castle creeks are good
streams. Springs are abundant, and game
i' also plenty. The cost oil living, win win
the assistance OF game, need not exceed