Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-31
HILLS NOTES.
by an Occasional Correspondent.

by an OccdSlOnIl correspondent.
The productive placer area of the Black
Hills will be vastly enlarged next year, by
bringing into availability the auriferous
hills and bars of Rapid creek. Lack of the
necessary fumes and bitches has heretofore
prevented their development. Two miles
of fuming were constructed last fall, but the
working season closed before much bar min
ing could be done. Construction work will
be resumed early next spring, and con,in-
ued until water flows over all the high de-
posits from the mouth of Castle creek to
the debouchment of the Rapid from the
Hills--a distance Of about 80 miles. The
same company propose to divide the
current at Pactola-which is ample for the
purpose-and convey half of it over to the
rich dry diggings in the vicinity of Hay
ward City. This will open to development
an immense extent of rich placer ground.
The postal department has been petitioned
to give Pactola, in Pennington county, a
daily mail. 1t is believed the Sidney route
will be changed SO as to go to Deadwood
from Rapid City by way Of Pactola, instead
of Crook City-the latter being supplied by
the Bismarck route. The change would
make the Sidney route only five mile. lon
ger.
Pactola the new town site on Rapid creek.
in Pennington county, is spoken Of as the
most beautiful town site in the mountains.
There the valley Of the Rapid widens out,
in circular form, into level, verdant vale
being about three hundred acres in extent
surrounded OH all sides by high, picturesque
hills, which are covered with evergreen
trees from summit to base. Above and be
low the town, f-r several miles, the Rapit
flows through deep. savage c.nyon,, al
along which there are rich bar deposits Of
gold. Pactola is the only patented town
site in the Black Hills, and promises to soor
become point of much importance.
Judge II. n. Mcguire is endcavoring te
organize an agricultural colony, to settle, the
coming spring, in Pennington county, Black
Hills. He went to the Black Hills among
the first, over two years ago, and has since
been working indcGtigably 10 promote tn,
development of the material resources of The
Hills. His colony enterprise promises to BE-
a success. He is aided in the movement BY
influential and public spirited mer, among
them Hon II. II. Fish, Of Utica, New York
and James L. jackson, Of the jackson irol
works, New York City. A little risk o
that kind will prove of more value to the
Black Hills than sending a regiment Of
bogus delegates to Washington to work fo
new territory, with the single hope ant
object of multiplying public offices.
1t is SAID there are at least so ,060 acres o
excellent timber on Rapid creek and it
tributaries. AS yet lbut three ssw-mills
have been running in that region-two nea
Pactola, and one in the vicinity of Rapil
City.
The results Of steam. pump operations OF
Rapid and Castle creeks have fully demon
strated that the main channels are rich i,
gold. They will yield millions when drain
races shall have been dag the only practi
f cable method of working them.
The prospect now is that We will mex
2 year have heavier Black Hills emigra
: ton than ever BEFORE
PUBLIC INSTALLATION.
A cordial invitation is herewith rendered
to the public to attend the installation o
officers of Humboldt lodge No. 5, I. o. o
F., at Odd Fellows hall, corner Sd and Ce
.r streets, on Wednesday evening, Januar,
I'd, at 1870 m.
By order of the lodge,
J. c. NORMAN,