The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-10-13
4 Rose.colored View Of the Black
Hills.

The Omaha Bee says: This morning
a Bee reporter obtained some interest
ing Black Hills news from j. w. Lyle,
who has just returned from Deadwood.
In a general way he is satisfied with the
Black Hills, and considers the country
a success as q gold-producing region,
and that from this time on 1t will be de-
veloped rapidly and in a substantial
manner.
Deadwood is just as lively as
ever, with the exception, perhaps, of
mercantile business, as staple goods
have been declining; but mining is be-
ing briskly carried on. OF course there
are as yet numerous men who are
scrambling around in hopes of some
thing to turn up, but there are not near
ly so many transients in the hills as
there were in the spring. The majority
of people there now have settled down
to business, having secured foothold
of some kind which sustains them, and
in some cases is very profitable. The
state of society, of course, is as yet very
rough, and doesn't seem to improve
very rapidly, if ut all. There are very
few schools, in fact none at all worth
mentioning, and the same can be said
of churches. Gambling bells and
houses of prostitution are numerous
and fourishing. Deadwood and vicini-
ty contain at least 5000 people-within
a radius of 10 miles. The radius in
cludes the towns of Deadwood, Gay
vile, Central City, Lead City, Lancas-
ter City, Pennington and Galena City.
Deadwood is an established city, as the
supply town for all mining camps in its
vicinity. There are sixty stamp mills
in the Immediate neighborhood.
Central City has become an impor-
tant place. The telegraph has reached
there, and the Black Hills Daily Herald
formerly of Custer, is how published
there, w. o. Bartholomew, editor. Mr..
1t is expected that the stages will run
through Central City to Deadwood.
Most of the stamp mills are located at
Central City and Lead City. Richard
Kimball, of Omaha, has one at Straw
berry Gulch. The mills keep up an in
cessant roar day and night, stamping.
out the precious ores. Many new mills
are being built-at least Is or 90. The
mines near the mills are as good as ex-
pected, and there are no complaints as
to quantity or quality of ore.
Lead City is about three miles south
of Central City, and contains nearly
1000 inhabitants, principally mill men
employed in the seven stamping mills
in operation there.
Gayville has been all rebuilt since the
recent fire. A project is on foot to in
corporate into one city the towns of
Gayville, South Bend, Central City, and
other contiguous places, as they are
close together, and this new city will
contain between $500 and 5000 people.
Manufactures of various kinds are be-
ing started around Deadwood, the most
recent being a chair mandatory.
Twenty-Five saw-mills are kept in con-
slant operation. There are three banks
in Deadwood and one at Gayville, at
which gold dust can be exchanged for
drafts of Eastern cities.
Custer City is pretty well played out.
There is nothing doing there now on
account of lack Of water. There is I'M
doubleday an abundance of gold around
Custer, but the mines are of such a
character that they require great deal
of time and capital to work them.
Custer yet remains supply town in
small way.
Immigration into the hills continues
about as fast as people come out. In
coming out by the way of Cheyenne
Mr.. Lyle met seven stamp-mills going
in, and they win all be in operation by
the LIST of January. $685. .g
Road agents are still at work, and it
is hard to tell what stage will be attack
ed. Passengers now hardly ever carry
any money or valuables, making up
their minds on the start to throw up
their hands and be as meek as lambs at
the command of the highwaymen. No
freight trains, except few that were
guarded by only three or four men, have
been attacked. rs5a.-
Mr.. Lytle, who is engaged in freight
ing and several other enterprises, will
90 back to Deadwood this fall.