Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-06
An Intelligent Observer Who
Has Been Among Them
Makes Some Oh. 3
servations.
The Vast Mineral Deposits Have
Just Been Uncovered.
A Bright and Prosperous Future Pre-.
dicted.
The improvements, the People and the Prospect.
Of Rapid CITY.
correspondence Press and palotaian.

Correspondence Press and Dakotaian.
RAPID CITY, d. T., Oct. 90, 1877.
Ii Job had said that there 10 gold where
they find it," or rather that 1t is where few
men find it, instead Of saying. "Surely
there is a vein for the silver, and a place for
gold where they fine it," the old fellows
head would have been more level, especially
SO far as the language applies to the Black
Hills. Many have been called hither, but
few. very few indeed, chosen 70 carry away
more gold than they brought with them,
and l venture to say that to-day there is less
stir IN business circles. less money in circu
!ation and more men out OF employment,
" r~ustling for a grub stake" in the Black
Hills, than in any agricultural section in
the entire west.
Everything has been overdonc. except
the Development and working Of the min
eral resources of the country. The mer-
camille business, especially, has been great
ly overdone. Immense stocks Of goods
far in excess of the demands of the coun-
try-have been accumulated, and the conse
Qnercc is that the price of many staple ar
ticles here is as low as the retail. price Of
the same goods at Yank,on and other noints
from which the Hills draw their supplies.
Yet / do not wish to be understood by this
that the Hills are . humbug and not rich in
mineral resources, because l believe exactly
10 the contrary but what is going TO bc the
great and permanent wealth OF The Hills,
their gold and silver quartz, is as yet but
very little and impertectly developed, aud
not enough money derived from these
sources to maintain the army of merchants
and professional men, and the hordes of ad
venturers who seek 10 make a living BY
their wits instead OF by the homes. labor of
their hands. l believe, however, that the
Hills have passed through what may be
termed the Imitation PERIOD aud that
hereafter, business, both mining, mercan-
tile. SC. will have s steady. legitimate and
prosperous growth.
The only part of the Hills where the
placer and quartz deposits have been even
PARTIAL, developed and their immense value
practically demonstrated, is on Deadwood,
Wildwood and their tributaries; and there
where it was generally conceded that the
placer mines had been nearly worked out,
late developments prove that the richest
ground has just been struck. and that the
future yield of these gulches, especially
Whitewood, will exceed that of the past.
The only quartz mills in the Hills are loca-
ted or those streams, and the only place
where the value Of the quartz has been prac.
tically tested; yet the judgment Of many
expert miners ia that the deposits of gold
and silver bearing rock is much larger and
richer In the middle and southern portion
of the Hills than in the northern.
The attention of the miners in the latter
portion of the Hills, has been but lately
turned to quartz, and during the past Two
months discoveries have been made on Biz
and Little Rapid, Castle, Slate, Spring
French and Battle creeks, and in the inter
vening country, which seem TO prove be-
!, You'd Tdoubt that the extent and value o
the quartz ofSthese sections exceed those o
any other portion of the Hills. Yet there
is not q quartz mill in all this section, ant
what will. with proper machinery, be tn
liveliest aud wealthiest portion of the Hills
is now occupied by only a few plrcky ant
!, hopeful miners whose aggregate wealth, j
expressed in figures, would draw very light
" on: the cipher box.
/. The placer mines of this section are yer,
imperfectly, or more properly spe aking, nc
{ developed at all, yet enough has been don
on Big and Little Rapid and on Castl
creeks to prove that they contain gold i
paying quantities. The aggregate length c
these streams, upon which prospecting ha
been done, is about seventy miles, so that a,
idea can DO formed Of. the number of. me-
who will receive employment and the bust
ness they will maintain when work is vigo,
!. ously prosecuted throughout the districts
This 1 believe will be done, and that With
the next two years at least fifty thousan
men will be employed in mining and trad
I. in these gulches. But time will d~emonstrat
!. the truth of these opinions.
RAPID CITY
has improved very much since my first visi
to the place in June last. A large numbe
Of large and substantial buildings have bee,
erected, and the business transacted ha
largely increased. Among the noticeabl
and needed improvements is the commc
r dious hotel owned and conducted by d. j
9 Stafford, formerly Of Yankton county. NJ
! Stafford has named his house the "Yankto
Hotel" and the capital city need never b
D ashamed Gifts Rapid Civ nameaake so Ion
y Nj. Stafford remains as mine host. TIL
y hotel is clearly and well kept. Throughout
!, ) and the table is supplied with q variety an
delicac5 of edibles which could hardly b
expected TO be found on-s Black Hills tabl
y The Yankton Hotel is acredit to thk tow
in which it il located, an honor TO TIC cit