Nebraska advertiser., 1877-05-03
THE BLACK HILLS.
Letter From Gen. George III. Hall.

The following from Gen. Hall, in
the st. Joe Herald, is interesting and
reliable:
I arrived here on the 30th ultimo.
Deadwood issituated on small stream
called Whitewood emptying into
whish from the north land at the upper
part of the city of Deadwood), is the
stream of Dead wood. Crook City is stu
ated at'the edge ofthe Black Hills on
Whitewood creek, about 8 miles be-
low Deadwood. have examined the
country as well as time and circum-
stances would permit along White
wood from Crook City to deadwood,
and thence up the Deadwood creek for
distance of or 6 miles. People are
working the mines along the entire
distance 1 have named. Along the
streams named, and along the dry ra-
vines draining the Hills into said
streams, placer claims are being
worked; many quartz mill, "a ten
stamp is being worked at Golden
Gate, a town about miles above
Deadwood City on Dead creek.
The mill works day and night, except
Sundays. From the best information
can obtain it turns out Sc 900 per
week. 1t takes five men to quarry,
haul the quartz and work the mill,
with a relief of five men at night.
The estimated cost of securing the Sc.
900, per week, is about S4O0. The Pin
uey brothers, of Nebraska City, Neb..
are running this mill. There are
other mills operating and it is said
with about the same results.
There seems to be quartz lode or
claim every three or four hundred feet
along Deadwood Creek, from several
miles from Gayville up to the unex-
plored portions of the head of it,.
Gayville is about miles above Dead
wood City. These quartz claims are
not only on the main creek but are al
so located,on the hills along itslnumer-
Gus branches, and am told that these
lodes or deposits are found all over the
explored parts of the Black Hills. A
great many will be found, have no
doubt that are not rich enough to
work. There are many here who say
that there are no proper fissure lodes
of gold bearing quartz in the Hills /;
that the quartz thus far found is depos-
its or stratas. Whether deposits or
lodes. the quantity is immense-it is
incalculable.
The timber Is very fine. The de-
mand for it is 80 great that thousands
can get employment in cutting and
marketing it.
From what l have seen of the min
ing along the line mentioned l am
satisfied that it is profitable. 1t is
very hard work it is different from
any other work and calculated to
cause a feeling of encouragement In
those who come to the mines for the
first time, and there are many here
who seem to wish to add to this feel
ing, from interested motives. The
country is full Of species of brokers
in claims men who have a great
many claims situated in differnt parts
of the country. which they try to sell
to fresh arrivals. These men locate
their claims without any prospecting
and then try to sell.
Labor is from So to 81 per day, and
is in great demand, and it would seem
that this demand is likely to continue
for it requires great many men to
work claim. Three or four men can
worka claim but if the claim pays well
much greater number is usually en-
ployed.
An investment in quartz mills and
in saw mills seems sure of success an d
profit. Timber is of the finest quail
ty and is very abundant. A vast
amount of lumber is :needed in min
ing.
This country is only partially ex-
plored, and if the whole should be
found as rich as the very small por-
ton 1 have been writing about, its
population will soon entitle it to be-
come State.