The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-04-26
News from the Black Hills.

DR.. Westiall Is In receipt oil q letter
from Capt. w. j. Maltby, now in the
Black Hills. 1t was written at Dead
wood, Dakota, April 0. From it we
are permitted to take the following:
We left Cheyenne on the twenty
eighth of March, with eleven passen-
gers for the Hills, Cia the Cheyenne
and Black Hills Stage Company, and
after paying fifty dollars stage fare and
enduring all the hardships of one of
the worst snow storms | ever en-
countered and the delays and hardships
incident to poorly stocked and worse
managed stage line, and walking much
of the way through mud ankle deep.
we arrived here on the fourth instant
well, but not in a pleasant frame of
mind, so far rs concerns the Cheyenne
stage company. We were riding eight
days and two nights, distance three
hundred miles, which should have
been made in three days and nights.
The country known as the Black
Hills is situated in Western Dakota,
all except few miles ia the western
part, which is in the Territory of
Wyoming. They rise up in the midst
of vast prairie, and one hundred and
seventy miles west OF the Missouri
river. They are one hundred and
forty miles from north to south and
about an average of eighty miles in
width from east to west. They are
billy, not rangy, like the Rocky or
Cumberland mountains; are covered
with fair quality of pine which will
prove of great value for shipment to
the unwoOded world on every side for
hundreds of miles. l am informed,
md believe, that this is the only
kind of timber in the hills. Much
of the scenery Is remarkable and beau
tiful, and Deadwood, the principal
place, is about 5000 feet above sea level.
AS to the question of the existence of
gold and silver, and in great quantity,
there is and can be no longer a
doubt. At least two millions of gold
was taken out last year, and at low
estimate five will be taken out this
year. We have good placer ground
which will yield in some exceptional
cases 800, 900 to the CLAIM, but this is
an exception, the greater number of
placer claims yielding from four to
fifteen dollars to the hand per day.
All such ground is taken so
far as it Is known to exist.
and will be worked out this season.
There are hundreds of quartz lodges
or claims, some of which have proven
good, the quartz yielding about TWEEN
ty dollars to the ton. Ten quartz mills
are now doiRg good work, and at least
ten or fifteen more are On the way.
AT Bear Butte, ten miles from here,
is to be found Galena City, which is
the eadquarters of the silver leads.
There are perhaps one hundred of this
class of mines. which as yet are not
much developed. The veins stand up
well, and are about three feet in width
on an average. The quality of the
ore is good, and it is thorght that al
that is needed to develop this class of
mines into a good mining camp is a
smelter, which is necessary to re luce
this ore, which is likely to be put in
during this season. The towns and
populations might be enumerated as
follows: Deadwood is the initial point
around which all the smaller satellites
revolve, has a population of 5000, with
perhaps fifty families. and has all the
commercial pursuits we'll represented !;
Crook City is ten miles east, popula-
ton 500; Galena City, sixteen miles
northeast, population 200; Rapids City,
forty five miles east, population 500 !;
h.. -, hn
sixty miles southeast, population 400 !;
Lead City, three miles southwest, pop
ulatlon 300; GayvIlle and Golden
Gate, three miles west, population
1900; Spearfish or False Bottom,
eight miles north, population 400. At
least $50 are daily added to our popu-
lstion. Climate and health good.
Work scarce at So per day; board by
the week, without lodging, $40, with
$14.
We have two companies of United
States infantry near here. The Indians
have been terror heretofore, but are
now coming in with flags of truce to
make peace which is welcome news
here.
The discovery of gold here will re
suit in the rapid settlement and devel-
opment of this vast and almost unin-
habited section. Last night meeting
Of Black Killers was had at which the
initial step was taken with a view of
organizing new Territory, to be
carved out of Wyoming and Dakota.
This is to be urged before Congress
at its first meeting.
In conclusion, will say l am well
pleased with the country, and would
be we'll pleased to see yourself or any
of my old friends here at any time.