Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-04

III ASte8t: 0AuNVI pAO SeAA'
ii E. T WHITE.
n City Clerk.
DR.. h. D. Dodge. dentist, Dewi't's blocks
DAKOrAs GOLD FIELDS.
: A Few OF the Experiences OF Newspaper
Man in the Hayward City Region.
In company with Maj. Hanson and Dep
uty Marshal Ely l made the trip from
Rapid City TO Hayward City. The last
named settlement is located in Custer county,
about twenty-five miles from Rapid City
and within easy reach Of Harney's Peak.
1t is the center of an immense gold and sil-
yer quartz formation, and upon the future
development of these resources its ultimate
occupation and prosperity depends. Th.
village is collection Of log houses bull,
upon level park between the inner range
of foothills and the pine covered elevations
known as the Black Hills proper.
This townsite, though walled in on
all sides BY mountainous cliffs aud approach
able only through the passes made by ma
ture when she caused the grand upheaval
which has thrown these precious rocks
within the reach Of man, furnishes ample
building room for the city which is to be
placed here in this solitary mountain nook
The city which is to grow when the out
side world becomes convinced that there
are millions in the rocky crffs which here
abound. An hours talk with Fred Cross
IN the little back pallor of his cabin makes
one feel that money Is too common an al
ticle to be discussed with any serious con-
cern. 1t lies all about-under foot, over
head, and the walls OF the cleft rock are
teeming with Its rich profusion. 1t inspires
a contempt for the little efforts Of men
back on earth who toll and suffer
aud wear their lives out by fractions
of inches to gain the miserable pittance Of
a few hundred thousands in green pictures,
when here are countless billions Of the
world: currency tied up in the insignificant
ssones Of Dakots's mountains. There are
grand schemes evolved: out Of the instant
and one is lifted from the whirlpool Of liie's
vexatious struggle while imagination fondles
the magic figures of untold wealth. These
were pleasant sensations and Fred can call
them up at pleasure. He is the alchemist
Of the mountains. Every hidden vein in
this locality has told to him its mute tale
and he is now the walking directory Of the
Hayward district. After couversing with
Cross it was hardly necessa.y for pilgrim
like myself to make . tour of thi.
region, as he had told me all the character
istics of the numerous quartz lodes which
have been opened to the light Of day. He
has gathered specimens from all and has
: caused careful assays to be made, not only
Of his own possessions, but ofthe rock which
is recorded as the property Of others. The
result is most satisfactory and if future de.
. velopments half fulfill the promise of the
present. another year will bring to thi,
region population and capital equal to tha,
which has made the Deadwood gulch famous
the world oyer.
have made free use of the name of oul
respected ex-commissioner of immigration
! for the reason that l found him
thoroughly posted regarding the quart,
deposits Of this great mineral belt. After.
wards l rode over the scenes of his investi.
cation and saw that the work of develop
n.nt ws already we'll begun. Up and
down the narrow gulches which furnish
means of access 10 the mineral mountaiLl
echoed the sound Of the pick and the drll
and the OCCASIONAL dull roar of blast gave
indication that stronger force than human
E muscle was displacing the finty deposits o.
long time ago. These men have faith
They have carefully calculated the chance,
and are strong and enthusiastic in their be
lief that they have struck the choicest spo,
} In all The Black Hills.
This is the locality Of the cement deposits
Of which had heard so much. Cement cvn.
sists OF small fragments of broken
quartz rock which has been thrown by
aqueous action into beds Of clay. Time
hardened iLto rock, the whole mass has been
1t some remote period, subjvssd to heat and
the gold bearing cement Of to-day was com
plete. 1t exists under the limestone rock q
the foot hills and under the granite forma.
tiun Of the HILLS. Well d.6ued leads are
shown, with soof rock and floor rock ak o,
seven feet apart. 1t prospects rich in gold
but believe no silver or o,her metal ha.
been found in the cement deposits. Beside.
the cement beds the Hayward city region
shows numerous vertical leads Of solid
quartz rock bearing gold and silver in large
quantities and several rich cinnabar mines
have been opened and thoroughly prospect.
ed. Yankton is represented At Hayward
city by Fred Cross and D. N. Ely.
Both have large interests there and with
the latter, in the ownership of the Ysnktou