The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-02-21
slistellaneaAs.
THE BLACK HILLS.
Interesting Description from an old AkrOnlan'
fAkron Times

past he has been in the West, and last
Spring caught the Black Hills fever
From a letter to friend in this office we
are permitted to make an interesting eX'
tract. The letter was dated at Central
City, Dakota Territory, Feb 3, and arri>
wing here on the 18th, making quick
trip. Ed. Times
The geographical location and des'
cription of the Black Hills | will leave
to the map makers, as being more accuN
rate than any could give, only saying
that they are a range of hills not rising
to the dignity of mountains; few OF their
highest peaks only lifting their heads
some 1000 feet above sea level.
Deadwood, the first mining camp in
this part ofthe Hills, and which pretends
to be its metropolis, has an altitude OF
about a, 700 feet, and a population OF some
3,ooo 1t is situated at the junction OF
Deadwood and Whitewood creeks, and
its mining interests are at present entirely
placer Central City is on Deadwood
gulch, three miles west Of Deadwood
City, and in the heart Of the best of the
quartz mines yet developed, and the rich>
est placer mines yet worked. 1t has a
population of a, 900 to 5000, Lead City,
a mile and half South Of Central, is on
the quartz body, and has population OF
1900. 1t and Central will eventually be
bnilt together, for between them lay the
great Bonanzas of the hills, that is so far
as at present developed-though this
mineral belt as it is termed is traced for
some 90 miles South from here, within
the past few weeks some say rich dlscov'
cries have been made, and many think
there will be other camps equal to this
at no distant day. Last Spring when |
arrived here there were but 20 stamps in
the camp. Now there are 1000 at this
place and Lead City, and another year
will see 2, soc, and many say 5000. With'
in one-half from where | now sit are
90 mills dropping from 20 to 80 stamps,
andtheir clatter and pounding is unceas'
ing, for they never stop night or day-Sun'
days not excepted; while the heavy boom
and roar of giant powder, blasting out
the rock from the mines which are on all
sides, and the rattle of heavy ore wagons
on the streets makes it scene oflite and
hustle, in strange contrast with that OF a
year ago. The geological formation OF
the Hills is somewhat remarkable or pes
culiar, differing from that Of most other
mineral countries, which has misled
many miners experienced in other sec
tions and caused them to pass by as
worthless many of what are now proved
10 be the best mines. AT some period
there has been a fearful mixing upof the
various formations, that form the crust
of earth. Many of the mines now being
worked are what are termed deposits, in
some cases showing the action of water
by the round powders they contain.
They lay In horizsntal position upon a
bed rock of salt, several hundred feet
above the present bed ofthe gulches and
are from five to seventy.hve feet thick.
They are conglomerate Of quartz, sand
stone, porphyry, tAlco slate, &C., all ce.
mented together carrying gold through
out, but the richest at or near bed rock,
They yield from $8 to $50 per ton, and
are very easily mined These deposits
are traced for some 90 miles in a south
east course, where they seem to be worn
out and disintegrated by the elements,
and to have mingled with the soil of the
plains. Along side of these deposits are
vast leads or fssure veins going down
into the bowels of the earth, and from
which the deposits spoken of seem to
have been the eoverAow or spill out, at the
time Of the commotion that threw up the
Hills. So far as they have been develop
ed they range from 30 to 200 feet wide,
the entire body paying from the surface
down. So far as tested they mill from So
to $75 per ton. California parties have
been in here for the past three months.
with their experts from there and Nevada,
and after thorough testing pronounce
them the most wonderful bodies of min
eral in the world. They have recently
invested about 81 900 900, within mile
of Central. One of their purchases-the
Father De Sonet, mine-about 90 rods
from my place, cost them S4oo, 900, and
they are bringing in one 80 stamp aud
two 90 stamp mills, and when they get
in operation will employ hundreds OF
hands, Ten miles from here at Bear
Butte are extensive silver mines, from
which wonderful results are expected
when they get the proper machinery up
for reducing the ore, which will be this
season. Twenty-Five miles northwest OF
here, on the Red Water, are extensive
coal fields, to which a railroad has been
incorporated, to bring the coal to the
mills. About 40 miles southwest are
other heavy deposits of coal, flowing oil
springs. and salt springs. The Hills are
well timbered with hard pine and spruce,
while along the foothills are oak, ash
and birch, Along the foothills and
valleys is a splendid agricultural and
grazing coutry, and from present indica.
tions this season will see the Hills self
sustaining, so far as vegetables, grain,
beef and dairy products are concerned.
Irrigation will have to be depended upon
to insure full crops, however. Stock
keeps in good condition the year around
without feed, and the market is well sup
piled with good fat beef that never saw
grain or hay. AT present we are depend
ent upon the States for everything, and
prices are somewhat high to Eastern eyes
perhaps, but are considered quite reason
able here. For instance, flour 50 pei
hundred, bacon 18 to 22, sugar I8 to II.
coffee S. to As, butter ~ to 90, eggs 45
to 90, board per week SO to SIS, Society
at present is somewhat mixed. We
have churches, sabbath schools and pub
lie schools. Dram shops and gambling
saloons about equally divide in number
all other business houses, while the thea.
ter and hurdy gurdy are in full blast near
ly every night. Yet there is as little
quarreling and drunkenness as you will
find in most communities of this size,-
much less than might be reasoably ex
pected when so far removed from the in
fuence of home and family. For aught
eaa rareoy apd Y,ronarty, ore ac rafe