Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-31
THE BLACK HILLS.
A Description OF DeadWOOd, the
Principal Clty-ChRracteris.
tic Scenes.

A correspondent of the Chicago
Tribune, writing from Deadwood,
D. T., says:
The weather is growing warm
and, if there is warm wave pass
ing over the country, it may be
here. Our days are warm, and the |
business men feel it badly; but the
whose limbs are all bone
and muscle, do not appear to feel
it; in fact, they work better during
warm weather than in cold, and the
miners engaged in tunnel-mining
have a continual ice.house around
them, with the air moist enough to
keep them happy, though at times
they find they have a "fittle too
much water in theirs" Our hot
days are equalized by our cool,
damp nights, which are perfectly
delightful, though often two or
three quilts are required to keep
warm. The mule-skinners are COM
planning Of the hot winds which are
blowing across the plains, and say
that most Of the streams are drying
up or are very muddy.
AS promised a short description
of this little town, l will give it
here. 1t is situated on Whitewood
Gulch, and at the junction of
Whitewood and Deadwood Clutches,
about ten miles from Crook City,
which is well out in the foothills.
Its population is said to be about
10000, but l am inclined to think
that 5000 to 1000 would be a nearer
estimate. AS the inhabitants are
scattered round the various gulches,
it is'impossible to number them.
However, / might safely say that
the population of Deadwood Lead
and Central City, with its tributary
gulches, would number about 20,.
600.
The streets are about eight in
number, of perhaps an average
length of four Chicago blocks,
though Main street-which is the
longest, and runs down Whitewood
Gulch--is said to be three miles
The other prominent streets are
Sherman and Lee-the former run.
ming up Whitcwood Gulch and The
latter from hillside to hillside. The
houses are all light frame Struc
lures, put up in a few hours an(
made of light pine, which woulC
; burn in q few minutes. The face
of most of the houses are for stores
{ The residences are mostly built o
} heavy pine timbers, in regular log
hut style, but many Of the littlt
cottages on Residence Hill, back o
Main street, are made in Eastern
STYLE. / do not recollect of seeing
: brick house in Deadwood, thougl
, there are q number of brickyard
2 in progress.
} Few of the houses are plastered
: most of their walls being lined witt
linen cloth painted to initiate wal
paper or frescoing. One hote
makes it a boast in its advertisin;
f circular that its house is the onl
4 one plastered. 1t is a very strang
n sight to the weary pilgrim, whC
o visiting the town, at night goes t
v bed, and, when morning comes
t sees, if the wind is blowing, th
{ walls and ceiling suddenly ill out
e appear to grow inwards, to shak
/, and fall back, The booming G
/, the blasts up the gplOh often give
t him an idea that frst-class earth
quake is at hand. ! was lying o
p a lounge in a lawyers office when
7. first noticed the movements OF tn
o walls, and it took some moments
k solve the mystery; often the CONVEX
It sation Of one store can be heard j
= another, and, where next to a new
| paper Office is a dresRmaker's eStal
d lishment, the typos cannot perlorl
Y their work unless they hear Il
| clatter of the sewing-machine,
10 But few of the houses are mo-
1t than one story in hight-the pos
]. office, club-room, hotels, banks, an
u few others being exception
" Some of the residents cling to IL
70 old tents they first used when thu
" came, and think that Joy and con
le fort are only TO be found beneat
ID their roof. Some of the richie
r men live in poor log shanties, whic
a. if in Chicago, would bring down {
of them a host of visiting committe
G. from aid societies. Here it may
III said that there is more money this
OF show. How different from some
ne the suburban villages near Chieag
is where people live in large house
nd and owe their ice and milk me
he The church societies number thr
II Catholic, Episcopal and Congl
H. gational. The latter two meet
,lv d. eobool.house Vhere have he