The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-03-26
TERRITORY OF LINCOLN.
A Report I'm Favor OF the Hill.

Senator Chaffee, from the Committee
on Territories, has made a report rec
ommending the adoption of the bill
creating the Black Hill country into a
separate Territory of Lincoln. The re-
port is very interesting. IL sets forth
that in 1875 the Blank Hills coun-
try was an uninhabited wilderness, but
gold and silver with other valuable
minerals were known to exist therein.
In 1876 the Indians ceded 10 the Unit
ed States all OF their rights thereto;
aud what was then a vast solitude, sell
dom visited by savages, and never by
civilized men, is now the scene of busy
life and commendable enterprise. II is
estimated that from $1,000 TO 10000
| inhabit this country at the present
time; Of these, about three-fourths en-
igrated thither during the year 1877
and doubtless its population will be
greatly augmented by immigration du-
ring the present year. 1t contains a
voting population as large as Montana
and much larger than Wyoming, Idaho
or Arizona.
The committee find that over 50, 900,
900 in gold was produced from the
placer mines in the Black Hills in 1876
and that between $4,000, 900 and So
600, 900 wat derived from all sources in
that country in 1877. Since the begin
ming Of the year 1877, forty-fve gold
quartz mills, with a capacity OF $50
stamps, and enc silver-smelting mill
have been erected and are now proiita-
bly, employed there, and THAT six other
gold quartz mills, with a capacity of
40j stamps, are in process Of erection,
and it is estimated 10y gentleman who
have resided in that country, witnessed
its settlement, and the development Of
its mines. that not less than so, 600, 900
of the precious metal will be thrown
upon the markets of our country from
that locality during the press snt year;
and your committee entertain the opin-
ION from the evidence added, that the
products of precious metals in that To-
cality will in the near future rival, il it
does not exceed. that of our older
States .and Territories.
As far as explored. the gold region
extends distance OF eighty miles from
northwest TO southeast, by from ten to
twenty miles in width from northeast
10 southwest and its fullest extent has
not yet been discovered. New discov-
cries are of constant occurrence by
which the area of its known existence
is being enlarged. Within this mineral
belt more than three thousand gold
| quartz lodges have been discovered,
claimed, and recorded, forty of which
are furnishing the ore to the forty-five
gold mills now erected and running.
More than one hundred large bod
| les OF ore on the dump ready for mill
| ing as soon as mills can be procured,
and a large proportion of the remain
der are being developed, producing
auriferous ore with entirely satisfactory
results TO the owners. Within this
mineral region about three hundred
| silyer-lodes have been discovered,
claimed, and recorded, many of which
have a good supply Of ore for milling
I purposes. But one silver mill has been
erected; doubtless others will be built
| the present year. Coal, iron, copper,
and lead have also been found, as
well as petroleum and saline springs.
There are also withtn this eighty miles
large placer mines, which have hereto
| fore yielded about one-half Of the gold
| prOuuctS OF lulb Country. AlouB thiH
mineral region more than twenty thriv.
ing towns have sprung into existence,
where all kinds of business are profit
ably carried on. .Banks. hotels, stores
and many kinds of manufactures un.
usually found in Western cities and
towns, are not wanting in the settle
ments Of the Black Hills. Churches
and school houses already exist in con-
siderable number, and are being rap
idld provided 10 meet the wants OF the
population. In short, this region is
rapidly becoming the permanent home
Of prosperous aud enterprising peo-
pie, whose industries are Of diversif
ed character, and who will not be de
pendent upon the production of th,
precious metals alone for their sub
sistance.