Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-09-12
DEADWOOD.
Description OF the Metropolis Of the
Black Hills.


Description OF the Metropolis Of the
Black Hills.
~ ICh'cago Times.l
As I promised short description
Of this little town, 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 we'll
out in the foot hills. Its population
Is said to be about 10000, but / am
inclined to think that 5000 to 1000
would be a nearer estimate. AS the iu-
habitants are scattered around In the
various gulches, it is impossible to
number them. However, I might
safely say that the population OF
Deadwood Lead and Central City,
with its tributary gulches, would
number about 10000.
The streets are about eight in num-
Der, 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 running up Whitewood Gulch.
and the latter from hillside to hill
side. The houses are all light frame
structures, put up in few bours. and
made of pine, which would burn in a
few minutes. The faces OF most OF
the houses are for stores. The resi-.
dences are mostly built of heavy tim
Der in regular log hut style. though
many of the little cottages on Resi-
dence Hill, back of Main street, are
made in Eastern style. / do not rec
ollect of seeing a brick house in
Deadwood, though there are a num-
ber OF brick-yards in progress.
Few OF the houses are plastered,
most Of their walls being lined with
linen cloth printed TO initiate wall pa
per or frescoing. One hotel makes it a
boast in its advertising circular that
its house is the only one plastered.
1t Is a very strange sight to the wea-
ry pilgrim, who, visiting the town, at
night goes to bed, and when morning
comes, sees, il the wind is blowing,
the walls and ceiling suddenly fill out,
appear to grow inwards and then to
fall back. The booming Of the blasts
up the gulch often gives him an idea
that a first-class earthquake is at
hand. I was lying on a lounge in a
lawyers Office when first saw the
movement Of the walls, and it took
moments to solve the mystery. Of
ten the conversation OF one store can
be heard in another, and, where next
to a newspaper office Is a dressma-
ker's establishment, the typos can
not perform their work unless they
hear the clatter of sewing machine.
| But few OF the houses are more
than one story in hight the post Of
flee, club room, hotels, banks, and a
few others being exceptions. Some
OF the residents cling to the old tents
they first used when they first came
and think that Joy and comfort are
only to be found beneath their roof
Some OF the richest men live In poor
log shanties, which, IL In Chicago
would bring down upon them host
OF visiting COMMITTEES from all aid
societies. Here 1t may be said thai
there is more money than show How
different from some Of the suburban
villages near Chicago, where people
live in large houses and owe their ice
and milk men.
The church societies number three
Catholic, Episcopal and Congrega
tional. The latter two meet in thu
; school house. There have been man,
} more started here, it is said, but
have no evidence OF any but these
: The pastor OF the Congregations
church has just left them, so they are
liable to go to pieces. He though
his health was poor in such a coun
try, while, as he told his congrega
' ton, he could do better in anothe
place. He expected that the ha
would be filled with gold dust at thi
{ announcement, but it was not, AM
the decision OF the people was IL h
: wants to go, let him skip.
The school house Is located on tn
divide separating Whitewood from
Deadwood gulch, and is plain white
pine building, with about one hun
dred pupils, and has been built 10
some time. It is grand to see tn
hurley Hitler discoursing on the nu
merous benefits of education, fre
, schools and churches. But do no
laugh at him, or doubt his word 1
the least, for he carries big navy
!. In his belt. / studied the plan b