The Princeton union., 1879-04-02
OUT IN THE HILLS.
THE BUSINESS AND MINING PROS-
PECTS GENERALLY.

1rresularity of the Mails-Getting Ready
for Spring Work-Some of tie Rioh Veins
Influx of People-Despicable Species of
Blackmai1 In Vogue.
DEADwooD, D. T., March 17th.-Great ir-
regularity characterizes our northeastern
mail service, owing to heavy snow storms
along the Northern Pacific, and swollen
streams that cross the Bismarck stage road.
Coaches are all delayed, and mails are de-
livered only occasionally, and then two or
three days. accumulation at time. No one
can be Justly censured for the delay, which
is occasioned altogether by the elements
still, there is vast amount of grumbling
and some "kicking' by merchants and
others who cannot see why our eastern and
western mails brought in via Sidney, are in
variably on time, and St. Paul and northern
Dakota mails are so far behind. March is
rapidly passing, however, and with it the
annual period for bad roads, and consequent
s'poor time,' and everybody rejoices thereat
Mining operations, other than quartz, and
prospecting is receiving serious set back
by present extremely cold, snowy and very
disagreeable weather. Last week was bril-
liant, warm and inviting, and allured many
gulch miners into the belief that the back
bone of winter was broken, and the 'gentle''
season was upon us, accordingly sluice boxes
were placed in position, bitches opened, and
in many instances sluiclng begun, but it was
little more than fairly under way when
wintery relapse occurred, forcing everything
to a standstill. AS yet no indications have
been given that the severe March "blizzard''
that in the past two years has
SO greatly retarded work of all kinds, in
Guiding the stoppage of mills, is to be ex-
perienced again. In fact the entire season
has been so different from those heretofore
undergone, that the opinion generally OBJ
tains that We will pass from winter into
spring almost before we know it.
PROSPECTS FOR THE SUMMER.
Gulch, or placer mining, will be carried on
the coming summer upon scale even more
extensive than last year-thanks to much
successful prospecting since the close of
work last fall; and that it will prove much
more profitable is also an easily demonstrated
fact. Many claims non-workable heretofore
on account of an absence of water, or at
least productive of only the little quantities of
dust obtainable through the tedious ''rocker''
process-the dirt being wheeled or carted
distance often of a mile, will, so soon as the
weather shall permit, be opened up by the
hydraulic system, the most economical, ex-
peditlous and thorough of any in vogue.
bitches and fumes have been built as if by
magic all over the hills, several being eight
and ten miles in length, until now the coun-
try is the best watered of any mining region
in the entire West. These much needed i'm
provements are most numerous in the vicin-
ity of Newton's Fork, Rockville and Camp
Crook, Pennington county, where extensive
gravel deposits were discovered last year,
but, owing to the almost total absence of
water, remained unproductive. Re-
duced price of labor is anoth-
or valuable consideration. Heretofore
wages have ruled at six dollars per day under
ground and four and half and five for
'supper'' men. reduction of one dollar
upon each class has been decided upon by
all prominent mine owners. This, however,
will work no material hardship to the men,
who will find that the contemplated wages
will 90 as far if not further than the higher
compensation received year ago. Flour,
for instance, then quoted at from $40 to $15
per cwt. is now selling at So and $50, and
will be greatly reduced in price with the ad-
vent of summer. Board costing ten dollars
five and six, and everything elst
in proportion. The area of placer
mining is greatly enlarged ove1
that of last year, and is extending daily, az
prospectors continue work. The latest re-
ports reach US from French creek, west O.
the old town of Custer, where amazingly
rich diggings we're recently discovered
French creek has always been famous for its
fine quality of gold, but that unearthed {
few days ago is superior to anything previ
ously found, readily bringing $3.50 pei
ounce at any of our banks, whereas Dead
wood dust passes for less than $19. Th'
richness of the new diggings may be inferred
from the fact that six pans of dirt prospect
ed as follows: $2.70, $2.35, $1.85, $1.25
81, 80 cents. Very fattering re
ports are also received from New
toms Fork, where, during the recen
as $12 per day to the man, and miners ther
are confident that they have the best groun
ever located in the hills, and boast that hay
ing an unlimited water supply, they will az
tonish the world by the result of the season
work.
RICH DISCOVERY.
A friend has just arrived from ROCKFORD
twenty five miles south, considerably excite
over the discovery OF silver ledge that al
says $4,000 per ton. He describes it as
true fssure vein, easily traceable upon th
surface by means of groupings and float, ft
several miles. The rock shows considerab
native silver, and a streak, probably foot
width, of bromide of silver. He is perfec
ing record of location, and will return wit
months supplies in the morning.
ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS BUSINESS WIT
THE HILLS.
Business of all kinds is becoming bris
and gives to the camp much of the lively al
pearance presented in the spring of 1877
In this connection let me assure YOUR rea,
ers, particularly in st. Paul and Minneapoli
that they have no idea of the close ALLAN,
existing between the business interests
their cities and Deadwood. I doubt tn
many will believe the statement, but 7
true, nevertheless, that st. Paul groce
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