The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-01-28
Descriptive Artirles.
From the Americda Sentry.
THE NEW NORTHWEST.
RY LANES NJ. MARTIN.

THE NEW NORTHWEST.
BY JAMES NJ. MARTIN.
Few, even of the most intelligent in the
great financial and commercial centers of
the East. can understand or even family
imagine, without the sensible and true
avouch of their own eye" the enormous
and magnificent empire we possess in the
new and great Northwest, especially in the
Territories of Dakota, Montana and Wy
oming. Science and art have almost ami
Inflated time and distance; these great res
eryoirs of wealth. which but few years
ago were so remote that a journey to them
was equivalent in danger and distance to a
passage through the center of Africa, are
now, thanks to railroads and civilization
which have spread their luminous wings
over our land, within 4 few day journey
of our greatest commercial cities. The lit
tie Of what Is known of that vast region
extending from Mexico to the British line,
of the great plains and the Rocky Noun
tain regions. has been derived through the
gold and silver mines which are found in
all parts of the mountains, but which in
reality constitute but a trifing portion of
the absolute permanent productive wealth
of the country, Especially Is this 50 in re-
gard to the Territory of Dakota. This
Territory contains 100000 square miles.
England, Ireland. Scotland and Wales
could be placed in the center of it, and
there would be a margin remaining ON the
edge, large enough to erect several of the
smaller Original states Dakota stands in
area fourth, as compared with all the states
aud Territories in the Union
An idea extensively prevails, which it is
almost impossible to eradicate, that North
ern country must Of necessity be excessively
cold and inhospitablc in winter Such Is
not the case according TO web defined Is
o,hermal laws, the nearer we approach the
Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
the milder the climate becomes. The
snow fall in Dakota Is hight, which Is ~
garied there a. misfortune, a. il renders
the winter wheat crop uncertain
The soil Of that ooantry i of eStraordi-
nary depth and fertility. the prairics level
A. floor. and the yield Of wheat. for
which ii Is especially adapted, unequallcd
in any country in the world, with perhaps
the exception of California The time Is
NJ, far distant when Il win be the granary
81 the nation, and perhaps then have
surplus for the furnishing millions u
Europe.
In the southwestern portion Of the Terri
tory il ulssss singular and valuable mineral
bearing hcls known as the Blsck Hill, and
haw far this belt extends j. a, present =
matter Of conjecture, a. exploration and
discovery each succeeding year develop new
mining districts which had been regarded
a harrcu. Roughly stated the Black Hills
mineral belt i known 90 b. one hundred
miles long and about fifty, or a littlc over.
vide. there is no doubt in the minds Of
intelligent miners thas the ara : much
greater. 6Col0gisss tell Us the Black Hills
are the oldes, portion II this continent
The placer mines, where gold was discoy
ercd free frnn quartz " ether foreign mat
Ter were kniiesi in extent, and Cog the mos;
rssrt have been exhausted, but the leasis 81
bow grade, fnce milling gold quartz aFe u
such extent n to be practically InexhARssa
be. These ors CONTAIN no base o. rcfrse-
terry mctah the common stamp mill eau
save all the metal, or nearly al, as certain
pcECcatagc in every pp'ca-s now in a>c, i
always IoSi bus to obtain the bc-s results,
large mills and tho labos.saving appliances
invented within few years arc absolutely
necessary. 0r= yielding four dollars per
ton can be worked with such machinery II
profit d one hundred pr cent, but large
capital Is required for such reduction works
and this fact has retarded the development
of these mines, ~ which there are vat
number. But little attention has t,een paid
to silver mining until reeen,ly In Bear
Butte district, miRcs have been receHtly
worked with maes satisfactory reslllss last
summer the discovery Il carbonate silver
arcs was made in West Nirginia district.
DeyolupaeHt IS ssisl going On, hqt the poy.
erty N the mincrs, and the winter sesHson
+ have retarded york. There can scarcely be
A doubt this district Is extremely rich and
III great exicnf Already i has been
traced foE tan nsiles--it probably extends
much furfher--but the SHOWS 0t the m0nn-
lains hare prevented prospecting. Within
few years tho Black Hills of Dakota viii
b. the great silver producing territory Of
the nation. Nature has been most lavish
Of her gifts. not only in gold and silver, but
in other minerals Coal fields Of great cxe
tent have been discovered within eightecn
miles If Deadwood, the center Of the ooui-
,nerciaI and gold aud silver mining interests.
A narrow gauge railgaad viii spon connect
the mines with the coal hanks thus the fuel
question. a serious one for mills, Is foryer
settled. Mountains Of excellent iron one of
fine quality have bexn discovered within
two miles Of the commercial metropolis. but
as vet have not been worked, as there Is no
market for the mineral Extensive leads
Of remarkably pure copper have been found
which remain untouched for the same rca-
son. Cinnabar, the ore Of quicksilver, has
been found in several localities In short,
every valuable mineral exists in the Black
Hill. with the exception of tin and nitro !;
these 80 far as known have not been found.
Nearly all the salt used in the mines Is
made from the waters of natural spring
in the Southern Hills. Petroleum, said to
exceed in purity ANY in the world, with one
exception, also exists, and a company even
now is At work developing their property.
Near the city of Custer. mica mines have
been opened which are now in active oper-
alton. The quantity of this mineral is APP
parently without limit, and the quality as
GOOD as commerce desires. Eastern parties
have contracted for all the mines can produce.
Within few miles of Custer are medi-
cinal hot springs, equal in their effects, if
not superior, to the celebrated healing foun-
tains Of Arkansas The springs have been
known and used by the Indians for ages,
and are called Minne-kata, which in the
Sioux language means hot water. They
are a specific for rheumatism, diseases re
sulting from the use of mercury, and
seotlrges of kindred nature which ahlict
and destroy humanity, Fhe value Of the
waters cannot be over-estimated, as truly
they may be called life-giving waters. The
scenery in their neighborhoOd is beautiful
beyond description The time is not far
distant, as soon as railroads penetrate the
country, which will be within year or
/ two, when these springs will be not only a
/ national health huf Measure resort