Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-05-13
Railroads.

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have bnilt as many roads-on piper-as
any other town of their weight, age and
complexion, but thus far there has I'M
fortunately been nothing to run their
mythical locomotives but wind. Our
sympathy for our sister towns is aroused
and We feel for them, but can't reach
them by railroad just yet. Custer would
like much tosee her sister towns blessed
with an Iron horse, only one thing oc-
ours to us that we wo1ld rather see and
that is a road for ourselves. I'he northern
towns have a pretty sure thing on Il
road sometime in the near future. both
the Chicago roads, now at the River, are
only waiting to sec what the other in
tends to do in order to make up their
minds as to their own action, and they
must necessarily pass so near to both
Rapid and Deadwood that a branch will
run into each town even if the main line
does not touch them. This is about the
only ~sheet-anchor Of hope that they can
now hang on 10. While the realization
Of their hopes would be a fine thing for
them Custer would be left i'm the cold so
far as those roads were concerned, and
could only wrishe in envy in watching
the prosperity of the favored towns
we're she like them dependent upon the
fiat of the railroad magnates in Chicago
who control the Chicago & Northwest
ern, and Milwaukee and st. Paul; but
fortunately for us We have another
source from which to draw inspiration
for our dreams of future greatness. The
Sioux City and Pacific are steadily push
ing this way, and the report seems to be
we'll founded that they will build nearly
200 miles this season, that would bring
their western terminus within less than
fifty miles of Custer, and fullv fifty
miles nearer than any other town in
the Hills.
This road, we believe, viii, be the fist
to reach the Black Hills if any, and will
eventually be extended on west and
north to a junction with the Northern
Pacific somewhere in Montana. Such
being its ultimate destination it Is not
likely that it will II through the Hills,
nor is it at all likely that it will pass
them on the north so as to conflict with
the great trunk lines which would be a
detriment to the Sioux City d Pacific.
They will then have but one course left,
that is to pass mp the south fork Of the
Cheyenne river, and from that line a
branch will most likely be built which
will go through the centre of the Hills
to Deadwood, and that this branch will
pass through Custer there can hardly
be II doubt. 1t may be that the Home
stake and Deadwood will be the branch,
in fact it is believed by many that
arrangements have already been con-
summated between the two companies
to that end, be that As it may we are i'm
a fairer way to have rail communica-
ton with the outer world sooner than
any other town in the Black Hills, and
that without bonds. When It arrives
even within fifty miles Of us we may
look for some stir in our mining proper
ty, but until that time arrives tiIri. H.
lie or no prospect Of any activity int
that direction. Mines cannot be sold
without there is some one to sell them
to, and they will not come until they
can get here with ease and convenience.
a. xn a n 80 n.,n flAa .,n A.
a new camp being struck brought into
our midst a class of ventnrons spccula-
tors who would 60 to the confines of the
earth for a rich mine, but that class see
no attraction in the low grade ores of
the Hills to-day, the ones We must lie
pend on are those who seek a perman-
ent and sure investment, guaranteeing a
good rate of interest such rs we have
here and they come with railroads, not
before. No mining camp during the
past twenty years has ever met with any
great success until Il railroad reached it
and this country is no exception to the
rule. But let the whistle of the locomo-
tive be heard here for a year and it is IA
sure thing that it will then be answered
by twenty Others, screaming from the
roofs Of as many big stamp mills in Gus
ter county.
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