Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-07-18
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Fitch, Custer and Chadron, arrived in
town Tuesday evening from the latter
place having left there Sunday morning
and is authority for the following items
Of interest:
At the time of his departure the rails
had been laid to within about 3 miles
Of the new town Of Chadron, but before
being complete there was some heavy
tressel work to do. He thinks the road
will not reach Chadron before the last
of next week.
The new town is located on Bordeaux
creek and about four miles east of the
old town. The site comprises nearly a
thousand acres Of land and that portion
south of the grade has been laid off into
lots 25xl00 feet. The blocks are 220x50O
including a 20 foot alley. No lots have
been sold and none will be until the
cars run into the town. Business of all
kinds is dull and the Black Hills por-
ton of the population are not over con
tdent of town property proving much
of IN investment.
A locating party is now ont west OF
Chadron on the main line and that Work
is completed TO Running Water.
Graders are strung out on what is sup
posed to be the Black Hills branch as
far as the T A n ranch but only u por-
ton of them are at work as the survey
has not been cross-sectioned to that
point. From the above ranch, either
west or north, no line has been located
and will not be until the locating party
get through on the main line-or on the
line now being run up White river and
over to Running Water, but it is the
opinion Of Mr.. Smith that the
means to build to the Cheyenne river
on the Black Hills branch this fall.
When asked where he thought the town
would be in the Cheyenne river Il
try, he stated that in his opinion no
town would be built on the river and
that the first available location was on
or near the ranch owned by a Mr..
Smith and lying between Bonds and
Street 4 Congers. He also expressed
the opinion that Il railroad even built to
the Gap would double the business OF
Custer and hat no matter where run
after leaving the Il A N ranch would
have the same effect, and he says he
would rather take his chances here than
at any Of the new railroad towns.
o CORNELL,
who was in town last Saturday and who
had spent sometime in Chadron, was Of
a different opinion as to the future of
Chadron. 1t is his opinion that it is to
be the boss town on the line, that it
would be the end of the Black Hills
division, ofcourse, and the headquarters
for the east and west division Of the
main line, with extensive shops, stock
yards, etc.
There is no doubt but that the power
lies with the X. r. company to make the
important town stated by the Colonel,
but we never take stock in what q com-
pany Of this kind will do till we see
them do it.
AS to the opinion stated in last weeks
issue in regard to the Black Hills
branch, while all parties from Chadron
SO far interviewed are strong in the be.
lief that the line will run east of the
Hills, we are still skeptical and with the
line built to the Cheyenne river we
would still be Of the same opinion as il
is a well known fact that several pre-.
liminary surveys have been run from
the Gap west and south Of Custer. The
above, however, contains all the news
on the subject we have been able tc
gather this week and our readers car
govern themselves accordingly.
Chadron Journal Mr.. G. p. Urea,
paid us a visit last Saturday. He has
the grading contract from here to Rapid
which contract calls for completion July
10, 1886. Mr.. Treat tells us that the
grade work will be pushed with all
possible speed to the Cheyenne river
The grade stakes are now only set tc
the Horsehead, a fact which let us to
believe that the letting of the branch
grade had in it more of buff than earn.
est. MIR. Treat says, however, that the
engineers will proceed Immediately to
complete the work. 80 miles of the
branch grade is already let, ane work is
begun. The track will be laid and the
|Cheyenne bridged by the LIST of October.
The road will there rest this winter in
all probability, and be in good shape for
completing the work in the spring. The
work from here to Rapid is much
heavier than is usual in railroad build
ing. 100000 yards Of earth must be
moved on the l0l miles, or an average
Of nearly $4,000 yards to the mile.
Chadron will be the terminus all sum-
mer. as no business will go over the
branch until its completion to Chey-
enne. This will give us the Black Hills
business until about Nov. /. Mr.. Treat
will erect a substantial (no temporary
bu~siness) 60x200 feet supply store in
Chadron, the work to commence soon.