St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-14

with the very limited facilities at hand,
to properly work. Some very startling
statements are made in regard to find
ings in this neighbOrhOOd, and were
person to believe all he was told he
would go crazy. But much may be re-
lied upon. One gentleman approached
me with chunk of mysterious looking
ore the other day. saying that it assayed
$500 to the ton, and that there was quite
a pocket of the same on his claim.
l afterwards learned that this was
true. In an assayer'S Office down street
| was shown piece of rock that went
$4,000 to the ton. But this may be
called freaks" In a dozen different
localities III the Hills with proper ma
chinery
SILVER MINING
could be made to pay. Fifty-dol!ar rock
would leave him practically nothing for
his trouble. So he can do nothing but
go to work for some corporation and
leave his claim, with its rich ores, to
trouble his dreams until somebody starts
a custom mill in his neighborhOOd and
creates market.
A dirty, yellowish stream of water
rushes through Deadwood, that may be
considered the most remarkable In the
world. 1t is the combined 'tailings"
from the principal mines above, and
there is no less than $1,000 carried
through it's channel every day. A new
process is being introduced at the Home
stake company's Star mill at Lead City,
that is likely to rob this wealthy little
creek of most of its gold. Half million
dollars saved in a year to these mines
would be appreciated.
A careful estimate places the output
of gold and silver bullion from the Hills.
this year, at little less than $5,00O,O 600.
But to get better idea of what will be
done III 'SS, the newly discovered
TIN MINES
must be considered in the estimates of
mineral products. These will add
million OF more the first year they are
worked. Although the greater part OF
all this wealth comes from the imme-
diate vicinity of DeadwOOd. there are
localities in distant parts OF the Hills
that contribute large proportion, each
being of sufficient Importance in its
variety and extent of minerals to justify
column of this paper But to detail
these interests would only tire the
reader. AS DEVELOPMENTS occur in the
future the news will be given to the
world through the GLOBE, and the end
desired will be accomplished in much
more appreciate form.
The Elkhorn Valley road, the nearest
road to DeadwOOd, has its present ter
minus at Whitewood, eleven miles to
the northeast. From this point and from
SturgiS, larger town OH the same line
fourteen miles east of DeadWOOd,
all passengers and freight from
the East are hauled over mountain
roads. The extreme difficulty of land
ing heavy machinery at the mines can
readily be imagined. But they sue
ceeded in getting it there somehow, and
confidence and grit to carry it through.
THE SCENERY
along these roads is grand beyond de-
scriptiOn. Huge piles OF weather-beaten
rocks seem ready to topple over upon
the passing stage, while the average
passenger cramps his neck to get
glimpse of the highest peaks. The six
horses-muscular, well-built animals
travel along at a lively pace over good
roads and bad, the stage humping over
the rocks in manner to try ones
nerves to the utmost. Just before
DeadwoOd comes in sight, the stage
thunders down a long, steep
hill; bit of experience that is enjoy
able to person in good health, with
steady nerves, but terrible to one the
i
stream, with an income of $4,000
for a yearly is skirted, the driver gath
ers up his lines more firmly, shifts his
wide-brimmed hat little to one side,
cracks his whip and sails majestically
up the long street, past "Chinatown,"
and pulls up in front of the hotel, where
the smiling landlord stands ready to
welcome the tired traveller with cor
dial invitation to the bar and the best
his house affords. And the latter is de-
cidedly good.
THE AGRICULTURAL
resources OF the Black Hills counties
are but little known to the world. 1t is
generally supposed that mining is the
sole industry. But in Lawrence county
alone-which contains most of the prin-
cipal mineS-the taxable valuation of
farms, and personal property owned by
farmers is greater than all the mining
interests combined. In the other coun-
ties it is much greater. The large herds
of cattle have been driven out by the
farmers and the land is being rapidly
improved. A home market for their
products and free pasturage for stock
on the hills adjacent make farming very
profitable in this section. Land
is held at from S. to $40 an
acre, with exceptional cases, where
500 to $50 is asked, when near a town.
Small grains and vegetables grow to
perfection. Corn was raised last sea-
son that averaged up with the crops in
older cOrn-grOwing states. Farmers all
have more or less stock, which is very
profitable, as this section is peculiarly
adapted to its raising. Black Hills
cattle are thrifty and hardy. The
Western Dakota
LOAN AND TRUST
company is doing on extensive business
in these farms. This company is one of
the most reliable and best known cor
poratiOnS in the territory, and has been
engaged in making farm loans for eight
years, having invested for Eastern par
ties nearly $780, in that time without
loss. The company has paid up
capital of $4,000. Its officers are:
Edwin Van Cise, president; George C.
Hickok, vice president; John r. Will
son, treasurer; S. M. Houghton, secre-
tary, and Henry Lincoln, assistant
secretary. ALI these gentlemen are
prominent in Southwestern Dakota.
Your correspondent is under deep
obligations to Henry Frawley "a promi-
nent attorney Of this city, who grad
uated from the University of Wisconsin
in '76 and has resided here since tn,
through whose kindness he was per-
mitted to see the mining towns of Lead
City, Center City and Terraville to the
best advantage, and get acquainted
with the leading citizens. A description
of this visit is deferred until later
issue, when the GLOBE readers will be
given an idea, in a condensed form, of
what has been and is being done in
these localities. j. II.