St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-11
BLACK HILLS GOSSIP.
How the Denizens of a Mining Country
Spend the Dull Winter Months.
THE STORY-TELLER'S MECCA.
A Reform i'm Theatrical Matters---Poli-
tics in the Hills Interest in Ed
ueati0nal Affairs.
Snecial Letter TO the Globe.

comes on it usually finds the people of a
mining country we'll prepared against
it. The Black Hills folks are of this
class, and now that February is well
started, the average denizen of these
parts is content to rest himself and
await the certain revival of activity
that accompanies the opening of spring.
The time from now till the first OF March
will be largely occupied with recounting
OF early day stories, more or less I'M
probable, but all strongly favored with
the romance that surrounds as with a
halo the pioneers of a mining country.
These tales are entitled to rest now;
they are back numbers. The "bOys"
will rake up old scenes, though, and
over the social glass they ''love to
shoulder the crutch and show how the
battle was Won." But with all the dull
ness OF the season, the prOSpector is
ever on the alert, and not day passes
but comes bit of news Of some sort
concerning developments, so that 1t is
untrue and unjust to say that the miners
are dead here. They are only resting.
THEATRICAIS LOOKING UP.
The Black Hills theatrical circuit is
to be revived. A local manager has ar
ranged for the control of all public halls
in the Hills, and proposes to give the
people something refreshing i'll the
histriouic line. The Black Hills cir
cult is one that is now dreaded by the
average iiy-by-night combination. The
operations OF the interstate commerce
law made this country totally inacceSSi-
bic to the average SNAP" Before the
enactment of that boon the public of the
Hills had been "entertained" III man
ner truly wonderful by the talent"
that held the boards here from time to-
time. 1t was the pirates paradise, and
a training school for the ambitious
''han. Il haven of rest for the lazy one.
Everything from Josh WhitcOmb;' and
Uncle Dan'r' TO the Bankers Daugh-
ter and Camille was put OH. But
the public kicked. The work of the
fakir would not go. and the road i'll and
out Of the Hills is lined with wrecked
hopes ami blasted dreams. while many
mement0eS of the visit of these stellar
aggregations are held by the landlords
Of the region in the shape of worthless
trunks and promises to pay that are
more 50. 1t is to be hoped the new
manager will meet better success. The
Hills is a good show country, but the
people here won't stand everything.
TIE DEAD TOUGH TOWN.
SturgiS Just now enjoys the honor of
being the dead tough camp of the
Black Hills. 1t is no particular fault of
that interesting little village. but is the
natural result of its being the principal
transfer point, and. consequently, the
whacker and mule-skinner. Then, too,
the proximity Of Fort Meade, and the
certain amount of abandon that pertains
to a frontier military post, adds much
to the difficulty of preserving law and
order at Sturgis. There have gathered
all the FOUNDERS and buns of the Hills,
and the good reople of the place would
not feel bad if moral earthquake
should annihilate some of them.
POLITICS IN THE HILLS.
An occasional political murmur is
heard, but nothing sufficiently definite
or important to warrant notice. The
chief interest of the Black Hills is now
centered III the opening of the Sioux
reservation for settlement, and passage
| by railroads. Direct communication is
what is wanted. Rapid City has taken
the initiative Oh the part of the Hills in
this matter-in fact, the representative
ef the local board of trade is the only
| man from this region now at Washing
ton. He writes very encouragingly Of
the prospect. The Democrats have
formed a Grover Cleveland club. and
are working hard to crystalline the party
in this country. \ similar effort will be
made in other parts of the Hills. The
| Republicans, recognizing that they will
no longer have the dead certainty of
success arising from an overwhelming
majority and weak opposition, threaten
To ba ri !,
divided, however. and may experience
some Trouble in perfecting an organiza-
ton. Too many great men.
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The educational facilities of the Hills
will some day be chief feature of the
| country. Even now. comparatively in
their infancy, the seats of learning here
enjoy prosperity that is envied them
by older and more pretentiOuS eStab-
lishments. The new buildings of the
territorial Normal school at Spearfish
are now occupied. The machinery of
the metallurgical laboratory of the ter
ritorial school of mines, at Rapid City,
| was started this week. and several very
successful and interesting test runs
have been made. This is the most COM
| plete test mill III the United States, and
possesses every facility and appliance
for testing and determining the value
and most economical process of treating
ali varieties OF ores. Its value to the re-
giOn Is beyond computation, as it is a
fact that millions of dollars lie
wrapped in the refractory ores of the
Black Hills, which have heretofore de-
fed treatment, but are now yielding
their treasure as reward for the skill
and patient research OF Franklin Il.
Carpenter, A. NJ. PHI. D.. dean of the
faculty of the school. and an eminent
! mining and geological authority. The
latest addition-in fact. So recent that
actual work has not commemorative the
colleges of the Hills is the Methodist
Episcopal college at Hot Springs. The
plans for this have been adopted. the
site is secured, and sufficient funds
raised to commence the work as soon as
spring opens. The building will be
50XS0 feet, three stories, with broken
roof. modern composite style of archi-
from the Buffalo Gap quarrieS. with red
sandstone trimmings. 1t will have ae-
commOdatiOns for 100 pupils at the out
set. The Methodists feel elated over
their success in this matter.
Glorious weather continues, and the
Black Hitler smiles smile of Satisfac-
ton as he steps out into the warm air,
and baSks in genial sunshine, all the
while thinking thought of sympathy
for the poor people further east, who
still shiyer i'll winters clutch.
HOW HE WON HIS WIFE.
A Man From BiiZzard-Swept Da-
kOta Adyertises and Gets Help
meet.