davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12

etables reach enormous size and can be
equalled by no other land under the sun.
All farm produce reaches growth and
quality rarely seen or known in older
and more populous localities. Stock
men are loud in their praises of South
Dakota as stock growing country. No
portion of the union can equal it. At
least 100000 head of horses, cattle,
sheep and mules roam it's prairies.
In the southwestern portion of the
state are the world-renowned Black Hills,
aetea Fey their #EEeesa2aaeesfully rich and ex-
haustless mines of gold, silver and tin.
These mountains contain the largest
gold mines and mills in the world. Mill
ions of dollars worth of pure bullion
have been shipped from them to the
mints of the country, and the amount is
increasing with every year. From a
mineralogical point of view the prosper
ity of the Black Hills is just in it's
infancy.
South Dakota, at the present time, has
population of about 100000 people, and
it is constantly and rapidly increasing.
There is room for millions more in this
state. The choicest farming lands can
be had for the asking, and no better can
be found anywhere. We would advise
all homeseekers to turn their attention
towards South Dakota and investigate
the true condition of affairs in the Black
Hills before locating elsewhere. We
would urge them to come and settle with
us and assist in the up-building of the
state, and the making of this new COM
monwealth one of the richest, most pop
ulous and noble states in the American
union.
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12

states. The population is composed of
all the best nationalities of the northern
latiudes. The best class of English,
Scotch, Irish, Germans and Scandinav-
ians are found here. All are live, vide
awake, rustling, active set of Americans
and are of the most intelligent order.
They are here to stay and are building
for themselves and their posterity homes
and local government the equal of any
on this continent. They invite all home
seekers to come and become a part of
their society. They will greet cheerily
and heartily-as all true westerners and
Americans de-those who may come
amongst them for the purpose of taking
up home. No stranger will be more
heartily welcomed nor sooner made to
feel at home by any one than by the cit
izens of Meade county. "Let whosoever
heareth come"
Numerous towns and villages are stu
ated at various points in the county.
The Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri
Valley railroad passes through the south
western portion of the county, and along
its lines are the towns of Blackhawk,
Piedmont, Tilford and Sturgis.
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12

multitudes who by little effort can make
this vast section fructify and blossom as
the rose. Water is in abundance
throughout the entire county. Running
streams, traversing every valley, makes
irrigation unnecessary The products of
the county are limited only by the time,
skill and patience OF the husbandman.
Grains of all kinds are grown as only
Dakota can grow them. The rich, deep
soil is easily broken and turned up
toward the sun. Farmers can plant
their seed with the greatest ease, letting
nature take it's course, assured that
when the harvest time comes his in
crease will be twenty, fifty or hundred
fold. Wheat can be relied on to go from
twenty to forty bushels to the acre. oats,
from thirty to seventy five; corn, from
thirty to fifty. Barley and other cereals
do as well in proportion. The finest
quality of hay wild, at that covers
prairie and mountainside alike. All
stockmen throughout this portion of the
West unanimously agree that no hay,
not even the long timothy and clover
from cultivated lands, can equal in nu-
TRITON the wild hay of the Black Hills.
Hay from other states cannot be sold
here when native is on the market.
Stockmen, of all kinds, never feed grain
to stock unless engaged in heavy work.
This may seem like fairy tale, but no
truer words were ever written. Horses
and the like are fed on native hay alone,
during the winter, and the spring finds
them hardy and sleek, ready for their
summers work. The prairies and noun
tain parks are open to the settler to go
upon, start his mower and gather crop
of hay as heavy as he desires.
The rainfall is increasing with every
season. AS the sod of the prairie is
turned over, exposing the rich soil be-
meath, the rainfall increases accordingly.
The farming sections of Meade county
have never been troubled by insufficient
rain, but on the contrary have always
been especially blessed with an ample
fall. This season has begun as usual,
heavy SHOWS, slowly melting, have wet
the ground to great depth, thus re-
moving great chance of drouth during
the coming summer. Undoubtedly the
peculiar formation of the country is the
direct cause of the plentious precipita-
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12

county judge, Chas. G. Polk; clerk of
the court, Max Hoehn.
Schools and postoffices are found in
every valley and upon every hilltop. In
no section of the West is the public
school better or more carefully guarded
than in this county.
The spiritual welfare of it's inhabitants
is carefully looked after by the various
religious denominations of the country
who have their representatives scattered
throughout the county.
By glancing at the map of the state it
can readily be seen that no county in
the Hills occupies such an accessible
position, as regards reaching that portion
of the great Sioux reservation recently
opened. It has north and east 'front.'
age on the ceded portion of the reserva-
tion of sixty five miles and this portion
contains some of the best lands to be
found on all that great reserve. The
soil of that section adjoining Meade
county is precisely of the same character
as that contained within this county's
boundaries. Tt is watered the same as
is the lands in our own county. Settlers
desiring to take up lands naturally pre-
fer to locate as near thickly settled
community as possible. Right here they
can take advantage of that fact by COM
ing to Meade county and entering the
reservation from this side. Bear in
mind, however, that it is not necessary
for those desiring lands to pass through
Meade county and locate upon the newly
opened government land. There are
thousands of acres of first-class land
as good as any yet taken up lying va
cant in this county. We are satisfied
that any one coming to this section with
the intention of locating will prefer to
stop on this side Of the reservation line
and take up their residence with us. We
are willing comparisons should be made.
We are ready for any one to inspect both
sections, and we are also willing to leave
the decision entirely with themselves,
knowing that our own fair county will
receive the benefits thereby.
Meade county has population of 6,O0o
and these figures are constantly increas-
ling BY accessiona from other and older
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12
,orations owning the tin properties be-

porations owning the tin properties be-
ing engaged in the prosecution of their
development work alone These tin de-
posits are found in two localities, viz:
In the vicinity of Harney's Peak in PEN
nington and Custer counties in the
Southern Hills, and at Niger Hill, near
the city Of Spearfish, in the Northern
Hills. Plans are under way at the, pres
ent time which, if successful, will soon
fill these new mining districts with a
population of tens of thousands engaged
in the preparing of the tin for market.
The entire area of the Hills is heavily
wooded, the heavy pine being the most
abundant and valuable tree. Consider
able spruce--black and whites found
in certain localities. Although these
Hills have furnished nearly all the lum-
ber and fuel used in this section for
years past there still remains, according
to the best authority, at least 1000
square miles of primeval forest available
for lumber and mining purposes. With
the settling up of the reservation these
vast forests will become immensely val
liable. These lands covered by this tim
Der are open to settlement by any who
desire to own 16O acres of timber rather
than the same amount of tillable soil.
It must not be imagined for moment
that the Black Hills is a country entirely
devoid of agricultural lands. Such is a
most erroneous idea. Some of the best
farming lands in the United States are
found upon the eastern slopes of the
Hills and outside the foothills. Wheat,
superior to any grown in North Dakota,
Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa, is grown
prolifcally in the Hills country. All the
cereals flourish finely. Corn, at one
time supposed to be entirely unprofita-
BILE to cultivate, has proven itself one of
our surest crops.
The land department of the general
government reports that on October l,
1889, there were 5,517, ,189 acres of vacant
land in the Rapid City land district-the
district in which the Hills are situated
4,417, ,189 acres of which are agricultural
lands. The finest farming lands, as we
stated, are found upon the eastern slopes
of the Hills and outside the foothills, an
elaborate and accurate description of
which can be found in the following
article:
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12

but an old, reliable and well-established
business. Men of small capital enjoy
the same privileges as those who can
sign their check for cool million, and
their profits are the same proportion
ately. Meade county boasts some of the
finest live stock to be found in the coun-
try. Of its record as a live stock pro-
ducing country it can we'll be proud.
Another point in favor of this portion
Of the country as stock range is that it
rarely has one of those terrible blizzards
that Minnesota and North Dakota have
the name of producing. The Black Hills
have not had blizzard for ten years.
While the eastern and northern portions
of the old territory have frequently been
buried beneath huge snowdrifts, and the
winds across the dead-level prairies were
screaming and bowling, the Black Hills
have enjoyed the best of weather, with
hardly enough wind to sail prairie
schooner down hill.
LUMBER INTERESTS.
This county, like the northern portion
of Michigan, has extensive lumber inter-
ests, with this fact in it's favor: i. g., the
timber land is not owned by wealthy
operators to the extinction of the smaller
proprietors Timber of the finest quail
ity covers the Hills from one end to the
other, the major portion Of it being pine.
Mills are situated throughout the county
on the various water courses and in the
clearings and parks. AS consequence
lumber is cheap, and, owing to this, the
construction of buildings cost less than
in some other portions of the West
claiming an older settlement and more
available resources.
This county is extremely fortunate in
having liberal yet cautious managers at
the head of it's affairs, and, as a conse-
quence, no county has better roads and
bridges than has Meade.
The government of Meade county is
in the hands of the following officers, at
present: Commissioners-Sa H.
Martin, chairman; Bland Herring, Elliott
Nichols; sheriff, W. F. L. Souter; treas
urer, e. T. Huffman; register of deeds,
Fred S. Durham; auditor, e. c. Lane;
states attorney, Thomas e. Harvey; sup
erintendent of schools, Miss Lulu Schell;
surveyor, Olaf Helwig; coroner, DR.. j. B.
Cheney; physician, DR.. w. G. Smith;
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12
THE BLACK HILLS.
The Glory Of Dakota-The Richest
Spot on Earth.
wHITEwooD MINING DISTRICT
Short Sketch of It's Mining Camps and
Output of Noted Mines---Agricul-
tural Sections.

This region has become one of the
most noted for diversified resources of
any in the whole country, if not in the
world. The Hills, proper, contain about
$500 square miles and have population
of nearly $4,000 souls. The elevation of
this section above sea-level varies from
1900 feet on the eastern slope, to $500,
the altitude of Harney's Peak, the high
est point in all the Dakotas.
The ore deposits of the Hills have no
equal anywhere on earth. The first min
ing of which we have any record was
done in this section in 1S74-5, and since
that time mining has been continuously
carried on with an enormous annual in
crease. Some of the richest gold and tin
mines in the world are here. The most
important mining section is the White
wood mining district, of which Dead
wood and Lead City are the centers.
The amount of work done in that dis
trict alone cannot be fully appreciated
by those never having had the opportu-
nifty of witnessing it. One company
alone-the Homestake-has over 600
stamps at work continuously, crushing
at the rate of 10000 cubic feet of rock
every day in the year. Last year this
one company took out over S2,225,OOO in
gold from it's properties. This company
has been at work for the past eleven
years and expects to continue for many
years more, having at the present time
ore enough in sight to last them for nine
years. Any number Of smaller corpora
tions are at work in the Hills on their
mining properties and are netting them.
selves snug sums annually from theil
labors. Carbonate and Galena-twc
mining camps have extensive bodies oi
the silver ores from which they, respect
lively, take their names The tin mining
industry is still in it's infancy, the cor
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12
STURGIS.
The Hub of the Hills and the Seat
Of Meade.
SITUATION AND SURROUNDINGS
A Magnificent Site In the Banner County
Of South Dakota---The Key City
Of the Hills.

The city Of Sturgis occupies peculiar
position, lying between the Black Hills
proper and the foothills. 1t is situated
on Bare Butte creek, twelve miles east
by north from Deadwood, thirty-i
miles north of Rapid City and one and
one-half miles from Fort Meade, one of
the largest military posts in the United
States. The site is most magnificent
one, lying on dry, almost level ground,
with slight declination toward the
creek, giving the best of facilities for
drainage. There is plenty of room for
growth as the valley in which the town
is situated is wide and peculiarly
adapted for the site of large city.
The town lies at the point of converg-
ence of all the important roads travers-
ing the county, and, as consequence, is
the headquarters of all settlers in the
surrounding country when they desire
to transact business of any nature what
soeyer. 1t is said the first settlers
located on the present site in June, 1876
A company was formed and the townsite
laid out. Eighty acres were originally
plated, but since then, to keep up with
the increased demand for residence prop
erty, several additions have been made
The town was Incorporated under the
general law of the old territory of Da.
kota as city, in June, 1888, and elected
a full quota of officers. John T. Porter
a prominent merchant of the city, was
elected the first mayor.
The town was christened "Sturgis" in
honor of the late General Samuel ID
Sturgis of the regular army who at the
time was in command of the troops then
in camp where Fort Meade now is. Tht
first postoffice was opened in the wintel
of 1878-79.
Since then the town has exceeded th,
expectations of it's most ardent friends
and supporters. 1t has increased in pop
ulation, wealth, intelligence and moral
lity. At present it boasts of three church
societies, Catholic, Methodist and Pres
byterian, each one owning neat and com
modious edifces; fine graded school
occupying $4,000 brick structure; st
Martins academy, the parochial schoo
of the Catholics, an elegant white sand
stone building, to cost when completed
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12
STURGIS PUBLIC SCHOOL.

tion during the year. The strange cons
tour of the Hills, their altitude, the ra-
dating streams of water from them
flowing through their deep courses, in
conjunction with the two forks of the
Cheyenne undoubtedly, as a whole, are
the causes of the little showers of the
spring and summer.
Aside from the almost unlimited re-
sources of Meade county agriculturally,
there is another branch of industry ex-
trerhely popular and profitable, and
that is
STOCK RAISING.
With almost an unlimited range coy-
cred thickly with the richest and most
nutritious of grasses, the stock-raiser has
comparatively little expense attached to
the raising of his cattle and horses. The
winter on the ranges of Meade county
are not of great length and are extremely
mild. The numberless parks in the
Hills in the western end of the county,
and the draws and gulches Immediately
east of them, offer excellent feed and
sure protection to all stock turned loose
upon the range to winter. The heavy
growth of grass during the summer
months retain it's best qualities during
the colder season and stock hourishes on
| it, on the Meade county ranges, as
though fed by the owner in warm and
cosy stable.
1t is not to the large cattle-raiser that
these opportunities alone are given, but
also to the smaller farmer who desires in
connection with his regular farming
duties, to raise either for himself or a
home market, few head of cattle, sheep
| or horses. There are several reasons
why stock-raising is 50 profitable in this
portion of South Dakota. The cost OF
starting in this business is very little;
the increase accumulates rapidly; the
care of and attention to stock is moth
ing; the feed costs nothing except, per
haps, q little labor in laying in crop Of
hay for emergency; the percentage Of
loss is extremely light and the profits
accruing are OF the most substantial
character.
The raising OF stock Of all kinds on the
ranges Of this county il no experiment
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12
MEADE COUNTY.
It's Fertile Prairies and Rich Timber
Lands.
OF INTEREST TO HoMEsEEKERs
Abundant Rainfall and Mountain Streams
Traversing Every valley---Gov-
ernment Lands.

This county is the youngest in the
state of South Dakota although one of
the oldest settled localities in the Black
Hills. 1t was formerly a part of Law
renee, the best known county in the en-
tire territory, but by act of the legisla-
ture of 1889 it was set off by itself.
A small portion of the county the
western ends hilly and mountainous
and is covered with magnificent growth
of pine timber. The balance of the
county, from the foothills to the Chey-
enne river, is composed entirely of the
broad-spreading plains for which the
eastern slopes of the Hills are 80 famous,
The western portion of. the county is
about $500 feet above Underwater, while
the eastern portion will average about
1900 feet above. Bare Butte, Spring,
Alkali, Elk and Box Elder creeks drain
the principal basins, while Beaver and
Rapid creeks drain small areas In the
southern portion. The finest agricul-
tural lands in the West are found il
Meade county Thousands of acres have
been taken up by settlers, but thousands
more Of the most arabic lands await the
coming Of those desiring to make for
themselves homes in q healthy, fertile
country. The records OF the land de-
partment in Washington show that in
Meade county alone there lies 23S, ,233
acres OF surveyed land still wlcant, .and
IN addition to this immense tract over
10000 acres not yet surveyed. Just
think Of the grand total Of ALA, ,233 acres
iof land owned by no one, titled BY none
lying idle awaiting the coming Of the
Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-06-12

concluded on Fourth Page.l
The Delta independent., 1890-02-04
A Fatal Wreck,

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. PA
passenger train on the Monon route, which
left Chicago on Sunday night at IL IS, was
wrecked at Z 80 o'clock this morning one
mile above Carmel. The tender jumped
the track. Tho engineer reversed the en-
gtne but before the air braces could stop
the train the locomotive and baggage car
cleared the trestle. The sleeper and smok-
ing car went over into the creek, both tax
ing nro almost Immediately and being con-
sumed In . remarkably short time. The
killed arc six in number: Mrs Nellie
Eubank. Brosd Ripple; C. o. Deming
Frankfort, Ind. Mrs. ID S. Oldham's twin
children, Sheridan, Miss. Mary Hoover,
Horton, Miss; Hattie Henslcy, Cyclone,
Ind. The injured are: Mr.. Ingalls,, pres
tdcas Big FNou = line, injured about the head
and arms' Engineer Schope, Indianapolis,
seriously hurt: A. l. Clark, westfield, In
diana, commercial traveller, cut on the fore.
head; Express Engineer Munger, badly
hurt
Those who escaped uniujurcd busted
themselves in taking the dead and injured
from the wreck, but before this could be
accomplished the heat Of the burning cars
became 20 intense that they had to with
draw.
The Delta independent., 1890-02-04
Colorado Marble.

An eastern man Is now in the CITY,
says the Denver Nc,ns, on mission that
may lead to tho opening up OF new Colo.
rado industry for which there is a vast
supply Of raw material. His purpose is to
get control Of some Of the numerous de-
posits OF marble and 40 into quarrying and
polishing that stone on very large scale.
He represents Chicago men who have
plenty Of money and arc willing to put it
into this business. Al present it may be
said that there is not yard OF marble
taken out In this State, though there |. any
amount Of 1t Of the best quality, both red
white. Governor Routt has mountain of
II and there aro large quantities on both
the Midland and South Park roads. Near
Glenwood are big dcposits. Monday sam
piles Of various marbles, rough and poi
ishcd, werc sent 70 Chicago. They were
very handsome, and will, no doubt rather
surprise the eastern men. A large busi-
ness may bc built up here in marble. It
has not heretofore bean used TO any extent
in houses or business blocks - Il Il in tho
east and, - II can bs laid down very
chcapiv, there b no reason why Il should
not grow into favor - soon - the quarriea
sre developed.
The Delta independent., 1890-02-04
chaunesy on Cleveland.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2s.-Chauncey
Depew, in an interview, In morning pa
per, says: i,S.
"Cleveland will, think, without any
doubt whatever, be nominated BY the
Democrats with = rush and . hurrah.
There will Be no candidate against him in
the convention. His election 10 another
'Qucsuon. He representa-, however, the
only idea upon which tho Democratic can
make fight. The Republican party sol
Idly reprcsents tho idea Of protection. If
the Democratic party claims TO represent
. modioed form Of that idea II 10 neither
fesh, Ash or fowl, and the American pub
lie hates mixtures. Whatever It takcs i,
takes straight st s5
II dent SEQ In sight any divisions In the
Republican party for leoo. We will bo
quits solid and quite - unanimous - we
were in 1883, and unless the evolution OF
events now going on il stopped by causes
which cannot now b seen, New York can
Be put down In the Republican line for
iSea."