Omaha daily bee., 1893-06-04
IN The EBONY ELEVATION,
What Enterprise and Energy Are Doing ft
the Famous Black Hills.
SOUTH DAKoTNS FAMOUS TRsAsuR
Mines OF Gold and silver Inexhsustibi
and Rich Awaiting but tho Advent
of Capital to Mako Thom
Paying Properties.

DEADwoop, S. D., Juno 3.-TSpecial Co,
respondence TO TuR BEE. THE Black Hill
country is not appreciated at half its rec
worth. 1t goes without saying that it
a rich mineral region, but people are TO
much inclined to regard the Homestak
company as sole proprietor of the Hills. Thk
Homestake has been crushing out of tn
mountains something like $4,000, 900 in go.-
annually and Its system of mines is
wonderful product. But there are scor,
and hundreds of promising prospect
owned by men barely able to do their aunug
assessment work. waiting fer the capitl
necessary to make them profitable. TIL
best of authorities agree that the Blac
Hills mineral region is the richest of i,
area in the world, and it ought to be yielc
ing 800 900 a year instead of 81, ,0OO, 90
The mining industry suffers, however, fro
the want OF confidence, which Is working
distressingly everywhere, and consequent
times are dull oil over this section. +
Meantime, however, there Is rapi
development of the agricultural valleys
and it is safe to assert that within H.
years as much money will be realized frot
farm products as from the mines h,
tensive irrigation bitches have already bee
constructed, and the rich soil Is panning ou
wheat, oats and other cereals for which the
mining camps offer ready and remuner
ative market. The grazing industry Il,
again feeling stimulating influence, and
splendid horse ana cattle ranches can be
seen on every hand. The combination in
this western third of South Dakota is hard
one to beat The rugged mountains yield
ores, the grassy foothills afford abundant ali
the year feed for cattle and horses, and the
valleys are smiling with crops of grass and
grain.
Mr.. James NJ. Woods, formerly of Ne
braska City, Ncb, ana now leading banke
rancher residing at Rapid City, tells M
that the cost of rearing horses on his horse
ranch Is merely nominal. The market
for horses is not favorable, but in spite OF
the phenominally low prices prevailing, th'
business pays good returns. This success
full tinancier manages not only banks anC
stock ranches, but he owns a 2,O00.acre farm
near Rapid City where he makes good moneS
from grain He Is a type of the successful
Hills man. Though not miner he has
made money every year in other enterprises
and his confidence IN the future of the
country is unshaken by the depression Of
today.
Undeveloped Resources.
One cannot help being impressed with the
undeveioped resources of this great region.
The climate varies a good deal with the ele
vatlon and topography of the country, but is
generally agreeable. The productions have
the wide range of the North Temperate zone
The people are intelligent, energetic and
enterprsing The Elkhorn Valley and
other railways afford transportation
facilities necessary TO proper de-
velopment of the country. The
Black Hills, to my mlnd needs but three
things to enable it to startle the world with
It's progress, viz: Capital to develop the
poor mems mines, advertising to attracg
farmers to the rich farming regions, where
homesteads are still available, and com.
plctc system of valley irrigation. With
these assured, the railways, which have
pressed, ploneer-like, into an Improbable
country, will reap the harvest their enter
prise has earned.
Among the cities Of the Hills Deadwood
remains the commercial center though not
growing at present. Rapid City Is dull but
prepossessing and still confident she will be
to the Hill country what Denver is to Colo
rado. Hot Springs is tho pleasure and
health resort, growing rapidly and con-
tidently, but not booming. Lead City
is the creature of the Homestake and polls
more votes than any other city in the Hills.
She is vigorous infant and the busiest Of
the sisterhood of cities. Sturgis is quiet,
but healthy and beautiful for situation. Hill
City depends upon the tin mines Custer is
waiting for the general advancement of the
country speariish ,s, ;,,,s, is the center center
and the seat of the State Normal school.
Central City is gasping for breath, trying to
recover from the blow dealt to her pros"
perity by the suspension OF work on the De
Smet mine. Little can be said of the other
villages except that nothing particular Is
doing anywhere to encourage the town lot
speculator.
Rapid City's Prospects.
Rapid City ought to be the largest town in
this section. Standing where the hills and
plains meet she is the natural exchange and
supply point for farmer, miner and stool
grower. Well laid out, compactly and sub
Il,h ht,ilt n lntn oil chn nuy
have presumed too much upon her
natural advantages and gone too far.
for the present in supplementing
them, but there is good basis, bsf
of hope and expectation upon which to builld
for the future Two railways partly pro.
jectei exhibit the enterprise and foresight
of her citizens, bit thus far they have nos
| convinced heavy capitaliste that they ars
| right One looks to the Missouri river and
is graded eastward for sixteen miles reachI
ing out almost hopelessly for hell
from beyond the Big Muddy. The other
is backed by w. II. Good, an enterprising
citizen, whose faith in his town ought to bt
rewarded muniicently. He is building to
| and in spite of almost insupcrable obstruc-
| tions has put down six miles of as
good railroad as can be found in
| the state and is slowly moving ON
| to his goal. His line Is a sensible
| one from almost every standpoint 1T Will
and as tourist line win be attractive 1t
| taps an extensive low-grade, ore-produclng
| section and ought to earn money hauling
| rock to the Rapid City Chlorination works.
1t also opens to Rapid City the only
remaining large body of tim
| ber in the Black Hills. Finally
| it communicates between two competing
| lines and completes the system of railway
transportation for the region. If the Pierre
| or Aberdeen line across the Indian reserva-
tion shall now be added TO the combination,
Rapid City will grow into something mora
than an over doomed village, Rapid City Is
all right Time viii yindicate the faith Of
her enterprising citizens, if Time Is not an
migrate and seducer. L. w. Is.
Mrs. O'Leary Secures Her Ponsion.
MAsoNyILLE, Mich, June 3-Mrs O'I.eary,
who for nearly twenty-five years has been
waiting for Chicago 10 give her a pension,