Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-04-07
CUsTERs RESOURCES AND HER
NEEDS


NEEDS.
The following communication from
the cble pen of our fellow townsman
Mr.. c. W. Robbins, is well worthy Of
careful perusal, all Of which is in stric,
harmony with the sentiments Of the
CHRONICLE as repeatedly expressed
through its columns. Mr.. Robbins has
devoted many years to the careful study
of the mineral deposits of this section
and the Hills at large. and knowing
whereof he speaks. is not reduced to the
extremity by which less experienced
writers are so frequently confronted
when forced to guess at propositions
concerning which their knowledge is so
sadly at fanlt. Mr.. r. is thoroughly
familiar with the subject in hand, and
his views. while they are sound and
incontroyertible, may be considered
somewhat overdrawn by some, but it is
but question Of time when even the
most incredulous will ll-oeaoeae thos-
validity, and be forced to the inevitable
conclusion that they were consistently
based upon mature knowledge Of the
surrounding facts
EDITOR CHRONICLE Your kind in
yitation to air my ideas in the CHRoN-
IcLE whenever / had anything of gem
eral interest to communicate. is appreci-
ated, and should an occasional letter
find acceptance, | will from time to
time, have something to say whenever
| think the time and circumstances
demand it.
1t is, believe, conceded by all who
have taken the pains to investigate, that
Custer is surrounded by more Of the
natural resources Of wealth, than any
other locality. If it is not so conceded,
then | wish to go on record as having
made that statement on my own account,
and challenge all comers to prove the
contrary.
We have gold, silver, mica, copper,
iron, maganese, graphite, tin, mineral
paint, together with veins of most every
other mineral, many Of which, not
enumerated here, are rare and of great
value. In addition to these, our agri-
cultural resources, such as soil, timber,
grass, water, and all the facilities for
mining. farming and grassing, cannot
anywhere within my knowledge, be
excelled. And these are not all of the
attractions by which We are so pleasant
ly enyironed, for we have stone Of in
finite variety for building purposes, and
some of which are much sought after,
and are carried away by visitors as
souvenirs of rare beauty. To most Of
your readers, all these things are
familiar, and have stated nothing new;
but those who know these things must
bear with me while / complete the in
ventory, for they must know that the
time has come when we must no longer
hide our candle under bu.hel, but set
our beacon lights upon the hill tops,
and let the world know and see, a3d
that all who seeI for new
fields for profitable enterprises, that in
the way Of natural resources, notwith-
standing it has been kept so quiet, (that
to use slang phrasel Custer lis no
slouch." But am not through yet, for
there are other pleasant things to say Of
Custer which will proceed 10 mention
Immediately beyond our western bor-
der. handy and easy of access, and
tributary to this point, are vast beds Of
coal, oil and salt. while over all the wild
flowers bloom in rich profusion the
climate is agreeable, invigoratIng and
healthful.
Now, | have two-fold reason for
mentioning all these resources. First
to advertise our advantages, and next,
to chow and prove that natural advant-
ages never make town. In the midst
Of all the sources Of wealth, we are
brought to the humiliating confession
that our town is dull, trade languishes,
and many Of our people are discouraged
and despondent. 1t is the people Of
town that make, or break a town. We
need capital to develop our resources,
and the people must put forth their
hand to give these enterprises a start
See Omaha, Kansas City, Denver. every
city which has hourished, or is flourish
ing, had competitors with better natural
advantages than they, but they laid on
their oars trusting to their natural ad-
yantages, without effort on their part to
bring them ont. These less promising
ones happened to be possessed of few
public spirited souls who put in their
muscle and their means to forward ev-
cry public enterprise. Soon outside
capital flowed IN, manufactures were
established, railroads sought their doors,
cities were built, and they stand as
monuments to their sagacity and public
spirit Our people must learn this
lesson, or forever remain in the back :.
ground. That lesson once learned, and
acted upon, Custer will soon take her
place among the grand and populous
cities of the rising west. We should
have done these things long ago, when
we were better able to contribute than
we are to-day, but it is never too late to
mend. DO not fatter yourselves that
these things will come, and must come
without your help. Do not be like
Micanber, always waiting for something
to turn up. We must first produce in
order to attract capital. We must prove
to demonstration that our resources
will pay. and then capital will take hold,
buy us out, or give US their assistance
Theory is all right as q theory, but
practical demonstration is necessary to
induce capitalists to put in their treasur-
ed funds to make a permanent success.
When capitalists put their money into
a new enterprise they want to be shown
every step in the process whereby they
will get it back again with . sure in.
crease. They are not going to take our
word for it altogether.
We have before US now several pro-
positions in which capitalists are show.
ing q willingness to take hold, providing
they zee spirit on tho part of the peo-