The sun., 1897-02-28
MILLIONS IN RAGGED TOP.
THREE TOWNS WHERE NO ONE LIVED
EIGHT WEEKS AGO.
Black Hiiis-wise Pro.pectsrs Laughed the
ReEton TO scorn TIL Lots or Gold Was
Accidentally Ronnd-Rear Wen. Keen Avail

The Rush Tor the Sew Gold Camps In the
Black Hills-wise Prospectsrs LauE Ehed the
ReEton Go scorn TIL Lots or Gold Was
Accidentally Round-Peer Men, Keep Away .
Millions Of dollars in gold have been taken
from the mines in the Black Hills OF South Da.
kota, yet n vast portion OF that section remains
undeveloped, because capital has been lacking.
The recent discovery OF gold In the Ragged
Top country has brought the Black Hills to tho
notice OF the entire country, and already the
fame OF the Ragged Top mines rivals Dendwood.
Lcsdville, and Cripple Creek, and the rush .or
locations and town lots bids fair 10 continus
until every available foot Of land Is secured.
Unlike other discoveries, the mines in the
Ragged Top country require but a small outlay
OF capital. and that can be had BY shipping few
tons OF rock TO the smelter and turning IL into
gold. The finds at Ragged Top were purely &c.
cidental In the early days the pros 2octors In
their search for gold confined their explorations
entirely to the archean formations, and secuted
the idea that gold existed In the po .sdsm and
carboniferous formations, OF which the Ragged
Top finds are composed. The orc resembles flint.
and the finding OF such high-grade ore in the
limestone formation is q ringer" on men who
pose practical miners So far It is the green.
horns" who have made money in the Ragged
Top country. The story OF the irst strike " at
Ragged Top Is told to every stranger that comes
within hAiling distance OF the camp.
party Of prospectors passing through on
their way to the Terry gold camp picked mp q
few pieces OF the limestone near the mouth of an
old shaft that had been abandoned years before,
and thinking there might be few grains OF gold
they vcntured dollar TO have the stuff assayed.
The result startled them. Tho assaycr told tho
men that the rock which they had brought him
worth $500 ton. They at once returned
10 the place and stsked OF their claims, ard
after gathering up all the loose ro,ks lying near
them they shipped them TO a smeltcr and So
cured several thousand dollars for their find.
In the mean time some miners who had located
the ground previous - the find had become dis
heartened. and, an old jew happening along one
day. proposition was made Ia him 10 sell him
one OF The Claims ior 500. The jew was crafty,
and realizing that the property was worth more
than the amount ASKED, he neyerthelcss would
not accede TO their terms, After considerable
suits OF clothes worth in all probability $50.
When the value OF the property became known
claim for $4,000
m.n " as not SS &sE %Eaa na' s 9 'kS ks al % Rs
early settlers in Nebraska he hold down a claim
or twelve years ago. He alway. managed 10
earn good living. holding himsah free and in
During the past year or two he has de
Ssse h III Places which, eSS Miners s ahs i
praepectors have passed over With con.
tempt he camled on and stakeI his for
snd Rsrosa sHsS a'Ss
the value OF his Discovery, established station
near Ragged Top. and TO-DAY his Ind I: exciting
in the West. William has sold out an interest
for $4,000 just enough 10 keep himself in funds
worked AZ depth q. 2CI feet, and during tho
visit OF the writSr ore that assAyed S6s,ooo
shaft. II H. the richest OF the RASScd Top mines,
starncr Rrothcrs mine is another of the pay
shatr is down thirty feel, and ore valued al sisS
70 $500 is being taken out AZ the rate ot two 70
Who have heretofore farmcd IT, ali their liSss'
but they managed 10 make 4 lucky strike and
are Me"ithy An oftcr OF $1,000 for their two
offered 10 sell for So, bur could rnd no buyers.
Iaerc are twelve mines in the group that have
the ton, produced with compAyativC!y small
outlay OF capital. Three town sites now laid
north and south line. The one on the north 10
called Preston. then comes Rnmural. followed
OF OF Sss pSP Of Should me The M ndSS9H.
only matter OF time beiors a.. three OF thess
towns Will eecone one. nt the three Preston 10
foot OF the mountain, On fairly level land il has
all the advantages that nature can provide ip
this section. Its projectors are men OF push and
tensoty who spare no effort in the endcgyor TO
make the lttIc city second Cripple Greek,
where to-iay a thousand mon push and $ r1sgi:
in AN cndeavor 10 gain choice lolations ~ Huv
al option On one, Tho cold aul snow seem not
10 have dc,cgrei them. :or every day the hack
line operated by Matthews Bros. rur~ three
stages between Preston and Lead and Dead.
wood, aud each "trip tho stage is crowded with
s!shtscers ana prospective buyers A hotel has
recently been completed and restaurants "a
lvons, and lodging houses DO n thriy4ng nus ..ySs.
Let mo warn the laborcr who thinks MS for
tune can be made IN uay II he can unly get 10
the Black Hills. The reports sent ru' about
Ragged Top would secm 10 indicate IhA. IL l.
paradise FOR poor men, lnil! the mines arc
thoroughly equipped there will b. no demand
FOR skilled or coulnon labor IN that cu'IutrV be-
cause there IL a surplus Of idle men in the ycin-
ity, The hAn wno spends Lis last cent inr a
tickct Ia Lead or Preston and lands there with.
out enough Ia buy a moSl viii not hc allowed 20
stArVe hut he had better remain where he Is. 4
man with capital enough Ia buy y town lot or
lease nin!ng claim can make money Ivy coming
10 the Hills 10 invest il.