Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-02-21
The Write up In the Sioux Falls Argus
Leader.

Many of our readers are no doubt
aware that we have had representative
here of the Argus-Leader, who has writ.
ten up the resources of our county and
described our city. This write up so far
as it describes our agricultural and stock
interests is very good, and what he has
to say of our climate, our scenery and
our history is all correct and we'll writ
ten. 1t is only when he comes to the
description of our mines and more par
ticularly the character of our ores that
he falls down. We select paragraph to
illustrate what we mean.
This county enjoys the enviable dis
tinction of producing the finest quality
of gold, so fine, and the best grade of the
precious metal known to science. The
predominating ores, those found in the
greatest quantities, come under the head
of free milling and concentrating, which
are highly amenable to the chemical
treatment of the cyanide process, and
refractory.
Now, every miner understands that
free milling ore is not refractory, and
every miner understands that free mill
ing ore is not amenable to the cyanide
process. 1t is simply nonsense and that
is all that can be made Of it. We find
no fault with the special correspondent
of the Argus-Leader, that he is a gentle
man of fine literary ability there is no
doubt, and he has we'll fulfilled his prom
ise to give us a good and an extended
write up. 1t was not his fault for he did
not pretend that he knew anything
about mines or ores, but those who gave
him his data should have instructed him
better. We have not space to reprint
the write up entire in this issue, but may
do 30 later. Here Ia what he has to say
of Custer City, which is excellent.
"Custer City, the judicial seat of Gus
ter county and the metropolis of both the
county and the southern Hills, has the
honor of being the first town, and en-
bracing the spot on French creek where
gold was first discovered in the Black
Hills. Located just north of the coun-
ty's center, in lovely little valley sur
rounded by pine clad hills, with an ele-
vation of $500 feet, it is one of the
healthiest places in southwestern South
Dakota, a section noted for its warm
chinook winter winds and cool summer
breezes. It's substantial business blocks
aud houses, mostly of stone and brick,
with spacious, level streets, neat side
walks and splendid residences dotted
here and there, at once suggest en-
terprise, thrift and prosperity. In the
way of public improvements 1t has an
excellent school building, a thirty
thousand dollar court house, and a
splendid water works system, recently
constructed at cost of $4,000, with an
IS pound pressure, sufficient for fire
protection, and ample supply Of water
for its 1000 population. Its refined
society, church organizations, public
schools and public-spirited citizenship
are among the chief characteristics of
the town. A more sociable people can
not be found anywhere. AS mining
and commercial center it is the trade
center for the large mining district that
surrounds it. The main stem of the
Black Hills line of the popular Burling-
ton system passes through the town,
thus affording excellent shipping and
transportation facilities. The volume Of
business annually transacted by the
ffty.five business firms and enterprises
is placed at $500,000 with capital in
| yestment of $l74,70O.