The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1904-05-25

y Ohm II. Hutchinson to his brother,
Robert. of this city. though not
written for publication, is quite
interesting. and we publish it. that
our readers may get some idea of
that strange country:
SILVER Cry. S d,
May 9 1904
DEAR BROTHER:
As l told you / would write you
something about the Black Hiils.
and also my business, 1 will try
and do so the best can.
The Black Hills is a very peou-
liar formation, rising like an island
in the broad expanse of the plains !;
it is called ths richest 100 square
miles in the world Almost ever,
mineral is found here. only three
OF four lacking Ten of ths geo.
logic ages are represented. only
two of the universal organic ele-
ments are lacking and this condi.
tion does moi exist anywhere in.
the world.
Here it is possible to pass on
foot from one formation to another
in very short time. and see all
the formations well defined
The altitude ranges from 1000
to 1915 feet; the air is generally
dry. although. at this time of year
there is good deal of rain, during
April and May The summersH
never get extremely hot, nor the
winters very cold. (l7 degrees be-
low), was the lowest last winter.
You can always sleep with COM
fort under blankets during sum
mer. 1t gets warm during the day
but the nights are cool.x I am told
the water is very pure and olear;
Rapid Greek. running through our
property is we'll named, as it has
fall of about go feet to the mile
and in some places more. 1t HIS
been said the waters carry gold.
1t is told of one party here that he
had good "olean up" from his
tea kettle, the gold settling to .he
bottom.
The creeks abound in mountain
trout varying in weight from four
to five pounds There is wild
game of all kinds. a great many
deer, pheasants, partridges and a
few mountain lions. wild cats and
bear / was told by good authori
ty that he had seen 1S deer near
his camp They came down in
the little valleys TO get grass and
water. and will sometimes almost
destroy a field of oats.
Rapid Greek has a great many
beavers, which are not allowed 10
be killed They will within zone
night construct a dam across the
creek, that would do credit to
mans ingenuity. They cut all the
wood for the dam themselves; cut
tree 8 inches in diameter down in
a very short time by the ne of
their teeth. and the tree falls Just
where they want it to, so they can
out it in right lengths to carry to
their dam.
Norway pine is the only timber
that grows here, of commercial
value. 1t has no undergrowth of
any consequence. We cut one
tree here on the Elkhorn Placer
ground that measured 4 #. in di-
ameter There are some small
trees that grow near the water, such
as quaking asp, birch, willow and
few others.
Fruit does not grow here, none
of any kind, but there are great
quantity of wild red raspberries,
gooseberries and strawberries.
That which we all want, and the
most important production cf the
Black Hills. GOLD. 1 have not said
much about 1t was discovered
July 27 1874, on French Greek.
sbout 25 miles south of here. The
Hills were not opened by the gov
eminent for settlement until 1877,
but there was not much mining
done until 1890, when the O. & N.
w. and Burlington roads built
their lines to Deadwood
This district, Silver City," has
lot been thoroughly developed as
set, on account of lack of railroad
facilities; but am glad to say We
will have one this summer. Some
of the quartz veins have been de.