The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-28
UNTOLD WEALTH In
The BLACK HILLS
ANNUAL GOLD OUTPUT RAPIDLY
NEARING s1o,ooo,ooo.
Many Buttes and Ridges Topped with
Gypsum Other Sources of Natural
Wealth Abound in This Marvellous
Country, Already Rich in Ore and
Gems. .-.. .--. .,. .%% q

Gems. .-.-.. -~.-..,. --@.
Deadwood, S. D., Dec. 2S.-The fame of
the Black Hills of South Dakota has
spread all over this country and into for
eign lands, and the wealth produced an
nually from it's gold mines alone is rapid
ly approaching the 100000 mark, but
the future undoubtedly holds still greater
fame and wealth for this district
According to recent estimates based on
United States government surveys and
reports, there still remains unmined in
the Black Hills district more than bill
hon dollars worth of gold and silver.
Tin copper, lead, coal and mica have
been found in various sections, and have
yielded good returns to those who have
worked them. Gypsum in enormous guam
titles tops hundreds Of buttes and ridges,
extensive deposits of limestone much of
itsof a high grade, insure an ample sup
ply of decorative building material, and
beautiful sandstone, in apparently mex
haustible beds, adds each year an in
creasingly large quota to the riches Of
this western part of the state.
Ignite and granite are found in large
quantities. The amethyst, the garnet, the
topaz, the sardonyX, and many other
gems, and beautiful rare crystals and
quartz Of several colors, all are to be
counted in estimating the wonderful min
eral resources of the Black Hills, but
when they are all enumerated other
sources of natural wealth present them
selves for consideration in this marvellous
country. "
Other Sources of Wealth.
The slopes of the hill represent great
Interests in timber; the rich nutri-
tious grasses of the valleys and foot
hills afford pasturage for cattle and
sheep, and the soil in many sections has
proved to be excellent for the growth OF
wheat, oats, rye and barley. It is esti-
mated that the annual returns from the
output of the gold, silver and other
mines, agriculture, stock raising and va
rious Independent industries now exceed
S25. 900, 000 and each year there is an i'm
menSe increase.
Although there are now between 1000
and 5000 miners employed by the two
hundred and more mining companies
operating IN the hills. and about 5000
men engaged in industrial branches, in
Guiding more than 1900 in the lumber
business, there are abundant opportuni-
ties for mechanics and skilled workmen
in the various trades for throughout the
Black Hills there is progress in all lines
of industry, with a great demand for
labor.
The industrial center of the Hills Sec
ton is Deadwood, a wide-awake, active
city, with a population in 1905 Of 1854.
which is augmented each month by the
business men and handicraftsmen, who
are attracted to it on account OF it's ex
ceptional opportunities for those who wish
to make a comfortable living for them
selves and lay by snug little fortune
for the future. The city has some flne
modern business establishments, show
ing unmistakable signs of prosperity and
progress. The lumber interests are large
and the saw and planning mills are lucra-
tive investments.
Railway Facilities Good ~'
The city is the seat of government for
Lawrence county and is admirably To-
Gated on the Chicago & Northwestern
line. which places it in communication
with other cities of this region and also
with, the cities of the eastern part of
the state and with the important market
points of the middle west. The town Of
Deadwood was organized in 1876, about
six months after the discovery of rich
deposits of gold in Deadwood gulch, which
drew crowds of prospectors to that Sec
ton. The town grew very rapidly and
soon attained a commercial prominence
which has steadily increased as the coun-
ty, grew in population and in wealth:
1t was in Deadwood that the first chlor-
ination plant was established after many
experiments in the treatment of ore. AS
time has passed improvements have con-
stantly been made, and this old process
has now been supp1anted by the new
cyanide process, which is far more eco
nomical and much simpler There are at
present six large cyanide plants in OPP
Grafton and two more will soon be fin
ished. These, with the great shelters,
make Deadwood one Of the most impor-
tant gold mining. centers in the world
The city has electric lighting and tele-
phone service, it's system of waterworks
is good, the public schools and a private
ees and The pa6e 6s hoa5
important position in supplying the de-
mands of the reading public. ~
Second in Population.
Lawrence county, although much small
er in area than most of the counties
of South Dakota has a large population,
standing second to Minnehaha county,
which is the most populous in the state
According to the census of 1900, it's citi-
zens numbered 1897, but it~has grown
wonderfully since them Some of the
most noted mineral tracts of the Black
Hills lie within Lawrence county.
!. The Blacktaf district, which is one of
the most productive in the entire region,
although it has been worked for over
twenty five years, lies only two and a
half miles west of Deadwood. Still far
Their west and north is the Maitland or
Garden City district, which has advanced
rapidly into prominence since the cyanide
process for the treatment of the ore was
established, as it has been found to
work very successfully there, often Civ
ing yield per ton of about SO In gold.
West Of the Maitland tract lies the Car
Donate district, which experienced a great
boom in 1886, but the quartzite level has
never been reached by shafts although
it is claimed that there are indications
of its, being one of the richest gold dis
tricts of the county. = ~ 49, = -
Crown Hill, Bear Gulch Ragged Top,
North Lead, Strawberry, Yellow Creek
Two bits. Ruby Gulch and 4Galena dis
4 tsicts. are all : important mineral lands
where untold wealth lies waiting to be
brought to the surface, and the future
prospects are certainly very bright for
the mining companies undertaking these
vast enterprises.
Enormous quantities of refractory ore
arc now being taken from tho no ia