Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-03-13
TOWN OF sToNEwALh
Interesting Record Of the Organisation
Of q Mining District on the Pres
ent Site Of Custer.

ent Site Of Custer.
On his return last week from Sun
day visit at Hermosa, Col. w. J
Thornby brought with him what is on
of the Oldest extant original records O
the organization of mining distric
and town in the Black Hills. Th,
book which is still in good state o
preservation, was given to the colone
by S. NJ. Booth of Hermosa, who go
it from his father, now deceased. Th'
elder MIR. Booth was given the recorC
by his former partner, S. r. Shankland
who came into possession of the recort
when he succeeded the original re
corder of the town of Stonewall, now
known as Custer. The record wal
intrusted TO Col. Thornby to exhibit tc
the old.timers at the annual picnic
next June and it is not improbable
that Mr.. Booth will eventually present
the record to the Black Hills Pioneer
society; to become part ofits archives
Col. Thornby is also the owner of the
compass which was used to lay out the
townsite of Stonewall, afterwards
Custer, which was presented to him
twenty-five years ago by S. R. Shank.
land. 1t is the colonel's intention to
also add this relic to the collection OF
pioneer implements owned by the
society.
The party of about one hundred men
who in 1875 took up claims along
French creek in the vicinity of the
present town Of Custer, had come into
the Black Hills with various outfits.
Some were of the Gordon party OF
Sioux City, others came from the Pine
Ridge and Red Cloud reservations,
some from Cheyenne and other points
from which the adventures were
accustomed to make their start to the
Black Hills. In June, 1875, they
found themselves about one hundred
strong and determined that it was time
TO establish some sort of an organiza-
lion and to promulgate laws for the
regulation of their mining pursuits.
They met on June IL, 1875, at what is
known as Bear Rock, a prominent
natural monument about one mile up
French creek from the present town
of Custer, and organized what they
,alled the Cheyenne Mining district
with William Trainor as president and
Il. Harrison as recorder. The Office
IF the recorder was in a cave located a
ew hundred feet from Bear Rock.
The placer claims were located up and
lown the creek from Bear Rock and
he record of the recorder contains
nap, covering two pages of the book,
howing the respective locations of the
,arious claims.
The first log cabin built stood where
he Masonic hall in Custer is now
ituated and was used as a store room
or provisions and tools. 1t was run
N a cooperative plan and grub and
upplies were sold to the men at
easonable prices. The record shows
hat bacon could be bought for the
modest price of thirteen cents per
'ound and for -four they charged S.
'er hundred pounds. The second
abin put up was constructed by DR..
flick, now and for many years past,
eisident of Rapid City. At the or
,anization of the mining district the
ollowing set of laws were adopted
nd put in force:
Mining Laws of Cheyenne District.
This district commences at the stock
de and extends to the head waters
# French creek, and from summit to
ummit.
A quartz claim shall not exceed
fifteen hundred feet in length or one
hundred and fifty feet on each side of
revice.
A placer claim consists of three
lundred feet up or down the gulch, and
extends from base to base.
Any miner leaving their claims for
fifteen days without a representation
md that to consist of days labor with
. shovel and pick, at any one time
hall forfeit them.
The mining season will close on the
ifteenth day of November and remain
losed until the lst day of May of each
'ear.
No fume or sluices shall empty on
mother miners claim, without his
Every miner shall have the right to
lig drain ditch or tail row through
mother miners claim.
Five days will be given to prospect any
me claim and claims not recorded
n that time will be considered vacant
ground.
Claims taken up in company, after
being duly recorded can be represented
,y one or more of the company, but
hey must be recorded by the indiyidu!
Il owning them.
The recording fee, for recording
,laims properly measuring them fur
,ishiug a certificate and numbering
he claims, will be two dollars for each
claim.
The recorders duties will be to keep
, correct list of all the claim, keep the
records of the district, issue notices of
he meetings, measure the claims
when requested to do SO, open the
meeting and preside with the president
over all meetings, and also keep a
correct plat of the gulch, to give in
to those seeking claims in
our district
Every miner is entitled to a claim in