Year: 1877




letter to the Salt Lake Herald from
Galena, Black Hills, under date of
March sth, from which we make the
following extracts:


In the absence of other topics it may
be well to give such information as we
have at command concerning the
CLIMATE AND RESOURCES


of this country. The winter may be
said to be over, excepting such pranks
as March may play in winds and storms,
and it may be truthfully said that on a
whole it was a very pleasant one, hay
ing no day so stormy as to hinder the
| successful hauling of ore or doing other
team work, a portion of January and
all of February, being warm and spring
| like. AS to the


MINERAL WEALTH OF THE HILLS,
1 know of no way of judging of the fu-
ture but by the past. If this holds good
| for the next twelve months rs i'll the
last, we shall not only be among the
| first of mining countries, but will be,
par excellence the first and foremost in
extent and richness. Last spring when
the wise heads saw quartz from ledges
or Deadwood literally permeated with
free gold, they claimed that by washing
it carefully the gold could be all wash
ed out and rock would not pay to mill.
Now, however, since the mills are
working it with the most satisfactory
and flattering results, and the ledges
are improving with every foot of devel-
opment, these solons have retreated be-
hind the self-originated theory that
when they reach the water level, by
some sudden conversion to constituent
elements, or some legerdemain trick of
the old man of the mountains, these
lodges will as suddenly disappear, and
the stamp mill stamp hungry batting
in vain, while rust and moth will cor
| rupt the pocketbook of the once opu-
lent owner, and darkness will prevail,
only to be made hideous by the wailing
and gaping skeletons of disappointed
miners. What a blessing it is to have
men of chronic peep-stone on the brain
in new country; it saves much time to
workingmen in making and incubating
theories, but after hearing the same
old song for ten or twenty years it be-
comes like the eternal refrain of Mark
Twain's Norwegian. 1t becomes lit
tie monotonous. The facts are that
from every reasonable standpoint of
view, we are warranted in the anticipa-
tion of


BRIGHT FUTURE,


both i'll mining industry and agricul-
tural and stocking raising pursuits, and
in recommending this as being no doubt
the best country in America for those
wishing to find homes or mines, as we
have, including the country west of us,
a large scope of unprospected and un-
titled territory which will soon be set
tied up and railroads will be built to
carry out the products. How rich the
western portion of the country may be
in mineral is not yet definitely ascer-
tanned, except in coal, which is in SEEM
ingly ineXhaustible quantities between
the Black Hills and the Big Horn
range, and it is reasonable to hope that
| question of so great Importance as the
opening up to settlement of a portion of
the country cannot be unheeded much
longer, and that the influence of blub-
bering preachers and Belknaping poll
ticians of the Indian ring will be out
weighed by the all-patent power of
moneyed interests involved in the new
industries growing out of it. With the
Sioux moved off beyond peradventure
of chance of ever making predatory
IttluS lthIl lllt otIlltlS, tllo luI Iult Htll
is very large, and one, in my opinion,
little comprehended by people gener-
ally.


At present there are but three mills
working on gold-bearing quartz and no
reduction works for the working of base
ores. The Black Hills Gold Mining
Co. are working rock from the Hidden
Treasure, with big results, and what is
known as the Grasshopper company
| (Pinney Brothers) are


STAMPING OUT AMALGAM


from the Wolsey in huge punches; but
just how much it pays per ton is hard
to say, for while they are ever ready to
give such information as may be desir-
ed, they convey it to the inquirer gener-
ally in horn, and the difficulty seems
to be in adjusting the horn so rs to get
the exact figures.


Next come Nichols & Haven, of
Golden Gate notoriety, who are run
ming four arastras and making good
cleanings.


Placer claims on Deadwood are re-
suming work and good pay is being
taken out, particularly from the drift
ing claims opened during the winter by
drain bitches.


To those of my acquaintance in Utah
who anticipate coming to the Hills, l
would give it as my opinion as being of
all countries the one having the bright
est future, and the one in which the
chances of success are best. We have
already telegraph communication with
the outside world, and will soon have a
railroad from some point on the Union
Pacific. There will be occupations for
all, room for all. AS to


| THE BEST ROUTE,


at present I could recommend none but
Cheyenne, from which point the stage
line of Gilmer, Salisbury & Patrick is
making splendid time with the best of
stock and drivers, and it is the inten-
tion to make it a daily line at an early
day in the spring. AS a stage line it is
a success in every particular, with lower
rates of fare than we of the westare ac-
customed to. To those who will come
| say provide yourselves with Sharp's
long range rifles and fair supply of
ammunition which can be obtained at
Cheyenne to as good an advantage as
elsewhere. Now l advise my friends
to