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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1910)
TIIK OMAHA SUNDAY IJKK. FEBRUARY fl, 1910. Romance of Deadwood and the Wonderful Empire of the Black Hills D r I ' i; v- r. --l&li nf--rn i?51 4 iV" J .- c- 1-.-rtv.'w':,il . Wk mj J. v mmmM-wwmmwx oildini. . . . bead wood-- SroxiJIW -Zi0 0u m. TO ,r t $ L 4 tr" - , ,.3: - : - . - mjr ; 1' , .. , w- '"-':; 4 - ..-..-., .. : ;T ,v.... '. . - .. 'O- I i.v : -. 'H I" " ;;L; ii;u (-: j - :tt , EADWOOD .nd the Black Hlllt Dl o hand in hand; they hav a I history that in unique. Volumes oi romance live in iinuu colon connected with the early days of the Black Hills; the discovery of void, the rich placer diggings, stories of Indian fighting with the fierce Sioux, of stage robbing, of bold outlaws, who, like Robin Hood, led a wild, free life, raring little for customs or laws, ready to do and dare, and who died at last with their boots on. Such were Deadwood and the Black Hills In 1878, perhaps the last border land of chivalry and romance that the world will ever know. Plcturoeque Deadwood, seated at the Junction of the two gulches, hemmed In by rugged hills and the wild mountain scenery of the Black Hills, their gulches, gorges, crystal caves and healing springs are as wonderful as ever, but Deadwood has outgrown the stage-coach character and has now become a commercial city, with railroads entering it from every di rection. No Inland city In America has a more picturesque location that Deadwood. It Is situated at the extreme north end of the Black Hills range, commanding the trade not only of the mountain country which Is rich in all kinds of mineral but also of the fertile valleys below. The tributaries of Whltewood afford natural highways from the mountain country down Into the city as well as an outlet to the foot hills and valley below. Deadirooa'i Romantlo Story Deadwood Is situated on Whltewood creek, at Us Junction with Deadwood creek. Whltewood gulch, elsewhere very narrow and rugged, here widens out into a valley with sweeping curves and pleasant inlets for a distance of one mile or more up and down stream.' On either side the hills rlsa abruptly to a height of several hundred feet, rounding off In overhanging peaks, like White Kocks, which tower 900 feet above the city or sloping away in un dulating ranges. Six miles to the west stands Bald mountain, (,00 feet high. It Is around this old mountain that naturs has deposited her richest stores of wealth, aud many millions of dollars of gold or have been taken from lu base, aud from Ituby Basin, which Ilea near by. Deadwood was Incorporated as a city tn 1SS1, the late Judge Daniel McLaughlin was appointed the city's first mayor. Dead wood has been recognized by the railroads as a central point, and the train service on the Chicago & Northwestern and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy lines have been so arranged that from this city a per son can easily and quickly reach any point of Interest In a few minutes or few hours rids. Today fifty trains run in and out of Deadwood, all of which carry pas sengers. Uncle Sam has seen fit to take care of his business arising In Deadwood by lo cating there an elegant structure known as the United States potitoffice and court house. This building was completed for occupancy last year. The total appropria tions, Including the site for the building, amounted to $0.000. This building houses the f)ostofftce. United States court. Black Hills division of the National Forest serv Ice and the United States assay office. Shis latter being ft branch of the govern ment mint. A 12S,000 court house has re cently been completed. Deadwood has built within the last five yrirs a number of public and commercial buildings, which are second to none In the state. In addition to the two Just men tioned s ft lii.000 Carnegie library, a ru),. COO hotel, the finest In the state, an l,000 theater, ft 165,000 Maaonlo temple, the B'.ack Hi:is Trust and Savings bank, one of the architectural buildings of South Dakota, and many fine business houses, churches i4 school buildings. The residence bulld Im4 hJt been on a par with the construc tion! work In the business section of the town, and .many of Dead wood's bouse ivv nnir. rnnnrt1 with th ariv A ' ' l K i If Mf 3 ' , .Ua ------ -w m- ..mv mir . . . 1 ft 1 11 1 11 M H mm K M - ' ' fT,. fc 1 .wing lltU. for cu.ton,8 or Jaw., r.ady L - - , . .VWVAI f-nPfff 1 'I' V " J will compare favorably with those of any other town in thee lend. Strong- In Msvnafactorles. Deadwood, as a manufacturing point. Is fast taking first rank among the cities of South Dakota. Large wholesale houses are located here, and their sa'.,-men visit every town and hamlet within 100 n.t.'es. Among the .manufacturing industries sr the Beat- rice Creamer company. Fish & Hunter company an3 Stearns company, nM-nufao- turers, wholesalers and retailers vt lum- ber, si,h, doors, etc; Black Hills Menu- facturin tompany, foundry and maaMne shop. Otia of the Important consHera- tions In Iho establishment of manufsctur- ing p'at.m In Deadwood Is the posstU'lty of securing cheap power. This field la well supplied by two large electrlo p'.nrtt. the Consolidated !.wer and .Light coBioWJy, one of the largest 5i.m irtvon Blunts west of the Missouri river, end the Black Hills Club worlt ftmong the women of Dead Traction company, which owns an Immense "o nas come to be one of the Important water power plant twenty miles distant. 'aatur?s of both the social and civic life. These concerns are equipped to furnish for the different clubs, though originally several thousand horsepower, and are rap- organised for purely literary purposes. Idly adding customers who will soon con- ume their entire caDaclty. Since the In- stallment of these plants a large number of the mines and manufacturing Instltu- tions of the neighborhood have discarded their old steam driven machinery and sub- stituted the more up-to-date electrical equipment. The Importance of this elec- trio power to Deadwood and vicinity cannot be overestimated. It Is bound to have ft far-reaching effect. $ Charch Social Life. Coincident with the discovery of gold ana tne rusn or inouBanas seeamg weaitn In the Black Hills came the family, the school and the church. These fundamental elements 01 nigner civilization, mo essential to the welfare of any community, were at once Incorporated Into and became as soon as possible an Integral part of the new life. Th nhuri-h ihartil with other tn. - ... H....I 1 .1 - . 1 1 1 . t S l A iuuiiviii iu 1 1 iv ruufl Aaw.uiiv v& tieer life. It did not await Improved con- d I tions, but assisted In creating them. Its first temples were the groves of pine, the miner's shsck or the log school houBS. Its pulpits a convenient stump or an over- turned dry goods box. Its preachers were brave-heurtt-d men. and. as rule, true to their calling. Many of theia labored as miners or machinists during the week, but on Sunday they would gather about them a crowd, and the settlers would loin with them In singing gospel songs, which would be followed by prayer and a sermon. A volume might be written on the struggles of the churches In those days. Struggles arising, not from opposition or Indifference on the part of the people, but from the prevailing conditions and hardships of those times. The first churches built were t humble proportions, but they have since been replaced by larger and more elaborate edifices. The first women's club organized ,n th Black Hills was the Round Table clu& ot Deadwood. This took place Feb- ruary 14, 1887. with a charter membership or rlve- following the organization of the Round Table came the Thursday club, tho Culture club, the Woman's club and th Twentieth Century club, all of which ar Deadwood ,oon became wider in their scope, and hav ben among the originators of many of tna most Important movements In the "'emoersnip is largo, all the cIubB being well organised, while the character of the work done Is such as would be a credit to the clubs of any city ln our ,n1- Baake aad Business. Deadwood has two banks, one national and one spite, the First National and the Black Hills Trust and Savings bank. Fullv 1176,000,000 of rich ores have been extracted 1176,000,000 of rich ores have been extracted roin mo grouna in tne territory subsidiary to Deadwood since Its foundation in 17, nd with the present outlook for the 10 uiiniug operation s in the Hills it la but ft premonition of the future wealth of the city. Deadwood Is Inhabited by ft hospitable. mneroua wall-lnfnrnns nnni. .. . wuw uvi m .1 T Arim . - Lit - , iuiu wiiiio mey ftre ftttecir tlve to business, find time to cultivate the higher Intellect and are well versed In literature and art. When one la shown the Business Men's dub. with Its 250 mem- bars, one cannot but feel that none of the business advantages offered In the larger cities, have been neglected ln Deadwood. It quite plain that Deadwood will hold all It has secured and In the near future become one of the prominent sum- mer resorts of the middle west. It is not lacking in scenery, climate or natural sur- roundlngs. Many people are coming each year from the Mississippi valley and fur- ther east to spend a week or a month In the mountains. Many people have already established their gummer quarters here, and have a cosy log bungalow that serves them good purpose during their hunting and fishing season. The scenery around Deadwood Is so varied as to be almost indescribable. The conglomerate rocks on both sides of the canon are extremely Interesting In them- selves, but the drives In all directions fur- "8n " many peculiar type or scenio won- der- Cascades, waterfalls, canons and mountain drives are f. never ceasing chain of wonderful suggestion. There are long drives and short drives, peculiar attraction. each with its Black Hills History. The state of South Dakota contains an area. 77,000 spuare miles, of which about 40,000 square miles lleswest of the Mis sourl river. Western South Dakota, ex. eluding the Indian reservations of the Cheyenne Indians and Great Sioux nation, embrace an area of approximately 23,000 square miles, and- extends from the Mis- sourl river to the state line of Wyoming, Western Dakota has a population of from 80,000 to W.OOO. which, at the present time, is confined kuruely to the area known as the Black Hll:s, lying ln the "treme western part and extending north anl south a distance of about 100 miles, Th chief industry of this section Is mln- The chief industry of this section Is mln- '"sr. Dul sioca growing anu agriculture are oarrlid on extensively. Mining will un- doubtedly continue to be one of the chief 'uuir". uuv 1110 rcaiun cpuio u& developing untold wealth In agricultural pursuits. It contains many millions of acrM f rich soil, which only requires Irrigation to make them productive. Vlanv - . It- K -ri a 4 . m vm fvArA with .tlt . -..... ranges, and vast herds of sheep graze on lu rlch Pastures. The Black Hills region was opened to settlement February 28. 177, and all who came In prior to that time were looked upon by the government as tresspasser on the Indian reservation. In consequence. several parties were taken out of the Hill by the government troops and their out- fits destroyed to prevent their return. Some few people had settled at Spearflsh during the summer of 1S7S; then there were some also at Bear Gulch, some thirty miles northwest of Deadwood. Custer and Hill City were the first settlements of all and were the center of excitement until gold was discovered at Deadwood, when both were virtually depopulated In the mad rush to the placer fields. At this time Rapid City was also a small settle- ment After the first few parties had been taken out, the government recognised the fact that the rush was so heavy that It Mould be useless to try to remove the people. Therefore, It again started negotla- Hons wun tne Indians roi oe cession or the reservation. These negotiations were consummated on February 28, 1877, and that spring a very great rush began. " LwreBCe First Cosintr. At Lead City, which was quite a village on account of the placers and gold run. there was no trouble from Indians, as It was somewhat removed from the course of travel and protected by other settle- ments. After the ratification ot the treaty with the Indians, Lawrence county was organised, and the governor of Dakota, appointed the county officers. The county took its name from John Lawrence, who was appointed county treasurer. John Wolzmuth at Spearflsh was among the three county commissioners at that time and Major Seth Bullock was the first sheriff of Lawrence county. Most of the pioneers, who started In their cabins and shacks, havs now handsome residences and are among the most proml- neni uusinoas men 01 uie various com- munltles, The Black Hills derived their name from ma ueavy givwtu ui iiicii pine cuvenns; the mountains with Its dark foliage. The valleys produce a great aniqunt of hardy rercaJs In comparison with their acreage. Almost every ranch has a sroodlv bunch of - - .oMla ftt f.t tnn.t n .Via In ... v ...v iwitimt ... these parts have been very successful and built good homes. Cattle Industry la Heavy. The cattle Industry of the hills, through Belle Fourche, Whltewood, Rapid City and Hot Springs, runs to enormous figures, as bifc-o as 100,000 bead of cattle having been shipped In one jeiir from Belle Fourche. In 1876 the first cattle were turned loose on the ranges of the Black Hills. Later In the same year M. V. Boughton drove In a herd of 200 head. This herd was really the first to be turned out upon the range, and the same fall a band of Sioux swooped down upon the cattle and drove them off. During the spring of the following year, 1877, however, the first big herd of cattle was brought into the country, having been driven over the troll from Texas. In 18b0 several large companies drove their herds to the Hills and selected ranges on the streams flowing from the mountains. That year every one who had money to Invest invested It In cattle, and the result was that the range was overstocked. The coun- try wa, an aeai one tor cattle raising wnen not overstocked the range afforded too&, water and shelter for hundreds of thousands of heads of cattle, the native grasses furnishing more nutriment than those of any other section of the country, For several years th cattle men were not disturbed In their possesion of the range In this section. On the south and east sides of ths Black Hills the same condi tions exist as upon the north and west sldos. Gradually the farmer and small rancher, with their wire fences and cultivated fields, have driven the cattlemen farther away from the Hills. The first shipment of cattle from the Black Hills by rail was made from the town of Buffalo Gap, over the Northwestrn roaj. This anlpment consisted of but a few thousand head and was made ln 1888. the road was extended to Rapid City tha vm, ereater shlnmenta wer ma.An frnm orenn-n a fw mllaa below which remained the main shipping point until In 1889, the road was completed to Belle irmlPrhe riurin th rattu hir,i,inr nf inns thr . .hinn. fmm wn " - Fourche 110,000 head, valued at nearly to, 000,000. With the disappearance of the large herds which formerly ranged over the vallftv m.ng and the prairies adjacent to the Black Hills, there has been no dlmlnuatlon of the number of cattle In the Black Hills; on the contrary, the number bos Increased. -4 Horses aad (beep. While from the first settlement of the Black Hills the broncho was the most liu- portant part of the cattleman and ranch man's equipment, he was not .allowed ts) remain always In the first place In the es timation of the settler. It has been the constant aim of horsemen to Improve the breed, and each year sees this end nearer accomplishment Horsemen consider the Black Hills country the region par excell ence for the raising of fine stock, and many have entered upon the business on a large scale. In 1878 the first large flock of sheep was brought to the Black Hills by J. D. Hale, who had located ft ranch on Morse creek. In Meade county. Others followed Mr. Hale, and the business proved a profitable one. A very good Idea of the magnitude of the Industry can be had when it is stated that during one season 80,000 sheep were shipped to eastirn markets from the Black Hills. Markets for the sale of wool are held every year at Bapld City, Sturgls and Belle Fourche, which are attended by buyers from all over the United States. The wool Industry is one of the most Im portant In the Black Hills region, and the number of flocks Is Increasing every year. The timber industries or the Hills are large but of late have been somewhat curtailed by the forestry laws. Saw mills sre on every hand, however, cutting rail road ties, timbers for the mines and mer cantile lumber for building, ritch pine of the Black Hills take a very fine polish. Although the log cabins of the past have been eliminated pretty thoroughly from the towns, they are In evidence throughout the Hills, many of them having been erected In 1878, and are still In ft splendid state of preservation. Many are built today, on an Improved scale, and form as picturesque and comfortable a home as one could well Imagine. Black Hills Forest Reserve. . The Black Hills forest reserve was es tablished on September 19, 1898, by Presi dent William McKlnley, who on that date by proclamation withdrew from settlement practically all of the timbered area of the Black Hills, the number of acres of land B6t aside for this purpose being 1,211.080, au 0f this large area being In the state 0f South Dakota, excepting 48,640 acros In the Wyoming strip. The object of the forest reserve Is for the purpose of pre. rervlng the living and growing timber, promoting -the younger growth and the regulation of the water supply; the do pendence of the latter for ft sure and sus tained flow Is wholly upon vegetation, j which prevents rapid run-off and Is beet attained by a dense and vigorous growth of timber. The permanent Industries of the Black Hills are wholly dependent upon timber and water; destroy one and these Industries will disappear, while If both are destroyed, tho "richest 100 miles square" will become a desert. The revenue derived from timber sales In the Black Hills forest reserve has been double the expense con- nected with the work. S t Farming; la the Hills, u la "corded that the first actual at- "pt t0 cultivate the soil of the valleyi lading from the foot hills was made In ,n Pr,n" 18Sl7' man by the name or Erown having broken ft few acres of "round In the Whltewood valley, ft few miles below the present town of Crook City. This small tract was planted to oat- an1 ,n July of that Var w" ready nsrvesieu, uui wnro men wem 10 ine 'ru?A tor Jhat PurPO" rv off y the Indians, who took an especial delight In destroying the ripened crop. t ... r . I - I 1 1 1 1 1 . vu viia iojiiouiiiih4 prairie, six ruiies norcn from Deadwood, almost within the Hills themselves, and In the Spearflsh valley, hay was cut ln the summer and fall of 1876, and those who did the cutting took their lives In their hands. Settlers soon flocked to the Red water. Belle Fourche, Lower Falsebottom, Bare Butte, Alkali, Lower Box Elder, Elk, Morse and the val leys of the other streams of the northern, Hills during the latter part of the same year. These valleys have since tha be Continued on Face Fur4