The richness of the Homestake ore has averaged fourteen dollars per ton for many years now. This may not sound like any considerable amount of wealth—but the most active gold operation in Colorado, the Fairplay dredge, is working gravel which pays an average of nine cents per ton.
Finally, the records of the company show that it has mined 70,000,000 tons of ore, yielding a total of 18,000,000 ounces of gold, which has brought a gross price, at various standards, of $450,000,000.
With the opening of the Homestake, the conquest of the Black Hills was effectively completed, and the region entered into a period of rapid development and expansion. Although the great mine at Lead was run solely as a business enterprise, devoid of glamour and excitement, the town of Deadwood, two miles away, enjoyed a decade of the lustiest history ever to be known by a bonanza town. During its years of activity and arrogance Deadwood contributed to our national folklore several great figures, among them Calamity Jane, Deadwood Dick, Wild Bill Hickok, and Preacher Smith.
CHAPTER FIVE
History II: Deadwood Days
Sam left where he was working
one pretty morn in May,
a-heading for the Black Hills
with his cattle and his pay.
Sold out in Custer City
and then got on a spree,