Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-19

miners who wheeled the dirt Eve or six
hundred feet to the rim of the mountain
overlooking Battle creek, where it was con.
veyed through chutes to sluice boxes eta.
toned below. Some three different COM
panies have essayed to convey water from
Iron aud Battle creeks, through q ditch and
aume, to Mameluke hill, but for variou.
reasons it has never been accomplished.
bitches we're dug and fumes constructed
miles in length. and there they stand, mon.
uments Of the folly Of those who tried,
metsphorically speaking, to bore an augel
hole with . gimlet. 1t is understood thai
lack of capital was what in the main retard.
ed the completion Of the work 60 wisely
conceived and hopefully begun. We are
informed that the attention Of capital has
lately bsen attracted towards this neglected
section, aud that E. g. Field, an expert
enced miner, has been diligently engaged
for some months in arranging with the own.
srs in interest of the various placer claims
on Mameluke and adjoining hills, as well
ss the holders of the water franchises Of
Iron and Battle creeks, to consolidate all
their interest under one management, and
he has succeeded in accomplishing the con.
.olidation. Mr.. Field, it is understood, has
interested q party of wealthy and expert
enced mining men, who will furnish the
required capital to construct the bitches
and fumes necessary to convey the water to
the rich placers named.
That such scheme is entirely practicable
and that it will prove largely renumerative,
the best judges who have looked into its
merits unqual;iedly affirm.
l found Hayward, formerly quite q lively
mining camp or Battle creek, exceedingly
dull. However. Judge Hszeltine, the Oldest
slayer in tie camp, assured me that times
would be lively before dog days. From
Hayward l wended my way over Q noun
tain trail 10 the midst of picturesque seen
cry to the Fred Cross mining district, sbont
eight miles northeast of Hsrney's Peak
Arriving after dark at the miners cabin of
Mckee, Nyes wsnger and Smith, the two
former The original discoveries of the
famous Standby mine in Rockford, I was
most kindly received aud Hospitality enter
tained. l found considerable mining going
on 10 this camp. Fred. Cross, discoyerer
of the Oldest and most thoroughly devel-
0ped mine. was AT home" to me, and took
great pride in exhibiting bis magnificent
property. To say that his mine is good IL
not saying enough it is wonderful. A
vein OF quartz extending through the claim
y distance OF 1000 feet. and proved to be
ill of $50 feet W width. and containing ore
that assays from $15 to $3.50 TO the ton,
should be seen to be appreciated. The
Cross mine lie handsomely opeaed by shafts
and tunnels, a great suf1c,ency of ore Being
exposed to justify the construction of q
large . smp-nili.
Friend Cross seems to be enjoying his
''otium cum digpitat" In his bacbelor's
ball, but I rather think an addition to his
household of q hOusekeeper, chosen from
'crestion's fairest part, would add. sweetness
to his golden cup OF prosperity.
/ called upon the genial DR.. Hope. and
as 1t Wss about noon, found him 10 the act
of preraring dinner. I broke bread with
the doctor snd pronounced bis cooking ex.
cellent. Such . dinner 20 was served that
day In his miners cabin, settled the Ques-
ton that miner men fare sumpt0usly. Dr..
Hope and his partners, John Vlenxg and
DR.. Smith. own the extension on the north
side of the Cross mine. The lode 10 named
Little Grace. It is extensively developed
and the ore 10 high.xrsde and abundant.
A stamp-mill is needed on this property.
A qusrter of . mile south of the Cross
niue I found w. Franklin and @. G. Cook
hard ct work sinking . shaft on the 'Snow.
bound lode" This claim is owned BY the
gentleman named. With w. H. Hlbbard,
telegraph manager, and Wm. Woodruff. OF
Cheyenne. % partners. They have . fat
terinR prospect.
The Hoodoo, owned by Olds. Coburn 4
Co, 10 -ituated near the Little Grace. It II
. good mine add only . hoodoo in name
The Legal Tender. situated on Battle creek
end owned by Mckee. Nyeewsnger d Co.,
10 . drst-class mine; developments display
IN ore body two hundred feet In width thu,
assays go TO the ton. Its owners evident
" feel a. il they had found the royal dia'
dem and, possessing such . mine. have
reason To do 50. There are other very
fsttering prospects in this camp, which
some day may prove to be bonanza.
Leaving the Cross camp Friday mornIns
IN the midst Of . NOW storm. I reached
Custer City, twenty-seven miles swsy, ID
the afternoon, where / found dusty streets
sunshine and q warm welcome. Will writ
hereafter Of Custer City and its surround
l tnR mines. l.