The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-06-15
THE HINES ON THE NORTH

fLA1IE-
Some two weeks since q commission
was sent out from the LEADER Office
with instructions TO examine the range
Of mountains extending from Laramie
peak nOrthwsrds, and, more partieu-
larry, the mountains a the North
Platte where the recent discoveries of
rich copper and silver ore had been
made. Upon the writer fell the APP
pointment As chief Of the corps of sci
entihc explorers, representing the pio-
neer newspaper of Wyoming in the
field of practical explorations; and in
the following report some information
will be found, which will be useful TO
those who desire 20 assist in the deyel-
opment Of the mineral resources in that
portion of our country.
The party proceeded via the Iron
Mountain to the head waters of the
Sable creek, thence to the Blue Stone.
or Blue Grass creek, thence to the
head of the two Laramie rivers. The
mineral belt which Is found in the hills
west of Cheyenne is plainly marked in a
north west direction, along the Black
Hills to the southern base OF Laramie
Peak. From the latter point the line
DIVORCES, and the mineral bearing belt
is found to point north easterly, cross
ing the Platte at a point twelve miles
west of Fort Laramie, and extending
over q tract eight miles wide, to the
Rawhide Buttes. and beyond to the
Black Hills of Dakota.
The formation in which the rich
silver and copper ore Is found, is Of
secondary rocks, lime and red sand
stone. The mineral lies fiat under the
limestone cap rock, and has thus far
been discovered in three distinct 1oca-
tions. Thethree claims being owned,
the first by Messrs. Dickson, McGregor,
Allen and Miler; the second by Capt.
Bulb. Lieutse Waite and Whitehead;
and the third By Mr.. Mackay. Beyond
this lime formation. and existing for
several miles, are beds of shale. They
alternate with the sand stones and other
strata Of these formations. and are
colored red from the oxide Of iron and
copper they contain. while in other
places they are olive and sometimes
green and ~variegated. Throughout
the hills covered by these shales are
numberless quartz veins carrying gold,
silver and copper. and on these many
valuable locations have been made.
Gold, silver and copper appear in their
natural state in these quartz veins, and
the miners frequently wash the pure
gold from quartz pounded up in a
mortar.
The miners now engaged in prospeo-
ting in that country have made twenty
twolocations, all showing fine mineral.
either gold, silver or copper. They
have organized a mining district, which
they have named, the Platte Canon
mining district, elected Mr.. II. Il.
Miller, recorder for the ensuing year,
adopted a constitution and bylaws and
have done everything necessary to se-
cure a successful and flourishing mining
camp. The LEADER will probably re-
fer to this new enterprise frequently,
keeping its readers well informed re-
garding its progress and any Q devel-
opments that may be, made there.
The LfADER Representatives is in
debted to many kind people, residing
in the country he visited, for generous
hospitality and many substantial favors.
He was welcomed everywhere and made
comfortable. Among the many friends
who placed us under obligations, are:
Mr.. and Mrs. Meyer, Davis ranch;
Swan brothers manager of their Sa-
belle ranch; Capt. j. w. Bubb and Mr..
]. London, Of Fort Laramie, and
Messrs. Dickson, Allen and Miller of
Copperopolis, and especially the two
ladies of the camp, Mrs. Louisa Dick
son and Mrs. Louisa Miller.