Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1881-04-09
A Model Mine and ELL.

A Model Mine and ELL.
On last Wednesday W paid IA visit to
the Penobscott mine and mill, situated
about seven or eight miles north vest OF
oftown, and after a thorough inspection
Of the company's works arc satisfied that
we can pronounce them The model one
Of the Black Hills. And taking the cX
pense Of mining milling as a basis they
are equal to any IL the Black Hills *
cepting only the l20-stamp mill at Lead
City.
The owners of this valuable property
have not done things with Il rush as
though Mother Shipton's prophecy in
regard to the worlds coming to- an end
in 1881 was a fact beyond dispute. The
| mill, located about 100 feet from the
mine. is constructed i'm the most work
menlike manner from the foundation 20
the ridge pole, and has a lasting appear
ance. The main bui ding is 30X40 feet,
and % feet high and contains 25-stamps
and five self-fecders and the roof covers
10 feet Of the tramway, the ore being
run in AT the top of the mill and dump
ell ready for the breakers who are real
y the first ones to handle it. The en-
CINE house l4x3O feet covers a large
boiler and engine with power fcI 40
stamps. The mill is under the able
superintcndency OF Messrs. Kiinbal and
Elliott, and what gold can be saved they
will get.
The mine is presided over by Tom
Patterson, and Il more practical miner
F.; never directed the workings OFFS better
mine. and he has got the extraction o!
ore down about as fine rs it can be, with
a few pounds of powder and three men.
knocking down from 100 to 300 tons OF
rock per day, and reducing the cost OF
mining 10 about 30 cents per ton. The
underground workings consist of Il tuli-
mel in about 10 feet. at the head OF
which are two shutcs. tapping the sur
face workings, and into which the ore
ROLES as it is blasted out, and thus
! avoids the Use of shu,elers or 81 ovcis.
From the top of the mill t" these ehu'es
the distance is about go feet, and j.
covered by - tramway and track, over
which a car holding a half ton and
operated bv three men, can run in AT
least 50 tons every twenty-four h urs
At present four men are employed IN
| running a header in advance Of the sur
face workings, SO that no matter how
fast the work progresses on the surface
the track and car will be ready 60 tap il
The surface workings consist Of an eX.
cavation Of about 80 feet in width ri tn,
top, which narrows at the bottom at !;
depth of about 60 feet, and at that point
is tapped by n of the shutea above
mentioned. Three miners and tire,
car men are thus able to keep the mil
supplied with ore.
Fifteen men are employed about the
mill and mine the total expense. givinl
IA good margin, of milling and minina
per day, not exceeding SO. The mil
being IA 2o-stamp, running two tons tC
the stamp every twenty-folr hours, vii
therefore put through ~ tons of ore pen
day. Supposing the ore to 90 only :;
per ton, our readers will perceive tha,
the owners will have Il net proft OF lOt
Der cent or SO per day, and shows that
even a low grade mine in the hands OF
experienced ana practical men, with
only q 25-~tamp mill, can be made to
pay and i, in fact Il bonanza for the for
tunate Wnc