Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1883-03-17
The Copper Mines and Local Events Of
Rawhide
From our Special Correspondent.
MUsKRAT CANYON, WYOMING
March / 1881 Z

MUsKRAT CANYON, WYOMING
March /, 1883. {
EDITOR CUSTER CHRoNiCLE-Items OF
interest TO the readers Of the Chronicle
have not shown up in this camp during
the severe weather Of the past few
weeks. Snow WAS badly drifted in the
ravines and deep cuts, making locomo-
ton difficult, travel Ly wagon impossi-
BILE, and rendering delivery of mail very
uncertain and irregular.
L. y. schedule quotes daily mail to
Raw hide from Cheyenne, but during the
past month 1t might have been more ap-
propriately termed delay mail Balmy
spring weather set in about ten days ago,
and the beautiful has sufficiently melted
to lead US to hope that our mail matter
will hereafter reach us with some degree
of dispatch and regularity. The mail
arrangements between Custer and this
place are poor at best, ten to twelve days
after date of publication being the very
earliest we have received the CHRONICLE
Were this remelied the CHRONICLE sub
scription list would receive correspond
ing benefit.
1t was generally supposed that the
cattle interests Of this part of the coun-
try would sustain heavy loss, by reason
Of the severe storm of January 10th and
goth. The facts, however, show but
very slight loss, consisting OF only = few
head OF stock, mostly young calves.
Under late ruling Of the secretary Of
the interior, the fence question Is caus
ing no little stir among the stockmen Of
this section of the country, and although
the orders given to the agents Of the
department are explicit and call for i'm
mediate action, il is the generally ex
pressed opinion Of those concerned, that
the orders Of the secretary will fail to
reach more than 90 per cent Of the cases
enumerated in the instructions. Cattle
influence is assuredly paramount
throughout this territory, and any ard
every opposition to such Interests will
meet with small favor AT The hands Of
eisht-tenths Of the male population.
The miners are, Of course, taking no part
in the Issue, but are all taking advantage
Of the good weather and rushing the
development Of their mines.
Several locations have recently chang
ed hands at reasonably good figures,
and the closing days OF March viii de
tpfminc fully as TO the transfer Of Il
group of mines in which are included
the Michigan and Mammoth and also
Of second group, in which the Black
Eagle and Little Bessie are included,
both groups are now being negotiated in
England under certain stipulated con-
tract conditions as proposed by an agent
Of an Enylish syndicate and duly accept
ed by the owners Of the mines.
The Fairbank smelter is steadily turn
ing out it's GoO0 pounds of copper matte
per day, upwards Of 100 tons Of bullion
having already been shipped to Chey-
cnnc.
An ore body has been struck at a
depth Of l37 feet from the surface work
ing5 on the Sunrise mine, clearly de
monstrating the mine 10 be not merely
a blanket lode as was heretofore the
very general opinion.
The Smelter company holds bond on
the Village Belle mine, located near the
Sunrise, and / learn that John Dugan
has just sold his inte rest in the Garfield
lode for snug sum. Peter McGovern,
owning a similar interest to that of
Dugan refuses to sell at the figure,
claiming the Garfield to be better
nine than the Sunrise. Whether the
facts will warrant Peters claim Of supe-
riority for the Garfield am unable to
state. as have not seen the property.
| am, however, assured that the Garfield
is unquestionably most promising
property.
The many inquiries that come from
all parts Of the United States relative to
the precious character, extent and value
of the mines here, gives strength to the
belief entertained by the mine owners
and the business men Of Cheyenne, that
at no distant day, we Of this camp, may
look forward to stirring times.
Glad TO note in the CHRONICLE Of the
10th and 18th Of February, signs Of com
ing prosperity in mining interests
throughout the Southern Hills, and let
me say right here, that if l am any
Judge of the article have seen excellent
copper indications within few miles
of Custer City, and notably In the direc'
ton Of the Point Of Rocks, which, il
rightly prospected, would, believe
prove Of more than average value.
know Of good properties in this camI
that present less favorable surface IN
dications than NAV be found in the
locality | have mentioned. 1t would
perhaps, be as we'll, were it un
derstocd. THAT > # gopher-hole doe
| not attain the suggested rightly pros
! pected. A word 10 the wise, etc.