, 1884-01-31
INTERESTING LETTER
From the Country to the North.
To the DEMOCRATIC LEADER.

bccJlOu ulkub uOJ Co"c ohiSS, 80 We
are doing everything in our power to
be placed in communication with you,
30 thai we will be able to get q few
courtesies extended to us in the way of
mail, express and passenger facilities,
all of which we very much desire, upon
our parts, and humbly ask the aid and
assistance of ell the business men in
Cheyenne and all along the line, to do
everything in their power to see that
the proposed service from Hat creek to
Custer be made a subject Of special
attention.
The benefits to be derived from the
extension of this service has already
been explained in petitions to the de-
partments; also in letters to the LEA
DER, urging the people of Cheyenne to
do all in their power to that end.
We have had so far q most delight
full winter, the thermometer at no time
indicating lower than 2Oo below zero,
and that only three times.
The snow at no time so far has
been deeper than four inches. At
present we have about two inches on
the level, but the months Of February,
March and April will make up for all
deficiency.
Trade in all lines OF bushes has
bean good during the last year, and
the months of November and Decem-
Der were better by far than was ex-
pected by the most %sanguine. So
much so that the merchants are in
fear of running completely out before
spring stocks car be got in. The
amount of goods 1 layed in last fall
would usually have lasted until May l,
but they will fall short about two
months.
A great many of the mines that were
in operation last fall closed down De-
oember l, and didn't expect to start
up before spring, are making prepara-
lions to resume work on a large scale
Immediately.
The Climax mica mine, one Of the
best mica mines IN the Hills, If not in
the United States, has lately changed
hands, the purchasers being Chicago
parties. A good round sum was paid
for this valuable property. The work.
ing force has been increased, new
buildings put up, and an air Of pros
perity reigns. This property has paid
from its very groupings. The recent
purchasers seeing how valuable 1t was
have increased the force double, and are
simply surprising themselves In the
quantity and quality they are taking
out. The mine Is opened by e shaft
$50 feet in depth at present, and is be-
ing continually sunk, as depth is what
they are after; and as every twenty-five
feet in depth is attained a tunnel is
started, SO a series of chambers are
being cut into the mine, all in mica,
and as depth is attained the quantity
and quality and size Of ledge Is improv-
ing. There are plenty Of other good
mica mines here that are being opened
up, and about three u OF every FIVE
that have had work enough done upon
them to show what was there have
proved to be profitable working proper
ties. Tin and copper interests are
looking very encouraging. The Eta
tin mine, a few miles below and east Of
Custer, is a veritable BONANZA. As to
this there is no doubt. There have
been other very valuable discoveries in
this same mineral, and as the proper
ties are being developed the grade is
getting better and the lodges larger. !
think there can be no doubt as to tae
truthfulness Of my assertions in saying
that there are tin mines In the Black
Hills of Dakota that are valuable, and
can and will be worked on a paying
basis as soon as capital gets in here and
takes hold of them.
There have been some very encour.
aging indications OF copper in paying
quantities, assaying from three to
twenty-five per cent, and the lodges
are from ten to thirty-ave feet in
width. 1 was shown a piece OF rock to.
day that an assay had been made from,
aud it went seventy per cent copper,
according to the ~assayer's certificate.
There is no doubt that the rock is very
rich. There is a large body of ore in
~sight-nearly forty feet-snd large re.
suits are obtained from crude tests, but
/ think that the returns are overesti-
mated. There is no doubt, however,
that it is a very valuable property, and
will attract the attention of capital.
This valuable property is just north Of
Custer.
Custer is very peculiarly situated
being right in the midst of the mica,
copper and tin district, 80 all these val
liable interests center here and are sure
to make 1t one Of the most important
mining centers in the hills. No Other
part of the hills contains these valuable
minerals. Other portions of the hill,
have good gold and silver mines; Sc
have we. Among those that are tribu
tary to Custer, and are in operation
are the Constant Gold Mining com
pany, 40 stamps; the Penobscot
40 stamps; the Gold Star, q
stamps; the Dlskover, 20 stamps
the Hartford, 10 stamps; the st. Elmo
8 stamps; the Grisly Bear, 20 stamps
and the Golden Summit 20, stamps, al
gold, will start up in the course Of four
weeks, and you may look for livell
times here this summer, In fact for I