Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-11-14
The Electric Mine Indicator.

A party OF gentlemen CoHlPoscu VI
Messrs. M. III. Webber and Prof. Prince,
of Boston, Mass, Mr.. q. +. Poland, OF
ECbert, Wyo., Mr.. j. NJ. Tompkins, of
Cheyenne, and the writer, visited the
SILVER Crown mining district last Thurs
day, for the purpose Of testing an electric
mine indicator, recently patented and
manufactured in Boston by the Electric
Mine Indicator company, of which Mr..
Webber is the president. The patent
mine Indicator consists Of powerful bat
teries, highly sensitive electroscopes,
electromagnetic and ground electrodes,
scientifically connected and so delicately
adjusted, that the faintest current OF
electricity in the ground causes dehec-
ton Of the needle in the electroscope,
and thus this wonderful invention, by
means Of attraction or connection, brings
this current 70 the surface Of the earth,
renders it visible to the human eye and
make it useful to the mining world by
correctly indicating each and every
vein, giving a perfect outline of the
same, even if fifty feet or more below
the surface and by the variation in its
power enables US to jndge as to the rich
ness of ore as we'll as to the probable
depth OF the deposit. 1t is a well known
fact that there is in every mineral vein
or deposit current Of electricity un-
ceasingly traversing its entire length
and breadth, known as the earth cur
rent, which, according to geologists, was
the first cause Of these deposits, and is
now continually being generated by the
peculiar metallic combination in the
ore-be the same gold, silver, copper,
iron, etc. That the existence of this
current is not mere theory but an ac-
tual and positive fact, has been demon
strated and proved beyond doubt by this
wonderful invention. Its value to the
mining world will be apparent to all.
Being able TO trace out q map OF all
,xisting veins, giving their correct loca-
ion, size and probable distance from
the surface, and thereby establishing
the value of the property, prospectors
will be able to work with as much GER
tainty as the builder does from the
plans of the architect Enormous out
lays of labor and money heretofore in
cured in sinking shafts and driving OF
tunnels on imaginary indications or
merely blind outcroppings, will be saw
ed There need be no more unneces-
sary expenses in fruitless search for
veins by expensive cross-cuts. The
miner will know where to sink his shaft,
and thus not only will thousands of
dollars be saved but mining, heretofore
a very doubtful speculation, will be
changed to very profitable and legiti-
mate business.
The experiments with this mine in
dicator in the Silver Crown mining dis
trict last Thursday, were witnessed by
Messrs. Nj. II. Webber and Prof. Prince
of Boston, Mr.. Geo. +. Poland of Eg-
bert, Mr.. j. nj. Tompkins of this city,
Messrs. Mcdonald and joyce, practical
miners, Of Silver Crown, and the writer.
Wherever the indicator was applied
over vein it indicated the existence OF
such vein distinctly by rapid motion
Of the needle in the galvanometer or
eectroscope, and whenever the vein was
passed the needle would remain per.
fecty passive. All spectators were con
vinced that this wonderful little machine
correctly located mineral deposits, and
tells their width, length and probable
depth from the surface.
The inventor and patentee Of this
machine has spent seven years in per
fecting it, and the company owning the
patent has expended $4,000 for the
same purpose The indicator has beer
in successful use in Georgia, Maine
Massachusetts,, California, Utah anC
Nova Scotia. The use and sale of these
machines ia Colorado and the territories
of Wyoming, Montana, Dakota ano
Idaho, is under the control of Messrs
Webber, Poland and Tompkins, wht
will give all required information on ap
plication.-Cheyenne Leader.
Since inserting the foregoing We hav,
received further account of the won
derful machine called the Mine Ind
Gator. The test having been made OF
the Crysolite mine and the account runl
as follows:
"The Crysolite Is one ofthe undevelop
ed claims on the carbonate belt Of tn
Silver Crown district; it is owned b,
Pennington & Bryant Last Monda,
they induced Messrs. Tompkins ant
Poland to examine their prospect with
the mine indicator. and thorough in
spection of the claim, 800 by 600 fee
in extent, was had. The snrface min'
is mostly covered with granite boulders
and it was difficult to find any surfac
indications of mineral anywhere on tn
claim. The patent indicator, however
succeeded in very short time in locat
ing the mineral veiu ON the claim, en-