Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-07-03
Injudicious Mining.

Probably no mining section in
America can furnish as many in
stances of failure, resulting from the
adoption of iniudiciOus and inconsider-
ate mining methods, as the Southern
Hills. A visit TO the different mines
which have formerly been in operation
cannot fail to impress any intelligent
person, whether they be familiar with
mining operations or not, with the folly
Of the methods adopted.
Go to the Grand junction, and you
find a mill erected nearly two miles
from the mine, to which the ore is trans
ported by means of tramway, which
was built at a cost sufficient to have
brought water to the mine, where COM
mon sense would have dictated its loca-
ton and which would have obyiated
the expense Of transportation, and re-
handling Of the ore number of times
as necessitated by the present location
of that clear cut, and most pronounced
monument of mining folly found in any
section Of the Black Hills Not distant
from the Grand Junction we find an
other instance of incautions and i'm
prudent management, the Brady mill, ,
an ante-deluvian rattle trap with
capacity of ten stamps, remotely located
from the mine which was to produce
the ore for reduction. This latter en-
terprise was the brilliant (?) conception
of self.styled miner of large experience
III western camps. where he had spent
much Of his life listening to mining dis
cussions around red hot barroom stoves
during the cold term when the rigors Of
winter had for the time totally suspend
ed mining operations.
A few miles further west we find the
Penobscot mine, which, like the Grand
Junction, is a large body oflow grade ore,
which in grade compares favorably with
the Homestake. Here we find remin.
escence of the early days Of Colorado in
| the shape of a mill, for which is claimed
the marked distinction of having been
the first gold mill ever operated in that
famous region. This antiquated relic of
the past was operated on this property
for period ofseveral months, and with
the surprising result of no loss TO the
| owners, and when the matter Of leaky
batteries and utterly worn out machin-
cry Is taken into account, the fact of no
loss having been sustained resolves
ITSELF into palpable myracle.
Four miles west of this city we find
the Gold Star mine, the management OF
which we may fairly compare with that
Of the Grand Junction as above de.
scribed, the mill being located at a con-
siderable distance from the mine, and
the ore transported at an expense not
justified on any of the low grade mines
of the Hills. Another experiment two
miles west Of this place, completes the
list Of indiscreet attempts at milling the
gold ores Of the Southern Hills. This
fifteen stamper was located, as in other
instances above noted, long distance
from the mine, and was managed by
men who had no experience whatever
in the reduction Of gold ores, and as |
natural consequence failed to be re.
munerative.
Results of this character, by reason of
being imperfectly understood, have had
the effect of bringing out strong: COM
ment, which had a direct tendency |
toward prolonging the period Of in
activity in gold mining operations,
which now prevail in this section. That
our gold mines will be profitable when |
operated by men of experience, and |
upon system corresponding with that
employed upon the Homestake, is alb
solutely certain, and that they will |
continue to remain imperative for any
considerable length of time cannot be
entertained for a moment by any one |
familiar with the situation. In nearly |
every instance noted, water was avail |
able at moderate cost, and for no reason, |
other than the most glaring stupidity |
GNU opoblutS upoh JilC DdIb VI
the operators, have these deplorable
results beer reached.
Now that railroad has reached a |
point sufficiently near us to render our
gold mines reasonably accessible, we
may very consistently expect that their
true merits will speedily become known,
and that the day is not far distant when
by the application of proper methods,
such as are found to be required in
other sections, they will become a lead
ing factor in the future gold output of
the Black Hills.
The News man locates our new silver
strike three miles south of this place,
which would have been correctly noted
if he had stated one mile southeast.
His extreme anxiety to get it as near as
poSSiblp IN the Gan having hod fba |