Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-12-18

The following article, having for its
apparent object the defamation of the
tin mines of the Black Hills, taken from
an eastern journal, and forwarded to
Thomas |. Wheeler of this city by the
Chicago Mining Review, with the COM
ments annexed. is published with a
view Of dispelling in the manner sug-
gested by the Review, the erroneous
and damaging impressions created by
means of the circulation of the calumni-
Gus articles referred to-
The apparent failure Of the Eta
Oak tin mine is to be regretted, for
several reasons. In the first place, it
adds another chapter to the unfortunate
history of tin mining in this country ;
secondly, it represses the patriotic hope
Of industrial emancipation from En-
gland in respect of an important com
modify, tin plates; and thirdly, it points
| 10 a continued loss in dollars, of score
or more OF millions annually.
"When the discovery Of tin was an
| nounced in Dakota, nearly three years
ago, there was no unusual excitement
or any general awakening of hope
! among those who were familiar with the
circumstances and results of various
other discoveries Of the ore. But some
how the Black Hills deposits made
headway in popular favor after time,
and also substantial progress in the en-
listment of capital for their develop
ment. To say nothing of the hundreds
of claims located in Custer, Pennington
and Laramie counties, and the trial work
done upon them, considerable work has
been done on the Eta property, and
some systematic developments carried
forward in the Niger Hill group Of
mines. The outcome has been keenly
disappointing Out Of 400 tons Of ore,
much of it selected, that were treated in
the Eta mill, only about seven tons OF
concentrates were procured. This re-
suit" says the Engineering and Mining
Journal, "was all the more dlsappoint-
ing when il was remembered that these
few tons of ore and Of concentrates were
the outcome of about two years devel-
opment, where we were told the quanti-
ty of ore justified the bnilding of q 200
ton concentrating mill"
But after all, tin ore in commercially
valuable quantities may yet be found in
the United States, and perhaps in the
Black Hills. 1t is ty no means certain
that it does not exist in Dakota and
elsewhere in quantity and of a richness
to make the mining of it profitable and
so it would be well to suspend judgment
for while"
CHICAGO, Dec. 10, 1886.
Mr.. Thos ]. Wheeler Custer City, Oak
DEAR SIR You will notice from the
enclosed article, which with a number
Of others Of the same character are be-
| ing published throughout the country,
| that a movement should be made by a
series of well written articles, to place
| this matter in the right light before the
people Of the country. The Indications
| are that the new year will see large
amount Of capital seeking investment in
| the mining territories, and it is certain
ly not wise policy on the part of those
| interested TO allow Misrepresentation
| and false statements to divert this
stream which is so much desired, and is
SO necessary to the development of the
mining industry.
Very truly yours,
DUFF PORTER,
| Rnsippss Man Nininu Review