Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-03-31
Professor Blake's Report.

| lIel cdh CollpallS lin pIOpci llSS
made in May, 1885. This excellent
journal has been very earnest and per
sistent IN its defense Of the claims Of this
company, and, in the publication Of the
report, was prompted by desire tc
refute certain statements lately made by
| the professor in a letter to the New
| York Engineering and Mining Journal
| wherein he declares that the tin ore o
the Black Hills was not ola quality that
would justify the statements made il
the prospectus Of the Harvey Peak com
pany, and he wishes it distinctly under
stood that said prospectus did not mee
with his appreciation, and that he dis
claimed any responsibility for it, having
had no part in, or knowledge of its pre-
paration. That the ore is found ir
paying quantity enongh to justify tn.
intelligent use ofcapital in development
| work, and the erection Of simple con
centrating plant, proportioned in capaci.
ty to the ore supply as developed, and
not to the hopes and estimates of vend-
ors and promoters. The report is sub.
mitted for the purpose of showing the
marked change Of opinion on the part OF
that distinguished gentleman since his
elaborate report was rendered. We
regret our inability, on account Of its
extreme length, to give our readers the
report in full, but we append the intro
ductory and closing remarks, which will
be accepted as conclusive evidence OF
the alleged change in the views of the
eminent gentleman relative TO the mag,
nitude and importance of the Black
Hills tin deposits. The report starts out
with the following predatory remarks:
The discovery of tin ore in CONNER.
clal quantities in the Black Hills of Da-
| kOta marks new era in the history OF
| the United States. As the discovery of
gold in California in lS49 gave new
impetus to civilization, and led to the
rapid development of the then almost
unknown western coast, SO the discovery
| of tin in Dakota will stimulate the
growth of a great state in the Black
| Hills, and tend to revolutionize an in
dustry which led TO the conquest of
Britain by the Romans. In all the va
| ried mineral products Of this American
continent tin alone has until now been
conspicuously absent. Anxious search
| ing since the settlement OF the country
| failed to discover it in quantity until
| the opening of the Eta mine in Dakota
4 in hoc Col ,nl
Ianothcr, until they are enumerated by
districts rather than by separate claims,
and new Cornwall exists in the west.
The discoveries of tin veins extend
over several miles of territory in length
and breadth They are not confined to
one mountain ridge or range, but ex-
tend on both sides of the high granite
Harney Peak mountains, which form
the crest of the Black Hills. There are
already three or more districts in which
tin ore abounds in regular veins and in
detrital deposits of unusual extent and
richness compared with those of other
countries. The Eta or Tin Mountain
district, is on the east side of the range,
and the Hill City district is on the west
side
After submitting full description of
all the prominent lodes, including care
ful and accurate tests made by himself,
he arrives at the following conclusion:
Having spent from three to four
months in the Black Hills for the pur-
pose of becoming thoroughly familiar
with it, am prepared to state that the
discovery is tarreaching in its impor-
tance to the United States, and that the
field offers an opportunity for the use of
capital on an extended scale with the
promise of liberal returns for it's use.
Commenting upon the professors let
ter, and the change of sentiment on the
part of the Engineering and Mining
Journal, the Review says:
The tone of injured innocence here
assumed by Professor Blake led us to
investigate the matter little further,
for, having regarded him as reliable
from the time we were introduced to
him at the Paris Exhibition in 1867, we
thought we must have misread his re-
port of May, 1885, which report we have
not before published although it has
been in our possession, in consequence
of its length, upon the Harney Peak
property. We publish it verbatim be-
low, and leave readers to Judge for
themselves. In the meantime we have
consulted the prospectus which the
Professor mentions, and finds that it
contains no estimates Gas is usuaD Of
probable profit, and virtually leaves
readers to form their own conclusion
from the extracts given from the re-
ports of Professor Blake and others con-
corning the properties, Professor Blake
was not credited with saying-but the
words are given from the report Of q
London firm Of mining engineers, far
better known in this country and as tin
miners than the Professor is likely ever
to be-
These properties can at present be
most correctly described as several ex-
tensive groups of mines or districts in
which the lodes, as at present seen, are
of great strength with tin disseminated
throughout, and there is reason to think
that large capital may be employed in
their development with the prospect of
very handsome profits resulting. The
facilities for working are great. The
lodes are numerous and strong, and the
produce can be easily treated"
Facts are stubborn things, and will
not bend or comply with the wishes or
desires of those who, from motives we'll
known to themselves, and now begin,
ming to be understood by the public