Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-06-15

| The possibility ofthe Oak ota fields have
| been proven. Block tin has been manu-
factured in ton lots and now nothing is
needed but little time to make this
new business a factor in the general
trade situation. The development Of
new mines cannot but be slow. The
company now has about $50 men at
work sinking shafts, and more men are
being added as fast as there is room to
place them. Much machinery is now
being shipped, and sample mill is to
be erected Immediately. In this mill
the ore from different mines will be
treated, and when the best method Of
treatment is established for each class
Of ore, mills will be built in the line
which this experience will teach is best.
The Harney Peak company will under
take only the production Of block tin.
The manufacturing Of tin plate will be
no part Of its business. The company
expects to have block tin in large guam
titles on the market in about twelve to
eighteen months.
President O. w. Potter did not need
to be asked if the Illinois Steel company
was still interested in the manufacture
of tin plate. His desk was covered with
samples of block tin, from big ingots
weighing many pounds down to little
ounce paperweights, and all made from
the Black Hills ore.
ut is fully established" said Mr..
Potter, that the country can produce
tin. The difficulties which | had been
led to suppose would have to be met
before the ore found here could be
profitably treated am now assured do
not exist at ALL"
Here is letter from tin manufac-
turer at Cardiff Wales" said Mr.. Pot
ter. The Welsh are becoming greatly
interested in the situation here. This
gentleman says it is but a matter of
time when this country will be COM
peting with his own in the tin business.
He admits that we have everything now
for the manufacture.
"It seems to be the opinion Of man
ufacturers here" says my correspondent,
that for three reasons you cannot com
pete with US: You are unable to make
suitable plate, you have no native tin,
and your high rate of wages shuts you
out from competition with u.s." AS to
the first of these objections it is but a
matter Of time, and only short time.
We have, in fact, been making suitable
plate 10y the Bessemer process for sever
al years. Tin plate however, should be
made by the Basic process. The Basic
process takes Gre which has too much
! phosphorus to be converted in a Besse-
mer plant and eliminates all the phos-
phorus. 1t is the absence Of phosphor-
us which gives the necessary ductility
required in TIN plate. The southern
ore is Just the kind that should be
worked by the Basic process. The OBJ
lection that we have no native tin
consider entirely settled, and by the
application of improved machinery
American labor will be able to get its
present wages and still compete with
the foreigners"
How soon will you begin the actual
manufacture of tin plate?
"Just as soon as we can get the block
| tin. There is no question but what we
have everything here. 1t is simple
matter Of combining. The introduction
Of Basic plants is surely coming in any
event. After that it is but matter of
getting the tin onto the sheets. 1t cost
us $4,000 to make the first steel rail,
and when we had made it we were
ready to tear out our plant and rectify
our mistake. It's going to cost us some
thing to learn how to make tin plate,
but we are going to learn.
! In year, or as soon after as we cas-,
provide the block tin. we shall begin
the manufacture of tin plate on scale
of $4,000 tons q year, and every sheet of
it can be sold right here in Chicago.
There are 100000 tons of tin plate used
in this country annually, and this coun-
try is surely going to manufacture it.
am convinced we have nothing to do
but go on and unite the products which
we have ready at hand.