Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-09
MINES OF THE BLACK HILLS.
The Homestalee's Big Steam Stamp
Proves Success.

stamp OF the HOmestake company.
This stamp has been in operation about
eight months, and until its last run was
made was considered failure. and had
the last trial not been successful 1t
would have undoubtedly been discarded
by the company. This ponderous piece
of machinery when first erected here
was said to have crushing capacity
equal to twenty-five smaller stamps.
such as are used in the several mills OF
the company. 1t was placed in position
by the Homestake company, without
prior consideration with the manufac-
turers. 1t had proved very successful
in the Lake Superior copper regions,
and the Anaconda copper company,
which is controlled by the same syndi-
cate as the Homestake, had on g in sue
cessful operation on its property at
Butte, Mont.
1t was found almost Immediately after
erecting the steam stamp at this place,
however, that the ore would have to be
crushed much finer than any ever
crushed by similar stamps before, in
order to obtain the same per cent OF its
assay value as that secured by operation
of the quartz mills. Such fine crushing,
of course, decreased the capacity OF the
stamp, and from the time it was first
placed in operation it has been re-
peatedly experimental with until the
improvements have made such radical
changes III its appearance and operation
that the stamps being used ut other
places cannot be compared with 1T. The
first thing found necessary by Superin-
tendent Rossberg, who is the man sent
tn fhf. hills for tho nf arartinD
and running the stamp, was the intro
ducton of finer screens, which, in turn,
necessitated finer crushing. Improve
ment succeeded experiment, and at last
the steam stamp is n thorough success.
1t now crushes on an averages 1872 tons
every twenty-four hours, which shows
Its crushing capacity to be equal to that
of forty stamps Of the Star mill.
The exact cost of maintaining the
stamp has not yet been announced, but
it will probably be made known by June
10, when the next regular cleanup will
take place. But it is already assured
beyond a doubt that If the new method
Of amalgamation now being tried is sue
cessful it will prove much cheaper,
quicker and more satisfactory method
Of reducing the free milling gold ores
of the hills than that now employed.
The southern hills are at present the
Mecca of the unemployed. Companies
are commencing work upon their prop
critics in every direction. The mines
operated contain ores of numerous ma
lures, principal of which are those con-
tanning tin, silver and gold. The Look
stamps, and an addition is shortly to be
built to contain sixty more stamps.
This is the main one of the properties
owned by M. ii. Day, the for
mer prominent democratic politician
and candidate for delegate to
| congress from this territory in 1886.
Mr.. Day has left the political field and
| is now devoting his entire time and at
tention to mining matters. He has
some of the best properties located in
| the Hills, and himself and associates
are still making Investments. The
| Harvey Peak Tin company now has
about one hundred men engaged on it's
different properties, and the machinery
| for the three hosting works, to be
| erected at Hill City, is on the road
| there. The recent cleanup made by
| this company, resulting from the opera
tion of the mill at Eta upon tailings of
three years ago, shows that the tailings
produce fully 2 per cent cassi]terite.
The company is still purchasing claims
and securing options almost daily. This
l lltS oulppCu vi
tin ore to Paris for exhibition at the
| exposition in that city.
| In the northern hills there are but
few mines being operated with the ex-
ception of those of the Homesuake and
| Caledonia companies. AT the silver
| camp OF carbonate the Iron Hill prop
erty, which created such a furore two
years ago, is being developed, and it is
reported that the smelter of the COM
pany will soon be placed in operation.
With the exception of the Spanish r..
property, no other mines are being ex-
tensively worked at present, but if the
blown in work on number of proper
ties will speedily follow. Nothing def.
mite has as yet been learned regarding
the keystone chlorination works al
Garden City, as only test runs
on a few hundred pounds OF ore
have so far been made. Such have
been very successful and thoroughly
satisfactory, however, and great results
are expected from the process. Ma
chinery is enroute. Rich ore exists in
the vicinity in large quantities, and il
that section of the Hills will experience
boom.
Rumor has it that Thomas Bell, an
officer in the Caledonia company has
sold his stock in that organization tc
the Homestake company, and that by
the time of the next annual
meeting of the Caledonia company the
latter corporation will be in position
to con troll the election Of directors, ani
will shortly proceed to purchase the
property. Color is given to this rumol
by the fact that the Homestake com
pany has had surveyors engaged in the
Caledonia mine several times of late.
The Rochester (Greenback company
company, whose claims adjoin those o
the Homestake company on the soutf
and west, has placed Diamond drill or
its property for the purpose of thor
oughly prospecting it. 1t is expected t.
strike the ore body of the adjoining
mine at depth of about six hundred
feet.
Parties have been returning ever,
day for the past week from the Lime
stone placer district. in which recent
discoveries of gold caused great ex
citement. The gold-hunters have
nearly all returned, however, and the
district IS again almost deserted. Their,
is no doubt that rich pockets OF place.
| cold exist in the district but they AZ,