Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-07
TIN In The BLACK HILLS.
1t Exists in Abundance and Is of
Excellent Quality.
ENGLISH CAPITAL COMING IN
A Milton and n Half Already Ad-
vanced by n Syndicate For tho
Development ofthe Harney
Peak Prop critics
TIN By the Ton.


ter counties stretch across the Black Hills
from east TO west, and Harney's peak the
most lofty elevation in the Black Hills, is on
the border between the two. Surrounding
Harney's peak are found the tin deposits,
which are the subject of the present letter.
Northwest Of the peak is Hill City, south
west of it is Custer City, while Eta, where
alone tin has been practically worked, lies to
the east of il. Custer City is situated sixty
five miles south of Deadwood, forty-five
southwest of Rapid City ana some forty
miles southeast of Newcastle. French creek
runs through Custer southeasterly and
empties into the South Cheyenne river.
Early In 1875, the miners who had been
driven out by the military came back in
squads and soon 800 log houses, many of
which still remain, were erected and the
population of the place rapidly grew until
6,000 people hau gathered there. The dis
covery of gold in Deadwood gulch depopu-
lated Custer more quickly than it had been
occupied. This is the most beautifully situ-
ated place in the Black Hills. 1t lies 8, 400
feet, over one mile. above the sea on a nat
ural "open" among the mountains which,
covered with pines, surround it on every
hand; and in every direction lie innuner-
able parks leading into one another for many
miles, IN which already are thriving farmers
with an abundance of all kinds of crops ex-
cept corn.
All these heights are immensely rich in
mineral wealth-gold, silver "copper" iron,
mica, etc.-whle TIN, which had been sought
for In vain on our continent Is found in
every direction, on hilltop and at tho foot
OF ravines, encased everywhere with gilt
tering mica III forms OF surprising beauty.
In 1854 tin was found in Pennington county,
and the Eta mine was stocked in New
York and about 800, 900 were expended on
stamp mill and operators. A year later Mr.
II. Il. Moore, of st. Louis, found tin in Gus
ter county, and he obtained $50 pounds OF
ore, which was smelted in New York and
produced 1853 per cent of white tin, amount
ing to about seventy pounds. subsequently
further discoveries were made. notably on
the Teuderfoot, north of Custer City. Drifts
were made on the veins, and IL may be SAID
that preliminary work has gone steadily on
since tnat time, at last reaching the whole
district fifteen miles from Custer north TO
Hill City. The lodes are generally massive
and well defined through their whole length.
with large and in many cases very rich out
crops. The Tenderfoot district is one of
phenomenal richness on the ten or twelve
veins which have been examined, and there
are about Hill City numerous locations of
rare promise on which great deal OF work
has been done including expensive machinery
and buildings that are now under construc-
ton.
organized, only after the existence of Black
Hills tin had been fully demonstrated by
the best practical American and English ex-
perts. From that time nothing in the way
of production has been done. Thoroughly
satisfied with the results attained with the
imperfect machinery, tue company has de-
vo tied itself to the work of acquisition and
development. They some time ago shipped
$500 pounds in one lot to England. The
company is now putting up reduction works al
works at Custer City the coming season,
which with the Eta mines will be connected
by narrow gauge railroad reaching all it's
locations The English syndicate, of which
Mr.. j. Barring Gould Is the head, have ad-
vanced 81, 500, 900 for the development of the
properties. They are dong permanent work
such rs constructing tunnels and erecting
machinery for reducing the ore-at ten diff
ferent points, and are actively carrying on
development work at great many other To-
cations, and already employ over three
hundred engineers and skilled workmen.
On the Tenderfoot group, TO take an ex-
ample, work IS advancing rapidly. The diff
fcrent veins are being uncovered, in some
cases to "a considerable depth, and the COM
pany are putJinE up permanent works at one
point. Two tunnels have been begun at Tin
Reef, and two on the IenderfoOt where also
the machinery for power drills is being
put in place. Ii developments go
on as they have begun, plants
for the reduction of tin ore will be opened
up, and tin will pe produced early the coming
season at this locality and at Hill City. The
use of the power drills will great expedite
operations These drills, like those described
in my letter from the Newcastle coal mines,
will effect "A vast saving OF time, labor and
money; one of them will drill ten feet per
hour, equal to the labor of ten skilled work
men.
The principal mines on which operations
are now beginning are the Coates, Cowboy,
Excelsior and February, near Hill City: the
Etta group on the east side, and the Tin Reef,
Cars and Dorman'S, near Custer City. A
VISIT to any of these veins will convince the
most skeptical of the existence of tin alike in
quantity, quality and accessibility. The
veins are typical hssure veins: the ore Is
white, making marked contrast with the
accompanying states. The walls are smooth
and the ore is separated from the belts by
clear partings. One vein which saw was
from fourteen to fifty feet thick, and 1t can
he traced two miles, IN some places extend
ing fifteen feet above the surrounding sur face.
The company have IN the course of their
experiments manufactured great deal OF
metallic tin, equal to the best foreign tin,
being absolutely free from iron, arsenic and
tungsten, which are the bane of the Corn
wall tins. The amount OF ore obtained in
their experiments has been close to per
cent, while the English Blue Books give that
of the Cornwall mines as a fraction less
than 2 per cent. Specimens of the ore were
shipped from the IenderfOoJ two months
ago to the PARIS exposition that weighed
from three 10 four tons, and which are esti-
mated TO contain from 10 to 20 per cent of
pure tin. In England tin ore as low AS q
per cent is worked at a profit. The veins lie
on the slope of the foothills, from 80 TO 800
feet above the bottom of the canyon,
and they can be worked for a mum.
ber of years with very little machinery
for disposing of water, and at but slight ex-
pense for fuel. This peculiar location on the
slopes Will also and in collecting the ores
from the numerous mines at central milling
points by means of a system OF gravity roads
similar TO those which are seen in the coal
regions of Pennsylvania.
The tin ore is first crushed and is then con-
centrated to separate the black tin from the
| gorgue; the resulting mass is then melted
directly into bar tin. The best material for
| melting IS coal which gives quick. inteu SO
| heat, aud prevents the loss of tin by volatill-
| 2atIon. The coal an the west side Of the hills
| at Newcastle IS, IN its natural state, the best
| possible material for reducing the block tin
! 10 melted condition It's coking quality
| will render 1T Invaluable for this purpose.
| Prof. Bailey, of the Rapid City Oak. school
1 of mines, when he was geolOgist for the ter
| rltOry of Wyoming, made no fewer than
| eight hundred tests of Wyoming Goals for
| coking purposes, and he informs me that the
| coal IRON Newcastle gives the best coke he
| has anywhere found-silver-white in color,
hard and capable of sustaining any necessary
| weight in the furnace and carrying a hig h
4 percentage of liked carbon, and therefore of
/ high reducing power, one part of New
castle coke being capa BILE OF reducing