Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-11-06
BLACK HILLS TIN
Rich Deposits are There in Great Abund-
ance.

Rich Deposits are There in Great Abund-
ance.
The rich tin deposits in the Black Hills
or Dakota, although first discovered about
eight years ago, have not attracted gem
eral attention until within a comparatively
recent time. Barring a furry of excite
ment subsequent to the discovery, which
soon abated owing to the smooth mani
pulation OF q few far-seeing capitalists,
public inquiry in the matter died out for
the most part until the Mckinley bill and
the resulting agitations concerning tin
properties have brought forth again a re-
newed interest in everything pertaining
to the subject.
The Black Hills are situated in the ex-
treme western part OF Dakota, extending
slightly into Wyoming. The best tin de-
posts are in Custer and Pennington
counties, occupying territory twenty
by forty miles in extent. At the time
the government threw that region open
to settlement, and when Gen. Custer was
sent out there with his troops to guard
the settlers from Indian depredations,
miners focked from all parts of the vest
tern country, attracted by the reports OF
rich gold deposits.
Tin ore at that time had not been thought
DIN fact, there was not miner in that
country who possessed any knowledge of
it whatever, Gold placer beds furnished
the first clew to its presence. Several of
the early prospectors had noticed small
nuggets of black ore among the gold
washings entirely unfamiliar to them.
They termed it ''Black Jack" No one
could tell what it was. Finally speci-
mems were sent out to California to ex-
perts there, who pronounced them to be
tin deposits of rich assay, when this news
reached the Black Hills the country was
wild with excitement. Many who had
heretofore prospected for gold and had
no knowledge of the nature of tin ore or
its value turned their attention toprospect-
ing for tin, but with indifferent success
Many lodges were staked for TIN that
were not tin, and many rich lodges pass
ed as entirely worthless.
The first claims staked were rich, and a
quantity of ore taken out was sent to
New York. Its value was established
beyond question. Upon this result sew
eral New York capitalists, most promi-
nent among them being James Wilson
and Senator Payne of the Standard Oil
company. They built about 1883 mill
for working the ore. While the mill was
in process of construction miners who had
tin prospects counted themselves million
aires. When the New York men bought
the property it was the only tin prospect
then discovered of any apparent value,
and they supposed they had a monopoly.
By the time their mill was completed
many claims had been found in the VIC
Unity and elsewhere that apparently as rich
if not richer than those purchased by
them. But the New York syndicate said
nothing and devoted it's attention to start
ing the mill. 1t ran two weeks with New
employees, not allowing any Black Hills
men inside the MILL After making a
cleanup the mill was shut down and re-
ports circulated that the ore could not be
worked and was of no commercial value.
This was sumner to the sanguine mi
pers and their prospective wealth dwindl-
ed to small proportions. They wanted
to sell out at any price. The excitement
died out. Six months later it was limited
that someone was bonding all the good
tin prospects in sight. The information
spread, and a few months later the min
ers were hard at it again, prospecting
with better knowledge OF the mineral than
they had had previously.
The New York men, then known as the
Eta company, came openely and bought
everything in sight, thinking that the old
leads would become exhausted and they
would soon have monopoly of Black
Hills tin. Newspaper reports spread
about at this time ridiculed the So called
'.tin industry" and prevented many CAPT
talists from investing in the Black Hills.
After spreading 100000 the Eta COM
pany found the tin field still unexhausted.
The necessity for more capital caused it
to look abroad for the necessary money
to extend it's operations, Mr.. James Viii
son was selected for this work and he was
sent to London. He succeeded in inter
esting Lord Thurlew and several others,
including director of the Bank of Eng
land, who promised to invest heavily.
Before the deal was completed the Eng
lishmen became suspicious of the scheme,
having read reports in the English papers
from Deadwood, S. D., to the effect that
the whole business was fraud. This, it
was afterwards learned, had been done
for purposes of blackmail. Mr.. Wilson
paid back all the money the Londoners
had put up and offered to pay all expen-
ses OF the best expert testimony that could
be gotten in London to come over here
and substantitate his statements as to the
richness of the mines which he represen-
ted. This offer was accepted. After
three months examination the expert re-
turned to England, taking with him 3d.
900 pounds of ore which he had gotten
out. The sample ore was worked prac-
tically in England, and the tests were emf
nently satisfactory. The expert, Prof.
Vincent, remarked that he had seen more
tin ore in the Black Hills mines than in
all the other mines in the world put to-
gether.
A little over three years ago the nego-
tiations which had been broken off with
the English capitalists were reopensd and
after time concluded The consolida-
ton was made and the Eta company be-
came the Harvey Peak Tin Mining, Mill
ing, and Manufacturing company. This
is the largest company in the Black Hills.
It now owns 10000 acres of ore land. It