Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-07-04
Mining Items.

N "aooh y cNh bODts
Reference was made in our issue of
last week to the Blue Bird lode, which
IS one Of the three claims embraced in
what is known as the Blue Bird group,
located about IL miles southeast of this
city, and owned by Charles Harbach
and J. M. Lewis of this place. In the
brief description given, which was based
upon information obtained from persons
who had frequently visited the prop
erty, we stated that the ore body was
$50 feet wide. which was less than one
half of the width claimed by our i'm
formants, but until we could become
convinced by actual observation we
could not publish statement SO seem
ingly incredible. On Wednesday we
accepted an invitation from Mr.. Har-
bach to visit the property, which we
reached by an easy drive Of fifteen min
utes, and we are now prepared to make
the statement upon our own responsible
ty, that the actual width Of this enorm-
Gus ore body, incredible as il fnay ap-
pear, exceeds 800 feet. We also feel
warranted in the further statement that
it is the most massive ore body that has
yet been discovered in the Black Hills,
If not in the world. This vast body Of
ore, which is believed to contain gold
and silver in paying quantity, is encased
between well defined walls of slate and
quartzite. which may be readily traced
upon the surface, the entire length Of
the claim. Crude tests disclose an
abundance of mineral, of which gold
and silver figure as integral parts, the
precise quantity Of either being as yet
undetermined A number of samples
of the ore, embracing all the various
characters found in the vein, have re-
Gently been sent TO Denver, and other
points for assay, from which q good
report is confidently expected. Work
is being continued vigorously in the
SHAFT, which has now reached q depth
of nearly thirty feet. Samples Of the
ore may be seen at this Office.
THE AMBER GROUP.
This very promising group of gold
claims, located about ] miles southeast
Of this city, and owned by Charles Har-
bach of this place, is attracting great
deal Of public attention on account Of
the vast width of the vein, (236 feet be-
tween walls and the valuable character
of the ore. Work is being continued in
the tunnel which was recently COM
menced on the property, which, in ac-
cordance with the terms Of contract,
is to be run 400 feet. There is n very
strong probability Of this group of mines
becoming leading factor in the in
creased output that may reasonably be
expected from Black Hills mines in the
early future, as the quality of the ore is
believed to be up to the shipping
standard. and the quantity unequalled
in any other known locality.
TIE SPOKANE.
j w. Mcmillan came in from the
Spokane mine on Tuesday, and reports
everything in fiourishing condition in
the camp. The work of development is
progressing rapidly, with the most salts
factory results. The ore in the Spokane
shaft is found to be steadily improving
as depth is attained, and as greater pains
is being taken i'm its selection than
formerly, much larger returns are as
sured from future shipments. Other
properties are showing up well, among
which is claim owned by Dan Phin-
ney, where fine body Of galena ore has
recently been encountered, which is be-
lieved to be fully as good as the Spokane,
The outlook for the camp is said to be
exceedingly fattering, and is attracting
the attention of the miners and mining
investors all over the Hills.
COAL DISCOVERY.
Four years ago Clarence Herbert dis
covered and located piece of ground
about three miles south of town, which
showed good indications of coal, but no
development W ork was done upon the
property until last week, when two men
commenced work upon the location. A
drift was started In the hill and ut
depth of eight feet twelve inch vein of
coal was struck, which has gradually i'm
Cicascu q" "tuth aS ucptu iS uttincu,
until the vein now measures 20 inches,
while the quality is constantly growing
better. Samples Of the coal have been
examined by experts, and all pronounce
II equal to Wyoming coal, while it burns
freely and leaves no clinkers. J. Il.
Bristol, Clarence Herbert, Lewis Haskell
and VIM. Hoisington are interested in
the discovery, and are TO be congrat-
ulated upon their good fortune. A force
of men will be emnloved and develor.