Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-01-09
BLACK HILLS TIN.
Facts CONCERNING It's Discovery and the
First Steps Taken to Develop it.

Facts CONCERNING It's Discovery and the
| First Steps Taken to Develop it.
The Sioux City Journal of fe W days
ago contains three column article on
Black Hills tin. The subject is treated
exhaustively and in an intelligent man
nsr. We clip the following
The first authenticat ed discovery of
tin in the Black Hills was made in 1887,
in which year Prof Richard Pierce, Of
the metallurgical laboratory of the Bos-
ton and Colorado smelling works at
Argo, Colo. determined the presence of
cassiterite in the black sand found with
gulch gold shipped from the Black Hills
mines. This black sand or stream tin,
rs afterwards developed, was source Of
much annoyance to placer miners, dur
ing the early days in the Hills and was
separated from stream gold only with
much difficulty. Prof Pierce nnuounxe
ed his discovery shortly after his ex-
animation of the Black Hills cassiterite,
but his statements attracted little atten-
ton. A general knowledge of the pres
ence Of tin in the Black Hills was not
disseminated among the people of the
Hills until 1883, six years after Prof.
Pierce's discovery. In this year a mine
operator OF Rapid City, who had become
interested in the matter, shipped some
samples of tin ore to California for ex-
animation by experts. The result of
this examination was investigated by
Prof w. p. Blake, the well known me-
tallurgist, and the report OF the latter
gentleman, published in the American
Journal of Science of September, 1888,
and later in the Engineering and Min
ing Journal Of the same month, created
considerable comment and resulted in
more complete examination of tin veins
by practical miners and students of geo.
logy.
The first mines located in this district
proved upon development valuable lodes
OF tin rock. Several companies were in
corporated for the purpose of mining tin
shortly after the publication of these re-
ports, among which the Harney Peak
Tin Mining, Milling and Manufacturing
company, Of New York, owner of the
first discoveries, was the most promi-
merit. Prospectors throughout the dis |
trict turned their attention in search of |
other lodes Of the newly discovered me- |
tai, and the prospects Of the Black Hills
tin mines were bright from the date of
their location. But the tin industry of |
the United States was confronted at the
outset by vigorous and powerful OPP
position. The mining operators of for
eign countries and American importers,
tearing the injury to their interests that
would result from the production Of tin
n this country, put forth every effort in
heir power to cause failure Of the new
in the Black Hills. A num-
Der of influential mining journals were
- ~--~~ ~1uvsiui1cu wy niterpst OF
hese operators, and newspapers, both
IF England and the United States, joined i
n ridiculing every statement regarding
he richness of the Black Hills mines.
Hence the progress of the industry was
hampered, Large amounts of
'apital were found necessary to properly
develop and operate the tin mines and
conduct the tin industry. The Harney
Peak Tin Mining, Milling and Manufac-
uring company remained through all
hese attacks firm in confidence in the
'alue of the tin deposits of Harney Peak
district, and the New York syndicate,
the principal stockholders of
he company. after thoroughly testing
he ore found on their property, deter
mined to secure, if possible, a monopoly
II the properties in the Harney Peak
district containing tin. To this end
hey expended 100000 in the pur-
hase Of tin claims before realizing that
he amount of their capital was far from
ufficient for the accomplishment of
heir purpose. The necessity of greater
apital induced a decision to look abroad
or financial aid, and delegation of the
indicate visited England for this pur-
BOSE. This syndicate succeeded in in
eresting number Of prominent capital
sts in the enterprise and in securing
mple funds for the development of the
mines of the company on an extensive
Gale. The enterprise was now assaied
With increased ferceness by various
brokers' and mine operators of England,
md the press devoted to their interest.
Finally the Harvey Peak company Of
cred to submit the Black Hills mines to
IN examination of the best experts in
England and pay commission to make
! public test of the ores in English con-
works. The English parties
Who had ridiculed the statements of the
company consented to choose represen-
atives to conduct the examination test,
md the London Financial News agreed
% publish the result. Prof NJ. c. Vim
,ent, +. q. C. one of the most noted me-
ailurgists of England, was selected to
procure the ores and spent three months
n examining the mines of the Harvey
Peak district. Forty tons of tin ore
we're quarried from these mines, under
he direct supervision of Prof. Vincent,
and shipped to London. In order that
! correct average could be obtained and
hat no charge Of the ore having been
sorted could be made, only large samples