Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-02-11
DEPUTY MINERAL COLLECTOR
ROBBINS RESIGNS.


Cyrus w. Robbins, of this city, has
given public notice of his resignation of
the position Of deputy collector Of min
erals for the Worlds Fair. A letter
which he has written FOR publication, is
clear statement OF his reasons for 90
doing:
/ desire to give notice to all parties
concerned. that have resigned the
position Of deputy collector of minerals
for the Worlds fair. My reason for
this Is that complaint has reached me
from the commissioners that the ores
which / have forwarded were not as
rich and rare and showy as was expect
ed. This is no surprise to me. have
realized il from the first, for the mines
Of the Black Hills are low grade but
all the same they are the xind which
yield the highest dividends and the
largest fortunes. The public, and even
our commissioners, do not understand
this. In fact, 1t was the hardest work
had 10 do when represented the Black
Hills In the great mineral exposition in
Denver in 1892, TO explain how low
grade ores would pay, and high grade
ores, sometimes, would not paw. Still,
it is well known that there are great
many fine cabinets and collections Of
rich and valuable specimens fproducis
OF the Hills) which are owned by differ
ent parties, and have been promised
these provided would give guarantee
OF their safe return. This 1 consider
reasonable on the owners part, and /
have written repeatedly to the commits
sioners TO empower me to give such a
guarantee, and urged upon them the
importance ii. To this no attention
has been paid. Probably they were not
in shape to do IL on account OF the lack
of an appropriation (thus far large en-
ough to cover the contingency But
they evidently expect me to obtain
these rich specimens just the same.
Some Of these cabinets have been col
lected at cost of thousands of dollars.
They are rich in free gold and silver
and precious stones and minerals that
are rare and obscure. would as soon
ask man for his pocketbook, and then
turn IL over to strangers who are ire
sponsible, an to ask for these cabinets
without guarantee for their safe re-
turn. Some other man may have the
persuasive eloquence to obtain them in
thi. way, but have not the supreme
gall 10 ask It, And this matter, unless
Il is rectifed in the manner have sug-
ges.ed, i can foresee will be the mote
in the gunner's eye which will cause
him to miss the mark and the battle for
the Hills will be lost.
Nevertheless j would say to all the
mine owners, let us do the best we can
to further this enterprise, and bespeak
r. A. 4
the same courtesy and bind assistance
which you have rendered TO me, and
for which l thank you.
G. w. ROBBINS.
Deadwood, 8. d., February 2, 1892.
Mr.. Robbins was appointed to look
after this branch Of the States exhibit
because of his peculiar fitness to per-
form the duties which would thereby
devolve upon him. An old miner and
prospector, familiar with every section
Of the Hills, and with an unlimited
knowledge OF their resources and pro-
ducts, he was prepared to do justice to
every mine. miner and mining camp, In
the collection Of ore specimens for the
exhibit. Mr.. Robbins is we'll qualified
TO take care OF the interests of the Hills
in this regard, ana the commission
should in a great measure, trust to his
judgment. The resignation, just at this
time when preparations for the exhibit
should be proceeding briskly, is unfortu-
nate for the Hills, and il is to be hoped
that Nr DNhksna I'D he ~F
the commission will come to an under
standing, and the first named gentleman
be persuaded to gu on with the work.