Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-11-24
Iron Mountain.

Located within fourteen miles of this
city, in northeasterly direction, upon
the line Of Custer and Pennington coun-
ties, towering nearly a Thousand feet
above its immediate surroundings, stands
Iron Mountain, beneath whose lofty
crest is known to exist one Of the most
massive and extensive iron deposits
that has ever been discovered in the
history Of this country This mammoth
vein is vertical, and is more than seven
hundred fee in width. 1t is traceable
upon the surface by well defined out
cror for distance Of more than three
miles, and is encased between well de-
fined granite walls. A tunnel driven
from the base Of the mountain along the
vein for 5000 feet would reach a point
directly under the apex, and would
drain the entire deposit to a depth of
nearly a thousand feet. Careful esti-
mates made by competent experts Cfthe
aggregate amount of ore existing above
the level Of such proposed tunnel, reach
the enormous amount of two hundred
and fifty million tons, the value ofwhich
may only be approximated, but some
thing approaching fair estimate of the
same may be reached by a calculation
based upon the per cen, of metallic iro,.,
and value Of the precious metals, whi&h
by numerous assays and analytical tests,
it is known to contain.
The bulk of the ore contained in this
massive vein carries from 40 to 55 per
cent of metallic iron, while for distance
Of more than 1000 feet along the east
side Of the vein, there is found body
of ore one hundred and fifty feet in
width, that is partially decomposed, of
a bright red color, and assays from a
trace to as high as $40 per ton in gold
and silver, averaging about s. per ton.
This body by the most conservative es-
innate is shown to contain above said
level at least twelve million tons.
Numerous tests upon this character Of
ore gave return Of from 80 to 68 per
cent in metallic iron. and its value is
also further augmented by an increas.
ing demand for its use as mineral
paint. This portion Of the vein is
especially valuable for use as a fux in
the smelling Of gold and silver ores. 1t
is entirely free from sulphur, contains
but the merest trace of phosphorus, and
very small per cent of silica. The
present demand for this class of ore to
meet the requirements Of the Omaha.
Denver and Pueblo smelters would
alone warrant an output of about 800
tons per day if proper transportation
facilities were at hand. The distance
from the mine to the nearest railway
station on the F. f. 4 NJ. V. road is
sixteen miles, and from the nearest
station on the B. & M. railroad is IA
miles.
1t may be readily seen that the cost OF
Transporting the ore this distance by
| wagon, and the further cost Of railroad
transportation to its destination, in ad-
dition to the cost of mining would leave
no margin of profit for the owners,
while in the event of the building Of a
railroad to the mine, a profit Of abou,
$3.50 per ton could be realized by its
shipment to either of the points named
II may be further said that, with q
smelter located at the mine, a profit OF
about $500 per ton could be realized
The presence Of comparatively inex.
haustible deposits of good eokim1 coal
in number Of localities along the west
ern border Of the Black Hills. is very
important factor. which should not be
overlooked in estimating the true value
of this exceptional mineral deposit
which promises at no distant day to
reach lofty prominence among the great
producing mines Of the northwest. MOI
may it be deemed at all visionary. or an
evidence of unwarranted enthusia m To
expi ess the belief that the inauguration
Of extensive operations upon this incal
culable deposit of mineral wealth, shall
mark the advent Of new era in BLACK
Hills mining. when gold. notwithstand
ing the high degree of success
1t has reached. by the enormous
aggregate Of it's output, shall take
second place in the measure of ii
Importance. ~ compared with iron
which may in time, by its more exten
sive operation and marvellous output
successfully proclaim its kingship ovel
all other mineral products of the rocl
ribbed realms Of the Black Hills region
| This valuable property is owned b,
Lewis Everly, who retides near th'
mine, and Samuel Scott, resident o
this city. and 10 now under lease to th'
South Dakota Manufacturing Company
OF this place, for period Of twsnt.
years,