The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-11-14
Activity at the Mines.

S"HaIlDeTlaln, >. b., NOV. l0.-taVor-
Bile reports continue to be received
from the various mining districts of the
Black Hills. That the present year has
been an unusually active one in that re-
glon will be hown by the nnu report
of State Mine Inspector Jeffry, which is
now in process of compilation. The re-
port will cover the twelve months end
ing December Is next, and will he Of IN
%terest, bearing as it will upon the re-
markable increase over the bullion cut
puts Of former years and the improve
mant upon the condition in the Hills.
Although he has not completed the
work of compiling the actual amount
produced by each mining concern OPP
Grating in the Black Hills, he has ar
tify him in saying that the actual pro-
duct of that region for the present year
will approximate 81, 000, 900, a marked
increase over last year. MI. Jeffry is
credited with being very conservative
in his calculations. The number of
OF whom are at work underground, but
this does not include mill hands, etc
One thousand six hundred and twenty
seven of these are actual wage earners.
and an estimated 800 are engaged in
placer mining or prospecting. The in
spector's report relates to that portion
OF the country beginning at Ragged
Top and Squaw creek on the extreme
north, and extending to Pringle, twelve
miles south of Custer. His research dis
closes h fact that most Of the i'm
provemcnt has been in Lawrence coun-
ty. The Homestake company is en-
ploying 470 miners at present. a slight
decrease from the number employed in
1879. attributable to the Introduction OF
improved machinery, The output of the
company shows 10 material increase
over that OF last year. having been
greatly reduced by the prolonged shut
down of the Star mill. This mill did
not start up with its increased capacity
until late in the year. The counties in
the southern portion of the Black Hills
seem to have been given scanty atten-
ton during the year as with
the northern Hills. where the advance
has been decided and strong. The bul-
lion produced by the Deadwood and
Delaware smelter approx!mates 81, $780,
C~hlorination plant $3.50, 900. The lat
ter is a marked increase over the
1895 product, ~chargeable mainly to
the addition OF a Brown rooster.
NJ. Jeffry thinks the output of the cyanide
plant Will amount to Si50,TNO, While the
Homestake la be expressed at Ss.oCo.0oo
The kildonian chlorinat,on plant has prob
ably Produced a sum that will rank next
to that produced by the Deadwood and
Delaware smelter, which abs partially IN
creased the figures Of last year. The re-
port is encouraging to those interested in
the mining resources Of that region, as it
shows a condition in the Hills that is not
enjoyed elsewhere. and more men employ.
ed at good wages than ever before. Mr..
!fry will have his report completed in a
ernor. who will exercise his own dlscre-
ton with regard to having 1t published.
The legislative appropria ton for the Of
gether inadequate, and probably will not
permit the printing of the report this year,
although Its publication would be OF great
Importance to the mining interests.
"A rich discovery was made a few days
ago on a group of claims situated on the
divide between Bitter Sweet and Castle
creeks, about three miles southwest from
the property of the old Lookout Mining
company. The vein was struck a few feet
beneath the surface, and is now stripped
for thirty feet in width. The ore WI as
showing values of s5S. sl2s and $50 gold per
ton. Pete Edholm. a we'll known manu-.
featuring jeweler, who is one of the own
srs o OF me p af PER- yoo Ieee :Th,l about thirty.
age sample from the vein as now exposed,
and an examination of it fully sustains the
value shown by the assays heretofore
made, nearly every piece of rock showing
particles of free gold.
A party of eastern capitalists, most Of
them stockholders in the famous Union
pleted a successful examination of the
mining properties and resources Of the
Black Hills. The party also made a crit.
at ate aa ahspee: This N mime me- It tf Is eo%n MD ntiSpe pre.
dicted will develop into a second Home.
stake. A stamp mill for the camp is vir.
tually assured, n the company saw milf
is now getting out timber for the building.
1t will be buila for 100 stamps with a view
to charging 200 later, and will probably be
erected at Union Hill. where the water
supply will be pumped. Or 1t may be 10.
Gated further down the creek where the
water may be obtained by gravitation.