The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-14
RICHEST IN THE WORLD
District Abandoned as Worthless
Now Turning Out Millions
The Mines of Colorado and Montana Nov
Yielding Ore That L. Making Men
Elch Some of the Fa-
nous Plants.


ton OF century. In the winter Of 1874
many a miner plodded his weary way
from gulch To gulch and from mountain
to mountain amid the breaks of Har,
aey's peak on the limestone ranges,
weary, hungry and footsore, but never
discouraged, for gold was there IN the
blossom rock, the float and in tha
gulches. Not, it is true, in big paying
! quantities as it was later found in the
northern hills at Lead City and in thu
gulches of that vicinity, but enough ia
lure men on.
There is fascination about prospect
ing that is irresistible. Once q pros
pector sets his eye on a bit of feat
which is goid-bearing rock that may
for many miles, he cannot rest until he
has traced it to the ledge of which 1t was
originally a part. Some, favored by
fortune, find it quickly; others grow
gray in the pursuit. Many prospectora
in the Black Hills 25 years ago declared
this region the richest gold mining
country in the world. Many years later
Marvin Hughitt expressed the same
opinion. That he spoke prophetically
Is attested by the output Of gold last
year. This was upwards of Sc ,000, 90,
and it is estimated that the output will
be almost double that amount this year,
And yet the country is scarcely pros.
pected.
The great rush of 1876 only skinned
and cratched the surface. but did not
sink or develop. 1t served the purpose
of leaving the country demcralized, and
public opinion was unfavorable to the
prospect. Claims that had been taken,
located, abandoned and relocated are
now proving bonanZas. 1t Is develop.
ment that counts in any mining ven
ture.
Many men IN this vicinity worked UNI
til their last pound of bacon was ex.
hausted, but they worked by the day for
small pay, chung to the situation and
have won. An illustration of the re-
ward of confidence in the Deadwood dis
trict is to be found in Bob McShane, who
discovered the Yellow creek district.
The golden belt Of the Black Hills, ac.
cording to eminent biologists, extends
from Garden City in the northern hills
to Harney's peak in the southern, dis
lance Of about 50 miles. The aurifcr.
Gus formation comes to the surface and
dips at intervals. On the Holy Terror
at the base Of Harney's peak it cropped
out at the grass roots, and on the Home
stake properties at Lead City the whole
mountain is a mass of ore which con.
;tinues as they sink. On the So0-foo:
level has been found 600 feet Of soli3
ore, and shaft is now being sunk which
viii be pushed by day and night shifts
TO depth of 1900 feet. This property
is conceded to be the best mine in the
world.
Up to date it has paid almost $1,000.
oc0 in dividends. and its stock. not for
sale. is priced at s34 share. TWAS pur.
chased in 1877 by Senator George
Hearst, of California, who was the best
judge of q mine In the world. 1t Is To-
Gated at Lead City in the heart of the
gold belt
This belt Is about 1000 feet wide. The
veins are vertical and true assures !
Outside of these are the fat or blanket !
formation of siliceous ore, which IL
richer than the free milling ores of the |
belt. This ore is reduced by the smeiS |
ing process, more extensive than the |
free milling process, and runs from ten |
dollars to the hundreds per ton. The
fat formations are found in and out
side of the belt. Bald Mountain, Ruby
Basin, Head Of Blacktail. Squaw Greek,
Ruby Flats, Elk Mountain. Yellow
Creek, Garden City and Carbonate Canr
are the localities in which they ars
most successfully worked.
Mining in the Black Hills has hong
since ceased to be speculative. 1t K
now a stupendous industry. Chicago
capital has been invested here to goot:
purpose. A local paper recently ga-s
the following account of a purchase by
Extensive Development work will
soon be insugurated on Elk mountain
oy Gen. Green B. Raum and associates,
who have recently secured about go
acres of mineral land, extending from
Elk mountain toward Spearfsh. AZ
soon as preliminaries can be arranged
which will be within a week or ten DAYS
"a shat. viii be started and sunk to
he lower ore contact that will develop
portion OF Ihe ground secured. From
his shaft drifts will be driven across
he formation that will open up numer-
'us ore shoots that pass through the
round Yesterday deed was filed for
'ecord transferring 70 Gen. Rau,n from
~ Ellington the gold belt group Of
-laiEls, consisting of IA locations. en-
tracing about 40 acres. in the same
amp. the expressed consideration be-
pg one dollar. Elk mountain and Vi
unity is the coming camp and will,
when finally developed. prove 10 be ,
noug the richest IN the country"
The Gerrnan-Amsrican Mining com
any is largely owned By Chicago CAPT. ,
al II IL situated on the gold belt a.
he head of Blacktail and adjoins one Of
anuel Allerton's Chicago
'imesHeTald
MADE SECURE BY WATER. Ia
'rison Cells Rendered Imprernabls
Against All Attempts to Escape.