Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
MINES In GOOD CONDITION
Annual Report of the South Dakota State
Inspector,
VOL UME OF ORE GROWING DAILY
Activity During the Present Ncnr
Much Greater Than in Previous
Ncnrs-Somc Interesting Fig
urCs on the Case.

PIERRE. S. D.. Dee 12.-(Special.) )-Samp-
son Jorery, state mine Inspector has filed
! his report for the year ending December l.,
! 1896, in the office OF the governor, and gives
a detailed statement of the condition of all
the mines in the Black Hills mining district,
| with a statement as to the output of tho
mines compared with the past year. While
! the report In detail would be of interest to
many. there being no appropriation available
| for the purpose of printing IL the report is
confined to the copy filed with the governor
and a few Of the most Important facts and
conclusions which he states are all which
can well be included in newspaper article.
The mines include all the working mines in
his supervision, all of which are in good ana
! safe condition. This is emphasized by the
fact that but three lives we're lest in the
mines the past year, and but four miners
are reported as being otherwise injured,
which certainly makes a good showing OF
the safety OF the mines when the number
employed IS considered.
ACTIVITY IN MINING.
The unusual activity in mining seen during
the year 1925 has been maintained through
out the year 1896. One thousand nine hun
dred and twenty seven miners were employed
for 1896, which does not include men engaged
at the mills Smeters and other reduction
works, and such other vocations above
ground as are directly connected with, and
incident to mining operations This is in eX-
cess of the year 1895 by 22i men, and the
casualties are fewer in number. The in
crease in thc gold product for 1896 over that
of 1895 is 81 ,26S, ,6I5.
The HomeStake leads with 1875 employees,
and next the Deadwood Terra with 200.
Other mines show from 175 down to two men
employed, and 300 are accredited as beins
engaged in prospecting and developing.
The siliccous ore bodies have been largely
developed. in fact, the work in this line is
described as phenomenal. and made more
certain and profitable by the fact that the
old hit and miss" methods of prospecting
and developing these bodies have given
way to intelligent and more scientific search,
aided by far better understanding of the
formations in which paying ore is to be
found. The possibilities OF siliccous ores
alone promise n future for the Black Hills
of which a conservative survey might easily
be declared fabulous" The finds in the
Bald Mountain, Ruby Basin and Spoariish
districts give promise Cf greatly increased
gold output for The future. The ores of ali
these districts are easy of access, the dis
triCt being laced with a network OF rail
roads, reaching to all the mines of any i'm
portance while no complicated machinery
is required in their operation, the pick ana
shovel and hand drill being effective in
prosecuting economical work.
MANY IDLE MINES.
In the free milling ore regions of Harvey |
Peak there are very rich mines which have |
been lying idle for want of capital for de- |
Veopment. One of the great drawbacks |
to the development of this section, and one |
of its most disCOuraging features Is the cX- |
travagant estimate placed upon the many |
claims 10y holders and prcspectors, who have |
nothing but their location stakes and q |
prospect hole, with few specimens of free
gold, without patents on their claims. While |
such claims are not in a condition TO be
placed upon the market, claims which are |
convenient for transportation facilities and |
with perfected titles, which show good pros
poets never 10 begging en- the market.
In Custer county there has been but /
little mining the past season, but the tu-
ture promises greater activity. Lack OF
water for milling purposes has been the priE-
cipal trouble but that will be remedied.
There is an abundance of ore which can
be worked with profit when water be
secured. and the Black Hills Water and
Mining company is now constructing fumes
which will supply the want and give the
district an increased activity.
Reduction works of all classes are in
croasing their plants and getting in shape
to handle larger output of ore than in any
past year.
Transfers have been made OF the Lew
Wallace for $4,000; Axiom Group, $4,000;
and Plutus. SlS)0O0; Florence,
$40, 600; Galena property SOD OOO Bonds have
been issued for the Sitting Bull and Rich
nond. Deadbroke, six months, $S5O Snow
storm six months, $1,000; MOntezuma
$4,000.
The following table shows the amount OF
ore milled by smelter9 and reduction works,
and the value of the output of each for 1896:
VOLUME OF THE PRODUCT