Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-08-15
Mining Items.

Fitzpatrick Brothers are working
eight men on their Ragged Top prop
erty and yesterday shipped a car load
of ore, about twenty-eight tons to Kan
sas City. They are sinking q shaft and
yesterday commenced timbering. A car
load of mining timbers was ordered
from Custer. The shaft which is down
twenty feet, is following the assure vein
and the ore assays well, although not
quite as rich as the boulders which they
have been shipping from the surface
Pioneer.
There wal q meeting Of the stock
holders of the Demereau Mountain
Mining & Milling company, held at
Pringle, S. d., on Wednesday. The
meeting was called for the purpose of
adopting bylaws, and the election of
officers, with the following result:
President, Geo. W. II. Pettibone vice
president, c. w. Robbins secretary,
Frank Pettibone treasurer, A.. A.
Record; general manager, F. M. Dor
rington. The work in the main tunnel
and shaft are progressing steadily.
Operations in the Bald Mountain dis
trict are not waning, by any means
judging from the new shafts that are
being sunk. &C a cost Of from $4,000 to
$4,000 each. The Snowstorm is down
about 1870 feet the Troy about $50 feet
the Sundance about 100 feet the Ma
tional about 200 feet, and the Union
shaft, which is down to the contact, is
waiting for heavier machinery. The
shipments from that locality now aver
age between 500 and GOO tons, which
would be materially increased had the
mills the facilities for handling ire.
view.
The New York Engineering and Min
ing Journal, commenting upon the effect
of the continuance ofthe strike at Lead
vile gays: "Tbe continuance of the
strike at Leadville must very shortly
affect the smelling interests in Colorado,
as without the regular supply Of Lead.
vile huxing ores the various smelling
companies cannot operate on anything
like their usual scale. This would in
turn affect the producers ofthe siliceous
and refractory ores. as without the
means of smelling these there would be
no market for them. A reduction in
the tonnage Of base bullion produced
would very soon show its effects in the
output Of silver and lead by the refining
companies, to such an extent in the case
Of the former that there are already
whispers Of a possible scarcity of silver
for shipment abroad, and consequently
a possible contingency ofslightly higher
prices. At present it looks as if all the
predictions about the largely increased
production of silver and gold in Colorado
during the current year were TO be
nullifed by the ably directed efforts Of
the labor leaders"
THE EMPIRE.
Work is being continued at the En-.
pire mine with very satisfactory results,
Two shafts are being sunk on the mine
upon one of which a night and day shift
is employed. Eight men, all that can
be utilized to advantage, are now en-,
gagged in opening up this promising
property, and if indications go for any.
thing in the determination Of the merits
of a mine, the Empire may be safely
enumerated with the prominent future
gold producers Of the Hills. A chunk
of ore taken out oil Wednesday, weigh.
ing about 600 pounds, despatched with
gold in such pleasing and palpable pro-
fusion as to attract the attention of even
the Deadwood Pioneer man Fifteen feet
away" is now doing good service as Q
doubt disturber, and has already been
effective in a number of very obstinate
and deep seated cases.
5000 A TON.
Messrs. Fawcett, Delehant, Putnam,
Lashley, Dick Bullock and ]. G. Spencer,
owners of the Ophir Mining company
whose property is situated in Yellow
creek, have just received returns from a
carload, about % tons of ore, shipped to
the Kansas City smelter. The ore yield
ed over 5000 a ton in gold, equivalent to
$4,000. They have shipped two more
cars that are now enroute to Kansas
City, and which Mr.. Putnam went down
yesterday to look after. The property
is looking fine.-Timcs.
RICH PLACER DIGGINGs.
But few people realize the amount OF
gold that is now being taken out of the
placer diggings on Rapid, Battle, French,
Spring, Castle and other creeks in the
Southern Hills. A reason for this may
be given as being brought about by the
hard times which brings many from the
valleys and as good wages can be made
at placer mining many turn their hand
to it to secure some ready money.
Among the visitors in the city yester-
day were Oscar Smith, of Pac!ola, and
J. w. Moody, Of Hayward, both sue
cessful placer miners. = Mr.. Smith has
been working his ground, which is To-
Gated about two miles east of Pactola for
some time. with excellent results. lie
brought to the city the product of the
last two weeks work which amounted
to about 5000, the work being done by
three men. Mr.. Moody also brings good
reports from the diggings around Hay