Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-09
The Limestone Range.

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The attention of the miners and pros
pectors, as well as men following other
pursuits, is still being directed to the
extensive area of country comprising
what is known as the limestone range
west of this city, where numerous loca-
tons are still being made. Prior to the
discovery of gold in a similar formation
at Ragged Top the idea Of this region
being Of a gold bearing character was
not entertained, and it al not until
the presence of gold in payable quantity
at Ragged Top had been well establish.
ed, that this region was given any at
tention. While the float tests thus far
made have not gone up into the hun.
dreds, they haye been such as to war
rant the belief in the existence Of ore
bodies in the region which will compare
favorably with the ores found at Ragged
Top, where surface tests, with few ex-
ceptions, gave a smaller return than
those obtained here. The presence of
gold, in some degree, is shown in all the
tests made, Of which there has been
made something owe sixty, many OF
which gave a return Of over four, and
in some instances over six dollars TO the
ton, which may be said to be very en-
couiaging, and certainly warrants a full
and thorough investigation of the
region, which, by proper development,
may outrank Ragged Top in the rich
ness of its gold deposits, as it is known
to be far more extensive in its area.
The work Of development has just
been commenced, only two claims, as
yet. having been disturbed by pick or
drill, but it is hoped that many other
claims will receive early attention and
that the result MAJ be the establish
ment of the banner gold camp of the
Hills. In the meantime We can only
patiently and prayerfully await the
pending issue.
ANY ore that resembles that of the
Ragged Top camp is deemed good en-
| ONHu ~ lOCdlt, diIu liz law VI ~ III
belt Astounding in ores bearing such
resemblance, the result is the setting OF
more claim stak es along that belt in the
past two weeks than have previously
been set in Custer county during the
past two years. On Monday of last
week, II. d. Reynolds, a well known
attorney Of this city, who owns a ranch
on the belt, about Is miles west Of this
place, being favorably impressed with
the appearance Of the float rock found
upon his ranch, which so closely re-
sembled the rich ores Of Ragged Top, he
concluded to gather up q few samples
and have them assayed, which he &C
cordingly did, the Pitcher Brothers Of
this place making the test, which gave 9
return of SO so per ton. This was the
first test made OF these ores, and it was
regarded as a very favorable showing
and as soon as the result of the test be
came publicly known an era Of claim
stalking began which still exists and
| NllCU jus lulE W COillluC uilll Tux
entire belt, which encircles the whole
Hills, has been located.
At this writing claims have beer
staked at various points along the bel
as far as Pringle and a number of loca
tons are reported as far east as Fair
burn, and the end is not yet. Very
little has been done as yet in the way o
development, but a number of our resi-
dent locators, among whom are II. ID
Reynolds. ecker Brothers, McFadder
Brothers, c. S. Johnson, }. B. Foster
and others are making arrangements t.
proceed at once with the deveiopmenr
of their claims, and it is earnestly hoped
they may be richly rewarded for theil
enterprise. Recent assays have giver
larger returns, which has had thu efIec
of intensifying the excitement, and The
prospect of finding ores, down in tho
depths, which will be the equal if no
superior to the ores Of Ragged Top, il
considered fairly favorable.