Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-08-28

worlds fair. Eastern visitors TO the fair
had not then become accustomed to
thinking Of two Dakotas. South Da-
kota with emphasis on the, South is
certainly a mineral state the man in
charge Of the exhibition would reioin,
and he would make the assertion good
by calling attention to pyramid of ore
from the greatest gold producing mine
OF the world-the Homestake and
smaller collections of gold ores of higher
grade from many mines of less develop
ment to silver and lead ores from
Galena district and Carbonate camp /:
copper and iron and tin ores from the
central and southern Hills; mica.
abestos, nickel and uranium ores and
many others that went to make I'D
collection of minerals which for variety
was scarce equalled elsewhere in the
vast structure.
but, speaking Of gold alone, in the
worlds fair year the gold production Of
the Black Hills was stated if remember
correctly, at from 100000 to 81, ,5O0,-
600. The output will reach the present
year, according to estimates of those
most competent to express an intelligent
opinion upon the subject, the magni-
cent sum of S7,0OO,OOO. And this in
crease Of 100 per cent or more has been
made with little or no flourish Of trum-
pets. During the years that have
elapsed since 1893 there has been no
stampede to the Hills, no effort to boom
the mining interests. 1t has come as
the result Of legitimate development Of
districts which, were they located in
Colorado or Alaska. would have attract
ed miners and prospectors from all parts
Of the world.
Many new mines have developed
during those years from mere prospects
into steady producers of bullion. The
areas through which extend formation
encasing the ore bodies in the northern
Hills have been better defined, and as a
first result prospecting and development
work is more intelligently prosecuted
than was possible year1 ago. Work on
undeyeloped property in the Bald
Mountain, Ruby Basin and adjoining
districts may now be commenced with
assurances as to the depth at which the
ore bearing contacts may be found. OF
the number Of claims embracing these
contacts which have been developed to
any considerable extent, = remarkable
percentage disclose paying ore. DR..
Franklin r. Carpenter, superintendent
of the Deadwood & Delaware smelling
Conpany's vast interest in the Hills,
was the first man of whom / have
knowlege to predict that good ore
bodies would be found far out from
Bald Mountain by tracing the forma-
tions in the contacts of which the ores
had then been found in Bald Mountain
district. This prediction he made when
dean Of the school of mines ten years
ago, and i. Is being more than fulfilled.
The ores Of this part Of the Hills are
highly silicious, and are treated by
smelling, and by chlorination and the
cyanide process. The ore treating
capacity of the plants at present In the
Hills is large but train loads of ore are
sent out each week to Omaha, Denver
Kansas City and Aurora smelters. That
transportation charges to such distances
can be paid and profit still be realized
by the mine owners speaks we'll for the
grade of the ore.
Crown Hill and Ragged Top, lying
west of Bald Mountain. are developing
rich mines. and undoubtedly embrace
the same ore bearing contacts. In the
case of Ragged Top they are capped by
heavy limestone formation, but ex.
tending through this surface, are fissurss
which are highly mineralized and yield
ore ofa high grade. These undoubt-
edly will be followed to connection
with heavy, underlying ore bodies upon
the quartzite. Here is q new district,
certain in the near futurs to greatly
swell the gold output Of the Hills.
"At the same time mines are being
successfully worked in the central aud
southern Hills. The Keystone and
Holy Terror are no longer mere pros
poets. They have been explored to a
depth of 500 feet and are yielding we'll.
Rich strikes are reported from several
districts, notably that west of Rockford.
Altogether the Black Hills region of
Sonth Dakota never offered the certainty
Of great future that it does now. 1t
may be taken as assured that the gold
output will continue to- increase for
many years to come. 1t may not be
Klondyke for the adventurous placer,
miner. but 1t /, in comparabiy more
certain to yield good return to the
judicious mining investor"