Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-10
Mining Items.

Mining Items.
F. c. Croker, who has had a working
interest in the ]. r. mine near Hill City,
recently purchased the remaining inter.
est OF II. G. Petit, and is now the sole
owner, says the Pioneer. He is still
carrying on the explorations Of the pro-
perty, with the most hattering results.
His work has proven that there is still
q large amount of good ore in the mine,
and Mr.. Croker is preparing to build a
mill this spring. He has purchased a
large boiler Of the Harvey Peak Tin
company.
Dell Garfield, DR.. II. F. Rate, James
Baldwin, Jacob Winter and q number of
others have located sixty claims on the
limestone rim, about ten miles south
west of Rockford, says the Pioneer, and
are getting assays that run from $40 to
sos q ton. This ore and its accompany
ing formation have all the character
istics of the proposition revealed at
Ragged Top. The ore is silicious and
occurs in parallel veins that crop out
through the limestone, very similar to
the veins from which is being and has
been taken at Ragged Top. Consider
able importance is ascribed 10 this dis
covery as it is an argument that the
gold bearing limestone belt extends
clear across the main portion of the
Black Hills. Shipments will probably
begin upon the recent strike as soon as
the weather and roads settle. The ore
will have to be hauled ten miles and
loaded on the railroad.
The Deadwood Pioneer of recent date
has the following in relation to mica
mining operations in this vicinity ::
"fhe production of mica promises to
become n Of the chief industries in
the Black Hills at no very distant time,
although 30 far as known at present it
is limited to a narrow region, immediate
to Custer. The deposits there are enor-
nous, and the article of the very best
quality. A company has been formed,
of which Mr.. Frank Langan, Of Mime
apolis, is one of the officers and stock
holders, and machinery has been put in
at Custer, with which to prepare the
mica for market The works haye
made a number of test runs, but q few
weeks ago they we're started for q per-
manent run, and Mr.. Langan, who was
in Dcadwood u few days ago said the
results being obtained were entirely
satisfactory, and that in all probably
the plant would be enlarged to increase
the production"
NEW ELECTRO CYANIDE PLANT.
The Anna Creek Geld Mining and
Milling company has selected the site
for its electro-cyanide plant, which is
an accessible spot ut the Anna Creek
curve on the b. & NJ. Spearfish line.
superintendent Galbraith informs rs
that all arrangements are ready for con-
struction work to begin as soon as the
snow goes off. Machinery has been
ordered and will be on the ground in a
few weeks. The new plant will haye a
Ibdl'iNltN vi v VIVA BSl NhS IL A'AIs
Galbraith says it will be completed and
ready to treat ore by August LIST. 1t
will be q model plant in every respect.
Times.
TIE PIERCE DEAL.
John Pierce Of Sioux City, and Will
liam Lees Of Manchester, England, who
are the prominent mo vers of the gigan.
tic mining deal involving a large tract
of valuable property on the belt and
known as the Pierce DEAL" arrived
from the east yesterday and are stopping
at the Bullock hotel. They will remain
here probably several weeks, or until
matters are satisfactorily arranged.
Mr.. Lees is a very wealthy man and
represents u vast amount Of English
Mr., Pierce for ten years and together
they have interested probably more
English capital in western investments
than any other two men. This il the
seventh trip to the interior Of the United
States that Mr.. Lees has made and his
first visit to the Black Hills. He talks
enthusiastically Of the future of the
country and thinks its Importance as a
gold producer will astonish the world
yet. The gentlemen talk very little
about the big deal pending, as Of course
men handling a project of the magni-
tude Of the one on foot are bound to
exercise the utmost caution. They say,
however, that the deal is practically
closed, that the investigations so far are
entirely satisfactory. The properties on
the belt are considered equal to the
Homestake properties and the purchase
by this syndicate means another plant
like the Homestake. The plan of put
ting a mill at Belle Fourche is perfectly
feasible and will be carried out, and the
mines Will be developed in a thoroughly
systematic and scientific manner An
attorney of the syndicate will arrive
from the east tomorrow for the purpose
of investigating the titles to the proper
ties involved and will remain until that
detail is carefully gone over. More of
the particulars concerning the deal will
be given us for publication subsequent
ly.-Times.
OLD MEXICo 81
Jeff McDermott arrived in the city
yesterday from old Mexico, where he
has been engaged in mining since last
June. He went down to Rapid to visit
his family and expects to return to
Mexico IN q short time. He owns four
claims in the Guadalupe y Calvo dis
trict which is about $50 miles southwest
of Chihuahua and has done considerable
work. He says the formation of the
country is granite and slate and the