Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-05-07
Latter From A. Il. Ledoux.

The following letter from Mr.. A. Il.
Ledoux. Receiver for the Harvey Peak
Tin Mining and Manufacturing com
pany, which is self explanatory and oil
special interest, is published for the
information of CHRONICLE readers:
New York. April 2S, 1898.
To the Editor Of the Custer Chronicle,
Custer city, $ ID.
DEAR SIR Somebody has kindly sent
me your issue Of April 10th, and | can
not refrain from complimenting you on
your remarks concerning the article
appearing in the Cosmopolitan Maya
zine, purporting to describe how The
Eta Tin Mine was sailed for the benefit
Of the English investors. L know
nothing whatever Of my " knowledge
Of what took place while the tin deal
VAS being promoted, but it is so pre-
posterous that anybody should send to
England for ore to salt a TIN mine in
South Dakota that | cannot refrain from
adding my approval to your editorial
statement. There is plenty Of tin ore
to be obtained in Custer and Penning-
ton counties If me desires it for legili
mate or Legitimate purposes. What
the Harvey Peak company never deter
mined and what rs still, in my opinion,
a question for the future, is whether
this tin ore exists anywhere in quanti-
ties sufficient to profitably mine.
Since ! have been Receiver | have
urged upon the ~litigants again and again
that his question be determined by
Legitimate mining and sampling, but SO
far without avail. | have also placed
my self on record that there is a strong
probability that upon some Of the
patented claims of this company gold
can be fouLd in paying quantity, and
have urged that | be authorized to CON
tract with prospectors, authorizing them
to open up the gold prospects on joint
account. There are some evidences
that these lltiganis may consent to a
thorough testing of the property, and no
one will be more pleased than the Re-
ceiver il the good people Of the Black
Hills. who have suffered so much dis
appointment as the result Of the unwise
imitation and subsequent reaction ~ the
beginnings of the Harvey Peak enter
prise, shall be permitted and enabled TO
demonstrate that after all the Southern
Hills contain valuable deposits of gold
or tin, or both, and that they should
participate in the renewed prosperity
which would result as they have shared
the adversely of the enterprise.
Considering how scattered have been
the ranches, shaft houses and mills in
my custody as Receiver, there has been
| apparently very little lost by theft or
alienation Of property. but what is
missing is now being searched for and
should be returned at once. But be.
lieve that the people have aided my
representatives TO the best Of their
ability.
Although authorized by the Court "a
dismantle the tin mill and scatter its
machinery by sales, l have fortunately
been able as yet TO prevent so unfor
tunate q cousummation and have sue
ceeded in paying the taxes which were
the subject of litigation without destroy.
ing what ! consider to be the key TO the
future of the tin district, whether the
key be q golden key or of another metal
The mill, with little alteration is suitable
f,r the treatment Of tin or gold ore.
trust hat the tax authorities while
not %favoriug the Receiver o than /:
Just and equitable, as compared with
corporations and individuals within
their Jurisdiction, will ns &c
maintain the present policy in the hope
that after all something can be worked
out Of this unfortunate enterprise.
Yours very truly,
A. r. LRDoUx.