Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-01-19
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University Mining Co.

In speaking of the University Mining
company, a mention Of which appeared
in our issue of last week, the Pioneer
Times Of recent date says: The Uni
versity. Gold Mining and Milling com
pany has purchased the Yerxa stamp
mill in Custer county. 1t will be re.
paired and improved, and will be run
ming as soon as this can be accomplish
ed. The company has also purchased in
connection with the stamp mill tract
of quartz mining ground, on which the
mill stands. and tract of placer ground
known as the Yerxa ranch. The mill
is on Spring creeR, about a mile west Of
Oreville, and eight or ter miles north
west of Custer. 1t is fiye-stamp affair,
and was originally built to be run by
water power. The University company
is going to put in an engine and boilers
and operate the mill with steam po#tr.
The quartz property that goes with the
mill makes a splendid showing, and is
situated on the ledge found in the Grand
junction, mine. The Yerxa ground is
about three and half TITLES ttbin the
Grand junction, and the ledge has been
traced the entire distance, showing up
at places very strong, with width q
fr bm thirty to forty feet. Spring creek
flows parallel with the ledge almost all
the way across the Yerxa ground, and
at the stamp mill there is an old incline
in which several dipes Of rich ore are
{ md. Ore is the same az that fc,ind in
Tie Grand junction. Between the ore
pipes in the YerXs incline there is a
slaty substance that is not found in the
Grand Junction, and it will probably
pinch out as depth is gained in the in
cline. The incline was run years ago
and large amount OF the Gre was run
through the mill. The water power was
not satisfactory. however, as it did not
develop sufficiently. The University is
negotiating for boilers and an engine,
and the power plant in the mill will
operate the hoist or the Incline. Work
will be pushed in the incline, and by
the time the mill is ready to start, the
company will be taking out ore to sup
ply it. There is good stream of water
in Spring creek, abundantly able to sup
ply the mill.
The Yerxa ranch is on Tenderfool
gulch. and consists of fifty acres OF
choice placer ground. The gulch below
the ranch was for years rich In placer
and vefy frequently paid ten dollars 8
day 10 the man. There has not been
much placer mlning done on the ranch
MIR. Yerxa, the former owner, worked
it in places every year, proving that the
placer deposits reach across it. The
company is going to take out water and
get ready to commence ground sluicins
as soon as spring opens. This property
is near the original group of claims own
ed by the University company on the
gulc". The Yerxa cabin, which goes
with the ranch, is not ove- 200 feet from
the tunnel that the company has beer
running. The University company is
strictly Sorth Dakota corporation, anJ
has attained an excellent standing. II
takes it's name from having been organ
lied largely by students and former
students of the State University at Yer
million. 1t is capitalized at million
and quarter shares of stock, with pal
value Of one dollar. Enough of this
stock has been sold to put the company
on a practical working basis. and there
is a rapidly increasing demand for il
among investors in the eastern part o.
the state and elsewhere at present
The company has been adding to itt
ground from time to time until it now
owns hundred and fifty acres of valu
able ground in Custer county. There
are ten quartz claims, seven of them sit
uated on Tenderfoot gulch and three or
Spring creek in addition to ffty acre:
of placer ground on Tenderfoot. The
career of the company during the las
few months is a splendid recommends
ton for the management, and guaran
tee Of its future success.