Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-08-30
MINING MEMS EXCURSION.
The Trip to Custer and Sylvan Lake OF
the Mining Men and Their Fam
lilies one OF Enjoyment.


Quite large delegation of the men,
bers of the Mining Mems association
came down from the northern Hills to
take part in the meeting of the Mining
Mems association which took place in
the court house at Custer City, August
23rd, 1902. This was an enthusiastic
gathering and was we'll attended by the
mining men of this district. The meet
ing was called to order with Mr.. S. w.
Russell in the chair and Mr.. ]. E. Pilch-
er as acting secretary.
Mr.. Ed. L. Granebam, the mayor of
our city, made an address of welcome to
the delegation in words of hearty greet
ing. This was responded to by Hon.
Eben w. Martin, our present member of
congress, who gave very interesting
discourse on the advancement of the
mining industry in the Black Hills, and
the influence that the mines and the
miners had exerted in the settling up of
the vast territory west of the Mississippi
river.
The next speaker was Mr.. B. r. Wood
of Custer, who entertained the audience
in very brilliant and forcible address
of about half an hour on the importance
of the mining interest, not only in our
little zone hundred miles square," but
as applied to the world at large from the
working of King Solomon's mines to the
present day. This was followed by a
paper prepared and read by Mr.. G. w.
Robbins, veteran miner and prospec.
tor, who expressed his pleasure at being
privileged to meet with the association
for the first time since its organization.
Mr.. Robbins then proceeded to point out
some of the peculiar characteristics of
the ores and veins Of the southern Hills,
showing wherein they differed from
those of the northern Hills, and the ad-
vantages of each district. Mr.. r. wound
up by saying there should be no rivalry
between the two sections. No matter
what feeling there might have been in
the days gone by, the time and the occa-
sion had passed away. We were now
united, not only by the iron rail of traf-
fic and easy transit, but we are bound to-
gether by the still stronger ties of friend
ship, interest and fraternity.
Mr.. Russell then arose to close the
meeting, but before doing 80 he took a
little time to set forth the object and
benefits of the association, pointing out
some of the good things they had been
able to bring about, and gave a brief
statement of what they proposed to do in
the future. The most important task
they have in hand at present is that Of
trying to get the International Mining
Congress (which meets this year at Butte,
Montana) to hold their next meeting in
the twin cities of Deadwood and Lead
For this purpose they will send dele
CATION of fifty members Of the association
to the grand convention which assem-
bles in Butte on September lst, which is
now close at hand. Mr.. RusselPs ad-
dress was business throughout and was
well received and approved. The meet
ing was then adjourned and all those
who felt any occasion for replenishing
the inner man were invited to partake of
very appetising lunch, which had been
prepared under the direction Of Col. w.
J. Thornby, and was spread upon table
in an adjoining room. Thus ended the
first meeting of the association in Custer,
which was pleasant gathering and
characterized by the best of feeling in
every way.
Still, while this is true, we hope to be
pardoned for saying, that in our opinion
the committee in charge made one mis-
take. The meeting should have been a
mass meeting, and not meeting of the
and few invited guests.
Our people are all interested in the
mines, but for lack of formal invitation
many of our most representative citizens
staid away. We presume that the rea-
son for this arrangement was the fact
that the committee on entertainment
could not tell how many they had to
provide for and feared, that lid there
not be enough for all, some might 60
away empty and feel sighted. There
was no intention Of being exclusive.
There was enough for all. No one was
barred, all were welcome, and all were
happy. Most of those who attended the
meeting brought their families, who on
their arrival took Immediately to the
coaches in waiting and were driven to
Sylvan lake, where it was their purpose
to tarry for several days to enjoy the
scenery and to sail on that beautiful
sheet Of water. We were unable to pro.
cure the names of all those who came
down to attend the meeting but among
the many we recognized the following:
S. w. Russell, Supt. of the Uncle Sam
mine Maj. Jack Simmons, mining edi-
tor of the Lead Daily Call; Col. w. j.
Hon. Eben w. Martin, Geo.
Jackson, Judge Granville q. Bennett,
John Blachford, Supt. Golden Reward,
John Gray, Supt. Wasp No. 2, I. A. Webb,
editor Independent, j. L. Bentley, COM
agent B. & M. r. R., Henry
Lardner, A. w. Coe, Herman Bishoff, N.