Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-30
MINING IN THE BLLCL HILLS
Prospecting is Not interrupted by the Deep
Shows on the Trails.
BOOM IN CUSTER PEAK COMING
Several Good Ore Bodies discovered
During the winter-The Damage
60 the Hidden Fortune by
Last Weeks Fire.

The deep SHOWS OF last week, which
covered the trails throughout the mining
district to a depth Of three and four
feet, has not, seemingly, interfered with
the prospector and his work in the noun
tains. 1t has kept those who are develop
Ing properties close to their ground and the
result has been that more work has been
done during the past ten days than would
otherwise have been accomplished.
Parties in from Raspberry gulch, in the
Custer Peak district. say that the work
In that neighborhood has uncovered sew
eral good ore shoots, the material all being
Of high grade from the standpoint Of a cya-
hiding proposition. This district has not
attracted much attention, but should the
reports which are coming from there prove
true, this spring will see q great deal Of
work done there and the installation OF
much machinery for the better working of
the mines On the Fassold group Of claims
two large shoots Of saHcious ore have been
exposed in the workings. both OF them
carrying good commercial values. 1t is
too early TO talk Of putting in treatment
plants there, but the owners believe that
the Developments now under way on the
ground will. before the spring has passed,
warrant them in making arrangements for
the erection Of a treatment plant.
The Custer Peak company, which owns
largo acreage OF ground in this vicinity,
has kept a force Of men engaged all Of
the winter developing its properties. and
has met with fattering results, several
good ore bodies having been discovered It
is said that the company will increase its
working force just soon as the roads
get In condition to allow the transportation
Of heavy machinery to the different work.
x.yflI ha
carried on on an extensive scale.
Damage of Fifty Thousand.
The damage to the Hidden Fortune COM
pany by the destruction by fire of one of
It's shaft houses and hoisting and air
compressor plants last Wednesday night
will amount to at least $4,000, the de-
struction to the timbering in the large
three compartment working ehaft having
been greater than at first supposed. The
shaft will have to be retimbered and re-
equipped for a depth OF at least 150 feet
and some idea Of the cost of this work
alone may be had when l. Is stated that
each Of the three compartments is 4hx5
feet in the clear, timbered with squared
twelve-inch sets and tagging. The COM
pany's superintendent has prepared plans
for a new shaft house, which will be 120x
60 feet, with a drying room for the use OF
miners to change their clothes when COM
ing of shift. The new building will con-
tain a hoist capable Of lifting material
from a depth of 1000 feet: an air com
pressor plant, large enough to furnish
power to run twenty-five drills, and an
electric light plant for lighting the work
ings underground and the buildings. 1t
will be a much better plant than the one
. tytll rim az
once. the machinery having already been
ordered. The destruction of the plant at
this point will not interfere with the
starting up Of the company's big mill on
whitewood creek, below Deadwood, which
is scheduled for April /. This plant was
to have been in operation by the first Of
the year, but a railroad accident, In which
great deal OF the machinery entering
into its equipment was destroyed delayed
the completion Of It. II will be started on
the frst, SO the management says. sure,
and II is expected that the initial run Of
the big plant will meet with the expecta-
tions of those interested; at any rate the
people Of the Hills will be disappointed
should It not do so.
| L. p. jenkins Of Lead will take posses
sion of the United States assay ONCE in
this city on the first of che month, re-
Iieving P. J. Miniter Of Chicago, the pres
ent superintendent. Mr.. Mlniter has made
an ef1cient .oficial and while the people
are sorry to see him go out Of ONCE they
have always felt that the position was one
which belonged to the Black Hills and the
appointment OF Mr.. Jenkins OF Lead has
been most popular one, especially with
the mining men Of the country. Mr.. Jen'
kins will retain the present ONCE force.
vincent Succeeds Clinton.
N. w. Chapman has resigned the posi-
tion Of superintendent Of the Portland and
Clinton Mining companies. and has beer
succeeded by II. s. Vincent OF Deadwood
Under the management OF Mr.. Chapman
both OF the companies have been very sue.
cessful, and as the now superintendent Il
a man OF experience and practical mining
knowledge, the companies will lose moth
ing by the change.
The Golden Reward Mining company 4
mining on an average of $50 tons OF or,
a day from its four mines near Terry, tn,
Tornado, Double Standard, Fannie and Sun
dance. OF this amount l50 tons a day ar
being shipped to the cOmpany's cyanid
plant in Deadwood, while the balance Is di
vided between the smelters at Denver an,
East Helena. Mont. The high grade ore
are being shipped to the smelters, Will
the lower grades are being sent to tn
cyanide plant at Deadwood for treatmen
The cyanide plant Of the company has bee
running continuously. although but part o
the stack capacity OF the big smelter OF tn
company has been idle since the labo
troubles OF last year. 1t Is said that tn
company may again start up the smelte
at its full capacity before long. the rlc
smelling ores which has made the mine
OF the company famous occurring in large
bodies ana with higher values.
Ex-General Manager Holbrook Of tn
Horseshoe Mining company is out In cir
cular to the stockholders OF the eoneSrr
in which he endeavors to place the blam
for the present tangled shape OF the com
pany's afiairs upon the shoulders OF th
new management II Is Interesting readin
! for the stockholder. but poor consolation
The new management, however. appears
be In earnest with the reforms which
proposes to inaugurate, and the Hill
people have hopes that It will pull n
company through all right. but know tbs
Il will take a good long time to remov
from it's operations the taint Of ''get-ricf
quick"
GriHsIsy Bear 90 the Fore.
HILL CITY. s. D., March 29.-(special
The uriEzly Bear Mine, 6ve miles ea