The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-09
Modern Mining.

@ the prestige Of nations s ions d Is meas as
ticle is disturbing. Much must be omitted
and the salient features but briefly mem
toned, enough we hope to indicate the rapid
development and enormous grown oi
modern mining.
Dragged from the earth by the horny
hand Of the lone prospector, raised on the
bent limbs Of the plodding miner to the
horizon swept by the vulturous eye OF the
Spectator, absorbing the wealth OF nations'
app OPERATING the subtle genius OF the
scientists. demanding the use Of every per-
fected mechanical appliance, we ma moo-
ern mining raising its colossal form IN
confusion Of gigantic engineering proJects
all over the world.
Sixty years ago Sobrero discovered nitro-
glycerine. Due probably to the serious
risks involved in handling it, no practical
use was made Of it until twenty years LATER
when ALFRED Noble, succeeded IN manu-
featuring an explosive, which could %
handled with some degree OF safety ana
convenience This he called dynamite and
was made Of varying proportions Of nitro
plycerine mixed with rotten stone De-
cause Of its great absorbing capacity. Since.
then numerous absorbents have been trled
which have led to the manufacture OF
explosives for use under a wide range OIL
conditions.
During the infant years Of high explo-
sives, the primitive rock drill struggled
through period of uncertain development.
The first drill was essentially cylinder
through the piston of which, the drill tool
passed and was alternately caught, drawn
back, and thrown like a lance against the
rock. Twenty years Of experimenting
showed small improvement in the above
mechanism and not until 1866, one year
previous to the discovery of dynamite, was
the improved Burleigh drill, acknowledged
success.
While the details Of the mechanism have
been altered, all modern improved percus-
sion drills, involve the principle Of the Bur-
leigh machine. Here again the labor OF
man has been partially superseded by the
product Of the inventor. The days work of
two mon, which by hand drilling was Is
feet per 10 hours in firm porphyry has now
been increased, by the aid Of the machine
drill, to so feet per 10 hours, the cost OF
maintenance Of the latter being compare
lively low.
The invention Of the approved pattern
of reciprocating drill in 1866 and the dis
r covery Of dynamite as safe and efficient
explosive in 1867 are in themselves sugges-.
tive Of an important period in the history
Of mining as an art. Now followed closely
~ the invention Of the diamond drill, the
first successful operation Of which, having
taken place at Pottsville in 1870, we are
justified in choosing this time as the tran
sition period between the older and more
4 modern methods Of mining.
Previous to our transition period the work
81 q. Bischof on physical and chemical
geology was published, which proved a val
liable incentive to geological and mineral
oeical investigation. This was followed by
much scientific research BY Benot, Brett
haupt, Muller and Van Gotta. In the year
1880 Sandberger propounded his famous
theory Of lateral secretion and two years
later We find the statement, taken from an
abstract that the work by s. r. Emmons
and his assistants gave to Leadville, Colo.
ra]o al underground chart which has led to
tho discovery Of bodies Of ore valued at
millions Of dollars Apart from it's i'm
mediate value to the mine captains Of
His district il proved 9 valuable
lunitle To- mining men elsewhere. The
rapid development il iron mining Of tha
Lake Superior region IS directly attribut-
able Is the work of consulting geologlists;
InI the Mesabi district the growth has beer
pheno animal. - will be shown By the follow
ing