Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-09-21
THE STATE FAIR.
The Black Hills Mineral Exhibit One OF
the Attractive Features of the Fair.

dnu report strenuous tltne. heierflnR
to the exhibit Mr.. Crow, of the Lead Call,
has the following to say:
The state fair held last week at Huron
under the auspices of the South Dakota
State Board of Agriculture was a sur
prise to the management, for the char
acter of the exhibits in every depart
ment far exceeded all expectations and
the attendance was greatly in excess of
the most extravagant anticipation. The
live stock exhibit, the display of the ag-
ricultural resources, the splendid show
ing Of poultry, and the complete exhibit
Of the product OF factories in South Da-
kota, all impressed the visitor with the
fact that South Dakota is great and
growing state and enjoying very high
degree of prosperity. The mineral ex-
hibit from the Black Hills attracted un-
usual attention and study from the
thousands who entered the grounds
The four men in charge Of the exhibit
were kept busy from early morning un-
til closing time explaining the character
of the various ores and the methods Of
mining and milling, and the impression
made upon the people of the eastern
part of the state regarding the mineral
zone of the western section will un.
doubtedly bear good fruit. And while
pounding rock with words, the Hills
representatives would frequently let
battery of stamps drop in behalf of the
climate and scenery of this region. But
! one serious drawback to the work was
that the committee had no late litera-
ture giving information that would have
been of interest to the many who took
| the time to view the mineral exhibit.
The races were exceptionally good
considering the size of the purses offer
ed. The total receipts fell but little
short of $4,000 and the big attendance
was Beadle county day in honor of Gov.
ernor Crawford, when nearly $4,000 peo.
pie were in attendance.
Hanson county took first premium for
general products, Brown, Hand, Sphinx
Clark and Hyde being awarded prizes
in the order named. Stanley county
made the best exhibit from any section
west of the river. The Hills made no
exhibit except the mineral, of which
the Huron Herald made the following
report:
The completion of the railroads from
the Missouri river to the Hills has not
only made it possible for the people of
the eastern and western portions of the
state to realize that they were residents
of the same great commonwealth, but it
has given an opportunity to make dis
play of the resources of the Hills at the
state fair as shown by the mineral ex
hibit that can be seen in the west wing
of the horticultural building. For TWEEN.
ty-five years or more the people of the
eastern portion of South Dakota have
known Of the mining regions in the ex
treme southwestern section of the state,
but haG very limited knowledge ofthe
mining industry owing to the fact that
the time and expense required to reach
that portion of the state was too great
an undertaking for any but a few per.
sons. But the distance by rail has been
reduced from about 900 to Us miles,
and the result is shown in the first ex-
hibit of minerals of any Importance that
is being made in Huron at the present
time.
Gold bearing rock is on exhibition
from nearly every district in the Black
Hills, the ore coming from the Home
stake, Golden Reward, Mogul, Wasp No.
| 2, Maitland, Esmeralda, Reliance aud
Gaena, all producing mines and located
collections of rich specimens from num-
erous other properties in close proxim
| ity to those named but are not as yet
sufficiently developed to take their
place in the producing class. The ones
on exhibition range in value from $500
to 5000 90 per ton, but it looks like an
inferior grade of rock to one unacquaint
ed with the mineralzed article.
From Pennington and Custer counties
can be seen greater variety of min
erals, although silver, lead, copper and
tin exist in Lawrence. Much of the
richest ores that come from the southern
Hills are from around Custer, Hill City
and Keystone, the Holy Terror being
one of the most promising producing
gold mines in Pennington county. In
addition to the gold bearing quartz, tin,
copper and silver ores are shown from
spodumene, amblygonite, iron and other
valuable mineral deposits that exist in
that region.
1t may be of interest for the readers of
the Herald to know that the Black Hills
Of South Dakota have produced not far
from S200,OOO,OOO in gold and other min
erals, and yet the country is but partial
ly developed. The Homestake has turn
ed out upwards of $50, 0,000, 0O0-Sl5, 900.
600 of which have been paid over to the
stockholders.
Much more might be said about the
mining industry of South Dakota but a
visit TO the mineral exhibit will per
haps give better idea of this important
resource Of the state.
The mineral exhibit Of the School OF
Mines, Rapid City, occupies prominent
place near the center of horticultural
hall. 1t is in charge of DR.. G. G. 0'Hara
professor OF mineralogy and geology
who personally collected and prepared
the specimens exhibited.