Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-08-07
THE wH1rn SPAR MIME.
A Chronicle Reporter Visits the Min
and Makes q Trip UNDERGROUND.

A Chronicle Reporter Visits the Mine
| and Makes Trip Underground.
Through the courtesy of Daye Peter
son, Uncle George had the pleasure Of a
ride out to the White Spar mine Monday
afternoon. This well-known mica mine
is about two miles southwest of Custer.
1t seems hardly necessary to mention
the fact, but lest this article should mest
the eye of strangers we will state that
this mine is part of the holdings of the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, in the Black Hills. and ID
designated by them as Mine No. 2. Mr..
Joseph Pyne is the superintendent.
In going from town the first house
seen Is o residence for the blacksmith
on the park, a short distance from the
Office building. The Office is probably 10
feet from the engine house. The engine
house is not yet covered owing to nom
arrival of iron roofing which has been
ordered. A cage for the SHAFT has also
been ordered but has not yet arrived.
With Mr.. Peterson as guide we stepped
upon the bucket and was lowered to the
l00-foot level. Going back in the tun-
mel 100 feet we found one machine drill
ing away starting cross-cut in face of
solid mica. Here the tunnel was feet
high and fully that width. Here we en-.
tered chamber some IL feet wide, 10
feet high and 200 feet long. At the far
end of this chamber an upraise 7x7 feet
was started to connect with the 50.foot
level for an air shaft. They were follow
ing an ore shoot and were up about 80
feet we should judge, with a machine in
the face of the incline still boring up
ward. Climbing this upraise would be
like climbing steep roof covered a
foot deep with sand. A few feet from
the shaft on this 100-foot level spring
burst forth affording clear, cold, drink.
ing water for the workmen. Six men
were working on this level. When the
cross-cut gets fairly started the tunnels
on this level will be wired for electric
lights. There being some water in the
50-foot level we did not venture in the
tunnels. In this mine is said to be
developed the largest body of mica of
any mine in the United States.
Coming up again to fresh air and sun
shine we went to the "cobbing" house,
80 or 80 feet down the guich from the
engine house. In this place we found s
or girls and boys at work. When
bucket of mineral is brought up it is run
out on tramway to the "cobbing" house
and dumped into bin. The boys fill
boxes with the mineral and place them
beside the girls who Gull and split the
mica. For this work they are paid by
the pound. The boys then convey the
boxes to the other end of the room,
where Miss Arvilla Donaldson sorts and
packs it in barrels of first and second
grade. A barrel of mica averages 450 to
460 pounds. From to 10 barrels form a
though more often shipped
by carload. The product of this, as well
as the New York mine, is shipped 10 the
Laurentide company, at Lincoln, Neb.,
where that company has splitting
What other process it may
pass through, deponent saith not.
The refuse from the "cobbing" house
is ground into three grades-extra fine,
fine and coarse. Most of the best grade
is shipped to the Goodyear rubber com.
pany, where it enters largely into the
manufacture of their products. The
second grade is shipped to many places
for varied uses, while the coarsest grade
is made into axle grease--an every day
commodity.
A spring down the gulch some 1900
feet furnishes water enough for all pur-
poses. A gasoline motor pumps the
water and forces it up to the engine
house and sawmill.
Lockers will be put in the room ad-
joining the engine room, formerly used
for "cobbing" and it will be converted
into wash and change room.
The blacksmith shop is but a short
distance from the engine house. Wm.
Arthur is the tool sharpener and it
keeps him and his assistant busy to keep
a supply on hand.
At present two shifts are working.
Frank Clark is foreman Of day shift,
with Robert Hebert as engineer. Night
shift, Dave Peterson is foreman, with
Guy Reder as engineer.
Will Bostwick has charge of the saw
mill with crew of six men. They are
saving lumber for other needed build
ings and for mine timbers.
It is a difficult matter to describe a
mine of this character. A person not
familiar with mining cannot fully COM
prehend the labor required and expense
involved to mine and. ship this product.
The White Spar produces an excellent
oualitv of mica.