The contribution of each of the three producing counties to the total production of the Territory in 1884 was approximately as follows: The dividends declared by the mines of Dakota during the year are stated to have been as follows: Whitewood district.-The property of the Homestake company lies principally between Deadwood and Gold Run. Notwithstanding the immense amount of ore which has been extracted from it during the last six years, averaging only about $4 a ton, and yet which has enabled it to declare dividends aggregating over $4,500,000, the deposit seems almost unlimited. A 200-stamp mill has been erected, and it is thought that the mine has enough ore in sight to insure a supply to the new mill. A tunnel is being run on the property to tap the B. & M. shaft in what was formerly the Giant and Old Abe mines. The tunnel will be 8 by 9 feet, and will enable an ore train to operate the lower levels of the Giant and Old Abe properties. The production of the Homestake mine during the year 1884 was $1,252,765.70 as against $1,170,919 in 1883. At the Father De Smet work has been continued during the year, and no change of any importance is noted. The general outlook of the mine is unchanged, with the exception that the ore breasts around the Eureka open cut show more slate than heretofore. The production of the mine for the year was $474,552.94 against $355,423.61 for the previous year. The net profit for the year was $240,352, of which $200,000 was paid in dividends. The number of tons produced was 106,540, which averaged $4.45 a ton in gold. Since its incorporation, the Father De Smet mine has paid forty dividends to stockholders, and there have been but two assessments levied, amounting in all to $200,000, the last one being in November, 1878. The Deadwood-Terra's product for the year was $466,532.78, against $245,650 in the previous year. The total number of tons of ore milled from the 1st of July, 1883, to the 1st of July, 1884, was 152,990, for which was received $540,525.56. The production of the Highland mine for the year was $511,740.32. The Caledonia is not producing, owing to a recent cave, which filled and closed the entire underground workings of the mine. A drift started to tap the 400-foot level is in 200 feet. A mill has been set to work upon ore taken from the 300-foot level. Carbonate Camp district.-Work has been prosecuted during the year on the Eureka, the shaft being down 18 feet, while the Yankee, Jay Gould, and Garfield are considered promising claims. The Iron Hill mine has produced considerable bullion during the year, which was shipped to the Hallenbach Smelting Company, at Deadwood, and produced $25 in gold and $4,447 in silver. The work done on the property consists of a 200-foot vertical shaft, with cross-cuts and drifts on the 165 and 200 foot levels, containing large bodies of ore, said to carry 200 ounces of silver to the ton. Information in regard to this district has been furnished by Mr. M. R. Hydliff, of Bear Gulch, and Mr. F. J. Davey, of Galena, who report the production of gold from the placers of this section to have been as follows: Iron Creek district, $1,500; Potato Creek, $4,500; Rawlings Creek, $4,500; Hurricane district (Wyoming Territory), $3,000; total, $13,500. Mr. Hydliff says that the promising mines are the Little Lucy, the Rough and Ready, the Giant, the Bertha, Isabel, and Portland. The placers of this section were once excellent producers, but it is thought that owing to the advantage of a plentiful supply of water they were nearly worked out. The tin mines of Nigger Hill and vicinity are now exciting considerable promise. The Rough and Ready is developed by an open cut exposing the ledge for 50 feet in width, showing good tin ore assaying $8 per ton in gold and a trace of silver. The Giant has a tunnel 300 feet long and a shaft 60 feet deep showing a good face of tin and carrying some gold. The Morning Star has a shaft down about 10 feet showing tin ore, and the Michigan is developed by a tunnel 65 feet also in tin ore. The Ohio and Indiana, and the November are promising locations. The Crow Dog has a shaft 35 feet in good tin ore, carrying $7.60 in gold and $1.60 in silver. The Sontag, Steptoe, and Spearfish all carry similar ore. Lying between Mace and Wyoming gulches is the Swansea group, consisting of Swansea No. 1, opened by a shaft 12 feet deep; Swansea No. 2, two shafts 14 feet deep; Swansea No. 3, shaft 25 feet deep, and Swansea No. 4, shaft 12 feet, all carrying gold. The Boston group consists of five locations, the Boston, opened by a shaft 25 feet deep, Commercial, New York, Atlantic, and Pacific, all carrying tin ores. The following comprises the list of the reported production of mines of this county: Some of the most valuable placer mines of Dakota are situated along the foot hills in the western section of this county. The ore is low grade, but free milling and abundant, and can be extracted and treated with but little expense. During the last year probably two hundred persons have been engaged in placer mining during the summer months. The water is supplied by Rapid Creek. Rocker Hill placer mining district is situated south of Rapid City, on a high table-land. There is no stream of water running through the district, and water is obtained by damming springs. Rochford district lies partly in Pennington and partly in Lawrence County and contains some valuable quartz mines. On the two principal creeks, Castle and Rapid, placer mining is carried on to a slight extent. Mr. C. H. Enos, the superintendent of the Minnesota Mining Company, reports that work has progressed during the year, but no ore has been milled. Three thousand tons milled previously averaged $4.54 to the ton. The ore-body is 150 feet wide and well developed to a depth of 165 feet. Mr. Fred. J. Cross, of Rockerville, reports the production of the placers of this county to have been for the year: Rockerville placer district. Total Gold. $18,000 15,000 700 .... 33,700 Harmer Gulch.-Mr. William Batchelder, superintendent of the Golden Summit mine, reports that "the shaft has been sunk 50 feet, with levels and cross-cuts of 50 feet to the lead, which has been found to be 15 feet wide, averaging 31 ounces. On the 130-foot level a cross-cut was run 157 feet, which struck the lead 13 feet wide. At present there are three distinct leads. Other developments consist of a tunnel 112 feet, a cross-cut 65 feet, and a shaft 50 feet, all done in the past year. Thirteen men have been employed, and the company will erect a 60stamp mill in the spring. The Greenwood Mining Company has just completed a 120-stamp mill, but as yet no production is reported. On the Bengal Tiger work has been pushed, and the tunnel is now under cover a distance of nearly 400 feet. The total length of the cut and tunnel is 437 feet. The shaft and whim-houses of the Bengal Tiger were destroyed by fire shortly after the close of the year. At the Stand By mill in Rochford district 30 stamps are in operation and some ore has been produced, but owing to disagreements among the owners no very extensive progress has been made. The Castle Creek Hydraulic Mining Company have again commenced work on their mining properties. Mr. J. L. Chipman, of Lookout, reports the production of placer gold from the bars and gulches of Castle Creek and vicinity, and also from Chipman's Bar to Bell's Bar, a distance of about a mile, to have been about as follows: He says that more gold has been taken out of the bars the past summer than ever before. The formation is slate, and the gold is on and in the bed rock, which has to be taken out. The Jenny Lind mine reports a production of $5,000 worth of gold. Prospecting is continued on the Silver King mine. From the 50 foot level a cross-cut was run 21 feet through the lode, but no ore has been as yet extracted. Assays show gold 10 ounces, silver 14 ounces, copper 30 per cent. to the ton. Ruby Camp: The property of the Ruby Camp Gold and Silver Mining Company, located in Ruby Gulch, is thought to be one of the best silver prospects in the Hills. At present several men are at work prospecting. The ore carries both gold and silver, the latter largely ruby. The Lancaster mill has been thoroughly overhauled and work started up. The mine has a tunnel in 450 feet, and a force of 20 men is employed. The Minerva mine has produced about 100 tons of ore a day. Work on the Grand Junction has been pushed with two shifts, and the shaft is now 40 feet deep. A shaft has been sunk on the Dakota Maid to a depth of 60 feet, and a cross-cut 68 feet extended on each side, showing rich ore. The Rich mill has been leased by Mr. Davey, and is said to be successfully conducted. At the Uncle Sam mine the main shaft is being extended, and ore extracted from the 150-foot level sufficient to keep 15 stamps employed. Work has been done at intervals at the Oro Fino, in Strawberry Gulch. The following comprises a list of the reported production of gold of the mines of this county: CHAPTER VI. IDAHO. The chief industry and the principal source of the wealth of this Territory is mining. It employs a larger number of persons and amount of capital than any, indeed than all, other industries, and although yet in its infancy has, during the past year, added to the wealth of the country nearly $4,000,000. The mines of this Territory are worked very largely by private persons and unincorporated companies, and have not figured extensively upon stock boards, nor in sinking large amounts of capital in worthless prospects or pretentious schemes. Their production has gone directly to remunerate those actively engaged in this industry, and very largely to residents of the Territory. Idaho contains extensive belts of mineral deposits only partially explored, which commence in Wood River country and extend to the northwest as far as Coœur d'Alene, while its placers on the Snake River and in the southern portion of the Territory have for many years yielded large quantities of gold. In many of the best districts but little work has been done during the year, but in other sections, especially the Wood River and Coeur d'Alene countries, mining has been actively prosecuted. In the former, smelting furnaces have been constructed, hoisting and concentrating works erected, roasting furnaces built, and sev eral new and valuable mines discovered. The Cœur d'Alene country has continued to attract marked attention, and the tide of prospectors has continued to flow in that direction. The general formation of this country is slate, and the creeks flowing through the cañons have so far been the principal sources of mineral wealth. The gravel found in their beds is very loose and coarse, the gold, water-worn, occurring frequently in nuggets. That found so far was on the bed rock and in the crevices. The production of the Territory during 1884 was about $4,000,000, of which $1,250,000 was gold and $2,720,000 silver. This was distributed among the counties approximately as follows: |
