304 Proceedings oe the 



during the few years they have been in operation ; that 

 no more of the forest has been used in their develop- 

 ment than has been absolutely necessary, is doubtless 

 true. The grade of the ore, the high wages paid, and 

 the satisfactory returns received in most cases on the 

 investment, prove that the mines have been most eco- 

 nomically managed, the timbering being one of the 

 heaviest items of expense in their operation. 



In addition to the timber used under ground in pre- 

 cious metal mining, large quantities are required on 

 the surface in the erection of ore reduction works and 

 buildings required to house the machinery necessary 

 in conducting the business of the mine. 



The question of wood for fuel is in some districts 

 an important one, which happily has been in a measure 

 solved in the Black Hills in recent years by the advent 

 of railroads,^connecting the mining districts with the 

 coal fields of Wyoming, enabling the mines to secure 

 a better and more economical fuel than that afforded 

 by the forest wood. 



Another, important factor in the business of mining 

 as conducted in the Black Hills, fully as essential as 

 timber, is an ample supply of water ; for if this is in- 

 sufficient, the separation of the values from the mined 

 ore would be impossible and the labor and expense 

 of mining lost. As it is necessary, owing to these low 

 grade ores that the stamp mills or reduction works be 

 placed as near the mine as possible, large sums of 

 money have been expended in supplying these plants 

 with water which is derived from mountain streams, 

 the continuous flow of which is dependent upon the 

 preservation and maintenance of the forest conditions 

 at their source ; the fact being now unquestioned that 

 the denudation of the timber and forest cover, and the 

 removal of vegetation at the supply points of our 



