Bonanza in the Hills
The placer gold in the creeks had been eroded from the surrounding hills. By late 1876, miners began shifting their attentions to the source of the gold by tunneling into the hills. Such hard rock mining used explosives instead of pans and sluices.
As mining moved from the creek bottoms to tunnels, the economic structure changed. While place miners worked alone or is small groups, hard rock mining demanded a great initial investment and a larger work force. Instead of working on their own, miners became wage laborers.
[Photo captions: left, top right, bottom right]
Workers at an entrance to an area mine. Note the candle lantern on the mule’s neck. [Photo credit] South Dakota State Historical Society.
The Homestake gold mine in Lead. Tailings (rock refuse) from the mine can be seen on the horizon, up Deadwood Gulch. [Photo credit] Nebraska State Historical Society.
Miners balancing on wood cribbing in a stop, or mine. [Photo credit] Wyoming State Museum.
Marker is at the intersection of Pine Street and Water Street on Pine Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
