Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-10-22
TEH SAN JUAN COUNTRY.

OSe who seems to know of what he
writes, gives glowing account of the
San Juan country and its gold and silver
deposits. He says; .
Adjoining the southwestern part Of the
Territory of Colorado, bordering upon
the Rio Grande south, lies n tract of
mountain country five million acres in
extent, which has Just been purchased
by the Government by treaty with the
Ute Indians. 1t is one of the richest
mineral sections thus far explored, and
will shortly attract the strong and inves-
tigating attention OF the West.
IL is about three hundred miles from
Denver to the boundary, and took us five
days buggy riding and seven days on
horseback to reach it. We found it
mountain district, with little or no farm
ing land, and no timber except scrub
pine, quaking ash and cottonwood, but
rich beyond conception in ores-silver,
gold copper and iron-as well as coal.
Only one mine has been really devel-
opel, and that only in part. 1t is called
the Little Giant, and is owned by Chi
cago company. They have spent about
SO, 900 IN working it. and their stock is
about 100000. Their machinery is
very poor aud works badly, yet l was
told by good many persons there that
they were taking out 81, 900 day in
gold. They are about to put up 10
stamp mill, and the manager claims that
when it is up they can take out S25,000
week. Their vein is foot and half
thick, and is calculated upon to yield
$1,000 o ton.
There is another rich mine near by,
which think is really continuation of
tue same lead, that is being negotiated
for by Chicago parties. The Little Giant
people say it is richer than theirs. The
Little Giant people claim that their
mine is worth million as soon as the
treaty is ratified by the Government, aud
they can give title which they hereto
fore have been unable to do, it being
held only in Il miners claim. One man
las n silver lead six feet thick that he
has figured up to be worth S2S7, 900, 900.
| don't suppose he could raise 500 in
the world.
There was Il mine called the Green
Mountain, which, it was claimed, would
weld So, 000 to the ton. Then there is a
lead called the Silver Star, which is forty
ffet thick and yields good pay ore. There
IS copper cropping out for miles in veins
that look to be from twenty to forty feet
thick, but no one takes up copper be-
cause there is SO much gold and silver.
lou can see any amount OF copper along
the face of the mountains, and right in
the center of the tract there is rich
IRON deposit. They claim that the silver
leads are more valuable than the gold.
because the veins are much thicker and
richer. ..a
The streams are mere water-courses,
except the Animus river, upon which
these mines are located. The altitude of
these mines is 5000 to 5000 feet, and
the mountains run up all around them
$4,000 to $1,000 feet high. The peaks
are very rocky and rugged, and are lifted
high above the timber line. l have been
through every part of the West, from
British Columbia to Mexico; don't think
there is anywhere else so great con-
gomeration of mountains as in this San
Juan country. The whole of those s.
900, 900 acres is Just one grand mass of
peaks. The road makes descent at one
place Of 3, 500 feet in two miles. 1t
crosses the range at an altitude of l2,7OO
ieet-the highest wagon road in the
world. Any one may go in and pre-empt
1t as they do prairie land. All that is re-
CURED is that the person who locates u
claim Shall dig a hole and post a notice,
and thereafter for five years put "$100
worth OF work per annum into it," as
they say. At the end of five years he
must 90 to the Land Office and pay $500,
when patent issues to him securing the
property absolutely. II man neglects
to work his 800 worth any year the
claim Is opened to the first conner. His
labor IS to be rated at miners wages. IT
he desires to buy the land outright he
can have it for So an acre.
The nearest towns are Del Norte and
Iona, on the Rio Grande. The scenery
along the Rio Grande is very fine, but
mat river does not touch the mines;
they are, as have said, on tho Animus
and its headwaters, There is canyon
on the Animus which | did not see, but
IT is said to be wonderful place, from
900 to 5000 feet deep and twenty-five
miles long, with fail of the Animus
winch at that point is some forty feet
wide) having sheer descent of nearly
SIX hundred feet.
Two companies have applied for char
tiers, each Of which contemplates putting
a good road over the ranges (which, by
the way, are called the Uncomparga and
San Juan) and hotel is about to be
erected in the vicinity of those mines
Already opened. Next Spring there will
probably be an influx of people, and in
year or two, If any faith is to be put in
prospects, the new acquisition will have
attained as wide celebrity as the Ne