, 1873-12-24
THE HARD SCRABBLE SILVER. MINES.
A Visit to the Town of Posita.
Effects Of The panic---prospccts Of tho
Mines.
The Principal Lodes, and Their 0wners...
Investigations by Scientist.


Ono fine morning, few taya ago. q mercantile
directs, with Spencer carbno, blanhota saddle.
bags, and bottle Of fair proportions covered
with wiokor-work aud bearing auspicidus ap-
pearancc gonorally, challenged TuE TRIBUNE
correspondent for ride over to tho now mining
town OF posita, situated in whnt IL popularly
known as The Hardscrabblo silver mining dis
trict, and distant about So or 10 mlloB to tho
southwest OF Canon City. Tho prollminarios
were aoon aottlod; fow additional supplies
ordered; revolvers we're strapped Oh In hot
haste adioux with admlring groups OF jealous
friends wero exchanged aud, gracefully seated
upon tho backs Of two dory, untanned brouchos,
your correspondent aud "mutual friond " van
ished over the crazy cottonwood bridge that
spaus tho Arknnsas ut this point, mud struck out
for tho famous silver mines Of tho new FL
Dorado.
In tho cvoning, after ride through q lovely
md romantic region, we drew rein in front OF
Cottonwood cabin, known as thu Eikllorn Hotel,
aud situated in the heart OF the toursLing town
OF Posita.
THE HARDsunADDLR B1LyER-11INEg
aro late discovery, and nro now hnrdly dovol-
opod. They Take their name from uarlscrabblo
Creek, a small strohm which emrtics into tho
Arkansae abotlt 40 miles above Pueblo, but the
minea proper aro not located In tho vicinity Of
tho stream, and should bear no relationship In
tho way OF tltle. Tho Hilver-produoing GRO is
all found within. scope Of mountaineering
20 miles square, located In tho southern foot
hills Of tho Wet Mountain Valley. Tho prizo
wns flat stumbled upon by Dick Irwin, the
famous guide and prospector, In tho fall Of
1868. Dick kept The discovery to himself, aud
viBited tho San Juan country. hoping to find
something still richer but, falling in this,
he returned q few years later, put
up cabin, and made his discovery
known to tho world. Tho first specimens of orc
asaayed remarkably rich, and there was a rush
for the now helds-a ruHh which still continues,
aud promises to swoll in number for homo time
to come,
according to observations lnado by Lieut.. Whool-
or, of tho Government Scientific Expedition, has
an elevation Of $500 foos above soa-leyel. Tho
started in April Inst, and contains sixty og.cab-
inB with one frnn,o store, anda settled mud aoat-
ing population of 400, OF perhaps 600 porBous.
It Also boasts ono hotel, tho Elkhorn.
before mentioned, tho usual complement Of
grocery stores, aud q public hall. now used for
q church. During the past few weeks. MesHrs.
J. and D. james, Of Mattoou, ILL.,. hayo erected
Rome smeltiug works for tho reduction OF tue
orc upon the ground; but whether these works
determine. They havo certainly failed to
realize public expectation thus far; but tho
trouble BoeMB to be in finding IN experienced
smelter. Il .eeems that tho propriotors have
to the East; but the works aro now in Charge Of
tho miners, who swenr, In their mild way, tint
they will either smels ore or bust the machine.
A grand trial will aoon be made, and, ii sue
peenliuin; II otherwise, 3 number Of thousand
dollar todes can be bought cheap, md scores Of
sturdy miners will ho seen tramping for moro in-
viting fields, Writing of things precisely as he
found them, your correspondent is compelled to
say that Posita Possesses
NONE OF TIE CHARACTERISTICS
Of q naiuing town. except in appearance. Tho
financial panic has oveitakeu the plaeo, aud
prospects that few weeks ago were roge-colored
are now gloomy. Saloons abound, but currency
is scarce, and the drinkers arc few. There is no
noise, bustle, OF excitement, and but very little
work in tho mines. just now everybody ia busy
watching the operations Of that smelling ma
chino. Iom Dick, Hungry Jim, aud Thundcra-
down in front Of their mud cabins, and wait for
developments. 10 hear them talk, however,
they are the riclest men on the face
of the earth. This one has just
to purchase; aud another, with q knowing wink,
declares he has something that will throw the
Enma or the Gomatoek III tho snaae. ,,.1 AZ hrst
one IL aps TO teoa !ns'sntneane @ wni!o ta'Ksng 20
sncn neI, ~ ne s soon 1ealla pener. n nlno
eases out OF leu. saese moneyeu lotas, VINO own
so many thoaaann iSoe ot precious orc, VINO taiS
30 ehplS OF olvaaenas nus anu mining stooRs'
HAVE sof oAsu ENOUGH
70 pay 1of sue OF naco.l, aoa arc actuaily IN
aeptea 70 TIE amona-1yed G exponent or cheap
lapoF, Nhong.Cneo, whoso s1ilnglo IL =, con-
splcuous'y 1!stlniy}ou " oty-eoooa poA' ineso
men are on!y talAlne 1oF e1ect ana TO Keep up
the11 Spirits. xoHr true m m,nor Ut tho hrst tral
VIII ne sure 10 HE ash @o,uuo 1or no!e IN 5no
grouna bat a., ,,tsia patience, coupled win ~
tie strategy: WILL ofton enable ono to secure tho
pr1He 1Ta Tor y s2s, 20 ,a.;oa ht .,,,.
Ihefo u no q4ostlon nut tnat tho tos!ta mines,
WIN proper gut1ay u cathta4 aua ueseloPmont
m OF tho louoa discovered, can be made 70 pay well.
Iaklng tue suriaco,ore. We lnd Tue minority Of tla
specimens very fch, aeaaylng from :Sloo to- ,ooo
70 20 tne ton. 5omo specimens from Tug senator
me M Mprlncapal iode-have g. even aseayed as n'gh al
Si,ooo 70 tAe ton ous ta1s Ii 1af above tho nv
eraee. op 70 aato,