Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-01-24
THE NEW MINING FIELDS.

We CLEAN from Denver (Col.) paper
the following in regard to San Juan:
Adjoining the southwestern part OF the
Territory Of Colorado, bordering upon
the Rio Grande south, lies tract Oh
mountain country 5000, 900 acres IN ex-
tent, which has Just been purchased ny
the Government by treaty with the ote
Indians. 1t is one Of the richest mineral
sections thus far explored. and VIII snort
ly attract the strong and investigating
attention of the West.
1t is about 800 miles from Denver to
the boundary, and it took us hve days
buggy riding and seven days on morse
back to reach it. Invent with Mr.. brunot'
the Chairman Of the commission. We
were several days in council with the
Utes, who are different class OF people
altogether from the Utah Utes or the
Flutes arranging the terms OF the treaty
which will be known as the brunot
treaty.
We went with them over TO the San
Juan country, as the purchase Is called,
and found it mountain country, with
little or no farming land, and no timber
except scrub pine, quaking ash and cot
tonwood, but rich beyond conception in
ores silver, gold, copper and iron-as
well as coal. We found five or SIX leads
already located by prospectors who went
in there this season some l50 strong, not
one of whom, We are informed, could
raise IS in money, though they own
mines or have located leads, some OF
them worth million dollars. The
probabilities are that most of these par
ties will never realize anything at all,
but the benefits OF their discoveries Will
be reaped by others who will come in
with money and erect mills. There are
no placer diggings such as the bare
handed miner becomes wealthy at. but
only ore deposits which must be opsr-
ated upon by mills.
Just below this immense deposit OF
metals there is heavy deposit of coal,
which is rsputed equal to the best coal in
Colorado The coal will be grand aid
to development of the mines, by supply
ingl'the smelling works with ready fuel.
The streams are mere watercourses, ex.
cept the Animas river, upon which these
mines are located. The altitude of these
mines is $4,000 10 5000 feet, and the
mountains run up all around them $4,000
to $1,000 feet higher. The peaks arc
very rocky and rugged, and are lifted high
above the timber line. | have beer
through every part of the West, from
British Columbia to Mexico and l DOM
think there is anywhere else SO great 6
conglomeration of mountains as in thii
San Juan country. The whole of those
100000 acres is just one grand mass OF
peaks.
By the terms of the treaty the Utes are
to receive the interest upon $500, 200 te
be paid for the land. The principal re.
mains on deposit, as it were. with the
government. You may see that the lane
costs the nation about twenty-five cents
an acre. Any one may go in and pre-
empt it as they do the prairie land. All
that is required is that the person who
locates claim shall dig hole and pos
notice and thereafter for five years pu
$500 worth OF work per annum into it, ,
as they say. At the end Of the five year.
he must go to the land Office and pa,
$500, when patent issues to him secur
ing the property absolutely. If mai
neglects to work his 800 worth an,
year the claim is open to the first conner
His labor is to be rated at miners wages
If he desires to buy the land outright h
can have it for S. an acre.