The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-08
GOLD AND SILVER
A NEW ELDoRADO.

SILVER IN SOUTHERN COLoRADO-IHs SEo"o ~
RAPHY OF THE SUPPOSED DIGGINGs-4,VVV
OUNCES OF SILVER TO THE TON.
A correspondent of the Chicago Tribune
writes from Bakers Park as follows con-
corning a newly developed silver country;
Bakers Park is situated in Southern Color
ado. between latitude 37:S and longitude
1O7:S. 1t embraces small portion of the
lite Indian reservation which was ceded to
the government by a treaty made little
over one year ago, but not ratified by the
Senate until April "a of the present year.
By this treaty the government Obtained ute
to about 1900 square miles OF mountains;
and nearly in the center OF this eeded sec
tion lie tho San Jnab silver mines, covering
an area 10 miles east and west by % north and
south, and numbering about 1000 well de-
fined veins of mineral; at least this number
Of slOcations" have been made up 10
date. Bakers park, as the valley is called,
derives it's name from Capt BAKER NOT
military man, but pioneer and gold hum
ter-yho came here in 1860, at the head or
party numbering 20 men, prospecting for
placer diggings. It would seem that Baker
and his men knew little or nothing OF min
eral lodes, for their efforts were solely dl-
rected 10 finding gold, as the early Califor
nisns did, and their labors were poorly re-
warded. Pits and bitches excavated by this
party are found in several places, and quite
4 variety of relics left by Baker and his men
were discovered in Eureka Gulch last sea-
son. Bakers party soon quarreled snd
separated. Baker with few men striking
further south into New Mexico,
where he actually discovered rich dig
gings on the San Juan river. A few weeks
later, the adventurous captain was killed Dy
Indians, while undertaking trip back in
to this valley in search OF the main party,
majority of whom had left the country, while
a few remained, suffering untold hardships,
and finally diving of starvation. Following
Baker, from year to year, were small par
ties of trappers and traders, and occasion
ally detachment of prospectors; but they
were not allowed to remain in the country.
Enough. however, was learned of the min
eral resources here, by these parties, to lead
to the formation of a company of frontiers
men from New Mexico, who, in 1910, en-
tered the park from the south and remained
during the summer prospecting the noun
tains. and
MAKING MANY vALUABE DISCOVERIES
of gold aud silver lodes. Efforts tor treaty
OF cession with the Utes were Immediately
commenced; but, without waiting for its
consummation, the aggressive miner came
in and went to work. The treaty was moi
ratified until 1874: but quartz mill was
erected in the Little Giant gold mine in the
winter of 1928. and quite number of 10
cations were made and considerable work
done iu IS7I-2. The Indians growled good
deal because of the white mans haste to oc
cupy their country; but the Ute5 are no
''the worst among the bad" and vented
their displeasure in harmless complaints
They took no scalps from the miners. In
1873 three mining districts were organized
and white men held possession of the coun-
try About 800 miners came in
and nearly 5000 mineral loca.
tions were made; but there nc
development worth mentioning, and the
outside world heard but little OF the San
Juan mines. The present season has wit
messed some little development, and has
proven the fact that these mountains ano
eulches contain very valuable mineral, anC
in greater abundance than any other por
ton OF the world thus far discovered. There
are miners here from every mining camp in
the cOuntry-men who have grown gray IL
the service, and who, without exception, sc
far as / have cOnversed with them, pro
nounce these mines unequaled, both in rich
ness and extent, by any section they have
visited. / can not speak of other mining 10
calities from experience. 1 came here
'Tenderfoot," as the miners term a new ar
rival in the mountains, but L an
convinced that there is no field in th'
United States that can compare with this fo
mineral wealth, and believe there will b
"grard rush" hither another year, simila
to that which peopled California in '49 ant
80. While 1000 locations" have been made
have been even partially developed. TIL
law requires that 800 worth of work shall b
performed annually on each location; which
by the way, Is 500 feet in leugth along th
vein. The majority of men who discove
lOdes are far from being rich, and hence the
can not afford to do more than pc form th
amount of labor required by law, which the
have done here, and will continue to do s
until capitalists crowd in and buy their proI
erty. But about one in forty OF these lode
have been developed, and all such are
PROVING OF GREAT VALUE.
Ores that will not yield an average of q
ounces of silver to the ton are not even r,
spectacle in a miners estimation; and assay
of ores from mines that have been worke
10 to 20 feet below the surface freQuentl
Weld from 800 to 1000 ounces. The lode
are so generally rich that prospectors refus
to "locate" a vein that does not yield silvt
from the surface rock, and il must run u
$50 or 500 a ton to entitle the vein to
stake. This ia fact. The miner here g,
poets to find nothing poorer that argentife
Gus gray copper when he uncovers a veil
snd he is seldom disappointed. have ma
access to Prof. NJ. II. Van GiesOn's assayin
office for a number of weeks, and hay
ing and cupelling as he skillfull
performs it, and am thereby pre-
pared with a few figures proving I'll
fneness Of the San Juan ores. / will Civ
you the names OF q number of the lodes an
the value, in silver, of their ores. prove
by assay: The Poughkeepsie, 400 ounce
Emma Dean. 800; Prospector, 246; the Su
quehanna, 256; John j. Crooke, 194 silv.
and 30 per cent. copper; Sinalos, 602; Higi
land Mary, 49i; Dakota, 204; Burrows, n
2, 204: Aspen, Green Mountain, Gray Esgl
Red Cloud, Buckeye, Mountaineer, Ee
Bouniechord, each 200 ounces from sampl
not more than Is feet, and many not ov
five feet, from the surface. have list
so lodes, each running over 200 ounces
silver to the ton; and assays are not il
frequent that yield 1000, and in one OF tv
instances 1000 ounces to the ton. Copper
conspicuous in nearly all the ores, and VIII
Is termed gray copper is the favorite ar
.ln.. Ii, Ralcaris Parlr Thara O