The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-02-10
The Colorado Gold Mines.

A letter from Denver (Col. tells the
following story:
Several years ago James @. Pagan
drifted westward, and although he labor
ed hard he Jared as badly as the poorest
of gold hunters. But he persevered, and
at length was moderately successful. His
next mining venture, however, proved
disastrous. Then he began to look about
for other mines that indicated "pay. 4"
In 1864 the Kansas Colorado Company
paid $500, 600 for 800 feet OH the Kansas
and the same extent on the Camp Grove
lode. They expended $1,000 of work
ing capital and then abandoned the
place. The mines had failed to pay.
To resume work when Mr.. Pagan
came upon the scene was regarded as q
hopeless venture. Owing to the barren
ground that had been met with in many
mines at depths of from 400 to 600 feet,
doubts existed in regard to the continu-
GUS nature of these gold veins, and many
affirmed that the "bottom of the country
had dropped out" But years of expert
ence had given Mr.. Pagan thorough
knowledge of mining, and he was con-
vinced that these lodes would pay. He
purchased the property and invested all
the money he could raise in getting it in
order and in sinking through the "cap"
rock to reach the ore that has since been
found beneath. The crevice at length
opened out, and $41, 900 was the net
yield of nine months of the past year.
Previous to reaching this body of ore he
had expended S23, 900 with no returns.
One year ago he leased the adjoining
! 1,150 feet east on the Kansas and Bur
roughs, also long ago abandoned as nom
paying. After eleven months of devel-
opment and constant expense, wide
vein of enormously rich ore was cut.
The richer ores are usually found
wedged in between the country rock or
granite In narrow seams or veins, while
broad veins are generally composed OF
less valuable material. The latter are
mined more easily and cheaply, often
proving more profitable than the richer
but more narrow lodes. But the Kansas
and Burroughs have proved both wide
and surprisingly rich at depths of 500
feet and over. There seems to be no
limit to this four or five foot vein of ore,
which yields from $40 to 500 even in the
wasteful stamp mills, and still higher at
the smelling works! The total expense
foots up but SO per ton, and thousands
OF tons can be raised monthly. Work is
carried on through four shafts in the
Kansas, three of which will soop be 600
feet deep. With the recently leased
claims Mr.. Pagan now controls 1850
feet of mines, employs 200 men and 100
stamps, to crush the 100 tons of ore
raised daily, and is the heaviest mining
operator In these mountains. The Ophir-
Burroughs, leased by Pagan & Co., is
800 feet deep, has history much like
that of the Kansas, and gave profit of
$l0O, 600 in the last eighteen months.
This and one or two other like ventures
have So Jed the problem of deep mining.
Pay ore is not only found at great depths
but in larger quantities than ever before.
Abandoned mines are being reopened in
every direction, and double the present
amount of mining will be carried on
next summer. The average yield of the
Profitably worked mines around Central
Is from 80 to $14 per ton. That of the
Kansas is over $50, and the profits are
immense.