The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-29
The Weary Way Of the Tide
Of immigration.
MYSTERIES OF TRANSPORTATION.
Oregon Bill and His Indian
Exhibition.
SKETCH OF VALUABLE LODES.
SAN JUAN MINES, BAKERS PARK,


In entering Bakers Park Dy way oil the Gun
ningham Guich trail the descent from the summit
on the Pacific slope is 2, 400 feet. Along both sides
OF the rapidly moving Cunningham Greek the
mountains which form the gulch rise very preclpl-
tously, leaving but a narrow ravine between their
bases, and at every lew hundreds otyards tiny
mountain stream lows down the volcanic face or
the precipice or leaps headlong over the rocks In
o succession OF picturesque falls, sometimes 1000
feet in height. Here we see q sllvery ril purling
over the loflest point and dashing into the
creek below; there we observe narrow line OF.
purest white winding downward through rift
In the mountain. Through all the gulcnes which
open into Bakers Park countless small streams
trickle down the sides Of the canyons and finds
himself, in gazing at them, unconsciously wonder
ing FROM whence 90 they come. In ascending the
peaks however, they may be traced to great
beds OF snow. which lie far above timber land,
and whose gradual and constant melting supplies
the valleys the year round with pure, iee-celd
water. II would be very natural error for one
to fall In TO suppose that Bakers Park was
broad open PLAIN but the fact is 1t is little more
than a canyon, or, more properly, It is Simply
section OF the valley OF the Rio de las Animas.
What is generally known by the name OF Bakers
Park is the narrow strip OF land between the
mountains, extending from Eureka Guch to the
north, as far the foot of Sultan Mountain to the
south. a distance of about nine miles. The
average width is quarter OF mile, but at the
foot ofthe PARK the valley rolls out into q broader
area, In which is situated the nourishing mining
town OF silverton. Much confusion exists In the
minds OF the Inhabitants as to
THE LIMITS OF THE PARK
many contending tnat 1t includes all the country
above described, which would seem the most
probable while others, among whom are many
old mi Of
the narrower section above Silverton under this
name. 1t matters little, however, whether the
original Bakers Park were nine or three miles in
extent 1t is q most Insignificant tract SO far as
its limits In any case are concerned Yet,
from It's isolation from other low LANDS and lts
situation in the very centre OF the great mining
districts, 1t becomes the most important spot in
the whole OF Southwestern Colorado. In one year
the town Of Sllverton has grown from a miserable
hamlet, composed OF q few log hovels to what 1t
now is-a busy town, built up OF neat board
houses, and containing two sawmlls, Two smelt-
ing works. a United States Post once. with
semi-weekly mail aud all the necessities and
conveniences OF civilization, and even some OF
Its luxuries in the form OF restaurants, drug
Stores a barber shop and a weekly news
paper known the La Plata Miner, the
FIRST number OF which was issued SATURDAY, July
10. Five miles above this, at the junction OF
Cunningham Creek with the Aminas, hes the
village ofHowardville or what was formerly called
Bullion City. Further up the river. at the head OF
the so called Park, stand few huts which con-
stitute the town OF Eureka. Opening into the
Park on either side are Arastra, Cunningham and
Eureka guches, and also several less important
ravines. There are two stories which are told
relative to the origin OF the naming Of this valley
One is that q band OF miners, headed by one
Baker. we're slaughtered here by the Ute Indians
some time about the year 1862. But an old resi-
dent, who claims to have accompanied Baker
here in 1S6O-61, tells
TIE FOLLOWING TALE.
The report that gold was TO be found in great
abundance in the gulches and river beds OF this
section was circulated by Baker in the year $780,
he having visited the locality in 1859. with party
OF men he entered about this time, and combining
his searches to the valleys, wholly ignoring the
mountain sides, the result was that the party was
unsuccessful in discovering more than the color
OF gold in their paintings. But the reports OF q
fabulously rich country were carried near and far
and as many as 5000 people congregated here as
early as 1862 Upon finding out their mistake
they were very bitter against the man who had
misead them, and Baker was forced to nee.
About three years ago accounts appeared in some
OF the western papers that Baker had been
killed by an Indian in the Canyon OF the Colorado
while out with an expedition. This is The SUD-
stance OF the story, and 1t seems more plausible
than the FIRST. However, many people we're
killed south OF the Park at that time by hostile
band OF Navajoes, which fact may have given rise
20 the Baker report. In the immediate vicinity
OF she Park there are at present. perhaps, 1000
persons, while In the whole san Juan mining
country there are, probably, 1900. But still the
tide OF immigration 1ows on and Is not sbsted.
Men continue to come In singly and in parties at
all hours OF the day. Many are bringing In their
families, intending TO make this their permanent
nome, and brave women may be frequently seen
pushing forward amid rain and mud and the dis
comforts OF a Wild and dangerous country, fol-
lowing their husbands 10 success, or, II so 1t be-
TO death.
1t is surprising what an extent OF trave there
IS over such abomnable roads as lead to the park.
All the enterprise OF the country seems 10 nave
centered in the interior, and every man waits for
mis- neighbor to accomplish anything on the road.
The wagon pass over the range is very much
worse than the trail, and TO cross the latter is
sometimes about as much as a mans or an ami
mails life is worth. How wagon is ever landed
in a disable condition is q subject for much spec
ulation. At the top Of the pass, which is IL, 500
feet IN height the way is so steep that vehi cles
are lowered teven when empty and the four wheels
are firmly locked by means oil heavy ropes
wound around strong Stumbling posts" or large
trees many OF which are cut nearly through In
places by the saving OF the ropes. In many places
there Is an inclination OF forty-nve degrees,
where the power or gravitatlon refuses TO anchor
even stones or earth, and on one side precipice
yawns below for hundreds OF feet. And dottng
the side OF the road and the bottsm Of the gulf
skeletons OF mules and 'Jacks" and jumbled
masses OF once strong wagons. in returning from
a tour In southwestern Colorado last Sep.
TENDER the Photographic party Of the United
states Geological Survey took this route
over the mountains, aud, although 1t was
encountered with no vehicles the utmost din
culty was experienced in ascending with the pack
train, enc animal having TO be taken up In GER
tain places at = time, one man pulling ON the
strap Of the halter In 'front.' and two literally push
ing the mule up rom behind. This description OF
the ROAD may bear the impress Of exaGgeration;
yet that this is not the case hundreds OF men In
the vicinity can TESTIFY.