Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-07-26
WESTERN WANDERINGS.
No. 4.
WAGoNwHEEL GAP, Col,
Julx, TX 1870

UuCH CuduScu CARS LOT OcllCTdl OlCy.
The north fork Of Clear Greek is now
used for gulch mining. This we saw in
all its glory on this creek. 1t is the only
place in this section of the State where
that class of mining is now successfully
carried on. The miner goes up the
Creek above where he expects to find
gold; then he builds dam and turns
into a flume what water he expects to
use, and constructs his fume to where
he wishes to wash his dirt, and below
into this fume he shovels his dirt and
allows the water to remove all the dirt.
The gold settles above cleats, or in
holes, or above blocks nailed on the bot
tom OF the flume. Sometimes the dirt
that contains the gold is far below the
bed Of the creek. In such cases the
creek has to be carried out around the
place; the flume has to be carried by it.
Then the dirt is shOvcled up and wheel
ed on barrows to the fume and dumped
in. We saw several parties at work on
this creek below Blackhawk, some of
them Chinese.
We saw several abandoned fumes,
and at other places some new ones being
constructed. This ground has all been
washed over years ago, but now that
mining is more carefully done, they are
going over the ground again, and going
deeper; and we were informed that the
parties were making it pay, especially
do they claim that the Chinese are doing
well at this work, This branch of the
creek is about the same as it is towards
Georgetown, as to scenery. To one who
has been through the canon below the
forks, this is tame.
At Rlackhawk we passed the reduc-
ton works owned by Prof. Hill, and
they seemed to be running on full time
After stopping at the station for a few
minutes the train started and run up
the gulch a little way, then switched
and backed up, and started us backward
up the grade along the side of the
mountain, winding in and out along it's
worn sides by the mineral shafts and
dumps, until we seemed to be about 300
feet up, and almost over Prof. Hill S
works; then switched again, and began
to climb the hill, until crossing gulch,
we could see the two tracks below us,
one about 100 feet, the other 200 feet
below that. 1t made the blood run
quicker in our fingers ends, and even
our toes had tingling sensation. Here
we were up 400 feet above the track on
which we had come into Blackhawk,
and seemingly SO nearly over it that if
our train should go off the track the cars
would roll down on to the first track.
We soon began to find houses built
up along the road, and found we were at
Mountain City. We kept going up hill.
and in IA short time landed at Central
City. On inquiry, found that by the
wagon road to Blackhawk was about one
mile out and 500 feet down. The rail-
road, however, had to make over three
miles to get up and down.
We went down part way to Black
hawk and went into what is called the
Bobtail mine. We went in by tunnel
1900 feet; here we found shaft going
down about 400 feet. I'M side drift were
steam boilers and an engine, by the pow
err of which they raised and lowered the
cage which took the men up and down to
their work, and by which all the ore was
elevated. Some 10 men came up on the
cage while we stood there. Then we got
into the cage and went down to the bot
tom. Our guide told us as we passed
the different drifts, some four in mum
Der. At the bottom of the shaft We
found another engine stationed, that
was doing the work Of pumping the wa
ter out of the mine, The steam was
supplied from the boilers above. We
went out in one shaft some 500 feet to
the end of the drift, where the men were
at work. There we got out some speci-
mems of ore. After examining this drift
we came back and went up into gulley
and got some more specimens; then
turned off to the left into another drift
and went to the end of that. Here we
found some very rich ore, specimens of
which we took. We now came back to
the shaft and were hoisted up to the
top. We saw mule in the lower drift,
which was used to haul the ore on cars
to the shaft. The driver said they ele-
waited the mule on the cage each night
and let him down each morning.
We now had seen the mine in its
workings; we had been into its tunnel
1900 feet long, and at the inner end
about 1000 feet below the top OF the
mountain over it; then descended 400
feet below that, and went out again
about 800 feet; below this they were
again sinking shaft, and were down
about 80 feet with it below the lowest
level. This is considered the best mine
and the best developed one in all Colo
RADIO.
After visiting The mine we went back
to the Teller House, where we got a
frst-class dinner, then took a carriage
to Prof. Hills works We had first to
go to the Office and get Il permit; then
guide was sent with us to show us the
works. The clerk told us that any good
take. There were five in the party, a
gentleman and lady from Chicago, the
Mayor and his father, who joined US at
dinner. and the writer.
Prof. Hill has some secret process in
his method of treating ore for separat
ing the gold, that no one else knows ex-
cept one assistant, and after they COM
mence treating the ore until it is finally
separated no one is allowed to take any
away. You are taken through the works,
everything explained in general way,
anu III is very IHtcICotiIlS W oCC. hC
secret Of this method is not known by
any of the workmen, and consequently
is not in danger of getting out. We
were shown where the silver is separat-
ed from the gold and copper; we saw
the silver mass as it had formed on the
screens placed for that purpose, but
were not allowed to take any with us;
we were shown the copper after the gold
and silver had both been taken out, and
they were packing it to ship east. After
the silver is separated it is melted by
the Professor and his one assistant, in
a room securely shut off from the rest
Of the world We saw the silver spread
out in the pans ready to roast, but could
not get any of it. After the silver had
been melted, and was ready to be cast
into bricks, they pour some of it into
water and it forms into curious shapes;
these are pure silver, and they sell them
to those who wish to buy, at the price
Of silver in New York. We took some
at $l.20 per ounce. Having examined
the Bobtail mine and Prof. Hills works
and rode on the road over the city, we
thought there was nothing worth seeing
further, so we took the train at 4:3O Z.
NJ. for Denver.
The train from Blackhawk to Golden
needs no engine; they, however, run one
- IL. ~ r.