The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-12-06
Gruc Norti)srnrr.
Paw PAW, MICHIGAN, DEC. 6, 1878.
DENVER. CoIonApo. Nov. Goth. 1878.
.spondence Of The True Northerner.

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remain here bu, short time TO appreciate the
aptness OF the town. 1t Is the most important
centre IN the Rocky Mountain region for all
all tours to noted points The Denver X
South Park Railroad is being rapidly con-
structed through Plat canyon, and about 30
miles finished. Boulder is As miles distant
Golden &C. Black Hawk Sc. Central City 3s,
Georgetown 50 miles.
In all our trips through canyons and noun
tains ia the vicinity Of Pixies Peak, we saw
nothing OF mining-there Is none there-but
the above named places are in the midst OF the
richest mining regions Of Colorado. SO wish
ing to see the ore dug from the mountains,
ana stone turned to gold and silver, we soon
found ourselves steaming towards the noun
tains. At Golden-1. 600 feet above Denver
we change from full gauge to the narrow gauge
cars and were soon winding IN and out among
the towering walls, and wildly picturesque
gorges OF Clear Creek Canyon. Few places in
the world can afford railway ride equalipg
that upon the Colorado Central. lncessantly
twisting and turning, the track lodges into
seemingly impossible openings. bat steadily
climbing the mountains at grade o. from 100
20 200 feet to the mile. Bleak and frowning
rocks reach out in fantastic shapes over the
road and over the creek, aud grow more terribly
sublime: their height increasing until from
the narrow dehle it strains the eye to scale
their TOP. The gorge IS barely vide enough
for creek and road, and it often crosses and
'recrosses to find the best trail. showing the
greatest triumph OF engineering skill and
energy, presenting changing scenery wild and
grand beyond description. Twelve miles brings
Us to the junction where our train turns TO the
right running up the forth branch canyon, to
Black Hawk and Central City. These two
places are one mile apart bur built together,
and really one. Here the road Is built on the
face OF the mountain. and TIC tram switches
back and forth. and runs four miles to make
one. and rises $50 feet to the upper part Of
Central. Here We visited Prof Hills reduction
works, and were shown through by the fore
man, and the different processes explained Tor
reducing the ore in its various stages. until the
gold and silver is ready for shipment in solid
bricks. worth from $500 to s250 EACH These
works have turned out. the last year, between
gold and silver. Pine wood. instead of coal is
used in smelling and is worth six dollars per
cord-Sl10,000 was paid for this item alone.
The celebrated Bobtail mine must lot be passed
by. We entered at the base OF the mountain.
each one Of the party armed with lighted
candle. penetrated 1000 feet. to its very heart
where ponderous machinery is ever at work
AT this point shaft is sunk 800 feet deep,
from whence drifts are sent out wherever the
veins or orc lead. The ore is lifted to the level
drift by which we come in, and taken out on
cara drawn by mules to the stamping mills
near by, where IS stamps are at work. night
and day, grinding the ore. washing out and
separating the gold and silver from the waste
There are several other mills here. but we had
not time to visit them. There are great many
mines here-on the very top OF the mountains,
along their faces, at the base, In the guches.
aud over the mountains il the valleys. wher-
ever paying rock can be found while others
have been worked awhile and abandoned The
work OF the prospector is seen everywhere.
This is singular place to build a city-and il
any place on the continent can be called the
Switzerland OF America" this Is the one
Through Black Hawk there is room for one
street and railroad in the bottom OF the cany on.
Through Central City there are two streets,
and theI street after street along the face OF
the mountain, some six or seven one above
another, go close that every man can look INTO
bis neighbors chimney in front OF him. A large
business is done here. fine business blocks
backed into the side OF the mountain. large
hotels, churchs and Opera House-and all this
at an elevation Of $500 feet above the sea level
of the country, we took carriage across the
mountains to Idaho Springs rising several
hundred feet above central, we were at an
altitude of 1000 feet, and had grand and ex-
tended view of mountain tops ard valleys-but
the trip down the mountain through Virginia
canyon. with all its bold and rugged scenery
was somewhat trying to the nerves. From
Idaho Springs, where the water pours from the
earth too hot for bath, we take the train for
Georgetown, nestled under the shadow of great
mountains. bearing indications of thrifty,
Prosperous growth, in its places of business,
hotels, private resldences, public buildings and
smelling works, giving evidence that it is in the
midst OF a rich mining region and here. as at
other mines, we were supplied with specimen
OF gold, silver and copper ores. The trip from
hereto Green Lake is one of no little novelty,
there being an ascent of 1900 feet IN three
milee. The lake is on the very summit Of a
mountain, at an elevation Of 10000 feet, and
covers an area OF twenty acres that was once
dense forest. The greatest depth Of the water
is eighty feet, and forty feet beneath its per-
fectly transparent surface can be plainly seen
the tops Of pine trees, looking as it enameied
IN richest emerald. The ride back from the
lake 10 enc Of a novel, and at times decidedly