Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-11-01
Colorado Mines.

~ NAY SEEM SllNtSC lllNl. Altcr hClhE
settled for more than twenty years the
very ground having been run over
again and again by thousands Of men.
away UP near the summit Of the main
range Of the Rocky Mountains, the
richest layers Of silver ore should lie
found, III an altitude OF moro than 9 900
feet above the level Of the sea. Never
thclCss, there stands lCadvllC CITY IL
spot that had been almost deserted for
years, with the exception of now and
then prospector or pilgrim hunting
for he knew net what; and vet before
HIM, in whatever direction he turned,
lay specimens Of the richest silver ores.
Transfers, packmCn and travellers had
scoldcd and sworn because at every
point toward which they turned, they
saw nothing but black, heavy rock,
which they called lead One pilgrim.
more wise than thousands uf others
who had visited California Gulch, nut
two OF three specimens III his pocket,
and was shrcwd enough 20 show thcm
To an asSayer, who found them to he
very rich in silver. This was the begin.
ming OF the interest which to-day il lclt
both east and west in the future of
Ieadvllle. Where il year ago there
was nothing but Wilderness, to-day
there Is busy city of nearly 10000
inhabitants. II Inns IFS city organization
with mayor, city council, churches,
schools, bands, stores, two daily news
papers, fire and police department four
or five fines OF daily coaches, daily
mails from the east and west, telegraph
lines, sawmills, brick-yards, and III fact,
| everything with which to build NJ II
great city.
The mines, unlike those Of any other
section, excepting White Pine, i'll Ne
Sada, are merely IA orizontal deposits OF
great layers of ore which seem to have
been forced through some ercvice in the
earth's surface and fallen over into the
gulch, like IL vast sheet or floor. Ii
some cases there seems to be scvcra
layers of ore Whoever discovers tn,
mother vein from which these lnycn
have evidently been forced will prob
ably have one of the richest silvc
mines IN the world. The locations whicl
have been made upon these layers o
ore are usually 300 feet III length i,
GOO feet in width, which being sold n
prices ranging from $50, Zoo up to III
high us 100000 each. The orc range
from SO up to $1,000 per ton, Speei
mems have been found which have run
as high as 5000 10 "a 900 per ton. I'll,
average, however would not lac Over
$50 TO - per ton. The beds of ore mr.,
found III from Two to twenty feet from
the top OF the ground, in course, soft
rock, easily worked. Other discoveries
are being made il every direction fol
several miles upon the mountain sides
and in the gulches. IL is not believed
that the mother vein has yet been
found. Such is the interest that has
been felt in this locality that three rail-
road companies are striving to see
which shall extend its line first TO the
new city.
Probably never before has there been
a discovery made, more accessible, and
which has created 50 deep mn interest
both east and west MS the mines found
at Leadylle Quiet, thinking, conser.
yatiyG men who have visited the mines
return TO the east wild with excitement
while many capitalists have invested
from $4,000 to 100000 each, but il
would not be strange if in process oi
time these layers Of ore should be ex-
hausted tie same as AZ White Pine. II
is estimated that S2,0O0,000 have nj.
ready been taken out. ~. u. Enclidnge