The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-03-06
LEADVILLR


lists Account Of the Place.
The rush to Leadville bids fair by the
time spring has been ushered in to
equal, if not exceed, the stampede of
'49 to the gold fields of California, and
the indisputable evidence of the rich
fields of ore that environ Leadville
gives rise to the impression among old
and cool heads that have spent their
lives among the different mines of the
West, that richer and more lasting re-
suits can be expected. The latter opin-
ion has become more prevalent since
the discoveries on the Sd inst. at Silver
Cliff, about thirty miles from Canon
City and about seventy-five miles from
Leadville. Old and experienced min
ers claim that the strata form a belt
clear from the Leadville canon to Sill
yer Cliff, distance of about seventy
+ five miles. and many go SO far as to ex-
press the opinion that they extend
clear to Utah. If, on further investi-
gation, this should prove true, here
opens such an exhaustless mine of
wealth as has never been discovered
yet.
A Star reporter called this morning
on Mr.. F. G. Garrison, of LeadviIle, at
the Lindell Hotel, and cleaned a few
facts on the new Mecca.
Mr.. Garrison said: I have been in
terested in mining for over twenty
years, having spent the greater portion
Of that time right among the mines,
and can candidly say that in all my
experience 1 have never seen such de-
velopments as the region of Leadville
has shown. There is not person who
has gone to the camp who has not
made money, from the penniless
wretch who had to walk there to the
capitalists who have invested their
money and worked the mines. There
are now fully fifty mines taking out
: ore, and some of them have proddced
from s., ,O0O. 600 to So, ,OOO, 900 since their
discovery. The smelting-works are
being rapidly increased, and about 500
tons of ore day are being taken out.
One peculiarity find about the Lead
Vile camp is that none are anxious to
sell out, and. in fact, there are few that
will sell out at all-at any price. This
is not a transient rush and then q gen.
eral stampede in another direction, but
there is money to be made there, lin my
opinion, permanently, and Leadville
is destined to be goodly and substan-
tial city. Your staid old st. Louisians
don't get excited easy, but I tell you
you will have the fever with the rest
of them soon Chicago is wild, streams
are pouring out from the Eastern cities
and the English are taking hold of the
matter; several agents of the Liver
pool Stock Board are out there pros
pecting, and as to Colorado, it is on
fire: ladies who are living in afiluence
and ease in Denver are pleading with
their husbands to invest.
Understand, don't ask you to take
my word for the immense resources
out there and the natural excitement
attendant, but am backed in my OBJ
servatiOns by all who have invested SO
far. There are men about the camp
to-day with Independent fortunes who
never knew what it was to have mon
ey before, and don't know what to do
with it now they have got it. Old
camp-fOllOwers who for years have
never made q cent are daily making
money, as instance Reshey, who sold
out the Little Pittsburgh" or rather
his interest in it, for $500, 600, and is
now aimlessly walking about the
streets of Denver, not knowing what
to do with his suddenly acquired
wealth.
AS to location and future prospects,
they are all fine. Leadville is SO situ-
Ated on q slope that it makes an excel
Tent town site it is quite city now,
but nothing to what it will be. The
population is now about SIS, 900. This
includes ''Ten Mile" camp, the sur
rounding settlements and the town
proper; add to this about 400 per day
that are steadily pouring in. There is
do doubt whatever in my mind that
by the middle of summer there will
be fully $50, 900 in Leadville and yicin-
ity. The greater portion of this, as
matter of course, will be floating, and
the influx will continue until late in
the fall, but 1 have not the slightest
doubt that the permanent population
will number about 1900.
The town is laid out different from
any mining town that 1 have ever
been in, and have visited about all of
them. The streets run even, its situa-
ton is to its advantage. and the lower
plat is laid out perfect in detail, which
all looks as it had come to stay. Fine
churches have been erected, first-class
schools are in operation, three banks
transact the business of the citizens,
two of which are fine brick buildings,
and dweIling-housesa and buildings of
all kinds are rapidly going up in all
directions. Fifteen saw-mills are run
ming full blast and are not able to sup
ply the demand for building materials.
AS a matter of course the enormous in |
fiux from all parts will, after a time,
clog some of the industries, but it will
be some time before this can happen,
and all who have gone so far have
made money! One more index of the |
prosperity is the large gambling ele-
ment. Wherever this element is found |
there is sure to be great deal of mon
ey adoat.
Five theaters are also giving nightly
entertainments to crowded houses, and
one more is to be started in a short |
time. AS soon as the spring is fairly
open tell you there will be such a
rush to this place as has not been wit
messed before in the annals of the |
cOuntry.-[St. Louis Star.