The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-09
RED ELEPHANT, COL, March 81.

Hon. John S. Cochran, Wheeling, W. Va:
DEAR SIR; Having recently learned
your address, and naturally supposing
you would like to hear something from
mo on the excitement which Is now
booming all over the country about Colo.
RADIO and It's precious metals, ! write you
herewith few lines. The excitement at
Leadville, Ten Mile, Silver ClitEe and
viciniHes is greater than you can imagine.
They are beyond doubt good camps,
but very much oyerrated by the people Of
the East. They have many good mines,
it is true, but not enough to give employ.
ment to one-tenth Of those who are rush
ing there. For the past two months the
daily arrivals in Leadville, alone, will
average two hundred, and scarcely one
out OF a hundred know anything OF mines
or mining. Also the snow at Leadville
and Ten Mile is now from three to five
feet deep, and must remain so until about
the LIST OF June, before which time no
prospecting can be done.
The mines at Leadville are what is
known as the carbonate OF lead, which is
simply reddish or yellowish clay; once
galena bearing silver, but now descOmpos.
ed. This carbonate lies almost horizontal,
like coal vein, varying in thickness from
one inch to several feet Hence it belongs
to the secondary formation as Classed in
geology. It's richness in silver varies from
20 OF. up to $500 per ton Of orc. Many
places, as where the vein goes under the
hill or mountain, they can strike It only
by sinking very deep-sometimes 500 feet
or more. Hence heavy capital is required
in such cases, before paying ore can be
had.
Therefore, you will readily see, that there
can be no chance for the man without
capital. There have. in a few instances,
millionaires risen up there, 1t is true, but
the chances are fearfully small in compar-
ison with the number rushing there.
These camps have another objection.
The altitude being from 10000 to 1900
above the level OF the sea, makes It a eli
mate in which very few can stand It more
than few weeks. Buff was fully per-
suaded in my own mind to 90 there,
would under no consideration whatever
attempt it before the first of June.
have been over most OF the State, seen
all the camps, and have come to the con.
Clusion finally that this Clear Creek coun.
ty Is the best | have found within her
borders. The veins Of silver and gold
here are in the Granite, with vertical
walls going downward for an indefinite
depth Of thousands and tens OF thous-
ands Of feet, probably to the centre Of the
earth. Also they are far richer than those
OF the secondary formations. They often
yield streak of solid mineral, one foot
thick, that will run $1,000 per ton Of ore.
This ton can be mined, hoisted, transport
ed to the reduction wells and treated for
less than $50. This county is where silver
was first discovered in Colorado, in 1854.
She has steadily increased in her produc.
ton yearly, until now her yield will not
iall far below two millions annually,
There is no Unnatural excitement here.
All things move on steadily without any
furry or commotion. This camp is one
OF only two years standing. We have
two lodes here which stand prominent
the Free America and The Border Nest
They each average about 81 900 per day,
while they work not to exceed twenty
men each. While Clear Creek county ex.
GELS in silver, Gilpin leads all the State in
gold production. While this Clear Creek
county is silver producing, yet she has at
Empire City two as good gold mines as
are in the State. Also Gilpin has some
good silver mines. Although fourteen
years have elapsed since the discovery OF
silver IN this county, yet important and
valuable discoveries are almost daily being
made. Therefore the prospecter has here
still an inviting field for his labors. There
are any amount of lodes here awaiting
only a developing capital to prove them
equally as rich in the precious metals as
any yet opened or developed. The
financial condition OF the country has
been such for the past five or six wears
that no capital has come among us for in.
Investment in mines in any shape. Int
many OF US here have been irving to
bridge over this Chasm to meet a better
time when capital will come this way. We
hope and believe 1t is now near at hand,
It IS great expense for some OF us to do
the annual work in each mine TO prevent
its forfeiture, as the law requires too much
annual work done. This has reference
only to unaeveloped mines. might per.
hapS, after securing some interests here
IN developments going on, be induced to
head prospecting company 10 90 into
that county about the first of June, il tho
proper inducements were TO offer them.
selves, as | have been through the Lead.
vile and Ten Mile countries wears AGO,
and believe could make some rich dis,
Coveries in that direction.
may write you again ere long.