The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-04-16
THE NEW Ell DORADO.
Minerals Of Surprising Richness--A Great
Camp Mt Leadville, Col.--Scenes In the
Mining District, Etc.

| Minerals Of Surprising Richness--A Great
Camp Mt Leadvil1e, Col.--Scenes In the
Mining District, Etc.
A correspondent of the New York En-
press, writing from Leadville, Col, says:
This is great camp, as you will prob
ably learn before many months are gone.
Indeed, think it excels any other min
ing camp of which history furnishes us
any account. California and Nevada, with
the Black hills, are nothing in compar-
ison with this location in the richness
and extent of mineral deposits. All
over these lofty mountains and in the
numerous gulches that flow along be-
tween the various ranges, not only gold
but silver and other precious metals lie
in the most wonderful profusion. From
one end of the State to the other, along
the belt of the Rocky mOuntains-com-
posed, as they are, of three or four sepa-
rate chains or ranges-minerals OF sur
passing richness are found but few
feet. comparatively, below the surface of
the ground. a few years ago none were
sanguine enough to dream of such re-
markable deposits in such close proximity
to civilization, and so easy of access to
both sections Of our common country.
Here in the very heart of the continent,
about midway between either ocean, are
found the richest mineral deposits Of the
known world If Nevada during the
past few years has yielded thousands Of
millions Of dollars in solid silver,
Colorado will, before two years
more have passed, produce three dollars
to her one even in her palmiest days.
There seems to be no limit either to
the extent of the veins or to their rich
ness and value. New lodes are discov-
cred nearly every day in the week. and
fortunes are made here rs if by magic.
Not even the enhancing tales of the
Arabian Nights excel in vivid imaginal
pictures the real scenes that are con-
stantly being enacted here on the very
dome of the continent. A few miles
from here, and | can stand at the very
headwaters of the continental streams,
which flow into either ocean, and along
these winding creeks lie millions of tons
of the richest mineral that was ever pro-
duced, only awaiting the hands of hardy
toll to release and make it one of the
commodities of commerce.
DO not think for moment that have
lost my head in the apparent craze that
seems to pervade all classes of people
from almost all sections of the country,
for am rs calm and self-possessed as
ever l was, under circumstances ten
fold more trying than these are. I sim:
ply give you the facts as they exist, and
only indulge in such speculations as to
the future as past and present operations
seem to abundantly justify and warrant.
Whether there is rich mineral in this
section is no longer an open question,
nor do think there can be any serious
question rs to its quantity. Our best
surveyors and geologists agree in their
opinions that Colorado is one vast belt
of the best of minerals, and before next
summer is gone I fully believe practi-
cal demonstration Of this opinion will
have satisfied not only our own country
but the whole world that this is prob
ably the richest and most valuable belt
of mineral to be found on any continent.
Thousands Of newcomers flock in
here every month, the travel averaging
at least seven hundred per week. or one
hundred per day. The streets present
the aspect of = city of 10000 people,
while the postafficc is perfect marvel.
There are at least 1000 boxes, every one
of which has at least three occupants.
There are three general delivery win
dows, and yet the lines Of men waiting
for mail continue unbroken from eight
A. NJ. until eight P. ". One year ago
there were not fifty houses Of any char
acter in the town, where there are to-
day more than 1900. Then there were
not more than 200 persons, where there
are now not less than from 10000 to l2,-
1000. some people placing the number us
high as 10000. A few miles above here,
ut place called Ten Mile" the name
of 4 small creek, 4 new town has sprung
up since January l, 1879, where there
are at least one thousand people and
three hundred houses. Up there the
snow is yet seven feet deep on 4 level,
but here there is none save on the sides
of the higher mountains. Leadville is
lO,5O0 feet above the sea-level. or nearly
two miles straight up in the air above
the level of the city Of New York. The
air is very rare and difficult to breathe,
and perfectly free from moisture, SO that
when the temperature is down to zero
one experiences none Of the sensations
of extreme cold that are felt in your
vicinity when the temperature is ut
twenty -eight to thirty above zero.
Kokom0, or "Tcn Mile," is still 1000
feet CHER than Leadvillc, and it is bo-
licved that when snow is gone some Of
the richest minerals yet discovered will
be struck in that section. There are at
least seventy paying mines in operation
within five miles Of the center Of this
city, with more than two hundred
"prospcct holes being sunk all around
us. Some of these mines turn out from
81 900 to $4,000 per day. We are seven
ty miles from railroad, and everything
we have must be freighted in here over
the steep mountain ranges that separate
lis from Denver and other sections of
the country. 1t is two days journey
from here to Denver, distant one hun
dred and forty miles. Seventy miles is
by rail, and the balance by stage, over
mountains whose precipitous sides make
one shuddcr as he looks out from the
stage window into the almost fathom-
less depths below. The road in many
places is only just wide enough for one
team, and should any mishap cause one
of the wheels to slip over the narrow
roadway, the descent into the valley or
gorge below would be almost certain.
None would, of course, be left to tell the
sad tale In two places | saw the re-
mains of mules and wagons that had
been precipitatcd down these rocky
mountain sides.