The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-26

ice or some other agency. The theory OF the
Leadville deposits is that they were originals
ly outcrop from assure veins on the noun
tains, and that they were swept Into the val
legs by the ice of the glacial period and sub
sequent torrents OF water, and gradually
covered with wash. A more modern opinion
is that at some very remote period fresh
water lake existed between the main range
of the Rocky Mountains and some OF the
spurs; that the water OF this lake held in So
luton cal Donate of lime, lead, silver, gold
and iron; that in the course Of countless
centuries these metals were slowly precipis
tateG to the bottom of the lake; that these
precipitated we're gradually covered with
layers of earth, powders and porphyry; that
this process went on for vast periods Of time,
until, by some convulsion of nature, the lake
was drained, and its bed teemlnZ with min
eral wealth, was gradually covered with
wash from the mountains. Should scientific
discovery determine this theory to be the true
one, the mineral wealth of Lake county will
prove greater than the most saEguine now
expect, for the precipitates must have been
uniform throughout the entire extent of the
lake. Water cannot discriminate where it
will deposit it mineral. Internal oscillations
of the earth, causing hills and swells in the
bottom Of the lake. will naturally have heap
ed the mineral in some spots, and diminished
it mothers. But every square foot of what
was the bottom OF the lake must have its
layer Of mineral of greater or less thickn ess,
and at greater or less depth. And the con-
sequence would be that every prospect hole
sunk within the area of what was the lake
must strike mineral sooner or later.
THE RAILROAD ARMIES AND THE WAR.
Nextin importance to the mines are the
railroads, and here the prospect is not so
bright. Open, literal war has broken out
between the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe,
and the Denver and Rio Grande companies.
The latter, having apparently succeeded ia
the Supreme Court, has armed a body of
three hundred men with repeating rifles, sta
toned them in the canyon, butt fort and
armed it with a,cannon, to dispute the ad-
vance Of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
Road toward Leadyille. The Atchison, To-
peka and Santa Fe Road on the other hand,
has an armed force of equal strength, which
advances with its construction trains. At
latest accounts the two armies were eighteen
miles from each other. When they meet
delay cannot bus result if nothing worse.
The Denver & South Park Road has reached
the South Park, and promises to strike the
Arkansas Valley at Chalk Creek about LIST of
September. But there is said to be an un-
Outstanding between the two roads to 60 no
further than this for the present. If so,
Leadville will not hear the whistle of loco.
motive this year.
A STRANGE LACK OF VIOLENCE.
The murder market is dull. There has
not been homicide for week. True, one
gambler did last Thursday try to brain an
other with the butt of his pistol, but it was
the pistol which was destroyed in the en-
counter. At Granite. eighteen miles from
here, they are livelier. On Friday, the lead
ing grocer was robbed and dubbed; an hour
afterward miner was stabbed in saloon,
and few minutes afterward a gambler was
shot dead in faro bank.
lCommunicated.l