The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-06-26

Bsln range Of ihe Rocky mountains, oi
i which M0unls Elbef, and Massive are tbs
highest peaks, aud on sbe east by the
Mosqalto range. The keighl of The latter
varies irem 10 900 20 rs 900 or 1000 feet
ABOVE the sea level Flowing into The
Atkaasss from the east At this place Is q
small stream which comes down through
q canon 10 the Mosquito range known as
California guleh. This stream has been
The scene Of extensive placer gold mining
wAich has been carried on with varying
success since ils discovery, about 1883,
caused the Pixies Peak excitement. The
gravel 10 the bed Of this stream has al
been washed oct, from its mouth about
Eve or ak miles up into the mountains,
and now the hrm Of Stevens 4 Letter
bave constructed hydraulic works, by
means Of which they are reported to have
taken out about $4,000 worth Of gold
last year at an expense OF 81 600, exclu.
slye OF interest on investment. The en-.
tire amount of gold taken out of this
guIch in the last 20 years is estimated at
o., ,ooo, 600 or 100000 600.
The hin or mountain ON The north Of
California guch, where II comes out Of
the range, rises COO or 700 feet above the
bed Of the stream, aud is called Iron bill.
Upon this is q gronp of mines, Of which
Iron Mine, owned by Messrs. Stevens IL
Leitner, Is tho largest aud most develop
ed. North Of Iron hill, across Timber
gulch, is Carbonate bill, On It's south
slope are q number OF openings, but as
yet no paying mines. On its western
slope Is the Leadville mining company's
property, comprising the Carbonate aud
other mines, the Shamrock, the Crescent,
aud lower down the bill the Pendery,
which has just begun TO produce ore.
Passing around the bill TO the north and
northeast sides, there are Tho Argentine
group, and the Adelaide, Camp Bird aud
Pine. Carbonate hill 10 entirely covered
with prospect holcs, some Of which prom
ised to make good mines. North Of Car
Donate hill, across Stray Horse guch, is
Fryer hill, also covered with mine open
ings and prospect holes. The largest
mines on this hill are the Little Pitts
burg group, comprising the New Discov-
cry, Little Pittsburg, Winnemuc Il Davis
mines and The Vulture, Carbonierous,
Crysolite and the Little Chief; north of
Fryer hill, across Evans gulch, is Evans
hill, on which many shafts are being sunk
and tunnels driven without important
discoveries. Evans hill forms the north
ern boundary Of the Leadville region.
South of California gulch there Is only
one bill on which valuable mines have
been opened, and that Is Long Il Derry
hill, separated from Iron hill by Califor-
mia gulch, spur Of The mountains that
has no name, and Iowa gulch. This bill
is the highest upon which silver has been
discovered, aud near the top of 1t is the
Long and Derry mine, from which con-
siderable valuableore has been taken.
From this brief description 1t will be
seen that the Mosquito range, in which
the silver ores are most abundsntly found,
extends north and south, and that upon
its western slope most of the mines have
been opened. These mountains rise
quite abruptly from the valley of the Ar.
kansas, were thickly wooded with pine
timber before mining operations began,
aud their surface Ia covered with loose
stones and broken rock left there by the
drift. Within the ast few months the
earth has been dug up 10 every direction,
innumerable shafts aud tunnels have been
opened, and much Of the timber has been
cut down for use In the mines. The city
OF Lssdyille lies at the foot OF Carbonate
bill, extending parallel with California
gulch for about mile. The site OF the
city slopes gently to the west and south,
insuriDg good drainage and sfording
easy grades for the streets.
The proportion of silver found in the
ores OF different mines aud in different
ores OF The same mine varies from
simple trace TO two or three thousand
ounces per ton. The average yield 10
probably from 100 to $50 ounces TO ton,
although a large proportion Of the ore
taken out OF the Carbonate and other
mInes has asssyed from 800 10 400 ounces
per ton. As general rule the carbonate
ores, that is, those which contain the lar.
gest proportion Of carbonate OF lead, are
tie richest 10 silver. The miners have
given these carbonate different names, 81
they are bard or disintegrated, or are
eolored by foreign substances. Most Of
the rich bard earbonaies are heavy gray
rocks with slightly metallic luslrc when
broken. Their weight is, Of course, due
to the lead which they contain. The
sand carbonAles are similar 10 compost
tiou, but are disinlegraled, so that when
taken out Of the mine they resemble in
consistency beach sand Some OF them
are gray In color, aud others are stained
red or black with oxide Of iron or man
gsuese. In some Of The mines the iron
oxides carry very little silver, while in
Others they are very rich.
The silver ore il found 10 what IL
known As 3 contact vein, that is, the de-
poslt forms 3 slratam between two rocks
Lime and porphyry. Its thickness
varies ifom line TO ~ or 30 feet, being
10 most cases very irregular. In some
cases The contact Of the mineral with The
other strata ls difiealt TO ind, and In