The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-22

that the greatest of the Leadyille mines, the
Little Pittsburg, had ''petered out, and moi
a few declared that Leadville had had its
day, and would hereafter be numbered
among the dead towns which strew the
treacherous slopes of the Rockies.
1t may, however, be questioned whether
| these persons have not mistaken a natural
reaction for the final collapse. Leadville's
prosperity resting wholly on the product
of the mines, it is pertinent to inquire about
them, and the answer is this In January
last there were about twenty paying mines
in this neighborhood; there are now forty
nine; of these, several, notably the Austria
liza and the Judge Pendry, have struck pay
ore within the last week. The Australia
could have been bought for $4,000 ten days
ago. To- day the owners would not listen
to an offer Of 100000.
Again, there were ten smelters at work
last January. There are now twenty-eight
at work and under way. These establish
ments cost from 10000 to s1e5, 0o0. They
are owned by men experienced in mining
matters. 1t is scarcely reasonable to sup
pose that such men would spend such large
sums of money if they had any doubt of
the permanent value of the mines.
Again, three lines of railroad are aiming
at Leadville-the Colorado Central from
Georgetown, the Denver and South Park
from Webster, and the Atchison and Santa
Fe from Canon. Each Of these three COM
panies expects to blast its way Through miles
of solid rock, to climb grades of one hun
dred and fifty feet and more to the mile,
to surmount frightful precipices, and each
of them has thousands of men at work at
50 and SO a day. Each announces that it
will be in Leadville this summer. Are the
managers of these companies all deluded
as to the value of the Leadyille mines?
In view of the summer prospect, writer
incurs grave responsibility who encourages
immigration to Leadville. From all the in
formation that can be obtained it seems
probable that not less than forty thousand
people will come here this season from the
three states of Kansas, Missouri and Ten>
nessee alone. If the other states contribute
in even an infinitesimal ratio, the slopes Of
the Grand Divide and the Mosquito and
Buffalo Ranges will be whitened next fall
with the bones of men who have died of
hunger and cold-for it is impossible for the
country to feed so many. In this, the rich
est camp ever known in mining history, only
fifteen per centum of the prospecters dis
cover anything eighty-fve per centum fail,
and in this region and climate will be likely
to perish. But this dismal prospect does
not alter the facts with regard to the mines.
And these facts are readily ascertained by
persons who are competent to weigh evil
dence and have access to the proper sources
of information. Whatever motive the own
ers of the Little Pittsburgh may have had
in reducing their force, and suffering it to
be understood that the mine had "petered
OUT it is perfectly well known In inside
circles that the mine never had so much ore
in sight, and was never worth more than
to day. But the Judge Pendry is still more
in point. Six months ago scientific men de-
clared thatif the miners OF this region would
drive through the lime on which the carbon
ate deposits rest they would find at lower
depth second and possibly third deposit
of carbonate richer than the upper one.
The owners of the Judge Pendry mine act
ed upon the suggestion, and three days ago
they were rewarded by striking, at $50 feet
below ground, the second layer of carbon
ate, parts of which assayed in the fabulous
proportion of H. 900 ounces Of silver to the
ton. There is no reason for supposing that
what has been done in the Judge Pendry
may not be done in the other forty-eight
paying mines in this neighborhood. In view
of such prospects it is difficult to speak with
moderation of the future OF Lake county.
In his address to the Legislature the Gov
erner estimated the silver product of 1879 at
sl1, O0O, 1000, against $2,700,0 900 in 1878. The
general estimate of miners at present is
nearer $50, 1000 than sll ,000.0 900. Up to
this time the smelters have taken no account
of ores which carried only forty ounces or
less of silver to the ton. But when all the
new smelling works are in operation it will
be found pretty profitable to reduce ores
which yield $40 to the ton. 1t would seem
to tresspass upon the credulity of your read
| ers to set down in black and white the num-
| Der of tons of this so-caled slow grade" ore
which are in sight in this neighborhood, and
which have never been sent to the smelter.
There is enough, however, to make sensi-
| In etir I'M ho lJ1oo Of sil the
world. ).