The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-12-13
From Colorado.
MOUNT SNEFFLEs, Ouray Co., Col,

received from frlend III Ottawa prospectus
issued by the United States Gold and Silver
Mining Company of Colorado" with request
that | would give him the facts regarding the
property of the company, which is claimed to
be located in this district, AS the subject is
one that NJ light interest others IN your vicinity,
Will, with your permission, reply through
the medium of the FREE TRADER.
1t appears from the pamphlet that this com
panv was organized on the 9TH of June last,
with the following list of officers President,
David SIMON; 1st Nice-P President; DR.. j. Ward
Ellis, 2d Vice President, Fred lienkol; Sec'y.,
VIM. Penn Nixon; Asst Sec'y, Julius Cohen
and Seth Wood, Treasurer. The principal of,
flee Of the company is located at Room 10,
No. 50, South Clark St, ChiCago. The capital
stock of the company Is placed at the modest
sum of one million dollars, divided into 10O,-
600 shares of ten dollars each, unassessable,
The property Ghe sophia" lode) Is located IN
Mount Snciiles Mining District Ouray Co.,
Colorado.
Following this Introduction is Il lengthy
report of Judge - of Ouray. In introduce
ing the Judges report it says, "The long eX-
pcrience and excellent judgment of this gen
tleman will give force and credit to whatever
he says with all who know him." Well, this
is little mixed; we are Of Ouray-know him
well. The report is too lengthy to reproduce
here in full but for superb cheek and wilful
misrepresentation the Judge Is worth Il chro-
mo.
In dealing with the subject he handles 1t in
a strictly scientific manner, and endeayors to
convey the idea that the Sophia mine is a
second Comstock. He produces figures to
show that the NINE is capable Of yielding a
profit to the company of over 100000 annual
", and then says, Now, to he safe in our cstI-
mate, let us deduct 20 per cent. on the above
sharing of profits for one years work and we
have left the very nice sum OF profits
amounting to 90,95040 Now with proper
management and proper machinery, | can
safely say the Sophia" mine will work to the
above estimates" This would be Il pretty fair
showing for an extensively developed mine,
but when in the next breath the Judge says,
at the present time the only deUeloDnleat IS one
70 foot cut" he gives himself and the United
States Gold and Silver Mining Co. of Colera-
do dead away, and the reader can set them both
down as frauds of the first water.
This socalled mine never cost the outfit over
| S100 and yet they stock 1t for a million.
such prospect holes as this can be bought here
at the present time for about $40 per dozen
| No work is beng done on it, and the II foot
cut referred to IS now filed up with snow, and
ing companies that are constantly being moor
must remain so for another season, when the
company will be compelled TO work their
yearly assessment, which will take two men
about week to perform.
| This is but one of the many wildcat min
porated in the East, their sole object beng to
swlndle the public. They are curse to any
mining country and it is but just that they re
celve a thorough airing.
For the past two years the San Juan coun-
try has received comparatively little attention
from the outside world. The lack Of attention
from eastern capital must be attributed mainly
to the excitement created over the discovery of
the carbonate at Leadvilc. 1t is true that
carbonate ore has been discovered here only to
a limited extent, but we have what is tar bet
ter, true fissure vens--veins that will be turn
ing out treasure when carbonate camps are ioI
gotten.
This fall has shown more activity in mining
than at any previous time in the history Of San
Juan, and next season bids far to be n most
prosperous one.
Within the past three months a large num-
Der of mines have changed hands at figures
varying from $4,000 to $l50,o00 and many of
the most promising ones will be extensively
worked throughout the winter.
The Mount Snctiles district is acknowledged
to be the richest portion of the San Juan
country, possessing as it does a score or more
of well developed mines that will pay their
owners a handsome profit if properly work.
In conclusion will state that the Sophia -
j. not included in this number. SKIP.