The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-07-16

And we had good time at the moving.
IS. II. M. Byers, in Harper's .Ma gazin'
ALL ABOUT LEADVILLE,
4 Asuccinct History OF tho Wonderful New
1.r..'. Mining Town.
The mining districts of our great West
are famous for cities that, mushroom.
like, have grown up almost in a night
Leadville, in Colorado, is one of the
most remarkable of these urban miracles.
Two years ago the place was not in exist
ence. On the 1st of August, 1877, there
were six buildings upon the present site.
On the first of January, 1873, the popula-
tion was estimated at 300.. A year. Later
the town organization was perfected, and
Leadville now presents the amazing
spectacle of town. containing 10000 in
habitants,a located in the heart of a
mountainous district where few months
ago there was naught but barren soil.
tudes.l ~ =, - ...s - ..s...
The first discovery of carbonate ores
was made on the south side of California
Gulch, about one and half miles above
Leadville, in 1875, in what is now known
as the Rock mine. The ore was found
in great abundance, but of low grade,
carrying large percentage of lead with
4 comparatively small amount of silver.
Soon after this, prospecting began in
line running north, and resulted IN the
discovery of the Adelaide, Camp Bird
and Iron mines, together with the Wolf
stone in Strayhorse Gulch. Other mines
were also opened from time to time, un-
til the district became one of the most
actively worked in the whole country.
Leadville's earliest settler was one
Mr.. Harris, whose first experiences on
the now populous town were of a de-
pressing kind. A contemporary tells us
1.-TWO years ago, the 9th of May, there
came to Leadville man with shirt on
his back and fifteen cents in his pocket.
He came on foot, by the way of Mos
quito Pass, and slept the first night in
Leadville behind a log. On this night
two years ago the lonely footman found
few piles of brush, a lot of stumps and
half-burned trees, but not human
besides himself slept that night in what
is now known as the city of Leadville.
1t was as lonely as wilderness OF
stunted mountain pines shot up from a
cold barren soil, between ugly bowlders
and craggy rocks, could we'll be made.
The name of that lonely traveller who
slept that night in this lonely wilderness
was Mr.. George Albert Harris. He was
the first settler. His wife was the first
white woman in Leadville."
The first public-house in Leadville was
begun on the 18th of June, ,lS77, and was
finished and thrown open to the public
of the Fourth of July, nineteen days
later. The builder was Mr.. Harris, who.
as the founder Of the town, was also its
great public benefactor. He performed
all the labor. of constructing his new
house of entertainment, from the founda-
ton to the roof. The dimensions Of the
building were ten feet in width b,v twelve
in length, the height story and half.
The first floor served as dining-room,
Office, kitchen, baggage-roo parlor, re-
ception-room, ETC., and the second. or
attic, was used principally for lodging
purposes. 1t offered accommodation for
eight sleepers at a time. For the con-
venience Of guests the day was divided
into three sleeping periods of eight
hours each. = In this way the first hotel
in Leadville afforded sleeping accommo-
dations for twenty-four guests, divided
into three companies, each Of which oc-
cupied the attic for the time mentioned.
The name of this hotel was The City,
and its site is now covered by the Grand
Hotel, on Chestnut street. Mr.. Harris
kept this hotel until the Fourth OF
July, 1873, when he opened the Grand,
which had been built around and over
the little City. The Grand was kept BY
MIR. Harris until the I4th of last Decem-
Der, when hesold it to Messrs. Walsh &
Co., the present proprietors, for 81, l20,
cash. This sum was the net result OF
Mr.. Harris's first eighteen months hard
labor in Leadviile, beginning on capi-
tai of fifteen cents.
Not long ago a reporter OF the Lead
vile Chronicle visited Mr.. Harris with
the view of learning all thnt he might
about the early settlement of Leadyille.
From his account much of the foregoing
information has been obtained. In re.
ply to pertinent question in regard to
the men who had made fortunes by dis.
covering mines, Mr.. Harris answered as
follows: "Oh, yes. I know them all
There was August Rische; he came from
Fairplay, and was the worst played-oui
man ever met. He was shoemaker
by trade, but never did anything about
this camp but dig for carbonates. His
entire wealth consisted of pick and spade
and faithful old dog, the latter being
his only companion. The two lived to
gether in dug-out about mile up Cali
fornia Gulch. The dog and August were
sure to show up us often as once weel
for bacon, etc. Although hard up, HI
seemed to have friends. It was but {
few days before he made the discover,
efthe Little Pittsburgh that was talk
ing with him, and he said it was might,
thin forage. n, He would keep digging til
he struck it. ifit took till the end Of time
He did, and to-day is worth, at the leas
calculation. $500. 900. But he is the sam
old Aug. Tom Hook was another shoe
maker. He toe came in camp deat
broke. He sold out q little too soon, ant
isnow obliged to live on the interest o
$l5O,OO0 worth Of government bonds
And there was Pete Finnerty, who dis
coVereu UHe LltIle CIlel ullne. he CALL
in camp with mule team, paid for an,
wholly hisown. He kept q little board
ing-house in q log shanty near the gulcl
during the winter of 1877. But thing
went slow with him, and he went ou
prospecting. Itwas about seven month
ago that he struck II e Little Chief an
is worth to-day abe half million, il
round numbers. =. le Dillon boys wer
prospecting partne of Finnerty. The
are not worth to-day but a little owe
100000 each. Hallock and Cooper dis
covered the Carbonate mine in October
1877. They were laborers, and had be
come'accustomed to rough life. Nov
they are worth $780, 900 each. A ma
by the namerof Woods-an old mine
from Lake Superior-discoyeredt the 1ro