New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-28


low grade The width of the shute in this claim MI
Stevens estimates at 700 or 500 feet. No work IS
now being done on either the Bulls Eye or Lime
mines. but have no doubt that they will in the
future become very valuable adjunots Of this great
property
The Lime claim extends to California Gulch but
On the south eide Of it, on the divide between JAIL
fornia and Iowa Clutches. the Iron Company owns
series Of claims supposed TO be on the same contact
Of which the Rock and Dome are the best KNOWN
I always supposed that Mr.. Wood, who was for
merly Mr.. Steyenss partner, mud who made the
first discoveries in this district, drove MS nrSt
stakes on Iron Hill; but Mr.. Stevens says that tne
Rock was the first mine located, and that the as
coveries on Iron Hill were al subsequent. Inc
Rock mine has been worked at intervals ever since
il was discovered; but since my visit to the camp
last year some important surface improvements
have been made, and the product is now so tons
day of ore that, while low in grade contains ma
terials that make it very valuable as fux for
other ores. The mine is opened by an incline fol-
lowing the vein down on its dip. and the impression
I got from brief trip through the underground
workings was that there is plenty Of ore IN the
mine, such as it is.
The ores of this camp seem to advance IN grade
from the south toward the Dorth. The Rock and
Dome on the other side Of California Guch, and
the furthest south Of any mines have visited yled
the lowest grade Of ores for which market can be
found in Leadville The ores of the mines on Iron
Hill. the next TO the north, contain larger per-
centage of silver; those on Carbonate Hill, still
urther north, are richer still while the highest
grades of ores that have been produced here are
those taken from the Robert f. Lee mine, on Fryer
Hill. the most northerly of the chain OF silver
mountains.
THE USUAL LITIGATION
The Iron Silver Mining Company is still in litlga-
ton with many Of its nelghbors. The questions at
issue are very simple, and it would seem, ought TO
be decided without difficulty The mining laws Of
the United States were framed with view Of en-
couraqing prospectors and discoverers, and 1t was
therefore provided in them that whenever man
discovered vein of gold silver copper. he might
follow il and take ont the in all its dips angles
and spurs wherever it might lead. The WISDOM oi
this provision is very obvious. The man VINO dls-
covers mine is generally one who has for years
suffered prvation and hardship and who has been
encouraged to perseyere by the hope OF hnding q
mine sometime that viii be rich enough to repay
him for all he,has endured. Such man ought 10
receive different treatment from the Government
from that accorded another who enters dlstrlct
after the discoveries have been made and the ioca-
ton of the vein is known, and begins operations
prospector. But mineral veins very rarely stand
perpendicularIy in the earth, and while the
discoverer may have the Outcrop In his claim
tbe din of the ledge may be such as to take
the vein beyond the boundaries Of his land
before II has attained much depth and before
the richest portion of it has been reached. III a
discoyerer must stop when he reaches the side lines
Of his claim then someone else. without mourning
any ri k. but prOfting by the costly experience OF
the pioneer, may go Just outside OF the latters
ground sink shaft to the vein and realize much
more from it than the discoverer himself. For this
reason the law allows the man who finds vein to
follow it in all IFS dips, angles and spurs, even when
IT passes beyond the boundaries of his claim.
In accordance with this act, the Iron Silver MIN
ing Company claims the right to follow the veins
which were discovered by Messrs. Stevens and Wood
and arc now owned by the company for an iudef-
mite distance into the mountain in spite OF the fact
that they lead beneath ground that has been located
ly others and there would be no dispute about this
right if Fl were admitted oil hands that there is
continuous vein of ore extending all the way from
the surface to the end of the present explorations
This the adverse claimants deny and they have at
tempted 10 prove that the ore bodies which they
have found in their workings have no connection
with those in the Iron mine. No unpreiudicod per-
son. who will 90 into the Iron mine and trace the
contact carrying ore all the way from the surface
to a depth of 1000 feet, can fail to
reach the conclusion that the vein
Il continuous ard that it belongs TO the Iron Com
pauy but this is question OF fact which has TO be
submitted to a jury for decision, and the popular
prejudice against allowing any one man or corpora
lion TO ret possession of large amount OF mining
property is so great that juries very likely TO
decide such matters in accordance with public
opinion rather than in accordance with the facts
And vet the case is clear that the Iron Company
has won one important suit during the past year. IN
spite of the prejudices OF the curry.
The property of the Iron Silver Mining Company
has apparently augmented much in value since |
saw it last year. The surface improvements have
been very extensive and the amount OF ore IN sight
in the mine has been enormously increased. Ihen
the product was about forty tons day. Now the
Iron and Rock together shipping 30 tons day.
and this output does not strain the mines in the
least or prevent the work OF exploration from being
kept far ahead Of the mining operations proper.
Il. /. W.
IEnpEE EITOT