New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-16
MINES OF COLORADO.
THE BuLL.poMrNCo PROPERTY.

THE BULI.-DOMlNGO PROPERTY.
HOW TnE MINE wAs ACCIDENTALLY DIsCOvrRrD-
PECULIAR SHAPE AND COMPOSITION OF THE
vEIN-rnE AssAY-PRFsrNr PRODUCT OF
THE MINE-CONrE>Ts OVER CLAIMS.
trEoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF TnR TRIBUSEI
SmvEk CLIFF. Col July 2i.-Tne history of the
Hardscrabble mining district for that is the official
name gwen to the entire mineral belt of which
Silver Cliff and Rosta are the centres by those
who prospected here in 1872 and 1873, has been
one of surprises and doubt if there is another
region of no greater extent in the United States
IN which the geOl0gist the mincralogist and the
mining expert will find so much that IL novel III the
character of its ores or in he strange surroundings
among which they are found. That broad extent
of country after being covered by all enormous over
flow OF volcanic rock should have been shaken
and shattered. and the cracks and crevices thus
formed IN IT filed with ore of the compounds OF
silver, is strange enough to puzzle even the most
learned of the rock sharps" of the schools but 1t is
no more remarkable than that great crevice In the
rocks, in the same region, should first have been
filled up with bOulders, and that into all the Irrcgu
lar spaces between these rounded stones SOLID
mass Of gaena should have been forced, as in The
Bull-Domingo mine.
This wonderful mine as rich in valuable ore as 1t
s strange in character is situated the side of one
and a hall miles north of this city. Its elevation
is not much greater than that of Silver Cliff but
the country between it and the valley lies consider
ably lower than on either side, giving from the
hosting works of the mine of TIE finest views
of the Sanere de Cristo range to be obtained any,
where about Silver Cliff presume the stock OF
the Bul-Domingo company will never be worth any
more on account of the grandeur and beauty OF the
outlook from its property bat mines are 50 fre-
Quently found in places that have few other atrac-
tIons, as though hardship, privation and the
abandonment of everything that Us beautiful or
agreeable was the prIcs which Nature demanded
for the surrender of her stores of the precious
metals, that no one can help feeling kindly inter
est a mine from which the outlook IS so lnsplr-
ing. This mountain view is to the west and south,
north aud east. The foothills on which the lnine
is situated rise abruptly six or seven hundred
feet. the property itself beng upon their side and
one hundred feet or so above the country facing
1t.
GEOLOGICAL. FORMATION.
Readers Of previous letter which | wrote from
tbi. place may remember brief description whic h
gave IN il of he geological formation OF tbs
country. The Wet Mountain or Green Horn range
TO the east and thor foothills on this side of led
granite but extending along the former in a north
westerly and sont heast erly direction parallel with
the range and with the vaey.ls deposit of tracbyte
or porphyry about two and half miles wide and
fifteen or twenty miles long which is supposed to
have been pl iced there by volcanic actions En-
tending into this from the northwest. and following
It's general direction is tougucshapod mass OF gran
lie about two miles or two miles and half across
Ii l. III this granite rock and very near It's northern
border that the Bull-Domingo mine was found.
This rich chimney Of ore was discovered by acct
dent | WAS about 10 say of course" In February,
1879 some prosprctOrs were climbing TIE NIL on
winch the mine is situated, looking for mineral, to
be sure but seeing no indications of its presence
there One of them accidentally slipped, and strlk-
mo ms nick INTO the ground in order TO pull HIM
self up the bill by Its aid lie noticed that frag-
ment OF rock which was detached by it sbone with
a metallic lustre. and on further examination
found # TO be a piece of almost solid galena. The
surprise was two-fold first; at the presence there OF
ore of any kind, and secondly. that it should be
galena for The pr1spectors expected. IT they dls-
covered anything that they would find chloride
ores like those in the Racine Boy ana the RATA
Verde. Two claims were Immediately " located''
one called the johnny Bull and the other the Do
mingo, each of which was supposed by ITS owner
IN ,ncjude the vein from which che gaena had come
within lis limits: and w1en the exact position OF
the rich body OF ore was determined, Ditter con-
troversv arose over the possession OF the NINE each
parfv claiming that IT was on It's ground. fOr
time there was legal war III the courts ana an IL
LEGAL ore at the mine. The property was held
by the party in possession with pistols anu Shol-
onns and the controversy would probably have
resulted in Dood-shed, and been unsettled to-day,
# the present company had not bought both claim
ants ont. Even now. believe, there is some IN
adjusted question, but provision has been maze so
nat he
tocl,holders cannot suffer loss. These intermin-
allie controversies over the titles to mines are a
curse 10 mining enterprise. If man discovers "A
rich lode some scOundTel is certain to jump 1t or
set ND a countef-claim, and 1t las become by
word IN the West that the purchaser OF mine has
70 take lawsuit with it. In nine cases out OF ten
these claims are urged simply for blackmaiing pur-
noses and they frequently successful, Tor IL Is
much cheaper to buy the rascals off than to tight
them in the courts do not say that either or the
Claims 10 the Bull-Domingo was dishonest one. l
don't know anything about 1t, but do know that
mining enterprises would be much more popular
with business men if these lawsuits over titles were
less frequent.
THE ORES IN THE BULL-DoMINGo NINE.
Tho explorations thus far made in the Bull Do
mingo mine have not been extensive along the
strike of the ledge. So much rich ore has been
found in the chimney, the apex OF winch was al tne
pont of discovery. that it has been unnecessary to
look beyond it, and properly managed mining com
panes are not in the habit of spending money III the
solution Of scientific questons unless they expect
TO increase their dividends thereby. An examina-
ton of the outcroppings and of the surrounding
country, as well as of the underground workings
loads 70 the conclusion that the mine is i'll a true
fssure extending through the granite in north
vosterlv and southeastery direction, and. at TIE
mint where work has been DONE about 100 feet
wide The hanging wall of this vein is well defined
and has been traced for considerable distance,
e.peciay on the lowest level OF the foot wall less
10 known. although the rock on that side near the
e -. ..r.ncinal working II appears 10 be OF