The Red Cloud chief., 1880-06-10
Advice 10 WoulI.be Colora 10 Miners.

THE first thought that strikes n il
that the great majority of those who are
coming are coming too soon. The
season in Colorado. especially in the
mountainous portions. Is backward.
The SHOWS fall until late ia the spring
tor that matter they often fall IN sum
mer-and the passes are blocked until.
at the earliest possible time, the first Of
June. In most mining camps the
ground is covered until this time, aud
in many even a month later. Thus il
may be seen that to get IL the mines j.
now difficult. and prospecting is entire
ly out of the question.
Whatever is done in that direction
now in a majority of the districts Ia
which the hopeful hundreds are rushing
must be done blindly. When the snow
covers the ground To the depth Of five
or six feet il Is of course useless to look
for surface Indications. and II the
searcher for precious metals would find
employment. he must first dig through
the snow and then into the earth. Many
do this, and many in doing SD are for
tunate enough To strike mineral.
Within the past year or two Colorado
has earned such n reputation for min
eral wealth that a popular impression
seems to prevail that a bed of gold and
silver underlies the surface of the en-
tire State, and all that one must do To-
find it is to procure a pick and shovel
and start down and continue To dig I'M
til he discovers the longed-for treasure.
This is a great mistake. 10 Is safe 10
assert that out of ten holes that are
sunk, according to the best informa-
ton Of the most experienced miners,
not more than one d~evelopes into
a paving mine. Hence it may be
easily seen that the prospector, eve he
who operates according to the most in
telligent rules. takes great risk upon
himself. Many of them who have
learned To know ores as the farmer
knows corn and potatoes AMI beans
who are thoroughly acquainted with the
geological formations and the character
of the rocks and minerals of the earth
dig and dig year after year, living in
holes in the ground, constantly shut out
from the light of day, but never strike
it rich" They contrive to sell enough
..property'' to buy food and rough
clothing. but never accumulate a COM
potency.
This is a dark view of the life of the
miner, but i. j. one that all who have
engaged in the business will recognize
at !, glance. Ii seems almost hard
hearted to present this picture of the
prospect in the mountains To those who
are docking into the State, and of whom
ninety-nine out of every hundred are
led To our borders by the brigh: view If
aifluence which they permit their i'm
agina,ions To paint for them. But il is
intended for no other purpose than To
warn them that all cannot expect to
reap a rich harvest. Some will be dis
appointed. Those who 90 TO the mines
at this season of the year. particularly
those who have their eyes set on the
most inaccessible districts, which are
ever according 10 the popular belief.
the most promising fields for the for
tune,Iunter, are likely 10 be the first to
! receive a set back. Many of those who
are coming into the State cannot afford
to take any more than the ordinary
risks; hence the warning nOt to start so
early in the season
IL tldN NC iitsilf SCNh Tia bIst'ats
the increase of the venture in working
without reward. there are other reasons
which should prevent men from going
into many of the new mining or pros
pecting districts n present. In numer-
Gus eases n is required to 90 by ron;es
twice the length of those travelled later
in the season. because the short roads
are absolutely impossible. Thus the
hari>hips and expense of the trip are
multiplied. In many cases the adven-
turer IS required to travel on snow
shoes. and if he is not 4 hardy man and
accustomed TO exposure and fatigue,
this will prove a trying experience.
And then when he arrives n the
camp. on account of the rush OF those
who are as foolish a himself. he is like
IL to find that hotel accommodations
are the next thing TO unattainable. He
will in many cases be fortunate if he
finds sleeping room on n floor with
dozens of others. and if he gets 4 cold
potato for his supper and a cup Of coffee
for breakfast for all of which he will
have TO pay ~ if he were fcasting at
Delmonico's
At the present season zone but hardy
men should venture into the outlying
districts and they should go provided
with an abundance of clothing. n good
supply of blankets and some money.
To those who have no: started 10 Col
orado. but who are expecting TO come
ID the State for the purpose of mining,
we would say:
DO not leave home before the first OF
June, nor much later.
Do not start with less than 800 in
your pocket
Do not expect too much but be pre-
| pared for any disappointment.
Do not come unless you are IN sound
health aud able and willing to rough
it."-Denrer Tribune.