The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-02-06

~ Mining In Colorado. IJJ
It took the "honest miner" a long
time 10 learn that "placer" operations
the washing of metal from the sands
were not certainty and n permanency,
and the capitalists who came in after
him also long time to make expensive
experiments, and equally expensive
mistak es, aud to come down to what is
technically and happily called "hard
pan" and operate to some extent with
proper means, skill and common sense.
There was one collapse about 1864, and
of course the panic of 1873 affected the
progress Of the State, and it may fairly
be said that the real "fush times" in
Colorado are these in which we are
now living. In spite of all disappoint-
ments and drawbacks, steady progress
has undoubtedly been made, and great
results accomplished. Mining is, be-
yond all question, the foundation of the
growing greatness OF the State, ana 1T
is most interesting to learn from an
elaborate calculation, coming recently
from responsible source, that after
making full allowance for the labor of
all the men employed from the begin
ming, and all the money sunk, the resi-
due shows better return than any
other investment in this country. 1t
must not be forgotten that this is an
average, and that the fortunes Of two
or three bonanza kings balance tie
losses of thousands of poor men; and
against the results of this calculation
should be set the assertion-for which
ample support can be obtained-that at
least up to 1871, when railroads cheap
ened living and introduced greatly i'm
proved facilities, the proportion OF min
ers who could be called successful was
one i3l tiUe hundred.
1t is to be noticed that here, as in !
other similar regions, public interest is
continually attracted to new discoveries, |
and floating population at once drawn
thither; and events move so rapidly |
that an account of the state of affairs In |
the mining regions may be stale before
it is in type. On the other hand, it
may be said that, even if some of the
people go away, the mines remain, and
the silver and gold come out just as
surely and easily as before; and larger
area than ever is now the scene OF active
operations.
Starting from the north, we come to
the mines of Boulder county, not far
from Longs peak, where there was an
ephemeral excitement, some three
years ago, about teliurium veins. Then
come those of Gilpin BLACK Hawk,
Central City, etc) and Clear Greek
Georgetown, etc. counties, the former
noted for gold product, and both con-
tanning what are called true tissure
veins" where the rocks have been bro
ken or torn asunder by earthquakes or
volcanic disturbance. In this neigh
borhood some of the earliest dlscov-
cries were made, and the bullion pro.
duct of the two counties is large and
steady. Then came various points in
the South Park, and just between the
Park ard Main ranges, California
gulch, now known from one end of the
world to the other, for here is Lead
vile. South again, and between the
Sierra Mojada and the Sangre de Cristo
de Rosita and Silver Cliff, and south
west again of this, the great San Juan
district Discoveries have also been
made in the Gunnison and Elk morn-
tain country, away west of the Snowy
range, and only time can show what
other now-hidden treasures are to come
to light in these regions. 1t is need
less to say that several quarto volumes
could easily be written about these
mines and their operation, and still
much be left unsaid; and perhaps in
deed, in view of the rapid movement
of events, the writer of such work
stands in greater danger of being be-
hind the age than he who attempts
some random sketches of the haunts
and ways of the honest miner'-so
first called, it is said, by aspiring pat
riots who sought his suffrages. Mr.
Harte declares that when sets of pictures
portraying the contrasted careers of the
honest and dissolute miner were first
sent out to California they utterly failed
of their effect, for the reason that the
average miner refused to recognize him
self in either capacity.
A man may come to Colorado with
resolutions worthy of Leonidas; he
may treat gold and silver with q lofty
disdain; he may be doctor, lawyer, par
son, school-teacher, book-agent, light
ning-rod man, or dealer III sewing
machines--anything but miner; ali in
vain, for sooner or later, if he stays in
Colorado, the mania for the precious
metals will make an easy victim of him;
he will seek "claim," and fondly see
bonanza in the smallest and shallowest
of his prospect holes."--A. H. Hayes,
Jr., IN Harper's Magazine.
A PerilOus Widow.