New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-04
THE GUNNISON COUNTRY.

GOLD AND SILVER PRODUCING DlsiihClS-A
WEALTH OF COAL-RAuROAD FACILITIES AND
POSSIBLE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.
tFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNEl
IRWIN, Col, April 15.-What is now known as
the Gunnison Country" includes all the northern
tributaries Of the Gunnison River, the Temichi' and
all branches Of those streams above their junction.
and also part of the hcadwaters Of the Roaring
Fork Of Grand River. This embraces the whole OF
Elk Mountain range and the western slope OF the
Continental Divide far as 1t is drained by Taylor
River and the Temich. As early as 1860 adYeh-
turous prospectors crossed the range by way oil
Cottonwood Pass 20 the head waters Of Taylor
River rs the Gunnison is called above the mouth OF
East River. in search Of placer gold In the beds
Of al the streams gold was found, IN some
places in paying quantities. During the summer oil
that year and the two following years placer MN
ing was carried on to a limited extent but with no
great success. During this time the Ute Indians
suffered the miners to remain. but were not favor
ably disposed toward them. In 1863, the miners
having crossed over to Quartz Creek and gone to
work on one Of its tributaries known as Little ONO
Creek and prospcctors pushing still further west
along the Elk Mountain. the Indians objected TO
any further mining in their country, and drove all
over 70 the east side of the range few stragglcfs
falling victims 10 their wrath. During those years
q few of what were believed 90 be mincral-bcarng
fssure veins were loca,ed about the head of Spring
Creek and Taylor River, and some work done toward
development. They were, however, regarded as oil
doubtful value
OPENING Up TIE COUNTRY.
As no mines or placer digsiugs had been discov-
cred which would more than pay for outlay ana
labor under the most favorable circumstances no
further attempts 40 mining or prospecting IN TINS
region were made until after the treaty OF 1873, by
e H. IL. ff.f ~
10Th meridian. An error III surveying however
fixed their eastern line six miles west of that incr-
dian. The Indians have ucycr since claimed beyond
the line as surveyed. The country being tins
opened to pro,pcctors rs FAR west East River ana
stimulated by the great success iu the san Juan
region pro~pcctor, AGAIN turned their attention To
the Elk Mountains The old placer clnims were
rclooltcd and work resumed ou thc most promising
of them. 4 few are still operated in crude ana
limited way. hut not with much success. WITH
capital Go bring iu and concentrate water power
many Of the small head branches Of Taylor River
could bc worked with great success. Tia, gear iol-
lowing the signing Of the treaty q llr-r number OF
ilycr-boariuc hs,urc and d" contact veins were
located on the head hmnchc, Of East River. and
also ON the north side OF the range on thr head oi
Rock Creek. On many o. thc early discoveries q
limited amount of work h..a slice been done aunu-
ally for the purpose OF retaining possession until
such time as cheaper transportation shnu be 7'
cured or works for the reduction OF ores create"
within convenient distance: bat nothing deserving
the name Of development has been done until within
the past two years.
The discovery Of ca7honatr- in the Tin Cup DIS
trict in TAYLOR Park ju-t west Of the main range.
IN the fall Of ISIS and spring II 1879 followed
quickly in the latter year by discoveries of native
silver ON Copper Creek. which enters East River
al the town Of Gothic and Of ruby silver ores ON
tho heads Of Anthracite AMI Coal Greeks. These
discoveries at once brought the Gunnison Coun-
try into prominence ~ q mineral region, and men
poured in from all parts Of the country.
TN CUP PITKIN. ASD OTHER DISTRICTS.
The ores which first gave rise 10 the Tin Cup camp
were carbonatcs. similar TO those about IcadyiIlo
For the most part they are Of too low grade ~ work
proftably al present but there arr several mine
being successfully worked the containing both
gold and silver Since the discovery Of carbonates.
large number Of galcnA bearing lodcs mere or lcss
argontfcrous have been found which will give
pcrnancnce to the camp. and, when fully dcycl-
opcd produce annually a large amount Of silver.
The district covers several square miles of territory.
The Denver. South Park and Pacific Railway viii
pass a few miles 20 the south Of the mines. aud
when completed will give cheap transportation.
lerton. Another town is laid out among the later
discoveries.
Ten miles south on Quartz Creek. branch 81
the Tcmich. j, Iithn District. Ores wcrr first
discovered there in the fall Of Io7- and ar ear
Donate. aud free gold quartz The country rock.
as ~ Tin Cup differs in different parts of tlc dis
limestone, quartlite, porpbry and granite
Few Of tine mountains rise above timber LINE.
and all parts Of the camp easily reached. The
carbonate ores the first 10 receive attention
some OF the mort promising claims ON these ores
have changed hands 90 from 5000 g. SloO1n
None are get much developed. The gold ores 1890
mainly souud ou Little Ohio Creek. and arc for fhe
most TART discoveries Of The present year and 400
developed. This promises 10 make au important
mining district Tl.. Denver south Park and Pacific
Railway pl.,e, through 10. Tho chief town s
Piikin. located in % beautiful park, through which
the creek flows Quartz Creek would Afford almost
unlimited water power thr year round. Little oh'
Crccl. J.. also q good mill stream. Ores have lately
been discovered further east on the IcmirA DON'T nl
their value little j., set known.
Carbonate, were discovered on Spring Crock one
of the brauchc. of Taylor River from thr north ll-t
summer. These at first attracted but little alton
tion. being of low grade 100 silver near thc surface
Further Developments however. showed great .u-
crease in value iu both silver and lead. IN mum
Der Of claims good paying ores have been reached.
and are still improving with depth. The ores cover
a wide extent Of country. and arr several feet iu
thickness All is too new yet however. and TOO
little developed 90 speak positively Of the future Of
the district but those best able 10 judge Of it,
worth claim il 90 be the making of a second Lead
Vile. The town has been named Petersburg.
The first discovery in Ruby District. thirty miles
north OF the town OF Gunnson made In june
1879. That year several hundred locations were
made and the number now recorded is not less than
one thousand. Over the greater part of the district
there is a layer Of sandstone, through which when
not over fifty or seyonty-Gye feet thick, the veins
crop out in their seams Of quartz Only where tins