The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-12-31
U NEW n Es.
The Present and Future OF the Platte
Canyon District.

ItTtul Trips Wllilin tut idSL SIX mOulDS,
including a critical exa mination of
nearly every claim opened, l am impel-
led to say that the mineral wealth Of
the Platte canon mining district seems
to be inexaustible. Within an area of
ten square miles, taking in CopPeropo-
liz and Hartville. / believe there is
o valuable mineral to be found than
in any similar area on this continent,
Leadville excepted.
Beyond this area in the direction of
Laramie Peak On one hand, aud Raw
hide on the other, then are numerous
and rich Indications, and In many in
stances fine claims are being worked.
There are some people In our midst
who seem to think hat Wyoming soil
MAS made simply to hold the world to-
gether, and pasture cattle-tbat the
Almighty at the creation drew a line
between Colorado and Wyoming and
gave all the precious minerals to the
former, but extended to US the same
mountain ranges with similar condi-
tions of climate and rock formation.
As a territory We stand in a peculiar
position, m%inerally, all the outlying
territory around us having good miner
al veins and deposits, as witness, Colo
RADIO, Idado. Montana ard Dakota. Is
it possible that all our rocks are "barer
footedp and that we are to be turned
out to ''grass" alone? To-day Wyo-
ming is the most undeveloped and the
least progressive of all the territories.
Its total population. %, 600 would only
make a respectable country village in
New England. At the same time 1t
has greater and more capaci-
ty for development than any other por-
ton of the country. 1t has never been
half prospected. Every mile in Colo
RADIO has had ia hundred prospectors
where this territory has had one.
Hartville IL situated in that state
would now be a city Of respectable pro-
portions and the surrounding noun
taihs would be black with the forms of
humanity. The smoke of a dozen smell
tiers would rise in the clear air and the
iron horse would be snorting through
the cahons and OIL TO the coal fields. l
belisve this picture will soon become a
reality anyway, because of the increas
ing interest noticeable III the discoveries
alluded to. Heretofore most Of the
prospecting and working Of mining
claims has been done by outside parties
not Identified with Wyoming interests,
home talent and capital being absorb
ed in cattle raising. 1t Is true that no
other business will pay IS well and as
surely as this, but everybody cannot
own and manage a herd Of cattle, and
no great community was ever built up
by one interest. Development and
prosperity come from a diversity of
business and production.
Therefore we should all work togetb-
er TO make known faried IL
and invite the capital and population
of the states to this grand romantic
field. Indeed the coming legislature
might take the matter in hand, and not
go amiss. So much by way of preface
respecting our mining industry. l
wish 1 could properly describe what has
been accomplished by the few poor and
hardy miners of the Platte canon dis
trict and vicinity. The following
named camps are o established:
CopperopulIs, Pride of the West, Cen
trail Springs, Hartville, Fountain City,
and Fields. The first four camps are
in the west range of Whalen canon
aud the last two are in the east range.
OF the whole number Hartville is the
largest containing some ten or twelve
log cabins, two large hospital tents and
several small tents. Other cabins are
process of erection, and the large
building Just completed. to be occupied
as a store, is a credit to the camp. 1t
also indicates the faith OF its proprietor
in the future of the camp. In the i'm
mediate vicinity are some very promis-
ing mines and locations,a few of which
may be mentioned: The Empire
Sparks Bros.) ''Sunrise," CLondon s.
Eatonl Phil Sheridan" (Conly & Can
nady) keystone" (Uol. Hart & John
Eames) the DENVER" ''Belle" and
Romance" bartlett & co., All these
claims show speudid ore and are now
being worked, with N exception.
This exception is the Empire" which
has a huge mineral bearing vein ten or
twelve feet in width, rich even in its
surfase cropping and it is rumored
that its proprietors are arranging to put
in a smelter u work their own ore.
On the "Sunrise" a contract has
been made with Jeff McDermot, Of the
Black Hills to run i tunnel 200 feet. In
the opinion Of all practical miners this
mine will develop into a magnificent
property. Contracts have also been
made In the last month for working
the Denver" Belle" keystone
and SHERIDAN" or these the Den.
ver," which now has a shaft down
about % feet elicits the admiration OF
all who have seen it. being a vein OF
quartz between walls Of mica sheet.
The veb is about four feet in Width,
carrying grey cooper, which assays
richly. The Kipp Brothers are vigor.
ously working several claims, one OF
them showing very fine copper float in
large quantities. At the head of the
gulch below this mine Is a boulder