The Elk Mountain pilot., 1881-03-03
EASTERN LETTER ABOUT
OUR CAMP.

OUR CAMP.
A correspondent Of the New York
MlMag Remev speaks Of our camp
in the following very truthful and SEN
sible manner:
Having seen statements in print Of
late, setting forth that there are nu-
merous smelters built, and ready for
smelling ores in the new mining
camps Of Ruby, Crested Butte. Gothic
and Rock Geek and are only waiting
for d sulhcient quantity Of ore to start
their works, We wish to inform tie yea-
ders Of your valuable paper, to which
investors, at least, have learned to
look for the most reliable news con-
cerning mines, that there is not, nor
has there been smelter in operation,
or in a condition to smelt ore, in or
near either of these new and prom
ising mining camps; if there was, or
had :seen, it would be very unfavor-
able showing for these camps,
in view Of the fact that, as yet, we
have shipped no bullion. There are,
however, many tons of ore lying on
the dump at the various mines, that
have been and are now being worked,
and are holding their ore for the COM
pletion of the first smelter.
the Iowa Company's smelter at
Crested Butte, started the sampling
department of their works last fall;but
this is of little advantage to the mi
ners: for, not reducing the weight, it,
therefore does not reduce the cost of
transportation; it only determines the
value of the ore and that has now
become comparatively unimportant,
as it hes been thoroughly demonstra-
ted that the ores Of the Ruby mines
are, as rule, high grade, and having
silver bearing galena ores, sufficient for
fluxing purposes and an abundance of
fuel, the best quality of coking coal
near at hand. The miners preferring
to await the completion of the Good
enough Reduction and Smelling works
in Ruby, and the starting, as we hope
of the smelter at Crested Butte, as
early as possible IN the spring.
These are uncontrovertable facts OF
which we speak from actual knowedge,
having been on the ground from the
first discovery of mineral in the Ruby
mining district, and in fact some little
time previous, and have been there
almost continuously ever since, and
have proven our faith in this mining
district by our own works and money,
and our faith having been contin-
ually strengthened by actual sight,
we have continued to invest money
rather than offer property for sale,
which, if done, would bring but frac-
ton of what we believe to be its real
value. And we could, if so disposed
or called upon to do so, cite instances
where mines have been worked with
profit to the owners, without any pro-
vision for working capital other
than ore taken from the mines,
which is rare exception, if not an
anomaly in the history of mining du-
ring the first year of development, and
without facilities, as We have already
said, for treating the ore without ex-
portation, at great cost.
And in view of the fact that adverse
reports have been put in circulation OF
late relative to the Forest Queen mine
Of Ruby camp We wish, as matter
of justice to the owners (of which we
are not one nor ever have been) to
say that the idea advanced that the
Forest Queen may be slide from the
nearest neighboring claim or from any
where else, is too absurd to
be noticed by any one SO
familiar with the location of that
and, in fact, all Of the leading mines
of our district; the topography of the
location and the immediate surround
ing country IS such as would have
rendered it impossible for a slide to
occur, as we'll as the fact that this
mine has been worked at large profit
to the owners. As there are many
other mines in Ruby that are now