The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-11-03
PAY aocR AND PoEraY.
The LeAdeF CofnespSadelt In tbs
Platte CaByss District peah

PAY hoCR AND P0EfRY.
The Leader Correspondent in rks
Platte Casyss Distriet SPEAKS
Editor Leader;
Permit Us to give your many readers
an account Of the new mining district
recently organized in Whalon canon.
This canon derives its name from one
of the many cattle men of Wyoming. 1t
extends from the Platte river almost
directly north to the open prairie near
the government farm. Its length is
about fifteen miles; breadth on an aver
age, one and half miles. The new dis
trict is situated near the center of the
canon. Some of the finest aud richest
ore is found in this district. One mine
In the eastern system of mountains.
near the pass leading to the government
farm, assays $50 per ton in gold;
another neal by assays $63 in silver;
and still there is another that yields an
assay Of $40.
Workmen are here operating their
claims, and the canon resounds with
the noise of their blasting. Some of the
richest silver ore has been found. in
appearance and quality, in exact re-
semblance to the rich silver ore of
southern Nevada. Determined, ener-
getic men are here at work, quiet, sober
and industrious; but a miners life is a
hard life. 1t is difficult for one not
engaged in mining to realize the great
trials and difficulties which a miner
must meet. Elevated to-day above the
rude cabin in which he resides, his step
is elastic and his bearing proud; he has
had ane prospects today. See that
fellow tomorrow and you would be
willing to swear that he is ten years
older than he was the day before.
What's the NATTER Why he's dug out
all the ''green;" not a sign, not a
'~'smidgeonn remains. Then hear that
fellow talkl All the acid in his nature
Is aroused. Dame Fortune gets fits; in
deed 1t would astonish you to know
what fine adjectives are lost here, and
how wonderfully expressive the English
language is. Enraged at this failure
he works only the harder, drills deeper
into the rocks, puts in more ''giant'
and the old canon resounds while the
rocks fly madly in all directions. That
discharge speaks the language of a
determined heart. Dame fortune hears
from her elevated seat on the top Of
yonder mountain, and looks down with
a smiling face. See that person now.
What's the matter with him2 Look!
he climbs q dry cedar. We fear he's
gone crazy, and now is about to hang
himself; but no. he hangs his coat on
the top Of that tree. 1t is a plain case,
he's gone crazy. He descends from the
tree and approaches the edge of the
precipice. Whalon canon lies below
him. Poor DEVIL He's hung his coat
as o sign to his fellow miners, and now
comes to the edge of the precipice to
precipitate himself into the rocky canon
below. He swings his hat. Do you
hear that ringing, exultant shoutr It's
cheering echoes resound through the
cafon. What does it mean? That
fellow has struck s400 rock to-day, and
is simply rejoicing over it.
Thus 1t is in camp life, up in the attic
to-day, down in the cellar tomorrow,
or vice versa.
Opposite to us in a southwest direc-
tion from the pass leading to the gov
eminent farm, Is situated the Evening
lode and the Creeper, both splendid
claims. Considerable work has been
done on the drst named lode, and some
Of the finest specimens of ruby silver,
exactly resembling in appearance and
quality the silver ore of southern Ne
vada. has been found In considerable
quantity. We are sorry to know that
work on this splendid location has been
temporarily suspended, for we think a
few more days would develope a mag
n~ificent lode of ore. 1t assays both
silver and gold.
In our next article we will be able to
give you the amount per toll each Of
these claims carry, as specimens have
been sent on for assay. You may con
fdently look for big figureo. We are
of the opinion that in the Whalon
caaon mountains will be found the
largest and richest mines ! n all the
Platte canon mining district. There
are eighteen claims actively operated in
q radius Of three miles. The miners all
seem jubilant, yet realizing the fact
that many hard blows have yet to be
struck to develope their mines.
F. D.