The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-04-14
rHl GOLD Axp slLy1a CAMS.


GUNuBOx, Apnt ., icOi
To tie Editor Of Gss Eeels.
Ipromised In my letter OF March s0th that
would write you somsthing aboat the Mis-
ing camps Of this county. There are proba-
bly, more different mining campsan this coun-
~; and there are more mines, and richer
any other county in the State. The mining
industry in this county 10 yet in its infancy.
yet its magnitude is truly wonderful. win
begin with the camps in the order in which
they occur to me:
Ruby, one Of the oldest as well a. one OF
the richest and best developed camps, is stu
atcd about thirty miles from here little west
of north, short distance inside Of the Ute
Indian reservation. Ruby IL destined at no
distant day to rank among the richest min
ing camps in the State. The work already
done shows large bodies Of the richest ores.
There are in this camp two towns-Irwin and
Ruby-situated near together and will soon,
as many other Colorado towns have done run
together and form but one town. Our part
Of Kansas is ably represented in Irwin by
our active and energetic friend, .'formeriy
Of Wichita viii Tucker, engaged In the
hardware business and getting rich; and
Wesley Owens, son Of DR.. Owens, engaged
10 the drug business, and doing well. Our
o!d-time friend, A. l. Miller, OF EldoradO, Is
In the law business and has all he can attend
to. Ruby Camp presents somewhat of nm
anomaly in legal way; being on the reser-
walton the Federal courts take jurisdiction
In all criminal cases and the State courts still
clam jurisdiction in civil cases.
The next camp will mention is Gothic,
situated In the northern part OF the county,
is one OF the Oldest and best developed camp
in the county. and am told there are large
number OF valuable mines In the camp. and
that there are air. ady reduction works in op-
Grafton The legal fraternity is ably repre-
scented in Gothic by John Kinkaid, a brother
Of Clark kinkaid, Of Sedgwick county.
A little west Of north FROM here il situated
the mining camp aud town Of Crested Butte,
in or near what are calledth Elk Mountains.
l understand this to lie q good camp aud that
the mines show remarkably well for the
amount Of work which has been done.
Between Gunnison and the last named
| camp, are situated some Of the lurgest and
finest coal mines in the State, which are des-
tined at no distant day to prove Of eqral val
ne to the best silver mines in the county,
coal being as necessary for the development
Of a mining country as the mineral itself.
The camps mentioned above are rich princi-
paly in silver.
There is new camp called Lost Canon,
which was discovered late last fall about 20
miles northeast Of this city in which the min
eral is principally gold, and Of that character
called "free milling" which can be treated
with so much less expense than by the smelt-
ing process that it is valuable though Of D
low grade. Owing to the l,teness Of the dis
covery of this camp there has been but little
work done, but SO far the show is good and
the camp will attract good deal OF attention
| this season.
There is another camp about which the
people Of Wichita and vicinity have heard u
great deal, but perhaps little more would
not be out Of place. This is ''The Tomichi
Camp" situated about thirty five miles near
Iy east Of this city, upon the head-waters Of
the Tomich river. The camp embraces ter
ritory about eight miles up and down the
river, and from two TO four miles on either
| side. In this camp are located the mines
owned ty MeG!ees, Matthew'S, WQodman,
Mead aud other gentlemen Of Wichita and
vicinity. In my judgment this, with proper
development. will be the .'boss" camp Of the
| country.
Twill! not attempt to mention but few of
the leading mines in the camp. Among the
most noted ape the Fort Scott owned by G.
G. Matthews and W. S. Woodrnan, OF. wicll-
ita, and parties in Fort Scott; the Success.
Loias and Fair,iew owned ky McClees and
others the Bill Short, owped by Bill Short
4 Co.; the Little Pet, owned by Eastman,
Cramp and Others: the Grandview owned by
Dunn, McConicy aud others. one-half Of
which sold RECENTLY 10 Field, Letter & Co., OF
Chicago, for $1,000. The Uncle Sam and
Sam Ocean owned now by G. C. Bucllan. Of
Kentucky, and MeCiess, Matthews e. Co., Of
Wichita. The Lewiston, owned by Judge
Ponyart, of Illinois. The Alwidda, owned
by A. Hutchinson, Of Kansas county.
There was big strike made In tunnel
which was being run upon the iast.rnention-
ed property. On the opposite side of the
river from the Alwiddan are the Strawberry
mine, owned by Andy Boyle, Of Burlington,
Iowa, and the Galena mine, owned by II.
Lake. beth Of WHICH are valuable properties.
There are great many others which might
mention, but space will not permit ut this
time. Yours, 5. NJ.