The Elk Mountain pilot., 1882-06-29
THE RUBY DISTRICT.

l ~~o''
NJ. G. Mullowncyto make thorough
canvass of the county IN order to get
an idea what output Of ore could be
relied on in the event of large smelt-
ing works being erected in Gunnison.
In last Sundays edition the entire
first page was taken upwith synopsis
of what the production is, and the
outlook for the future. The follow
ing excerpt is very concise and COM
pact view of our camps production
and is given as very low estimate,
for we had at all times rather be with
| in the bounds of reason than to over
estimate or exaggerate:
"Of the camps to the north and
tributary to Gunn,son, last but not
least, comes Ruby. 1t is, perhaps,
the best known camp in the country,
and has done more than any other to
make the reputation of the Gunnison
country among eastern people. The
camp is situated seven miles almost
due west of Crested Butte, its nearest
railroad point at present. and thirty
five miles little west of north from
Gunnison. The>South Park is graded
to the town, and the Rio Grande will
also build to it, SO that the camp is
sure of railroad communication at no
distant day.
AT least twenty-three mines in the
camp may be called producers, hav-
ing either shipped ore or taken it out
ready for shipment. The best known
and most impor ant OF these is the
Forest Queen, which has shipped fully
five hundred tons Of ore, averaging
two hundred ounces silver to the ton.
The Ruby King, Ruby Chief, Venan-
go, Durango, Lead Chief, Bullion
King, Monte Christie, Micawber and
Independence have also taken out
considerable ore, and the claims that
have taken out from one to five tons
may be counted by the dozen.
The ores are generally silicious, and
are considered dry or refractory. The
silver commonly appears as ruby,
native, wire and brittle, and there is
also considerable zinc blende and
arsenical iron, which runs we'll in
silver. The ores contain considerable
zinc and arsenic, little galena and
antimony, and all have trace of gold,
and occasionally some copper is found.
The Micawber, for instance, is a mon
ster vein Of galena and copper, but
unfortunately runs low in silver. The
ore taken out SO far has averaged from
fifty to two hundred ounces in silver
to the ton.
AT present the output Of the camp
is very small, owing to the difficulty
from water at this season of the wear,
but within ninety daysthe camp could
be relied upon to produce twenty-five
tons Of ore per day which would aver
age at least fifty ounces in silver to the
ton.
The altitude of the principal mines
is from 1o,5oo to 1900 feet. The
cost Of hauling ton of ore to Crested
Butte may be placed at $3.50. The
foregoing include the camps which
are directly tributary to Gunnison.
and which may be relied on to send
their ores here for treatment in case
large smelter is erected. The esti-
mates given are very low, even taking
the backward season into account.
In all parts of the county the season is
fully month later than usual. and
this has had the effect of retarding
development. The output of the
Gunnison country may be considered
small, but under the circumstances the
country has done remarkably we'll.
The first few years have been neces-
sary to get good start, and from this
time forward the output Of ore will
be steadily and constantly on the in
crease"
The Register Call objects to the
efforts of Mrs. Belva Lockwood to
Sec,,vA tho ~oro,~c<.<:.- II 90.