The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-10-28
LETTER FROM COLORADO.
Special Correspondence.
SILvERToN, COL, Oct. II, 1888:

this mountainous region. The valley
through which runs the Animas
River is at this point about a mile
and a-half wide, for distance of two
miles in length, and as perfect level
as the earth's surface can present.
This city which a few years ago was
only mining camp, with here and
there a miners cabin, now has some
three hundred buildings of various
classes, including several very re-
spectacle business blocks, a church
edifice of fair dimensions and archi.
tectural comeliness, banking house,
several hotels, restaurants, billiard
rooms. variety theatre, livery sta
bles, private residences, &C., that &C.
commodate population of some if
teen hundred souls. The trades and
mechanics are well represented, and
[ noticed business block in process
of erection, with iron front, three
stories high, that would. in point of
dimensions and style of architecture,
do credit to metropolitan city. Sill
verton is the county town ofSan Juan
county, and has better future promise
than any town in southwestern Colo
RADIO. 1t is surrounded by mountains
that are filled with rich minerals,
prominent among which are silver,
galena, and copper. There is occa-
sionalIy trace of gold but not in
sufficient quantities to attract much
attention. On the south of SilVertOn
is Sultan mountain, in which there
are ten or twelve mines of silver,
galena, and gray copper. which are
counted as very rich, all having been
developed to degree that establishes
their character beyond question. The
ore has been tested and runs from
forty to three hundred ounces in si.-
yer, with large per centage of lead.
These ores are rated as amCng the
best in the country for smelling pur
poses.
The several mountains that extend
up the Animus river on each side as
it stretches nOrthward from Silyerton
are all richly charged with valuable
ores and are separated by gulches
which abound in silver and galena
ores of a higher grade than are COM
mon in that region. BowIder gulch
through which passes BOWlder creek,
is the first to break the mountainous
range after leaving Siverton, and the
creek is never. failing mountain
stream of the purest and sweetest
water that ever slaked the thirst of
man or beast. This stream is to be
diverted into Silverton, about two
miles and a-half distant, as water
supply. The mountain sides that line
BOWlder gulch are filled with silver
and galena ores to tempt the enter
prise and skill of the miner. ) veral
very valuable mines in that gulch
have already been developed and are
now being successfully worked. 1t
may be safely stated that Silverton is
the centre of the most extensive min
eral region on this continent, though
its ores are of a lower grade than at
other points, but they are in inexhau5
tible quantities. When other and
richer sections have been imp0yer.
ished by the hand of the miner, the
San Juan region will scarcely have
begun to supply the world with its
treasure. A half century of skillful
development will do but little more
than open up to the world its endur-
ing capacities. Some Washington
gentlemen are interested in big
smelling company who have erected
extensive works here this season.
Silverton is the present terminus of
the San Juan branch of the Denver &
Rio C""1de Railroad, which has ac.
complished some wonderful feats of
engineering. This portion of the road
lies along the bank of the Animus
river, and passes through a canyon of
unparalleled sublimity and grandeur.
The track rises by heavy grade
along shelf on the mountain side
which at times was some 2l7 feet to
the mile, with PERCEPTIONS noun
tain of 1000 feet or more on the left
hand, while on the right, down in Il
deep gorge some 500 feet below, the
Animus river piunges over its rocky
bottom on its way to the Arkansas.
AT several poinst the bed of the river
passes through walled channel so
narrow that apparently it could be
crossed by a single step from one side
to the other. On the east bank of the
Animus towers the lofty peaks of
Needle mountain, which seems to
pierce the very sky. Nowhere in
Colorado is the mountain scenery
more sublime than at this point. ex-
tending over a distance of several
miles. Speaking of railroads: 1t was
but few years ago that the Union
nd