Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-01-26
COLORADO LETTER.
Correspondence of the Mexico Ledger.

O~~~-~J
The year has closed on the most
satisfactory results in the mining
operations of this section of the San
Juan country since its discovery, and
"beyond peradven-
ture" the advantages Of deep devel-
opments and the richness and extent
of the mineral deposits of the San
Miguel mining section. There has
been no noticeable boom, but a quiet
and persistent effort on the part of
niue owners to thoroughly develop |
their properties and place them on a
paying basis, abandoning the old |
plan of forcing prospect holes on the |
market, and thereby swlndling "ten- |
der feet,' and substituting system
attic plan Of development, with the
view of making mining legitimate
and respectable business operation.
In pursuance of this plan number
of properties, which it is not neces-
sary to enumerate, have been opened
up, and large bodies of ore exposed
ready for "stoking' when the market
opens, besides having quite a guam
tity of mineral on the dumps, the
results of the "drifts" and ''levels."
These being the facts,it has drawn the
attention of practical operators to the
propriety of introducing machinery
for the treatment of the ores Of this
section. Mr.. Warner, of the firm Of
Woodburn & Warner, proprietors OF
the Missouri Smelling Works a. Lead
vile, lately came in, purchased a
"mill site," and returned to Denver
to superintend the removal of their
smelter as early as practicable to this
point. Being parties of ample means,
besides experience, leaves no doubt
| of the ultimate success of the enter
prise. Warner reports the results of
his tests made of mineral, taken Gas
he expresses iD hap hazard, from
II different mines ION previous
visit) to be over 100 ounces in silver,
and 40 per cent. in lead. This, you
must understand, is the average, and
from the authority you may reasona-
bly infer the average will reach q
much higher figure. AS the mining
interests lay at the very foundation
of every other enterprise in this sec
ton, your readers must appreciate
that fact, to draw their conclusions
as to the probabilities of the success
of any or all other occupations in
which they may desire to engage.
ROADS.
Heretofore, our only means of trans
portation was by trail on the backs oi
pack animals, each animal carrying
from $50 to 200 lbs each. Now, We
have wagon road to Silverton, distant
Is miles, and an excellent road al
ready completed to the''South Fork, V
/ seven miles below, which will be ex'
t tended to this point the present sea
. son, connecting US with the Rice
2 road already in operation to Durango
t the present running terminus of thu
d. & r. G.. r. r.
l The d. & r. G. R. r. is now com
: pleted to within 25 miles of Silverton
: The heavy grading is also nearly fin
ished, and no reasonable doubt exist
a of the same reaching Silverton earl,
d in the coming summer. From Gun
k nison City the same road is bein!
e vigorously pushed in the direction o
$ Ouray, (our county seat) as mile
n distant; and also from Durango t.
y Rico, the latter place being p mile
C distant. Eventually, Ouray and Rlc
= will be connected, giving US direc
railroad connections with the outsid
d world. From what l have stated
n coupled with the fact that there ar
d now twelve or fifteen producing mine
a already being actively developed
= there will be no difficulty in DRAWN
N conclusions rs to the ultimate futul
le of this section. The town of
OPTIR
ts is vet in its infancy, having been la
! out and surveyed last spring. III
~ town site embraces 95 acres, and
III laid off in lots 25xl0O feet. III
* main avenue is 80 feet in width; Il
ar remaining ones 60 feet; alleys
feet; the voting population, 200; tt
er number of buildings 25 or 80, all tol