The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-04-29
COLORADO SCENERY.
CENTRAL CITY AND BLACK HAWK
MINING LIFE. NV


I in our last we neglected to speak OF
Central City, one Of the Oldest and best
mining camps of Colorado. This town
and Black Hawk, which are inseperably
connected, contain about 1000 people.
This seemingly very much out Of the
way place is easily reached by the Union
Pacific or Colorado Central railway,
which like the Georgetown branch Is
favored with fine scenery on every foot
of the route. The large promontories
that have been blasted away to make
room for a narrow guage railway to
penetrate still farther the depths OF
mountain, businesses and reach the
perpetually snow crowned heights OF
this mineral region Of the Rockies, Ia but
demonstration of what achievements,
perseverance or "gelt" will accomplish.
The most noticeable is the ''switch back
from the Black Hawk in order TO gain
an ascent of 800 feet in a distance of only
a mile. In leaving Black Hawk depot
the train switches back, and in doing so
passes directly over the two of the prin-
cipal bustling streets, and only n few
feet above the business houses and dwell
lings by means Of bridge or trestle
work of iron and wood. II goes about
mile In this direction, then switches
back again as far ms IL can for the abrupt
mountain and continues this ziggag
course until il stands 800 feet above the
little town below. Should the train take
but one leap down this dizzy preoipice
ii would instantly go crashing through
the dwellings and business places If
there was enough of the crasher left to
crash. Such a jump makes us shudder
as we think Of the possibility even, and
at every jerk Of the car our hair rises up
ward and we wish somebody was in
our place" But after all it is safe, or at
least no accident has yet occurred there.
Central City,.a mile distant from Black
Hawk, is now at hand after four miles
of "high line" travel on the tangent and
curve. Wonderful city of gold and sill
yer. Look where you may huge tunnels
stare you In the face. Look where you
step, or 1t may be in shaft thousand
feet deep. Do you see that long string
ofwagons? They are loaded with rich
ore taken from the mines all about you.
If you don't think there is plenty of
mineral here, come, let me show you the
mines in the streets. Why. there is an
excellent mine under the hotel you are
now in. Go with me and / will take you
through the famous California mine that
has shaft 1000 feet deep and u tunnel
more than n mile In length, and still they
are pushing it farther and deeper. Do
you see that man wonder? Amonth ago
he was poor man. Two weeks ago he
was offered $4,000 for one-fourth in
terest in his claim then being developed.
lie refused the offer, continued TO de-
velop and recently it proved entirely
That person setting at the table by him
self u short time ago was living on bacon
and beans and slept in cabin that had
no floor. ellis find" proved good one.
Now he is boarding at the best hotel and
Is congratulated as a coming million
aire. Why might tell you of plenty of
such instances, but 1t would give you
the mining fever, and tenderfoot of
your physique could never stand this
high altitude. Too much divine air I'M
less taken in homeopathic doses. Thus
spoke the speaker, and SO they say 1t
goes in a Colorado mining camp. They
speak OF a hundred thousand dollars
about as light as your scribe would OF a
copper cent. But they don't all possess
the larger amount and we Will confess
we did not see any gold growing on
trees. There being no trees was per-
haps the reason. In spite of the busy
life around the mines the business OF
these mountain towns at this time is
dull. we lett TINS kingdom oil precious
minerals without having gotten any OF
its wealth save q few specimens from
the hands OF our chief informant. In the
direction OF another class OF fields we
next bent our steps, stopping at Boulder,
brisk town of 1000, which, owing to its
nice streets, good buildings and pleas
ant surroundings, Is very attractive
place. a large fertile valley extends to-
ward the east and the mountains grand
ly overshadow 1t on the west. Our
northward course for 90 miles takes us
over a splendid farming country through
| several DrOsDerOlS villages and thrifty