, 1888-05-05
QUESTION OF INTEREST.
Building the SmeIter and the Hart
vile Railway Spur.
Nothing Definitely Settled, but the
Outlook Favorable.
A Conference Which Will Exert a
Great Influence.

The most interesting question in Chey'
enue now is. Will the smelter be built?
Every resident of the city feels a keen IN
terest in its definite solution, because,
once inaugurated, it would soon prove an
industry that will reach vast proportions.
The building Of the smelter now mainly
hinges on the construction of a spur from
the Cheyenne & Northern at Wendover
to the Sunrise mine. AS has been before
stated this is a rather costly undertaking.
The uncertainty which exists regarding
congressional action on the Union Pacific
debt naturally makes the officers of that
road cautious about undertaking any new
extensions which involve a heavy outlay
of money, and yet were they once CON-
pletely satisfied of a permanent return to
warrant the outlay the work would soon
be commenced.
The matter of building the spur has
been under consideration both at Boston
and Omaha since last March, when it was
first brought to the attention of the Off
Gals of the road by Col. A. T. Babbitt of
this city, who has been keenly interested
in mineral development in the Hartville
and other districts for many years. The
unexpected death of General Manager
Potter has undoubtedly influenced a delay
in speedy action, but now that Mr.. Kim
ball has assumed the duties that devolved
on Mr.. Potter something definite may be
looked for.
AS a result of Col. Babbitt laying the
matter before the railroad officials several
surveys of proposed lines have been made
and the ore and region carefully exam
ined by parties in the interest of the rail
road company. So far as these have gone
THE LEADER is in a position to say that
they have proven in every respect perfect
ly satisfactory.
Reliance in the Hartville district is not
placed on the copper ore any more than
it is on the iron ore. The supply OF cop.
per ore is IN uncertain commodity, even
under the most favorable circumstances,
but the iron ore is found in ~inexhaust-
ible quantities and is rapidly worked.
Mr.. George Thomson, the representa-
tive of Mathieson & Co., the English
syndicate who now control the Hartville
mine, is expected to return from New
Mexico within the next six days. A con-
ference will be held by Mr.. Thomson and
General Manager Kimball. Mr.. Thorn
son is very favorably impressed with the
location of Cheyenne as a point at which
to place a large smelter. 1t is con-
vicinity situated with reference to Hart
vile and Silver Crown and is on the high
way of travel for ores which are now be-
ing shipped from Montana, Idaho, Utah
and other western sections. Geographi-
cally its location could not be improved
and its railway facilities are now in every
way excellent. The fixtures for a 1OC
stamp mill which had been ordered fol
Hartville are now sidetracked in New
Jersey until the question of location is
definitely decided.
The location of the smelter and the
building of the spur" said Col. Babbitt
in conversation yesterday ARE by nc
means yet decided, though the indica'
tons are all favorable. If the smelter is
started here it will in the near future be q
very big institution, for it is contemplated
to treat not only copper ore, but silver and
iron ore and do the refining right here