, 1888-04-22
GATHERING PROSPECTS
The Platte Mining District Begin
ming TO Boom.
Work that Has Been Done and
Some that is Contemplated.
The First Carload of Bullion Ready
For Shipment.
Surveys for Railroad Extensions
Being Rapidly Made.

A LEADER reporter has just returned
from a visit to the Sunrise mining dis
trict, where he has seen enough to COM
pletely satisfy him hat the future of that
region is bound to be a remarkable one,
while at the same time contributing much
to the wealth and business of Cheyenne
to which it is naturally tributary.
THE LOCATION.
AS everybody knows the district is To-
Gated in the northern part of this county
on and near the Platte river. The min
eral belt to which most attention is now
being paid runs northwest and southwest.
1t is about a mile in width, but its length
has never been determined. 1t begins
just west of Fairbank and is known to
extend as far north as the head of Musk
rat canon. which is due west of Rawhide
Buttes. The valuable character of the
deposits has been known for many years,
but it is only since the establishment of
Col. Rabbits smelter at Fairbank that
they have received any extended prac-
teal attention. They are now attracting
a great deal of attention and much of the
available ground has been located and
taken up.
Heretofore no attention has been paid
to any except the copper deposits. The
iron ore is now receiving attention. The
regi on is rich in varied resources, which
is the best indication of the probable
permanency of the camp. Silver, mica,
and tin are found in large deposits and
will ultimately be worked.
COPPER N IRON
now go hand in hand in the public esti-
nation. There are no well defined veins
of either copper or iron. Both are found
in deposits and together. At the Sunrise
mine, where the erosion has been greater
and therefore the surface drift is lighter and
the ore more exposed, itshows to better ad-
vantage than it does either north or south
of that point, but where any reasonable
amount Of work has been done exactly the
same character of ore is shown in both
directions.
II SUNRISE MINI
is now employing about sixty men. The
English syndicate which controls it have
received about a dozen carloads of coke
from Colorado. During the past week
they have had ore hauled from the Sun
rise mine to Fairbank, where the smelter
is located, and are now about ready to
ship a carload of copper bullion. The
copper ore carries about - per cent of
copper, the balance being iron.
CONSOLIDATION.
This work on the copper ores has slim
ulated people who are interested in the
iron ore and a movement is now on foot
to incorporate all the iron interests in the
camp into one large interest and put up
the necessary plant to produce pig iron to
sell to the other iron industries. The re-
gion of these claims will include the
Whalen canyon district from a point op-
poslte Sunrise to the top Of the divide
between the Platte and the Running
water.
NAM LILLE bOOA1lNG.
The Sunrise mine is located about five
miles from the Platte river. Hartville,
which is about a mile south toward the
Platte, is beginning to boom in good
shape. Lots are being staked out, and
buildings are being rapidly built. 1t will
soon be a thriving town. 1t is probable
that the copper company will remove their
smelter from Fairbank to a point within a
mile of the Sunrise mine.
RAILWAY BUILDING.
Work on the railroad surveys is being
pushed with great vigor. A line has been To-
Gated from Wendover, which was formerly
known as Cottonwood at the mouth of the
Platte canyon, to Fairbank, a distance of
thirteen and a half miles. The building
OF this line will be very costly, as while
the grade is light there will be a great deal
Of rock work as the survey is along the
banks Of the river. A line is now being
surveyed from Fairbank to Hartville, a
distance Of about five miles. Still another
line will probably be run from the river to
the summit of Whalen canyon
To everybody who has visited the re-
gion the outlook is exceedingly encourage
ing. There will be an enormous amount
of work done this season, and by fall few
people will be able to recognize the
changed face of the country.
Frog saddles at the Saddle Rock.