, 1890-08-16
THE STATES MINES.
How They Will Figure in the
Eleventh Census Report.
Information Gathered by Special
Agent Burkhardt.
Silver Crown Considered and Her
Mines Mentioned.
N AND MINING.

special census agent to present a report
on Wyoming mines and minerals aside
from coal, and has completed his work. The
Republican OF Laramie, had access TO
MIR. Burkhardt's notes and prints a com
prehensive review of the experts obser-
vations.
MINERS DELIGHT.
In speaking of some of the first mining
he gives some of the causes of the want
of capital to develop the mining interests
OF the state. in connection with Miners
Delight. This camp consists of five
mines, only two of which rave yet been
even partially DEVELOPED. as. unfortunate
ly, it was found that the ores could not
be treated with the machinery which was
at first introduced; and this only after the
capital had all been expended. Conse-
quently work came to a standstill.
Miners Delight, Atlantic City and
South Pass all lie within a radius of four
miles, in the foothills nearest the prairie.
The main range, where the best mines
ought to be. has not been prospected, but
when it Is some rich strikes are Renewable.
Some very rich pockets have been dis
covered in the foothill mines; in fact,
thousands upon thousands Of dollars have
been pounded out upon hand mortars.
Mr.. Burkhardt's report was sent in too
early to mention the-late rich strikes on
the South Pass and the consequent stam-
pede to that section.
FINE FIND.
The ore of most of these mines assays
in bulk from 80. so to $3.50 per ton and
will average with moderate concentration
from Sc to $14 per ton throughout the
camp. Only the day before the majors
visit there, two boys, 16 and II years Of
age. discovered a lead about 500 feet
south of the old Buckeye lode, assaying
from $23, 400 to $40. 900 per ton. The
vein is about twenty inches wide and this
very rich quartz came out Of a pocket on
the vein, which was traced for over 600
feet.
"All the mines lie on the southeast
side Of the main range, and, singular to
say. every other mining camp of any
note in Wyoming is located on the south
east side Of the mountains. Especially
is this true OF the placers camps, thus
practically confirming the theory of the
glacier period.
SILVER CROWN.
OF this district the report says: Sill
yer Crown has been another unfortunate
camp. These mines were discovered in
1874 and have been worked off and on
ever since. Only shallow shafts have
been sunk. but very many Of these. The
ore is highly refractory. Some of the
mines carry copper in all forms, others
galcna. copper, antimony, zinc. carbon
ate Of lead. a~rsenical sulphates of iron,
etc., the different ores assaying in bulk
from sc. 60 10 $3.50 per ton in gold. silver
and copper. Some four years ago a mill
was erected at a cost Of from $25, 600 to
$50, 900 before the owners of the mines
knew what machinery was required. Con-
s%eauently the ores could not be treated by
that kind OF machinery and as the capital
was exhausted no proper machinery has
ever been brought in to work those ores.
A copper smelter was erected, but the
owners failed and nothing has been done
except development work for the last two
or three years.
Il OLD WAY.
The main reason for the abandonment
of these mines in their infancy, says
Maj, Burkhardt in his report, was the
reckless expenditures Of vast sums OF
money put up by investors. For instance.
at Miners Delight, after the discovery of
gold in 1868, certain St. Louis parties
with plenty of money became interested
in this mine to the extent Of several hun
dred thousand dollars. putting up stamp
mills and making other improvements.
The country at that time was still infested
with hostile Indians, and there were al
most daily battles with the savages. The
st. Louis capitalists not caring to risk
their scalps, sent out men to look after
their interests, and the latter were not
slow to improve the opportunity.
EXPENSIVE DEVELOPMENT.
One shaft on Miners Delight was sunk
to a depth of twenty-six feet at a cost of
$l34,O0O, when the work could easily
have been done for 1874. 1t is said on
good authority that the superintendent,
miners. laborers, in fact, everyone en-
ployed at the mine, were Obliged to spend
their time at the gambling table. No
matter who came along work could be
had at from "a to IS per day, whether
there was anything to DO or not. As
long as a man ''bucked the tiger he got
his pay, and if the officers of the mine
ran short Of funds they went to the mill
and took the amalgam from the plates,
until the owaers closed the mines under
the belief that they we're valuelss. There
is TODAY, says Maj. Burkhardt, not one
shaft 200 feet deep either at Miners