The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-04


in the bed of streams or in the gravel of
neighboring banks. While the great war
was raging in the outside world the little
world of California Gulch was busy from
1850 to 1865 in taking out the shining metal.
By 1865, when the operators declared that
the gulch was worked out, $1,000, 600 had
been gathered by the fortunate owners of
these 100 feet. Many claims proved enor-
mously rich, one netting its owner 81 900
per lineal foot. The usual differences of
human nature appeared-some were i'm
provident and are to-day poor men; others
are among the bonanza kings of the state;
and still others retired on their good for
tune, and arc enjoying their declining
years under their own vines and fig trees in
the distant east. Some claims yielded an
ounce or two daily to each man at work
one pan Of dirt, about the size
OF an ordinary milk pan, yielded
five ounces of gold. When the whole thing
was over, and California Guloh abandoned,
its last tailings of dirt having been worked
over and over, that little gulch had netted
the world $4,000 of gold currency.
Then Leadvllle was abandoned, men little
knowing that the greatest treasures of the
camp remained behind, treasures compared
with which the mere pittance Of S4,OO0,000
would seem like a beggar's income. By
1866 the camp had shriveled to population
Of $50 people.
A WONDERFUL STORY.
And now comes the stra1gess part Of the
story. In panning the gold the miners had
noticed heavy, red sand in their pans that
troubled their operations. They had thrown
it aside by tons as a worthless and trouble
some debris There it lay upon the ground
for years, no one taking tue trouble to in
quire what it was and whence it came. The
question was answered to the astonshment
of the world in 1876. That red and black
sand, which had been so carelessly thrown
aside, was carbonate of lead, rich in silver.
and it is that same sand that has made
Leadville famous throughout the world.
The secret was discovered by Mr..
Stephens; after years patient lnvestiga-
tion, during which he had quietly taken up
nine claims and obtained government pat
ents for the same, the secret burst upon the
the world that the old abandoned mining
camp was "a city set in sea of silver
The crowd rushed In once more. Claim
after claim was taken up on Carbonate hill
and on Fryer hill, until there was scarcely
foot OF ground that was not covered by a
prospector's tent. By May 5000 people
were located in the city; by July
the number had swelled to 10000;
by Oct. |, to 1900; while at
the end of the year 1t had increased to 49,
600. With the rapid increase of population
there was q rapid development Of crime
The camp was literally flowing with money.
Many of the young men who came TO the
diggings to make their fortunes were with
out settled habits of life; these were easily
captivated by the novel auurements of
open, undisguised vice, fell by the wayside
and formed associations which led to their
ruin. Gambling, wine and women proved
the ruin of many a worthy character. Fol
lowing in the wake of wealth which daily
poured into the camp, we men whose
trades were theft and robbery To drug a
victim, coolly rifle his pockets and throw
him into the streets, was matter Of nightly
occurrence. The dance houses, from
which hoated alluring strains OF music,
were thronged, and attracted by the glare
OF lights anu the novelty of the scene, many
a novice who had more money than brains
Footpads were to be found lurking in every
corner lying In wait for belated business
men and wealthy de auchees. The ominous
words, Hold up your hands" accompanied
by the click of a pistol, were heard at every
street corner. Mine host, who is an old
Leadvilleite, informs me that no respectable
citizen was safe within ten yards of his own
front door. This state of things could not
long continue. The better class of the com
munlty took the law in their own hands.
After one or two applications of Judge
Lynch the worst element was overawed: a
day Leadville, with its churches and schools.
is as orderly u town as any western mining
city of its size.
THE HEAVY BLACK SAND.
But let us return to our heavy black
sand-the mineral which the builders re-
jected that became tie headstone Of the Cor
ner. We cannot speak of all the mines, for
the two metaliferous hills. Carbonate and
Fryer, are covered with shafts. | have
faA aier Axv. IA
must be many more. But there are sew
eral whose products have been perfectly
marvellous. Fl. A. W. Tabor was among
the most successful owners. He stumbled
up against several Of his most productive
properties. His Little Pittsburg mine was
discovered by two drunken shoemakers
whom be had proyisioned for SIT. Sitting
down on hill where they had settled in
their drunken stupor, they began to dig fu-
riously in a place where the folly of their
attempt made them the laughing stock Of
all the camp. They persevered, and at the
depth of twentyelght feet discovered
the mineral vein which soon put the Little
Plttsburg mine among the leaders. A COM
pany was organized and for the first ten
months dividends of $100 900 month were
paid, with one extra dividend of $50 600
Up to 1879 S., 900, 600 had been taken out.
and only lilo per cent Of the entire area
of over twenty acres had been worked out.
An assay was made later of the ground then
opened and s4,000,000 was in sight. 1t
seems as If there was no possibility of the
ore bdy giving out before many millions
have been netted to the company, for fresh
ore reserves are continually being opened.
Another one of Tabor's lucky ventures was
the Chrysolite mine-a piece of property
which had been "salted"-and he bought it
for $4,000. Disguised at being taken
in, he ordered his workmen to 20
ahead and make a mine Of it anyhowp
This they did. and opened after a few feet
further down one of the greatest mines
about Leadville. Up to 1880 this ''saltedn
mine produced over 100000, and is still
producing from fifty to sixty tons a day, at
an average value of $1,000 daily. The
Matchless is another of Mr.. Tabor's proper
ties, for which he paid $1l7, 900, and it was
for some time called "Tabor's Mistake
but the ex-senator's luck did not desert him
With force Of only twenty-five men, it
has been paying him net profit Of $4,000
per day, while the purchase money and all
expense has long ago been wiped out by the
enormous profits. The manager SAYS that
without enlarging his present facilities he
could pay a net profit of $50. 900 per month
for the next five months. The "Matchlessn
Is not full claim, there being but four and