The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-02
COLORADO MINES WILL NOT CLOSE.
Operators VIII Reduce Working Forces
and Wait for Better Silver Prices.

Operators VIII Reduce Working Forces
and Wait for Better Silver Prices.
ASPEN, Colo, April L-Considerable
anxiety has been caused to miners, BUSH
ness men, and, in fact, all classes of peo-
pie in Aspen who are dependent solely on
the production of silver of our mines, on
account Of the price of silver. Rumors
were rife regarding the closing down of
several properties whereby hundreds of
men would be thrown out of work. In
view of these facts an Associated Press re-
porter called upon various mine managers
and elected from them expressions upon
this vital subject. Mr.. Fred Buckley, man.
ager of the Aspen Mining and Smelling
Company, was first seen, and said:
No, we will not close down for the present. at
any rate. few men were laid of, but not
many. Our chief production at present 10 Q
high grade lead ore carrying from ten to twenty
ounces of silver OF course, 30 long as lead
keeps up we can ship this ore because It carries
but little silver, being desirable smelling orc.
The treatment charge is light and therefore
makes it profitable to ship. You can state
positively that there IL no intention at present
of closing down.
DR.. Henry Paul, manager Of the Aspen
mine, said:
owners OF the Aspen mine, held Q meeting in
the city recently, and after carefully looking
over the situation and taking into confederation
the fact that to close down meant idle men and
the causing of want in q great many families,
decided to operate the mine and meet the loss
rather than lay OF several hundred men, Q ma
iority OF whom are supporting families. would
say, however, that in case silver continues at
the present price any great length of time We
would be compelled to cease operations.
Manager c. E. Palmer, of the Mollie
Gibson mine, said:
Yes; work will 60 ahead on the Mollie a.
usual. We realize fully the great loss which
will be incurred BY continuing our production,
but we prefer shipping ore and keeping men in
employment to shutting down, Still, we are
sure that in case silver does not advance in the
near future it will be necessary to reduce the
working force. This I do not believe, and it
certainly will not be necessary, a. am conf
dent that silver will soon be considerably
higher.
Frank Bulkley. general manager of the
Bushwhacker and Park Regent mines,
said:
The Regent working force has been slightly
decreased on account of bad roads and the low
price of silver. We will, of course, continue
steady production, but ouly a sufficient amount
OF ore will be shipped to carry necessary expen-
ses. When silver rises to a reasonable price our
production will be from thirty to thirty.ive
tons per day. The Bushwhacker, you know, OF
course, is only showing small lois OF ore. which
is principally averaging 80 per cent
Manager Newberry, Of the Aspen Con-
tact; Mr.. May, of the Argentum and
Durant Companies. and several other man
ayers were seen, who made practically the
same statements regarding future action
as those already given. The latter said it
was to the everlasting credit of mine own
ers that when an emergency did arise,
whereby to discontinue operations would
be amoney-makings scheme, they possessed
sufficient manhood to rise above these
mercenary temptations and decided to 20
ahead and if possible avert a calamity
which would have affected all classes of
business aside from the immediate effect
closing down would have had upon the
miners.