Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-28

- NScs&&
 LA PLATA CITY.
 into the walls of the city eternal. Like banks of soft violet clouds they arc hcaped against the rcd and gold of sunset. Never tould there be a more beautiful sight.
 Seen at Sunset.
 And when a few hours later you reach Durango, the smcltcr city of the great southwest, which lies at the foot of the mountains, and sec the glare of its myriad coke ovens and the weird glcam of its smelters lighting up the rugged sides of the range, you can scarcely credit that those dazzling mountains seen at sunset arc the weird, tremendous hills at hand.
 wanted to sec the heart of this mag nificent range and to visit La Plata city, q famous mining camp, so last Saturday morning party of four started from Du- rango for 40 mile drive right up under tho very shadows of these everlasting hills. Up, up the range we climbed; then over tho divide and down into the valley once more. An occasional pause at some hos pitable ranch for fruit or fresh milk was the only stop we made until WIG drove into the city of La Plata.
 La Plata mining camp lies on gentle slope in the midst of n pine forest. Its rocky walls are not made with hands, but rise eternal in the heavens. Its gates arc yawning chasms and dark, mysterious canyons. Its log cabins, pine shanties and tents, its saloons and stables and cat ing houses are jumblcd confuscdly to- gcthcr. Hero and there, in front of cabins, at street corners at side doors, are the piles of loosely hcapcd stones, surmountcd by n rude cross, a stick or the limb of tree, which mark n located claim. The miners sit in the open doors or along the shady side of the main street.
 Mother of the Camp.
 From q tent q buXom girl chascs n hand some, sturdy young fellow and bclabors him over the head with rolling pin, just for fun" The local amateur talent of the town wcnds its way to ci diYant dance hall, where an entertainment for sweet charity is being rchcarsCd. The presses of the La Plata Miner arc going in q log cabin, and Aunt Sarah Stiles is getting dinner for the boys
 Mrs. Stiles iS the mother of tho whole camp. If any of ''thc boys" arc in trou- ble, they go tu her. She makes tho finest lemon pie in the La Plata country, and she works in her mine with pick and shovel She has adopted and raised seven boys, who arc now strapping fellows. Sho thinks nothing of walking to the top of one of these giant peaks merely for breath of fresh air. does all her own work and cooks for every lonely mothers son in the camp. Cheerful, kindly, brave woman pionecrl l shall not soon forget your gen crous welcome, your littlo log cabin, tho soughing of the wind through the pines at your door, the murmur of tho wild brook that tumblCs down the ravinc by your home, your smile when you said: Lone somcl No. Well, I reckon not! Why, love these mountains. I wouldn't Icavc 'em for the whole world"
 La Plata City is q much moro orderly place than CrcCdc or Cripple Greek. IL. only dancchouso is closed, and thcrc Is not much gambling. However, the spirit of mischief is not qucnchcd. Tho preacher who declares dancing to bc n scheme of | satan is not popular in La Plata. Last | week there was one. This wcck-lo, he Is not! His departure dates from n memo | rable night which by common consent Is l named tho howl" X number of young | miners, led by nn adventurous reporter on l the La Plata Miner. went forth with the avOwcd intention of bowling the parson into fits. They yelled, they hnwlcd, and they whOopcd. They made night hidcous with blood curllng belch and below Quiet folk fed in dismay before this ava | lanche of noise, and the clergyman depart 1 cd next day in righteous wrath. The | rival paper of the town scored the wicked reporter who led the riot and referred to him and his fellow cOnspirators as go ciety coyotes" Such Is life in La Plata. The La Plata Boom.
 It is less than year since the La Plata boom started. Along the banks of the La Plata river, in all the mountain sides and gulches, are many evidences of the 1 seekers after gold having been hero many. many years ago. In the early seventies rich leads high up on the mountain sides were discovered and proSpcctcd, but the l gold was hidden in the ore, and 50 this | country was neglected save by the placer miners, who in squads havo been sluicing here and there at the seasons of tho year when it is possible
 Not quite two years ago the rediscovery | of the great Columbus mine set many old prospectOrs to thinking of what they had seen in tho La Platas many years ago. and many returned to this region.
 Tho Baker contact has brought the La Platas greatly to tho notice of eastern capitalists. It Is near timber line in the divide separating two great gulches and runs through the range that separates tho Mancos streams from the La Platas. It is wonder. The owners arc Colonel 8. Baker, Charles Mcleod, Frank Meyers, | A. l.. Kirkbride and Howard Graham.
 The Kate lode of the group of mines belonging to the Allen Mining company | Is ono of tho largest and best mining mines yet opened up in the La Platas, as 1t comprises mountain of almost solid | mineral, of which tho lowest assay on any rock shows $5 to the ton and the high est S750, all of which is free milling orc. Some of the greatest mining experts in | Colorado estimate that there arc from 15, 900 to 20, 900 tons of earth that will run S20 to S25 per ton. As soon as tho owners can erect free milling ore mill upon this property there will be no question of therc being taken from Sl0,0Oo to $25, ,00O monthly from this mine, as one can wash out gold from the dirt and actually sec the flakes of gold in tho rocks that arc mined. | Gold Bearing Rock.
 ! rode on horseback three miles up the mountainside to visit the Kate mine The tunnel is by 8 feet and runs into tho mountain on a well developed vein. II gave mo a queer sensation to walk into c mountain of solid gold bearing rock. wanted to take the mountain right homo with me and set 1t up in my back yard Really the Little Kate Is marvel, and thu universal opinion Is that this mine vii prove O second Homestead.
 Then right in tho streets of La Platf camp Is tho great Midnight mine. Imag inc the blasting in the heart of the camp. Near Burned Timber gulch, two mile' 1 below La Plata City, is a group of claims which is suro to become O great gold pro ducer. There arc the Montezuma, Fred ericton, Walker, Garrison and Graybell all of wlEh have made big finds. MT
 Walker pans quartz taken from his biz ledge that leaves a wide streak of golC clear round the pan. Stamp mills ant free millisg mills are going up in all al