New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08

in increased production. The character OF the ore
has changed from silver to go,d-bearing parity Oh
cause many old and weknown silver mines nave
found their ore gradually gaming III sou '''ue d"
denth has been reached. -,
In evidence Of this be brought forward PRIV n ,he
statement that in the ocG3er Tuo exc or the s-
yer values for the first tine In the hst1ly y, 20,
ments Even Leadville, the silver camp OF Inc Inc
World has found in the Ite Johnnie one o,, ot tne
greatest gold mines In existence ana Is lo'io"'"s
il with other discoveries fully as great
LEADvILLE PRODUCTION.
The mines of Ieadville have been worked almost
tu,entv wears: vet the estimate of August X Meyer
president of the great Consolidated Kansas C.S
Shelters is that her mines to-day produce sivVV'V"
a month OF which his shelters buy Iuiiy hdil' anu
that the output is increasing. Ex-Governor Grant
of the Omaha and Grant Smelter. considers TINS an
overestimate. but admits an output OF sHrVw 90
month Deep mining is the rule IN Leadvllie anu
the handling OF the immense amount OF water IN
variaby encountered has always oeen a mos
problem, taxing the neiI OK con mans
camp, requiring LARGE premin try outlay Oh ospd
tai reach the ore zones out yo b money anu n
vested Contrary to general rn nm o''
man for breakfast every morning, nor are heL
streets full of excited miners with their pocKeus
ers are deep under ground swinging their hammers
her streets are safe, substantial and busnesslKe
and the unccasng creak of the pondefous ORC
wagons tells its own tale OF prosperity
CRIPPLE CREEK, THE POOR MANS CAMP
The great wonder of the day, however, is Cripple
Creek and a plain statement of the facts reads
almost like fairy tale. Five years ago II was d
ca tile ranch. wild open country, without Single
permanent habitation. To-day the hills are het'eu
with wagon roads spotted with shatthouses anu
orebns; Pullman follow the old br0ncAo trans,
fourstory modern brick buildings rise ike magic IN
rival cities. and upward Of SOvSS" n r goiIa
comes out of the ground every month, Hrippie
Creek has reversed the history of Leadville Tor
there the excitement was highest over the inohHs
that poured In to stimulate deVeopmentl VIII s
Cripple Creek poured money out Oh mel nli"e S Jr
a full year before the rea excitement anu Geye
opment came. Most of her large miAes were opSn t
without capital-in fact, by men IN actual want want,
and are now owned IN part az e; ca ny for many
reasons, among which may be mentioned the ioi-
The district is hilly rather than mountainous
as understood in Colorado high. rolling country.
TIM fro sanw and bnI weither and readily
cessble from any direction: the WASH or su'laT 10
a few feet below the surface The rock is largely
porphyritic and easily handled Ihere IS no wase a
cases being perfectly dry Supplies are IRE, com SHn
paratively cheap and easily obtainabie ana deep
mining with expensive machinery is not an es-
sential beginning Nearly every large nl1e mas
paid for its own machinery Out OF us n
statement that cannot be MADE Oh any o'"ei "''"
ing camp in existence.
GEOLOGY OF THE DISTRICT
The geology of the district differs so materially
from that of the other great mining camps that
il has persistently mlsed the mining experts whose
early opinions strongly unfavorabie to the
camp They have generally admitted their error
however and most of them now operating mines
in the district. Unlike the Rand in South Africa,
which is an immense vein of a low-grade milling
ore Cripple Creek is network of veins carrying
of much higher grade but usually or suoh n "a re-
fractory nature to require smt!tng OWING 70
the slight depth of the wash. the VEINS are sasf
found with little expense ana are reSI and
number of discoveries, which are without paraiei
in the history of mining 49,. ,,ar. r,u,,s u
No less authority thai Judge JULIUS II.
Thompson asserts that the Cripple creek reSion
is the largest mining district In the United states
and contains the greatest number OF pay VII III
The boundaries of the district are constantly wiz
s %d s y asa Is %G II nes shipping
regularly. This does not include the occasiohi,
mines. Many OF the veins are known 10 be !arge
and cut through many claims. Inc Anehor VEN.
o pqr s aHd s dev nio siVS for feet
The rapidity of development may De ludged py
territory less than one mile sGuare' almost within
the limits OF the town Of cripple creek: X sar
to-day It boasts twenty-seven producing mines Few
shafts in the district have reached the ooo-toot
depth the ore bodies have grown larger and more
valuable. No such immense masses OF ore as char
tered but the average grade of the ore is higher
and the producing district more extended.
GRADE OF CRIPPLE CREEK ORES.
The average grade OF Cripple Creek may
be placed at $50 a ton. The cost OF mining Is about
s. transportation to the smeer S. and smelling
charge sl2 leaving 50 "A ton as profit. The higher
grades OF ore of course, net more while the lower
grades are not sent to the smelter. but to the
local amagamation. chlorlnat!on cyanide mills
OF which there are several, all running to their full
capacity by this means the freight 10 the smelter
Is saved and in many instances a charge for treat
ment considerably less than S2 ton Is obtained.
More of these mills are being built and there Is
no doubt that In the course of few years they
VIII handle the bulk of the low and medium grades
of with proht.
owing TO the and cheapness OF development
the camp has been slngulary free from great
combinations OF capital which work to the exclu-
sion OF smaller operators. and the lease and bond
system still offers TO careful investors of moderate
means chance 70 mlne legitmately and with good