The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

have Just been made. The Cripple Creek dis
coveries promise now to extend for probably
seyenty-fve miles, reaching close up to Canyon
CITY,
have been in Cripple Creek now two years,
and am called an old-timer; but am entitled
to that appellation, because l have been IN
Colorado since 1872.
Seven railroad trains arrive every day in
Cripple Creek, each loaded down with passen-
gers from various parts of the country. Be-
sides this there are many freight trains. The
two roads now completed cannot do its BUSH
ness and two more are to be built-one a
short line from Denver, and the other direct
line from Colorado Springs. w. S. Stratton,
the millionaire owner of the Independence
mine, has subscribed half of the 81 900 900
necessary for the line from Colorado Springs.
1t is to be twenty-eight miles long. Denvers
idea in building another road is in order that
she may hold the business.
The Independence mine which Stratton owns
has so much gold in it that he can get out half
million dollars worth any time and not feel it.
In fact he has more gold than he knows what
to do with. and is not in hurry to get it out.
1t is said he has been offered $40, 00O, 900 for
the mine, but he won't sell it, no matter what
is offered.
He said to me just before left when we were
talking about it, "some ones liable to rope me
into some sort of deal and I'll lose it if l go
selling the Independence and going into other
things. so Pijust hold on" A couple of years ago
Stratton was carpenter at Colorado Springs
and never dreamed of having so much money.
He made his first strike in the Washington.
When he sold out he managed to pay his debts,
and thus he got the Independence.
There are now close to 40, 900 people in Grip
pie Creek, and in six months l do not doubt
there will be 100000. People are arriving in
as fast as they can. 1t is impossible to take
care of them. There are not hotels enough.
Often men pay 81 apiece for the privilege of
sitting in chairs during the night.
Cripple Creek was developed with home capt.
tal but now many Eastern and foreign moneyed
men are arriving and investing. We estimate
we have 130 producing mines, and there are
II 900 locations in a region about six by
twelve miles in extent. The country over this
region is all located, and if man wants a
| claim in it now he must buy it. But there is
good territory contiguous to it, especially be-
| low Victor, to which 1 have already alluded.
| The stock excitement continues and has
| grown into a craze, especially at Colorado
| Springs. new stock exchange has been
started at Victor. and another is being started
at Cripple Creek. Two years ago there were
six houses in Victor. Now there are 5000, and
1T is one of a chain of live camps. All the
| camps have churches, water works and electric
| llS0lS. Iney diSO NdNt pltuty VI
houses and all the adjuncts of live mining
camps. There is little killing, however. In
fact, believe nobody has been killed since
August.
| Mr. Preston has come on to spend the
holidays with his daughter, Miss Violet
Preston, who is student of Stanford Uni
versity.
There are a number of other successful
Cripple Creek men in town. Peter Eells,
proprietor of the Hotel Portland, and w.
R. Shape, an early resident of the wild
camp.
Mr.. Preston brought number of speci-
mems of gold-bearing rock with him. 1t
is what is called by the miners sylvanite, is
fine grained and with light blush cast,
looking much like pieces of fine blue lime
stone. Not fake of gold can be seen in it
by the eye. but when the rock is roasted
the gold fairly boils out of it.
| Mr.. Preston showed specimens before
and after. No one would suppose to look at
! the blush rock that it was worth anything.
''This is the same kind of ore as is found in
STATIONS Independence, he said. "a
! friend of mine who has similar ore, took
| eighteen sacks of it to Pueblo, lust before
| left, and got $4,000 for it,
Mr.. Preston will remain here during the
| h01i,taUG