The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-08
MAIL FOR MINERS.
How Letters Are Delivered In the
Rocky Mountains.
An Undertaking Which Is Exceedingly
Hazardous in Winter-The Unique
Free Delivery System of
the Miners.


the Miners.
Probably the most unique method OF
transporting mails known in the
United States post Office department is
that in daily use between Telluride and
Smuggler. The mining town of Tell
uride is located at the head of pictur-
esque gulch. The mountains rise in
majesty to cloud-piercing heights about
the town, and from every propitious
draw between the giant peaks, foam
ing cascades, waterfalls and roaring
streams come down from the snow
laden SUBMITS to swell the torrent of
the San Miguel, which rushes through
the town. Four miles above Telluride
is Marshall basin, situated among the
snowy peaks and far above timber line,
and in this basin is the little mining set
Element of Smuggler, where the en-
ployes of the great Smuggler-Union and
Tom Boy mines make their homes.
Although the inhabitants have a post
Office of their own, the postal author
tiles do lot guarantee regular serv-
ice, because of the difficulty of keeping
trail open in the winter time. The dan
gerous snowslides constantly threaten
destruction to the hardy miners who
scramble through the SHOWS up the
steep trails to the settlements in Mar
shall basin. Untilinrecentye years all sup
plies for the camp in Marshall basin
were transported Jhither by pack ami
mails. Timber for the miners, coal for
the boilers, and iron rails were dragged
over the trails or packed securely about
swaying pack saddles and carried to an
elevation of 1900 feet by the burro.
When winter closed down and the burro
trains could not longer be driven on
schedule time the miners would take
turns in going down on sRowshoes
to get the mails and few necessary
supplies that could be carried upon
their backs.
But the practical application Of the
endless chain by the inventor of the
Huson tram has greatly facilitated the
transportation of supplies from Tellu-
ride up to Marshall basin. Great iron
buckets, each carrying down the noun
tain half ton of ore, furnish by their
weight the active power which drives
the endless chain from which they are
suspended. In these buckets, upon
their return, the necessary supplies for
the camp are placed. One of the buckets
is painted a bright red color, and the
letters 'U. S. Mall" in black, desig-
nate the use to which it is put. The
daily mail for Smuggler post Office is
now delivered as regularly across the
four miles of precipice, snow-buried
gulches, and giant mountain rugged
ness with as much safety as between
two settlements in the prairies of west
ern Kansas or Nebraska.
Just. over the ridge of peaks from
Marshall basin is the post Office of
Mount Sneffels near the famous Virgin
ius mines, seven miles above OuHy, a
mining town which is as picturesquely
located as Telluride. A good wagon
trail leads from Ouray up the mountain
side to Virginius mine, but in the win
ter time the trail fills with snow, an oc-
casional slide destroys the continuity
of the route so that shedding cannot be
done, and the mails are carried by men
with snowshoes. There are a number
of snowshoe routes in the mountains
of Colorado, but none more hazardous
than this one. The men who carry the
mails over snowshoe routes seldom
meet with accident. They have learned
to understand the popularity of snow
slides, and when a high wind is blow
ing or other meteorological conditions
make travelling along the trails danger
Gus, they postpone their trips until set
tied weather returns. Sometimes the
mails are two weeks in arrears when
the mail carriers dare to venture forth.
A free delivery system is in vogue in
the mining districts. though the postal
authorities have nothing to do with it.
From every mountain post Office trails
diverge up every draw and gulch. A
miner setting out for his cabin, perched
somewhere far up on a mountain. will
take with him all the mail belonging to
lis neighbors, though they may live
miles from his place. At each turning
OFF point a small box will be found
nailed securely to the trunk of stout
old pine tree, and upon this box is
scrawled the names of all miners who
must pass that tree in going 10 their re-
spoctive cabins. Into this box the last
man from town deposits all the mail
belonging TO miners living up that
particular gulch. From that gulch a
miner will occasionally descend for the
mail, and as he returns up his trail he
deposits in turn the several pieces
of mail in other boxes placed at con-
venient points. In this manner one
man can save many q weary step to
other miners who live out the long win
tiers in the very heart of the Rocky
mountains. Mails are collected in a
similar manner, and often small er-
rands are likewise done. Money is de-
posted in mail boxes for the purchase
OF stamps, tobacco, and other notions
light in weight, is always properly re-
spected and the mission fulfilled. no
matter how much the snowshoe pedes-
trian may be under the influence of
good fellowship as he returns fror
TOWN.. Y. Sun.
SWALLOWED The SHAMROCKS.