St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-06-06
UNIQUE MAIL RouTE&


lGlaesp Get Their LeeGesu n Whesss
Probably the most unique method -
transporting mails known in IT,
United States post Office departuDnt 10
that in daily use between Telluride end
Smugeler. The mining town OF Tell
ur;de Is located at the head of . pictur.
esque gulch. The mountains rise in
iosj jesty to cloud-piercing heightsabout
the town. and from every propitious
dlaw 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
II Marshall basin, situated among tho
snowy peaks and far above timber line,
and in this basin n the little mining set
tlement Of Smuggler, where the EN-
ployes Of the great Smuggler-U Union and
Tom Boy mines make their homes.
Although the inhabitants have . post
Office of their own, the postal author
tiles do not guarantee . regular serv.
ice, because of the difaculty of keeping
atrailopen In the winter time. The dan.
gcrous snowslides constantly threaten
destruction 10 tho hardy miners who
scramble through the SHOWS up the
steep trails to the settlements in Mar
shall basin. Untilin recent years all sup
plies for the camp in Marshall basin
were transported thither by pack ami
naals. Timber for the miners. coal for
the boilers. and iron rails were dragged
over the trails or packed securely about
swsying pack saddles and carried to N
elevation Of $4,000 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 snowshoes
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 Telln-
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 . bright rcd color, and tho
letters "u. s. Mall" in black, desig.
nate the use to which it II put. The
dsily mail for Smuggler post Office il
now delivered n regularly across the
four miles Of precipice, snow-buricd
g,'lches, and giant mountain rugged.
ness with ~ much safety AZ between
two settlements In the prairies Of west
ern Kansas or Nebraska.
Just over the ridge of peaks from
Marshall basin 10 the post office Of
Mount Sneffels near the famous Virgin.
ius mines, seven miles above Ouray, .
mining town which il ~ picturesquely
located a. 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, nm oc-
casional slide destroys the continuity
of the route 20 that sledtling cannot be
done, and the mails are carried by men
with snowshoes. There are 4 number
Of snowshoc 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 high wind In blow.
ing or other meteorological conditions
make travelling along the trails danger.
ous, they postpone their trips until set
mails are two weeks in arrears when
the mail carriers dare to venture forth.
A free delivery system il In vogue in
the mining districts, though the postal
authorities have nothing to do with II.
From every mountain post Office trails
iliverge up every draw and gulch. A
miner setting out for his cabin, perchesl
somewhere far up ON a mountain. will
take with him NIL the mail belonging to
lis neighbors, though they may live
miles from his place. At each turning.
of 10int . small box will be found
nailed securely to the trunk Of stout
old pine tree, and upon this box 10
ssrawletl the names Of all miners who
must pass that tree in going to their re.
spective 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 = weary step to|
other miners who live out the long win.
tiers in the very heart of the Rocky
mountains. Mails are collected in .
similar manner, and often small er|
rands are likewise done. Money h de.
posted In mail boxes for the purchase
Of stamps, tobacco, and other notions
light In weight, il always properly rc-
spected and the mission fulfilled. no
matter how much the snowshoe pedes-
trian may be under the influence Of
guod fellowship - he returns from
t0wn.-N. Y. Sun.
A Besoe0aeal 0aggesssso.
Now IN the time for the woman who
has little ready money ON hand to|
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