Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-07-15
NAIL FOR MINERS.
How Letters Are Delivered Ia IL
Rocky Mountains.
An Undertaking Which Is Exceedingly
Hazardous in Wintcr-The Unique
Free Delivery system of
the Miners.

sa0t III daily use between Telluride and
Snueglcr, The mining town of Tell
ulide is located ut the head Of pietul-
eSQue gulch. The mountains rise in
majesty to eloud-pierciagh eightsabout
the town, and from every propitious
dlaw between the giant peaks, foam
ing cascades, waterfalls and roaring
streams como down from the snow
laden submits to swell the torrent Of
the san Miguel. which rushes through
tie town. Four miles above Telluride
is Marshall basin, situated among the
snowy peaks and far above timber lihe.
ard in this basin is the little mining set
tlement Of Smuggler, where the en-
Pioyes OF the great Smuggler-Unienand
Tom Eoy mines make their homes.
Although the inhabitants hnvc n post
ol.ice Of their own, the postal author
ijics do not guarantee a regular scrr-
ice, because OF the difficulty Of keeping
atrailopen in the winter time. The dan
oeroas snowsltdes constantly threatea
destruction TO the hardy miners Who
scramble through the SHOWS up the
steep trails 10 the settlements in Mar.
shall basin. Untilm recentyears all sup
plies for the camp in Marshall basin
were transported thither by pack ami
mails Timber for the miners. coal fcg
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 huiro.
When winter closed down and the burro
trains could not longer be driven on
schedule time The miners Wo1ld take
turns in going down on snoWshoes
70 get the mails and 4 fow necessary
supplies that could be carried upoa
their backs.
Dut the practical application of the
endless chain 10y the inventor of the
1luson tram has greatly facilitated the
transportation of supplies from Tellu-
ride up to Marshall Easin7 Great iron
buckets, each carrying down the moun-
tain half ton of ore, furnish By thcir
weight tha active power which drives
the endless chain from which they are
suspended. In these buckets, upon
their retucn, the necessary supplies for
the camp are placed. Ono of the buckets
IS painted bright rcd color and the
letters ~. S. Meil," in black, desig-
nate tile use 10 which it is put. The
daily mail for Snugglcr post Office Is
row delivered as regularly across the
four miles of precipioe, snow-burie1
gulches, and giant mountain rugged
noss with as much safety as between
two settlements in the prairies of west
orn Kansas or Nebraska.
Just over the ridge of peaks froI1
Marshall basin is the post Office Of
Mount Sneflels near the famous Virgin
ms mines, seven miles above Ouray, Z
mining town which is as picturesquelv
located as Telluride. A Food wagon
trail leads from Ouray Up the mountain
side to NirGinius mine, but in the win
ter time the trail fills with snow. an &C
oasionul slide destroys the continuis.Y
OF the route SO that shedding Cannot IL
done, ard the mails are carried l'y men
with suogShoes. There are rumber
OF snoUslloe routes in the mountain
OF Colorat9, but none more hazardous
than this enc. The mon who carry tha
mails over snowsEoe routes selGon
meet with accident. They have learned
70 understand the popularity Of epow.
slides, md when Il high wind is blosv-
ing or other meteorological conditions
make travelling along the trails danocr-
Gus, they postpone their trips until set
lied 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 .striets, though the postal
authorities lave nothing to do with i
From every mountain post Office trails
diverre ~ every draw and Fulch. 4
miner setting out for his cabin. perchcd
somewhere far up on a mountain, viii
tal.e with him all the mail belonging to
! Lis neigltors, though they may live
rules from his place. At each turning
Oft point a small box win be found
nailed securely to the trunk OF q stou;
old pine tree, and upon this box is
/ srrawlGd the names of all miners who
must pass that tree in going to their re-
speetiye cabins. Into this box the last
man from town deposits ell the mail
BELONGING to miners living NJ that
] particular gulch. From that Pulch q
/ miner VII occasionally descend for the
mail and as he returns up his trail he
deposits il turn the several pieces
of mail IN other boxes placed at con-
/ vcnient points. In this manner ono
man can SAKE many weary step to
other minors who live out the long VIII
j tcrs in the very heart of the Rocky
mountains. Mails are collected in Il
similar manner, and often small err
runds are likewise done. Money is de
i posted in mail boxes for the purchase
i OF stamps, tobacco, and other notions
Light in weight, is always properly re-
] speeted and the mission fulfilled, no
= matter how much the snowshoe pedes-
trian may be under the influence of
good fellowship as he returns from
i TOWN.. y. Sun.
Theology by the Pound.
The wife of a minister down in Gin