The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-23
SOME QUEER MAlL ROUTES.
How Snowbound Miners Get Their Letters
In the Winter.

Ill INC WHICH,
Probably the most unique way of trans-
porting malls known TO the United States
postottice department is that in daily use
between Telluride ard Suuggler, Col.
The mining town of Telluride Is located
at the head of picturesque gulch. J he
mountains rise in IN jesty to cloud p.erc-
ing heights about the town, ana from
every precipitious draw between the giant
peaks, foaming cascades, waterfalls, and
roaring streams come down from the
snow-lsden SUBMITS to swell the torrent
of the San Miguel, which rusnes through
the town. -Four miles above Telluride is
Marshall Basin, situated among the
snowy peaks and lar above the tim Der line,
and In this basin Is the little mining set
tltment OF smuggier. where the employees
of the great smuggl,r- Union ana Tom
Boy mines make their homes. Although n
the inhabitants have post Office of their
own, the postal authorities DO net guar
antee regular service because of the
difficulty OF keeping a trGI, open in The
winter time. The dangerous snowsides
constantly threaten destruction TO the
hardy miners who scramb bic through the
SHOWS up the steep trails TO the sett e.
uent in Marshall Basin. Until in recent
years all supplies for the camp in Mar
shsll basin were transported thiiher by
pack animals. Timber, for the mines
coal for the boilers end iron rails were
dragged over the trails or packed secure v
about swaying pack saddles and carried
TO an elevation OF L., 600 feet by the burro
When winter closed down and the bur
TO trains could no longer g driven on
schedule time, the miners would take
turns in going down on snow shoes TO
get the mails,and few necessary supplies
that could. be carried upon their backs.
But the practical application of the end
-. 4. a L.
tram has greatly facilitated the transpor-
tation OF supplies from telluride up TO
Marshall Basin. Great iron buckets, each
carrying down the mountain n 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 kese buckets is painted a bright red
color and the letters "U. ;. Mall" in
black, designate the use to which II Is
put. The daily mail for the Smugg ler
Post Office IN now delivered as regularly
across the four miles OF pre- ipice, snow
buried gulches, and gisnt mountain rug
gedness with as much safety as between
two settlements on the prairies of western
Kansas or Nebraska.
A free delivery system is in vogue in
the mining districts, though the postal
authorities have nothing to do with il.
From every mountain post Office trails
diverge up every draw and gulch. A
miner setting out for his cabin, perched
somewhere far up on mountain, viii
take with him all the mail belonging to
his neigbbors. though they may live
miles from his place. At each turning
point, small box will he found nailed
securely 10 the trunk OF q stout old pme
tree, and upon this box is scrawled the
names OF all miners who must Pass that
tree In going to their respective cabins.
In this box the last man from town oe-
posits ell the mail belonging to miners
living up that particular gulch. From
that gplch miner will occasionally de-
scend for mail, aud rs he returns mp his
trail he deposits in turn the several pieces
OF mail In other boxes placed at conven-
lent points. In this manner one man can
,save many a weary step to other miners
who live out tho long ninters In the very
heart of the Rocky Mouniains. Meils
are collected TN similar manner. and
often small errands are ii,,wise doue.
Money deposited In mail boxes for the
purchase Of stamps, tobScoo. and other
notions light In weight, is always prop