The evening times., 1896-03-02
MAILS In WILD REGIONS
E1pedients of Colorado Miners in
Getting Their Letters.
Most Unique Methods Known to the
PostOffice Department Are Used
There in Winter.
New York sun.

Denver, Feb. 2g-Prohablv the most
unique nlcthod of transporting mai known
10 the United States PustOffice D.pa rtnlcnt
is that in daily use between Telluride ard
. snIuggler. The mining town Of Telluride is
located at the head Of Il picturesque culciI.
The mountains rise in ma i,sty 10 cIoufl-
piercing heights about the town, and from
every prrcpilous draw between the giant
peaks foaming cascades. waterfalls and
roaring slrea ans come down from the
snow-laden SUBMITS Ia swell the torrent
OF the san Miguel. which rushcs 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 mining settlement of Srnuggler
where the employees Of the great Smupgler-
Union and Tom Boy mines ma ke their homes.
Although the inhabitants have postofficc
of lheir own, the postal authorities do not
guarantee Il regular service because Of The
difficulty OF keeping Il trail open in The
winter time. The dangerous snowsIides
constantly threaten destruction to the hardy
miners. who scramble through the SHOWS up
the steep trails 20 ,he settlement in Marshall
Basin. Until in recent years all supplies
for the camp in Marshall Basin were trans
ported thither by pack animals.
But the practical application OF the end
les chain by tie inventor OF the Hnson
tram has greatly facilitated the tranSporta-
ton or supplies from Telluride up to
Marshall Basin. Great iron buckets. each
carrying down The mountain a half ton
of ore. furnish 10y their weight the active
DOwcr which drives the endless chain from
which they are suspended. Inthese buckets,
uron their return. the necessary supplies
for the camp are placed. One ofrhe hue kets
is painted Il bright red oolor and the let
tiers u. $. Mair' in black designate the
use to which il is put.
Justovcrthc range fpcakS from Marshall
+.
the famous EirEiniuS mines. seven miles
above Ouray, n mining town which is as
picturesquely located as Telluride. A good
wagon trail leads from Ouray up the
mountain side to Virginus mine. but in
the winter tine the trail fills with snow,
an occasional slide destroys the continuity
of the route so that shedding cannot be
done, and the mails are carried by men
with snow shoes. There are number OF
snow-.hoc routes ill the mountains OF
Colorado, but none more hazardous than
this one. The men who carry the mails
over snow--LCc routes seldom meet with
accident. They have learned to UNDER
stand the pcculiarity of snowslides. and
when a high wind is blowing or other
meteorological conditions make travelling
along the trails dangerous. they postpone
their trips until sCtticd weather returns.
\ free delivery system lis in vogue in the
mining districts. though the postal au-
thOrities have nothing To do with it. From
every mountain postoffice trails diverge
up every draw and euch. A miner setting
out for his cabin. perched far up on n
mountain. will ia ke with him all the mail
belonging TO his nciEhbors. though they
may live miles from his place. At each
turning off Point q small box will be found
nailed securely 20 the trunk OF a stout old
pine tree. and upolthis box is scra wled the
names of all miners who must pass that
tree in going TO their respective cabins.
Into this box the last man from town de-
posits 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 it in turn the several pieces of
mail in other boxes placed at conv enient
points.