The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-10
Latest News From the Great
Gold Fields.
A journal" Correspondent Wis
its the Camp.
THE HILLS ARE RICH
But Capital Alone Can Develop
the Mines.
If You Go Take a Tent, Cooking
Outfit and Team.

HAOAu IuO Otetto Op0Cld1 OOIIOSp OuO0Ab
CRIPPLE CREEK, Feb. 10-Less than |
twenty-four hours after leaving Topeka |
over the Santa Fee found me in the Grip |
pie Creek camp.
Cripple Creek lies high up in the |
mountains, 5000 feet above sea level at
the foot of long valley in which are
situated Victor and Anaconda, two min |
ing camps five and three miles respec-
lively, from Cripple Creek.
Cripple Creek is town, or camp, of
$4,000 population now, with accommoda-
tions for less than half that number. As
a consequence fearful prices for the bar
est necessities of life are the rule.
A half dozen brick buildings, in two of
which are the leading hotels, give it an
air of age and solidity, but with those
exceptions it is new town of shanties
put up hastily for the needs of business.
Its streets are constantly crowded with
cosmopolitan mass of excited people who
are talking of '.'leads," and paying ore''
and new fnde," and prces of shares.
These are not placer mines, though
free gold is said 70 be plentiful. but
Cripple Creek has no ''creek" or any run
ming water to wash gold with.
The man who expects to pick up mug
gets of gold as he would stones will be
disappointed. The quartz and rock con-
tanning the gold is mined, crushed, smelt-
ed and treated with chemicals to free the
GOLD. Only companies with large capt.
tai can make mining pay Since the pros
ective miner cannot engage in mining
he will probably try to locate a mining
claim but he will again fail for there is
not single claim left in the whole gold
bearing district. Every one of them, 600
feet by 1900 feet, is taken long ago and
half of them have a contestant or two
fighting over the ownership.
The discouraged ''tenderfoot'' will
then offer his services to mining COM
pany only to have them rejected, for
there are twenty native Colorado miners
of experience ready to work for every
one needed. Then if our man be of true
grit and Kansas education, he locates
claim on barren mountain, twenty miles
away from any gold, forms a stock COM
pany, issues handsomely Autographed
shares of stock, puts them on the eastern
market at low figures "to develop the
richest gold property in the state"
',shares certain to sell at par in so days."
| and works suckers to more profit than
he would any gold mine in the district.
| Such companies are formed daily, solely
| for swindling purposes.
There is not a town between the
oceans of the same population in which
| as much misery, vice. and crime exist as
in Cripple Crock. The excellent Jail
facilities of the camp are tested to their
utmost. Thieves, murderers, and vag
rants crowd the Jail, and among the lat
ter are also many deserving working
men unable to find employment.
Mechanics, especially carpenters and
masons, can be quite sure of finding
work at $3.50 to $3.50 per day, but the
unskilled laborer has a poor chance
there are too many of him.
The cheapest board is 81 by the week,
| and it is very poor. A great deal of
building ia being done in the camp, and
buildings rent for enormous prices.
For the capitalist and the business
man, there is almost unlimited wealth in
these gold fields. There is not the shad-
ow of doubt of the enormous richness
| of the district.
Cripple Creek will be for years to come
busy, thriving city; such as Leadviile.
Its town lots and business locations sell
and rent for fabulous prices, and a fabu-
lous business is done by the saloons.
gambling houses, dance halls, hotels and
theaters that plumber the transients who
comprise half the people there
| An advance guard of the influx of me-
| chanics, business men, capitalists and all
classes and conditions of men it is gen.
orally accepted Colorado is to receive
from the eastern and Mississippi valley
states this year via Cripple Creek, is al
ready on hand ready to do work. A
party of 80 building mechanics from
| Lincoln, Neb.. is here in private tour
list sleeping car in which they travelled
! from home and made their headquarters
since arriving. They have mutual cor
poration and come to engage in their
| various trades.
1t is estimated by visitors from the east
that this district will receive an increase
of $4,000 in its population within the year.
Many will come intending only to make
money to send to the folks at home, but
some of them will bring their families
with them or send for them after they
| NJ
orado
Investments in mines or mining stock
and Cripple Creek property, if wisely
mnde, will unquestionably pay splendid
ly.
A great rush for this district will occur
in lay and June, and it is believed the
boom will reach its zenith at that time.
These who go to find work should take
tent and cooking supplies, and team
if possible. ID.