The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-29
AT CRIPPLE CREEK.
Some Of the Big Mines Of Colo
radios Bonanza Camp.
4 Good Place for Men With Capital,
but Not for Poor People-An In
teresting Letter.

The following letter from l. ". Entz
Formerly a weii-known citizen of Seattle
contains very optimistic account of Grip
pie Creek. Colorado's great gold camp He
shows that there are many paying min
ing properties In the district, but at The
same time advises men without capital 10
stay away. Cripple Creek has drawn to
II several Seattiestes, and most of them
seem TO be doing we'll. although. as Mr.
Entz says, they all intend to return TO
their home city when ''rhe goddess of for
tune has smiled on them" The letter fol-
lowe:
The Mining District.
Gold and gold mining seems to be lsps
permost In the thoughts of the people OF
All nations. Today there 10 In progress a
more Widespread search for the precious
metal than has ever before been seen in
all the ages past. The Cripple Creek gold
mining district il only a few miles south
west Of Pixies Peak. the town itself eleven
miles distant. A great number Of produc-
ing mines. big and little. are here in q
district three miles wide BY five miles long.
hundreds of veins bearing rich deposits Of
gold cut through the district Some have
a width of thirty feet-their depth has
never yet been reached. 7 believe there is
no uncertainty in regard TO the richness
or permanency OF this gold mining camp.
Only start has been made here IN the
work OF opening up the gold veins. The
camp n a little over three years old. Ship
ments OF gold last year exceeded s.. 500, 900:
the great activity all over the district md
the surrounding country will bring this
years output I'D to SIS. 600 600. or over
about one-half the output OF the mines Of
South Africa.
Possibly q description Of q ride through
the camp with John w. Davis. of your
mi nf
the question: What have YOU to talk
about?'
THE morning after his arrivalwe mount
ed saddle horses and started for a ride.
Before We travelled half mile we stopped
At the Gold King and Rebecca Mining
Company's properties-both heavy pro-
ducers. Here, the first discovery OF ore
In paying quantities was made near Grip
pie Creek. Two young men who discov-
cred the lode claims when poor, withheld
in favor of French syndicate, with suffi-
cient money to live the balance OF their
lives in comfort and luxury. after one
years work. A short distance south. up
the hill, We stopped at the Geneva mine.
a steady shipper Of rich ore for several
years past. Small specimens of sylvanite
ore running 80 per cent in gold were
shown to US. Adjoining this property, We
stopped at the Anchoria-Leland Company's
mines. where Mr.. Howbert. the superin-
q
through the property. Only a year ago
the whole property could have been bought
for 10000. today an offer Of s.. 100000 would
not be considered. Shipments Of ore TO
the amount of 500 tons q month are made.
all being high grade. The Trip down the
shaft $50 feet we made in an ore bucket.
At the bottom, In the drifts. we saw the
sturdy miners picking the rock that con-
tanned the precious metal from a vein
four feet vide. In the next level. which is
at a depth of 200 feet, We found the main
works OF the mine. In one of the drifts
high above US we saw men working. and
heard the ring OF the steel drill We climbed
to them over timbers that were set to
prevent the walls from caving in. and
when We arrived at the top we were in
formed We were seventy feet from the
bottom. Here, 40 feet higher than our
first stop. We found the same vein. the
same rich ore, surely carrying the own
ers to Independent fortunes. From the
cross vein. Mr.. Davis and I took. with
hammer and pick, specimens of sylvanite
ore running $500 ton in gold. On our
return TO the surface, we had the appear
ence of professional experts. being COW
cred with sufficient amount of candle
tallow and possibly gold 81 ores. A few
feet away this company Is sinking a shafA
1900 feet deep. The work is under the
personal supervision of the well-known
merly with the Monte Cristo Mining Com
pany. on our trip 10 the teart of the
shippers on Globe Hin. we saw everywhere
men hauling ore up on windlasses. hors IS
going around a Wine. or a steam plant
increasing the energy of men and beasts.
All the hills and valleys dug up with
prospect holes and drifts for veins. max
ing IT dangerous TO ride when there is
much snow on the ground.
some OF the Producers.
I'VE passed the Isabella Mining Com
pany's property, which produces s40.G a
month. and viii ship 500 600 this year; the
Victor partly owned In Paris. that has
paid s5n.0O0 In dividends in two years and
Is now paying regular dividend OF $4,000
a month. the Pharmacist. that is taking
out ore running $500 a ton: the Union Gold.
producing 5000 a month: the Zenobia.
Specimen and Mountain Beauty, very good
properties: the Lucky Gus, that was sold
10 an English syndicate for $4,000 the
past month. and score of others. At the
Portland We made a halt. This great mine
has. in the past few years made four poor
men millonaires. The various ores were
shown TO us by Mr.. Stats. the assayer.
who showed US where and how assays OF
the ore are made every day from this great
mine. The property produced last year
ST. 7oa .0a4. the output this year will reach
ss,oo.oD. The best shaft house ana hoist
ing machinery in the stSte have just been
completed on this property. Adjoining the
Portland is the Indepe ndeuce. that has
made W. 5. Stratton. Door man three
years ago. one Of the richest men in the
state of Colorado. lie is the sole owner OF
the mine. The buildings and machinery
have cost more than siSeso. and every
thing shows care and prosperity. Ore run-
ming sle.eo a ton IS in this mine A story
GOES the rounds that Mr.. Sira;ton can mine
and ship 81 9.ea day. A fabulous sum
has been refused for the property. II IS
considered the largest mine in the world.
"Af Victor " made a stop for lunch. and
then oon;inued our ride 10 Grouse noun
tain. where Or Rufus Smith recently pur-
chased some property. Across the Sulch
We SAN the Prince Albert, that is paying
slts day. half mile away The Elkton
was viewed where Mr.. Cullom showed us
ores literally covered with gold The daily
output 81 ORE from this property exceeds
the value of se.9o. The Moose higher up.
the bin, mich also IS large plant Ike ina
flkton. has paid dividends 20 its strckhold-
srs since February Is. lSsi varying IN
amount from Ss.eo tn $i2@a month
Ward Hunt. the president OF the cG.npany.
showed Us specimens Of ore showing
great deal % free gold The depth Of This
mine y 80 feet. and great deal Of drift
ing has been done. over the hln the Dos
tor owuei hy TWO men IN Canyon City. IS
giving az ore averaging Sl,s a ton. TWeH-
ty-nNe tons a DAY Is being shipped. Occa-
ssonaiiy some very high grade Gre goes 30
market. bringing S1.,sa and better a ton.
Once car load Nss shipped ina; brought
SSS.acA Beyond he Doctor y the Ana
cunda % the railroad They have a tun-
ael so,o feet IL Gold Hi. snd large bodies