davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily camera., 1897-08-21

POPULATION AtOOO
Assessed valuation Of prop
Leading town or city. Rico
This county is located in the geo.
graphical center of the San Juan min
ing country, and from Rico, the county
seat, the mining camps OF Telluride,
Ophir, San Bernardo, Mt. Wilson, on
the north; Fish Creek, Navajo basin,
and West Dolores on the west; Silver
ton, Cement Creek and Mineral Fork on
the east; the Dolores placers, La Platas,
PARROT City, Lightner Creek and Man.
COS on the south, can easily be reached,
as well as the city Of Durango, the
smelling center of the San Juan. Rico
is one Of the oldest mining camps In
the San Juan country, and is also one
of the best, having produced many mil
lions of dollars worth Of gold, silver,
lead, copper and other minerals. The
silver and lead bearing portions Of the
county have been fairly well prospected
and developed, probably one-third Of
the territory tributary to Rico, that Is
supposed to be the seat Of that class Of
ores, leaving two-thirds still to be pros
pected. In the early days of the camp
much excitement was caused by the
discovery Of an extensive gold belt west
Of Rico, and a number of important
shipments were made, but the silver
and lead excitement at Leadville and
Aspen diverted the attention Of the
miners and this promising section was
abandoned. Since the demonetization
Of silver this belt has taken on a new
era of exploration, and only recently a
very rich strike Of gold bearing quartz
was made which has stimulated pros
pecting and 1t is quite likely that other
importent discoveries will be made in
the near future. A preliminary examin-
alton Of the section has shown 1t to be
scanned with phonolite dykes similar to
the gold bearing dykes Of the Cripple
Creek district, and mining men of ex-
perience and prominence predict bril-
liant future for the camp While Rico
is quiet compared to what it was be-
fore the heavy drop in-silver in '9S, the
business men and others have adjusted
themselves to the changed conditions
and all are enjoying a moderate degree
Of prosperity, the inhabitation of the
camp now being what the resources of
the county will comfortably support.
The faith of the people in the future OF
Rico, and in the mineral resources ad-
jacent thereto, can be no better demon
strated than by the erection of two
handsome public buildings within the
past two years at combined cost of
$50. .OOO
Daily camera., 1897-08-21
VEL
1I,736
Formulation ...... 12,736
Assessed valuation of prop
erty ..$|,S'o,oAO
Leading town or city. Greeley

Assessed Va1uAuOh O1 prop
erty ............... ..$7 ,s'e'oAo
Leading town or city. .Greeley
The resources Of Weld are purely ag-
ricultural, though the wealth invested
in and derived from farming is OF suf-
ficient proportions to eclipse that OF
whole state in some other parts or the
country. Figures or words do not ap-
pear to describe fully the extent of this
industry here. 1t IS simply enormous si
to say the least Weld is situated di-
rectly north of Arapahoe county and
two-thirds of its immense area, 1t Is
claimed, Is under cultivation. Every
thing that Is raised, Is raised by 1rrl-
cation and as the Platte river and va
rious other streams that flow through
the county furnish an ample water sup
ply, the crops are always bountlfuL AT
the present time plans are under way
for the reclaiming Of many thousand
acres of desert land, in fact nearly all
that remains uncultivated. When these
are carried out, 1t is safe to predict
that Weld will come to the front with
larger production of grain and ce-
reals than any district of the same
area in the world. While wheat, corn
oats. barley and alfalfa are the source
of much of the farmers revenue, pota-
toes are Yields glory and prlde. a, "A
year or two ago Luohstef
which made whole wheelbarroW load
itself was photographed, copies of the
r,Ha1 picture e b being sent broadcast over the
country. Many people were even then
inclined to doubt that it was genuine,
hut to prove that it was, the potato
was brought to Denver and placed on
exhibition III where thousands viewed it
with awe and wonderment. Not all the
potatoes grown here are OF tnat slzes
but they are remarkably large ana OF
a Quality that cannot be excelled. Last
year over $500 carloads Of potatoes; 1T 5.
netting the growers on an average ave .td OF
500 per car, was shipped out aoofa OF the the
fully 20 per cent. The wheat crop will
run over one million bushels. Around
Greeley there is great sheep,feeding
district. About 10000 head viii be ,. Iea
there this season. Greeley Is the site
of the state Normal school and has
wonderfully prosperous country 70 de-
pend on for its support.
Daily camera., 1897-08-21
CLEAR CREEK.
7,1S4

Population ....t..sssssss d,Ao4
Assessed valuatien of prop
erty ........ ....... ..SzO,Sea,S0O
Leading town OF city. Georgetown
Clear Creek county. the Silver Queen,
has Of late years surprised the state
by Its rapid trandtion from one Of the
greatest silver to one Of the greatest
gold producers. Less than five years ago
the district was almost exclusively q
silver mining country, but the low price
Of the white metl and the discovery OF
rich veins contai1ing 80 per cent more
gold than silver, induced many to for
sake the white fof the yellow metal to q
considerable exte1t. This has resulted in
a veritable gold mining boom. Idaho
Springs, Lawson Empire and Dumont,
the four princi cioal districts, have demon
strated to the world at large that they
will more THAI make UP for the def
cheney in silva The estimate Of the
gold output OF these four camps for
the twelve mon&ss ending June 80 last.
is placed at 81, Gb.6oo. Idaho Springs is
by far the mos Important camp and
is a good stead producer. The facili-
ties there for batting ore are un-ex-
celled. The c1anfy. rs q whole, Is
famous for its ktsnsive mine tunnels.
The Newhouse, Jone Of the larEest in
the United StatsA. and on which mil
lion and half II dollars has been spent
already, starts jAt Idaho Springs. It is
intended to penstrats the mountains for
Daily camera., 1897-08-21
LARIMER.
1O,O12
Population .............. 1O,O12
Assessed valuation of prop
erty ......... ..$o,S5S,4oo
Leading town or city. Fort Collins

Larimer Is the acknowledged great
est sheep feeding and wool producing
county in four states-Colorado Wyo-
ming, Utah and Nebraska. 1t also
ranks toward the top Of the ladder In
agricultural products. The system of
irrigation in vogue is the best and most
substantial. outside Of Weld county,
the main water supply coming from the
Cache Ia Poudre river. stream that
can almost Invariably be depended upon
for enough water to cultivate 125, 900
acres of land. About 10000 acres more
in addition to this represents the entire
amount of lands under cultivation,
though there is a vast domain in the
county of over 100000 acres that have
been practically untouched. A portion
of these are sheep grazing and forest
lands, though there are opportunities
galore for the taking up Of fine farm
lands, as the irrigating system Is rap
idly being extended to the present arid
regions. Two big ditch enterprises are
constantly at work on schemes to in
crease the cultivated area. The revenue
from crops this year will be something
enormous, when the proportionately
small number Of acres under cultivation
Is considered A conservative estimate
of the crops Is placed as follows: Wheat.
S65,000 bushels. nearly double that Of
last year. OdIS, 45U,uUU DuSnelS1 corn,
$1,000 bushels; potatoes. 245,000 bushels:
and barley, garden truck. small fruits.
hay and dairy products aggregating in
value over s5O0,OOo. Between 100000 and
100000 sheep will be fed in the Fort
Collins district the coming season. The
shipments Of sheep from New Mexico,
Arizona, Texas. Utah and Southern
Colorado into this section will begin
about the first Of September. From all
the shipping points in Colorado 1t is
learned that the consignments Of Lari-
mer county will be larger and more
valuable than ever before. The ranges
are also excellent for the rapid fatten-
ing Of cattle and this industry is also
growing one. In the North park region
considerable mining Is carried on,
though the operations suffer from
lack of railroad facilities. The Burling-
ton has for some years had route sur
veyed for a line through this section,
and it is believed that the road is pos
sibility Of the near future. The agri-
cultural district is well provided with
railroads. Fort Collins is thriving
town of 5000 people and Is the seat Of
the State Agricultural college.
Daily camera., 1897-08-21
CONEJOS.
7,193

FOpulAt1Oh s,Aoo
Assessed valuation of prop
erty l,oIo'o~o
Leading town or city. .Alamo osa
Mining, stock raising, farming and
poultry raising are the chief industries
Of this important county Water Is plen-
tiful from the various bitches and ca
nails which are fed by the Arkansas,
Conejos and other rivers, and the soil
is Of an exceedingly fertile nature. The
stock range is unsurpassed, thousands
upon thousands Of head of cattle being
shipped in there annually for feeding
purposes from New Mexico, Arizona and
Texas. Sheep are also raised with sue
cess and the county Is rapidly coming
to the front as wool producer. Wheat
and oats are raised in immense guam
titles as a result of the good supply of
water, and crop failures are an un-
known quantity in Conejos. 1t certainly
would do the eyes of the average East
ern farmer good to glance at the fields
of magnificent grain that are to be
found all over the county. This district
will have big boom when the prob
lem of dealing with refractory or low
grade ores is solved, as this class OF
rock abounds in immense quantities In
the mountains. The railroad facilities
for the handling Of both freight and
passengers are the best obtainable
throughout the country.
Daily camera., 1897-08-21
ROUTT.
8,169
Population 8,169
Assessed valuation of prop
erty 1,AVs1,ooo
Leading town OF city......
Steamboat Springs

Routt county possesses enough nat
ural resources and a sufficient amount
of territory to support population OF
several hundred thousand people. Min
ing, stock raising and agriculture are
the industries at present, in the order
of their Importance, but fruit raising,
quarrying and bee culture will soon be
added to the list. The county is the
largest in the state and like its vigorous
neighbors, Rio Blanco and Grand, 1t
has labored under great disadvantages
because Of the absence Of railroad and
telegraph lines. Notwithstanding these
drawbacks, the richness OF its soil and
mountains have warranted the develop
ment of its resources during the past
year on q scale that was never dream
ed Of previously. The placers of Hahn's
peak are among the best in the state,
and though they have been operated
but a few years 1t Is estimated that
gold to the value OF 100000 has been
washed out there. Four Mile Is another
rich placer mining district. extending
over several thousand acres Of terrific
ry Quartz mining, though compare
lively new industry. has reached a stage
of development where 1t will make
great progress from this time on. The
Hahn's peak district has several ship
ping mines A large portion of the ore
taken out Is Of sufficient value to war
Daily camera., 1897-08-21

suit that the system Of irritation has
almost reached perfection. Being the
pioneer horticultural county, Fremont
enjoys the distinction Of raising more
fruit to the square yard than any other
section Of the state. The quality OF the
article Is also a great factor in the sue
cess Of the industry. Apples OF ten
different varieties, the size and flavor OF
which compare moro than favorably
with similar products Of any other part
OF the United States, grapes. the like
Of which cannot be excelled, together
with a superior brand" of blackber-
ries, raspberries, currants, plums,
peaches and pears are among the coun-
tvs resources in the fruit line. About
900 bushels Is not a large estimate
for this years apple crop, while the ber-
~, cherry and plum crop has exceeded
100000 quart boxes. Peaches have not
as yet reached the production of other
fruits, because little has been attempt
ed in that class. The present year,
however, has witnessed the planting of
many new orchards and in the course OF
a few years peaches will be growing
In immense quantities. Some gigantic
undertakings in the way Of storage res
ervoirs are on foot and II carried out,
and it Is fully expected they will, the
irrigable area will be doubled within
Dllel SdIlOu lily III tAo lhlo-
die of the fruit belt. The town is
prosperous one, noted for Its healthful
climate and beautiful scenery adjacent
thereto. The Grand Canon Of the Ar
kansas river and the Royal Gorge. two
celebrated wonder places, are located
only a few miles to the West. The
town Of Florence is the site Of twenty
five oil wells, operated indirectly by the
Standard Oil company. The yield of
crude oil for the first six months Of 1897
was about 100000 gallons, while re
fined Illuminating oil to the amount OF
100000 gallons was shipped. The oil
is distributed all over the Western
country. Large gold and silver reduc-
ton works and several manufacturing
plants of unusual Importance are locat-
ed at Florence. This town has had a
more rapid growth than any In the
state. excluding, Of course. mining
camps.
Daily camera., 1897-08-21
RIO GRANDE.
1851
Population .,....... 1851
Assessed valuation of prop
erty l,|oo,&oo
Leading town or city. Monte Vista

Rio Grande county has a very diversi-
fed set of interests. Nature did her
best for the county's resources this year.
with the result that 1897 will be by far
the most prosperous era in it's history.
The agricultural district is in the east
ern portion of the county, and is well
irrigated throughout. With but few eX-
ceptions every farmer will cut two
magnificent crops Of hay this season.
One has already been harvested and
proved something immense. The second
will, it is fully expected, equal If not
exceed the first one. Wheat, corn and
oats, broke records also this year. Ow-
ing to the superior quality of the grass,
cattle fattened beautifully, and com
manded gilt edged prices in Denver and
the eastern markets. Straw and rough
feed for the wintering of stock Is al
ways very plentiful.
The sheep industry Is prospering this
year as it never prospered before, thous-
ands Of head being fed remarkably
cheap. Farms where potatoes exclu-
sively are grown are great money MAX
ers in this county. There Is consider
able mining in the western portion. I'm
til recently it was all silver, but now
several gold properties are being open
ed up. Monte Vista Is quite a manu-
featuring town. Extensive flour mills
and canneries are located there.
Daily camera., 1897-08-21


Assessed valuation of prop
erty ................. $3, ,OOO,OOO
Leading town OF city. Central City
The occupation Of the people of Gill
pin county is confined almost exclu-
sively to mining. Last year over $2,-
900, 900 in gold and about $350.000 in sill
yer, lead and copper were taken out
of Its mountains. No detailed figures
as to the output for the first half OF
1897 can be had, but conservative es-
innate Of at least half a dozen min
ing men of the county places the in
crease this year over last year at fully
B5 per cent. Gilpin Is the Oldest min
ing district of the state. 1t has be-
come to be known far and wide by the
name "Old Reliable" for the reason
that it can be depended upon every
year to turn out just so much gold and
silver, the ore being more uniform In
values here than in any other section OF
the state. The county continues to
maintain its place at the head OF the
list for the largest per capita earnings
OF any district In the world. This Is
accounted for in part by the absence
OF idlers and by the fact that when one
half the men are at work. the other
half are resting, ready to relieve their
fellows in the levels and In the mills.
There are four great mining camps IN
Gilpin, Central City, Nevadaville, Black
Hawk and Pine Creek. The latter is
the newest, 1t having been opened up
only several years ago.
Since the year of the Pixies Peak ex-
element In 1852 the Little Kingdom OF
Gilpin," as 1t has been aptly termed, has
added to wealth Of the world. In round
numbers the sum Of ss5,000,o00. No less
than Sc, 900, 900 Of the above amount rep
resents the value Of silver, while the
lead and copper output foots up cou-
ple of million dollars more. A large
amount Of English capital has found
Its way into this county In the past and
Of late years New York, Boston, Chi
eago and Philadelphia syndicates have
been attracted there with the result
that hundreds of properties have been
developed and a score or more Of new
plants for the treating OF ores estao-
iished, During the twelve months end
ing July 30 no district in the state has
exceeded Gilpin in the amount OF new
machinery purchased and placed in po-
sition at the mines. Some Of the larg-
est producers and best paying mines
around Central, Black Hawk and Ne
vadaville are the Gold Coins operated
by a London syndicate. 1t paid out
300, 900 In dividends in 1896 and employs
steadily Its men: Niagara and Niagara
Extension properties, operated by Pitts
burg parties; Gregory, Bob Tall and
Sleepy Hollow, Gunnell. Queen Of the
west, Old Kentucky, Vendome, which
produced $4,000 in 1885, and hundreds
of others almost as important. The
milling capacity Of the county Is 1876
stamps. Pine Creek, the new camp, has
already proven itself to be one Of the
wonders of the West. The Geiger mine.
one Of the best producers, has remark
able record. 1t is credited with having
shipped ore to the value Of $4,000 before
1t was year old. The Pine Creek
field is one of the most desirable for
investment to be found anywhere.
Daily camera., 1897-08-21

q distance of five miles, tapping sever
al hundred rich claims Silver mining
in Clear Creek Is carried on in the vicin-
ity OF Georgetown and Silver Plume.
where scores of fortunes have been won
by digging into the bowels Of the earth.
There are two gold properties at
Georgetown, the Centennial and Grif-
fifth, both located in the city limits. The
Stanley mine at Idaho, is the best de-
veloped and probably turns out more
gold than any other mine in the coun-
ty. It is eaid that 100000 worth OF
ore is exposed to view in its inner work
lngs. The total output Of silver from
the county in 1896 was s2,0S0,000. This
years production may equal that sum.
Clear Creek county contains some OF the
most magnificent of Rocky Mountain
scenery. The world famous LOOP" the
most picturesque affair OF the kind
known, is just above Georgetown. Ida
no Springs is a live town and summer
resort of prominence.
Daily camera., 1897-08-21
PR0DIGI0US
CONTINUED from First Page.)

SCOQLlQueu lEOIu = lTSL 1dSS.l
be borne in mind In perusing the mat
ter in today's paper that the develop
ment accomplished in twenty years past
only includes when the area is consider
ed. about one-fourth Of the 100000
square miles of territory. In the mount
atns there are millions Of acres, that
have never even been prospected while
some parts Of the state remain unex-
plored as yet Capital is the thing most
6eeded to continue the development on
the scale that has marked 1t IN the
past, and that factor is more and more
In evidence every day. The present year
of 1897 1t is confidently believed will
prove the most prosperous in the states
history. From every point comes en-
couraging reports of fruitful crops and
big outputs from the mines.
The Industrial Edition has gone to
considerable pains and expense to
collect reliable statistics and infor-
nation about the resources OF every
single county of the fifty-six. In
aome cases correspondents were
relied on for the matter while In oth-
ers the best local authority furnished
Il. In no instance, however, has there
been any attempt to color or overdraW
the existing conditions. The write ups
though brief and comprehensive, are
intended to be readable without the
fatigue necessary to the wading
through Of long drawn out article.
II don't cost a great deal to come to
Colorado from the middle west, east or
even the far east. Railroad rates are
cheap and this paper invites intending
Investors, fortune hunters. home-seek-
ers and others who wish to better their
condition in life to make trip to Den
ver and Colorado and see Tor themselves
II the wonderful things set forth in The
Midsummer Industrial Edition are
not Just as they are represented.
Below will be found descriptions Of the
resources Of every county.
Daily camera., 1897-08-21
LAS ANIMAS
COUNTY.
17,2OS

RopulatfOn ,........... 17,ZOS
Assessed valuation of prop
erty .$6,@Sl'e<o
Leading town or city,. Trinidad
The greatest developed coal and iron
belt In Colorado ia within the confines
Of Las Animas county. There are seven
large mining camps In which the mines
are fully developed, where modern ma
chinery is used and where an aggregate
of $500 men are employed. The daily
output of these mines Is conservatively
estimated at $500 tons. over $1,000 acres
are assessed as coal land, although this
does not comprise one-third Of the
ground which no attempt has been
made to open up. The coal is described
as of a soft, bituminous quality, bright
and free from slate or other Impurities.
IL is safe to say that this county fur
nishes two-thrds of the coal supply for
the various industries and household
consumption Of the whole state. Coke
ovens are becoming very numerous In
the county and the region about the
town of Sopris bears strong resem-
hIance to the coke section Of the Key
stone state.
THE state coal mine inspector figures
tbe total coal and coke output Of Las
Animas county for the year 1895 as 213,-
aoS tons and for 1895, 1881, ,115 tons. The
Increased production in one year, 1t will
he observed, is something remarkable
and goes to show how rapidly the in
dnstry is being developed. In the east
ern section of the county agriculture
and stock raising are conducted profita-
NV The Irrigation canals are Of the sub
.tantial sort and furnish water to an
i,nmmense area. These are controlled
Nv the farmers in the form Of compa-
lies. the cost of operating them being
sssessed to stockholders. Wool grow
r. IL an important industry and horti-
.riture IL proving itself well paying
nvestment. On the whole Las Animas
.,,th its varied resources can be prop
Wv olsssed as one Of the wealthiest Of
IT, canital, Is a metropolitan town Of
ooo inhabitants, thoroughly up to date
snI cosmopolitan to such degree that
- svo,,id compare favorably with city
~ SN 1,oO people. 1t enjoys unequal ad-
ventsres as regards health, scenery. ed
oatinn and social features and Is as
dss,rs hle a place Of residence as can
~ found In the Rocky Mountain re-
ZION. IL railroad facilities are unex-
Daily camera., 1897-08-21
EAGLE.
POpulafton .............,-, 5000
Assessed valuation of prop
eFty 'ss''..... 81 ,33O,0o
Leading town or city. Red Clln
5000

Eagle county's mineral wealth has
been attracting general attention Of late
years from the outside, with the result
that considerable foreign capital has
entered the county and opened I'D good
paying properties. This county possess
es number Of essentially gold bear
ing districts, and these produced Of the
yellow metal during the first half Of
1897 total Of nearly $4,000 worth, The
Fulford and Holy Cross districts are
the most prosperous, In both camps the
cyanide process for the treatment of
ores was introduced last spring and It
proved entirely satisfactory, the mills
having the effect Of increasing the out
put wonderfully. About thirty-two
mines are at present being worked on
Battle mountain, which is probably the
Oldest district in the county. The Bel
den lead mine is located on this hill,
and is a steady producer of much Inn
port.
Agriculture is an occupation that Is
carried on at q good profit in the fer
tile, well watered valleys, while stock
raising, judging by the jump It made
this year. will soon be a leading indus
try.