The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-05

There is considerable agitation in
copper mining circles at the present
time over magnificent discoveries of
copper ore in the La Sale mountains,
Which are located in Grand county. in
the southeastern portion of the state.
and extend over into western Colorado.
the most recent discoveries being ON the
Colorado side of the line, although the
ledge is traeeable for 80 or 40 miles,
and is believed to be the same on which
the Big Indian mine, in Grand county,
is located.
The Denver Republican, in speaking
If these discoveries, says:
There IS in the mining bureau in
this city, a piece OF copper ore from the
La Sale mountains, which has attract
ed considerable attention. 1t weighs in
the neighborhood OF go pounds, and as
says return from 80 to 40 per cent me-
talIic copper. The ore was sent to the
bureau from NJ. L. Allison, mayor of
Grand Junction, as a sample of the
copper ore Of the La Sale mountains,
where the great size of the veins and
the extent of the deposits lead to the
conclusion that il is one OF the great
copper districts of the country. few
days ago the Republican gave an ac-
count OF the discoveries in the Para
doX valley, in this state, in the eastern
portion Of La Sale mountains, from
which tests are now being made III
Chicago.
Mayor Allison thinks that the Big In
dian mine, noted on the plat, is on the
Paradox valley vein, and as it is be
tween 90 and 40 miles from the Angel
locations IL Paradox valley, the -,
extent of this copper find can be unatr-
stood. AIr. Allison, in a recent letter
to . friend in this city, says that the
best portion of this great deposit is
nearer Grand Junction than is the Par
adOX valley. and that in the La Sale
mountains are many veins rich in gold
and silver. as well as copper.
The Big indian mine is directly north
west. Wnile o. the north end OF the
mountains is located the SoutzanheiZer
and other copper properties from which
the specimen in the mining bureau Nas
taken. The Big indian mine has re
Gently been sold 10 Salt Lake men for
500 Gee. 1t is estimated that there is
now exposed in this property $4,000
tons oe copper ore, that viii average
Il per cent metallic copper. a large
copper matte furnace Will soo2 be
erected on the property. for the treat
ment OF the ore.
In going into these fields. the
best route is from Cisco, on the Rio
Grande Western, thence down the new
road represerted by the dotted line on
the plat. and across the Grand river,
ard thence up Little Castle creek to the
mines.
From reports received from this sec
tiCn. which are necessarily meager, rs
ii has only been recently discovered, ii
presents a remarkably good showing,
better than most camps OF the same
age. The distance is about 65 miles as
the crow flies, southwest from Grand
junction, SO miles by rail to Cisco. and
IS miles from Cisco by wagon road.
Parties who have investigated the
district claim that the vein can be
traced from the Big Indian mine in
Utah. to the north of La Sale creek in
Colorado, il the Paradox valley, and
that it is the mother vein of the entire
country In the northern portion of the
belt, the vein matter runs quite heavy
in sold and silver, the preponderance OF
values being il those metals, though
there is also a large percentage of cop
per.
A route from Grand Junction TO Para
dox valley is available via Whitewater
thence uD UnaWeep canyon to Mesa
creek. down Mesa creek to the Dolores
river, and I'd The Dolores river to th5
mouth OF La Sale creek. A wagon road
leads from Grand junction to the
mouth OF Mesa creek, whence there is
a good trail. the distance being about &
miles from Whitewater. 1t is at pres
ent rather a difficult road, but q wagon
road VIII soon be built into the noun
tains. a-l also from the northern pOr-
ton Of the mountains into Paradox val
Ley. Most Of those who so into the
mountains take the route bV Cisco.