Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-09-03
MAIL FOR MINERS.
How Letters Are Delivered In the
Rocky Mountains.


tn0 mA00tos
Probably the most unique method of
Transporting mails known in the
Emitted States post Office department is
that in daily use between Telluride and
gmupgler. The mining town Of Tell
bride is located at the head of pictur-
esoue gulch. The mountains rise in
majesty to cloud-piercing heights about
The town, and from every propitious
aw between the giant peaks. foam
ing cascades, waterfalls and roaring
streams come down from the snow
laden SUBMITS to swell the torrent of
the San Miguel, which PUSHES through
the town. Four miles above Telluride
Is Marshall basin. situated among tho
snowy peaks and far above timber line.
and in this basin is the little mining set
Element of Smuggler, where the EN-
ployes of the great Smuggler-Union and
Tom Boy mines make their homes.
Although the inhabitants have q post
Office of their own, the postal author
tiles do not guarantee a regular serv-
ice, because of the difficulty of keeping
atrail open in the winter time. The dan
gerous snowslides constantly threaten
destruction to the hardy miners who
scramble through the SHOWS up the
steep trails to the settlements in Mar
shall basin. Until in recent years all sup
plies for the camp in Marshall basin
were transported thither by pack ami
mails. Timber for the miners. coal for
the boilers, and iron rails were dragged
ha frai1c nj odc o1x,
swaying pack saddles and carried to an
elevation of $4,000 feet by the burro.
When winter closed down and the burro
trains could not longer be driven on
schedule time the miners would take
turns in going down on snowshoes
to get the mails and few necessary
supplies that could be carried upon
their backs.
But the practical application Of the
endless chain by the inventor of the
Huson tram has greatly facilitated the
transportation Of supplies from Tellu-
ride up to Marshall basin. Great iron
buckets, each carrying down the noun
tain half ton of ore. furnish by their
weight the active power which drives
the endless chain from which they are
suspended. In these buckets. upon
their return, the necessary supplies for
the camp are placed. One Of the buckets
is painted bright red color. and the
letters ~. S. Mall" in black, desig-
nate the use to which it is put. The
daily mail for Smugglcr post office is
now delivered as regularly across the
four miles of precipice, snow-buried
vi foi l.
ness with as much safety as between
two settlements in the prairies of west
ern Kansas or Nebraska.
just over the ridge of peaks from
Marshall basin is the post office OF
Mount Sneffcls near the famous Virgin.
Jus mines, seven miles above Ouray, q
mining town which is rs picturesquels
located as Telluride. a good wagon
trail leads from Ouray up the mountain
side to Virginius mine, but in the win
ter time the trail fills with snow. an oc
casional slide destroys the continuIt,
OF the route so that shedding cannot b,
done, and the mails are carried Ivy mcl
with snowshoes. There are nu,nbcl
OF snowshoc routes in the mountain
OF Colorado. but none more hazardous
than this one. The men who carry tl,'
mails over snowshoc routes seldom
meet with accident. They have learned
To understand the popularity OF sn'.s
slides, and when high wind is blow
ing or other meteorological condition
make travelling along the trails danger
GUS, they postpone their trips until set
tied weather returns. Sometimes til
mo -, , re. "a ss
the mail carriers dare to venture forth
free delivery system is in vogue II
the mining districts, though the Posta
authorities have nothing to do with II
From every mountain post Office tran
diverge up every draw and g"lcl.
miner setting out for his cabin. perche
somewhere far up on mountain, Wi
take with him oil the mail belonging
lis neighbors, though they may llv
miles from his place. At each turning
of point small box will bc foun
nailed securely to the trunk OF stou
Old pine tree, and upon this box
scrawled the names of all miners VIII
must pass that tree in going TO their r.
spective cabins. Into this box the las
man from town deposits all the ma
belonging to miners living up tina
particular gulch. From that gulch
miner will occasionally descend for IL
mail, and as he returns up his trail !
deposits in turn the several piect
OF mail in other boxes placed at COZ
venient points. In this manner OF
man can save many weary step
other miners who live out the long vii
ters in the very heart Of the Rock
mountains. Mails are collected in
similar manner. and often small
rands are likewise done. Money is q
posted in mil boxes for the purcha
OF stamps, tobacco, and other notiol
light in weight, is always properly =
spected and the mission fulfilled, !
matter how much the snowshoe Pcde
Fian may be under the influence
good Fellowship. - he rcturns FRO
toWu.-N " Sun