The silver lance., 1897-12-31

Messrs. Leonard and j. II.
Hoffman Hoffman, enterprising and
s. s K. hustling miners who have
Company long been associated with
the Rock Crek district
became impressed years ago with the idea
that local smelter was needed to handle
the various ores Of the camp, believing
the district would furnish an abundance
of the necessary ores for successful
ter great deal OF careful study and at
tention, and having fully satisfied them
selves that such an enterprise could not
fail, they undertook the organization OF
a company and secured the necessary
capital to build and install their smelter
at Marble, on the bank of Crystal river,
six miles below Crystal. Many of the
mining people in and about Crystal have
expressed regret that the smelter was
not located here, but they now unani-
mously agree that the location selected
was wise and prudent for the smelter
people, situated where it will best serve
the interests of the whole district. The
plant was completed late in the fall Of
1897, and successfully treated large
amount OF ores, convincing the miners
that it is to their interest to dispose Of
their ore at home, rather than send it to
the foreign smelters at financial loss to
themselv
Fuel is in evidence in seemingly mex
haustible deposits Of bituminous coal
near the smelter location. Six miles
away an excellent quality Of coking coal
is opened up, and already steps are being
taken to construct coke ovens which will
supply the reduction works with coke.
The Hoffman Smelling & Reduction
Company are now making contracts for
early delivery OF large amount of coke
and other supplies that will be required
for the prosecution of work during 1893,
and confidently expect more business
than they can handle, but are prepared
to enlarge their plant whenever 1t may
be necessary to meet the requirements
Of the district.
The company has decided to install
sampler at the earliest possible moment.
When this machinery is added they will
receive and sample ores and pay the
miner spot cash for his product. The
existence OF home market for ores will
encourage miners and leasers OF limited
capital and prove great factor in the
rapid upbuilding OF this district. The
lack of such a market and failure Of the
Crystal River Railroad to be completed
into the heart Of the district is the prin-
cipal reasons why development has been
slow.
80
The Mineral Point Mining
Daisy Company are owners of a
and group OF claims located on
Agatha Mineral Point, which is the
Times extension Of Sheep Mountain
and cut of from it by the
north fork of Rock Creek. The Daisy,
Daisy No. 2, Daisy No 3, Agatha, and
Agatha No. 2, compose the group. The
development work already done consists
of sundry tunnels, inclines and shafts.
Work is now being vigorously prosecuted
on the Daisy in driving a drift from an
upraise, forty feet above the level OF the
main tunnel. This drift is being extend
ed in well defined fissure vein, and it IL
expected that an ore chute will soon be
encountered IN its downward dip, having
been located at higher point in tho
upraise, which extends to the surface.
The ore taken from this drift is known
to be rich in lead, copper, silver, and runs
from IS to s32 in gold.
The Hoffman smelter handled several
lots of ore from the Daisy and it was
found to pay well and adapted to their
smelling process. The management of
the Mineral Point Company are thor
oughly convinced that the development
work to be done during the winter will
reveal considerable bodies Of this grade
of ore, and expect to commence ship
ments to the smelter early in the spring.
A force of ten men will push work all
through the winter on this property.
~
Sans & Hant are owners
The of this property. located
Columbia on Whitehouse Mountain
and is one Of the bonanza
properties of the section Work done in
1897 uncovered a five foot vein of lead
carbonate ore, carrying from twenty to
forty per cent lead and from twenty to