Arizona republican., 1898-01-25
,COLORADO'S GOLD.
Difference of Opinion Regarding the
 Production of 1897.

Difference of Opinion Regarding the
 Production of 1897.
 The usual controversy over the gold output of Colorado has commenced, and is being discussed by the mining journals of the country ard by miners in this state The estimate of the total output of the sta5e made by MT. Leach of the local mint was that the production, when accurate figures were all in. would be found to be be- tween S21 100000 and $22,000,00 J. B. Grant of the Omaha & Grant Smell ting company, estimated that it would not be more than $250,000 in either direction from $20,000,000. Both are known Ito be careful and conservative and have equal facilities for acquir nig information. The estimates of MT. Grant have heretofore been very close to the mark, and therefore it is not surprising that MT. Preston, di- rector of the mint, with his tendency to lower all estimaes received at the first of the year, should favor the es- innate of Mr. Grant as beirg much nearer than that of MT. Leach The main difference between MT. Gran and MT. Leach is regarding the Grip pie Greek output, the former insist ing that it would reach little if any more than $20, ,000,00O while the la Fer is firm in the opinion that the esti- mate of the Republican 300 ,0c0- is the correct figure. The Republican correspondent at Cripple Creek is thoroughly familiar with the ore sit uatiOn in that camp and made the most careful investigation of the ou-- put, securing not only the figures from the reduction works bul5 from the railroad companies and the mines themselves. All these sources Of in formation justify his estimate of tse production of the camp, and the in- formation secured by the local mint srstains that estimate There is, therefore, no reason for changing the estimate for that camp.
 In Gilpin county there was a heavy increase of production during the year. John Best of CenIal City gives the production of the coun.y during the yesr at not less than 3,500,0O This Is not an unreasonable estimate, considering the record of the county for several years past, and as Mr. Best is known to be a conservative man, engaged in mining in Gi pin county for many years past and thoroughly familiar with the operations of the district, his conclusions may be re- garded as reasonably safe
 The production of Clear Creek county was estimated at the first of the year at s2,O0O, ,OOO. There has been a remarkable increase in the mining opera tions of this county during he past year, and M. B. Smith, who is now operating mill in Clear Creek county, and whose trained habits of observation both as a mill man and as the former superintendent of the mint, give his opinions great weight, was inclined to favor this estimate The correspondent of the Engineering and Mining Journal at Idaho Springs has, however, cut down this estimate materially. He says: "An examina- tion of the record of three ore buying concerns at Idaho Springs show 76 per cent increase in the output of ore for 1897 over 1896. This is of both smelting ore and mill dirt. The fig ures taken from all the records in the country show the output for 1897 to be: Gold, s1.633 ,055; silver, s2,SOO- 2SG; lead. $212, ,56O; copper, s47,67e: total, s4,693, 3,574."
 Very little information has be, 1e- ceived from San Juan county. but it is the opinion of miners from that section that there will be somewhat of decrease in the total output, and the district will do we'll if the produc- tion reaches $2,0OO,OO An estimate of $1 ,500000 would therefore be not far out of the way.
 i- ole 1a1 be a slight reduction from the figures of 1896 in San Miguel county, and those most familiar with the record of that county are of the opinion that fair estimate of the production for 1897 would be S1,750,0
 There still remains to be accounted d for the production of LeadEil1e, of Boulder and Gunnison counties, and of the many placer enterprises in diff ferent parts of the state which will hardly amount to less than s3 600 OOC in gold. As near as can be ascertain ed, therefore, the figures stand about as follows:
 Cripple Creek .. =. .s12. 300 .OOC Gilpln county .... =. =. $500 00C Clear Creek county ..... .. 1,6OO ,OOC San Juan county . 1900 COG San Miguel county .. .. 1,75O. .OO( All other localities ...... 3,0O0,OOt
 lOIdl 9Z0, ,S0U,UUt
 Making an allowance of 10 per cent for all possible contingencies and CT. TOTS in calculation and there will bt left S21 ,465, GOO as the gold production of Colorado in 1897, and many con servative men familiar with the con, ditions of gold mining in Colorado regard this estimate as under ra,hel than over the mark, thus closely sus taining the estimate made by the Re publican in it's New Years edition.
 The mint officials are now sending out the blanks to the mines and smel
 ters for the accurate records of tn