The state herald., 1899-06-02
GOSSIP FROM DENVER
AND THE STATE CAPITOL.

will be some time before the usual ship
ments OF ore will be made. The present
supply of lead ores at the several smell
tiers of this state is sufficient to last
several weeks yet, and the anxiety OF
the managers is not on account of n
present shortage, but because of tho
uncertainty of production for the i'm
mediate future. Steps have been taken
to secure all the ore possible from the
other lead producing districts. and
with the extra supply that may be thus
obtained. and care In the use of that
on hand 1t is believed the critical pc
riod may he tided over without n gem
eral closing down of the smclters
"He Is after YOU" is the word passed
along the line when the coal mine in
spector or his deputy start out on n
tour. "rhey keep track of us, can
tell you." said Deputy Inspector Hop
kins, "and the railroad men In partic-
ular tip of our coming to the mine
owners and superintendent" When
any one from the Inspectors office
goes on n trip his destination Is readily
learned by the railroad men and II
timely word of warning Is rushed over
the wires. when arrived at Crest
ed Butte the other day, the fans which
ventilate the mine We're going at n
terrific rnte-much higher than is usu-
nj In mines" The men ut the head of
the coal mines of the state are nat
urally dcsirous that the inspectors.
when they arrive. shall find everything
in the best of order. Word OF their
approach is quickly followed by hur-
ry and hustle. II rapid rearranging of
anything out Of order and n lightning
change In many eases which would as
tonish the working miners did they
not know from long experience ex-
actly what II meant. "The coal mine
inspector must he coming" is what
the old-time miners are sure to remark
nowadays when any hurried improve
ments are made. Then the miners.
who in most cases are thorough sports.
make pools as to the train on which
the inspectors will arrive. When the
dreaded visitor comes he sees things,
not as they always are In some of the
mines. but as they speedily become
when. as Mr.. Hopkins says. ''the rail
road men have tipped them of" "In
admirable condition is the only re-
port that can be made after visit to
these mines which have company
manners"
Labor Commissioner James T. Smith,
who has just returned from Twin
Lakes, expresses the fear that there is
danger from the dam nt that place. He
says: "rhe result will be simply aw-
full II the Twin Lakes dam gives way.
| was there TO look into some troubles.
but | cannot refrain from thinking of
what u fearful catastrophe it would
be for all that portion OF the state II
the weak and insufiiciently supported
dam of the Twin Lakes Reservoir
Company should he swept away by
the great body of water behind It.
Granite and other settlements in the
track Of the flood would certainly he
swept away. | cannot conceive OF
anything that would save them.
Buena Vista in its practical entirety
would he flooded. and Il would be safe
10 say the state reformatory would
not be saved. That such n calamity,
sacrificing hundreds Of lives and thou.
sands upon thousands OF dollars
worth of property. is among the un-
comfortable possibilities. Is the belief of
the railroads passing through the con.
stantly threatened district. They have
at length succeeded In urging Special
Engineer Schuyler to make hurried
!
adviccs received at the state engineers
offices will result In State Engineer Me-
Cune's visit to the scene ns soon as
possible. lie Is In constant touch with
the special engineer as to plans for
strengthening the dam. The latest COM
plants received are based on the allie
CATION that the dam, which has been
previously complained of rs being
weak, is day by day growing less Sc
cure. Those living near the dam arc
fearful that unless prompt action Is
taken the only alternative for them
VIII bc to gather up what of their pos
sessions they can and find safer places
OF residence. Even II left Ms II Is, the
dam might hold almost indefinitely.
but the people on the sloping country
below do not care Ia take the chance
As the special engineer. whose work OF
strengthening the dam Is sanctioned
and aided 10y the Twin Lakes Reser.
voir Company. Is said to he working
rapidly ON his plans. the dam may be
sufficiently strengthened In the course
Of possibly two months"
As the time for the Inauguration of
the cight-hour law approaches. says
the Republican. there is considerable
regarding the possible effect upon the
mineral industry OF the state The
question. as far as II affects the mines
Is practically settled. In nearly every
one OF the leading districts the plan
has been adopted to call time at the
breast Of the drift instead of ut the
collar OF the shaft, as nj present. and
demand n full eight hours work for the
present rate OF pay. The men conccdc
the fairness OF this proposition, and
leading members OF the miners unions
have already taken the position that
there IN no reason why any man should
20 and come from his work nt his cm.
ploycr's expense. There will he ne
trouble from this source, therefore.
and In nll probability the enforcement
OF the law viii affect little change IN
the mining situation. and win affect
but very few of the low-grndc mines,
though some Of them may bc com
PEELED 10 close down. II IL conceded
that the matter now rests entirely with
the smcltcrS, which have been consld.
"ring the question carefully for the
pnsi month. The American Smelling
and refining Company, while II has
not definitely announced Its decision,
has practically arrived nt n conclusion
and In NIL probability the mntior will
bc brought 10 n head during the com.
Ing week. very soon after the LIST of
June. by the announcement TINT the
men viii be- paid 10y the hour, with
the privilege or working NOR. than
eight hours II they choose. This will
bring the question la n direct issue