Gilpin observer., 1899-05-04

The principal owners s,of ther large
mines Of San Juan county were in
Denver yesterday, says the -Republi-
can, in conference with the Western
representatives of the American Smelt-
s ing and Refining Company on propo-
sition which, If carried out, will ma
terially affect the mining Of low grade
ores in Colorado.
The mining men here yesterday were
r. w. Watson, manager of the Royal
Tiger; w. z. Kinney of the Gold King,
Judge Terry of the Sunnyside Exten-
sion,' ]. H. Robin and Gus Stoiber Of
the Iowa, Thomas Kane of the Sultan
Mountain tunnel and Il. q. Stoiber of
the Silver Lake.
Their business in Denver was to ask
that a reduction be made in the smelt-
ing prices of the low grade ore which
their mining district produces.
June 18th a law making eight hours
days labor goes into effect. This
will reduce the present working day
by two hours, while he will receive the
same wages that he now receives for
ten hours work. The mine owners
feel unable to stand this loss on ac-
count of the low paying character of
the ore, a majority of which does not
run over $40 to the ton.
lit IitN INV uOSS iiOt
affect Cripple Creek, which is II high
grade camp and has been paying 50
for eight hours work. Neither does it
affect Leadville seriously, as the rate
of wages in that camp, with few eX-
ceptions, is $3.50 day. But it is of
great moment to the mines of San
Juan county, where the majority of
the ores are low grade, some running
as low as $40 per ton. One of the mine
owners said yesterday:
Few people outside of San Juan
county understand what it means to
us. Most of our mines are very low
grade and can only be worked on a
large scale, with expensive machinery,
concentrating mills and costly tram
ways. We are now paying $3 for ten
hours work. To reduce the working
day to eight hours means a loss to the
mine owners of 60 cents Il day Oh each
man. 1t is only necessary to take for
instance the Silver Lake mine to see
what the aggregate daily loss amounts
to- That mine employs about 200 men,
and under the provisions of the new
law the loss to that mine amounts to
S12O per day. Taking the average
value of the ore. this sum represents
more than the profit with no margin
left for accident or extra expense OF
any kind.
Il do not think that any mine which
runs not more than so per ton. and
there are n great many of them. can
afford to operate if compelled to pay
So for eight hours work.
I'VE have talked the matter over
among ourselves to some extent. b,lf
have come to no decision whatever,
and don't know what we shall do. We
want to pay the men all we can afford,
but we simply cannot afford the in
crease, and 1t would not surprise me If
some of the lower grade properties will
he compelled to close.
There has been little talk about
having the work done by contract. but
the Miners Union will not permit this.
and at the present time we do not
know what can be done to avert the
trouble that all of us plainly see.
Whatever is done do not think there
will be any conflict with the miners.
If we cannot compromise with them.
the So will be paid. or those mines
which cannot stand this price will be
closed. There Is this advantage in the
San Juan country-mOst of the large
mines are dry or are drained by tun-
nels. and if we are forced to close we
can do so without sustaining serious
loss"