Gilpin observer., 1900-02-15
ENTERPRISES OF THE NEW YEAR
Reports of New Smelters. and Railroads
That VIII Benetit Miners.

The year 1900 starts in with more
enterprises of magnitude connected
with the mining industry than any
year since 1873 and 1879, when the re
markable discoveries of ore ut Lead
vile started two railroads for the
great camp, says the Denver RepuD-
lican.
The air is full of rumOrS of Smelt-
ers in various localities. and there now
seems to be an even chance that the
Denver Smelling and Mining Company
will build n large smelter at some point
near Denver, and that two or three
matte smelters will be built, one prob
ably either at Ouray or at the low
grade mines in the vicinity of Iron
ton, Ouray county.
Perhaps the most important of the
new enterprises is the generation of
electric power for mining that will be
inaugurated by several companies dur
ing the coming season. One of these,
ut Frisco, which will be built by Ault
X Wiborg of Cincinnati. owners of the
Excelsior mine at Frisco will be of
more than ordinary Importance, as it
will generate more than 5000 horse
power and will. if necessary, supply
power and light to Leadyille. twenty
five miles away, and also at Brecken-
ridge, fifteen miles distant. Another
company which proposes to supply
power for Leadville is that in which
II. T.. Goodell and John Poole of this
city are Interested. The site for this
plant. about twelve miles west of
Leadvillc, has already been secured,
and it is the intention of the company
TO commence operations on the dam
early in the season.
Another large electric plant is that
OH which operations have been com
menced on Bear creek. Ouray county.
by Colonel c. ii. Nix. 1t is estimated
that this plant will generate not less
than 10000 horse power. 1t will not
only furnish light and power to most
of the mines about Ouray which do
not have their own electric plants. and
light for the city of Ouray but the
motive power for the new electric road
which Otto Mlears proposes TO con-
struct on the line of his old toll road
from Ouray to lronton.
The largest of the proposed electric
plants is that for which Il site and
water rights have been obtained on
the st. Nrain. and with which 1t is in
tended to supply Denver not only for
lighting and power purposes, but for
the operation of tramway cars. 1t is
claimed that fully fifty per cent. of
the present cost of lighting the city
and running the ears can be saved by
the Use of power from this source. and
the scheme is being carefully looked
into by local capitalists.
The country lying between Ouray
I and Silverton will he prolific of new
enterprises. The proposed matte
smelter. the electric road. and several
large milling plants are already con
templated. and it is now said that Il
steam road connecting Ouray and
Silverton Is among the possibilities. \
short line of railroad is now in oper-
alton from Silverton up Cement creek.
to the Gold King mine. From that
\ point there is Il comparatively easy
route by the way of Brown mountain
to the canons of the Uncompahgre. y
rail connection between Ouray and
Silverton has been one of the dreams
of the miners of that section for many
years. 1t would pass through one of
the most generally mineralized dis
tricts of the state. and would have the
effect of opening mp II large number
of mining properties that have already
opened large bodies of ore that will
not stand the cost of wagon transpOr-
tation. This dream of years seems
very likely TO be realized. as 1t is re-
ported that Il company Is about to be
organized which will undertake the
task of extending the line from the
Gold King mine to Ouray.
In the way of milling and other re
duction plants of all kinds 1900 will
be the banner year. The pyritic smet-
er at Leadvillc has been such n sue
cess that the company has announced
its intention of trebling its capacity.
The American Nettie and Ajax mines
ut Ouray will both be equipped with
:malgamating ana concentrating
plants. The Camp Bird will add at
least fifty per cent. to the capacity of
its mill. The Cold Spring Company
of Boulder county will erect n com
bination amalgamation. concentration
and cyanide mill. Several new mills
!, are TO be erected nj Leadville. one of
large size by the Resurrection com
pany and San Juan county will also
have number of new plants.