Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-08-22
What Woman Notices in a
Mine Her Personal
Discomfort
How the Aspens Spruced Up
Their Hemlocks and
Pined to Flirt

the platformof the Silyerton depot
that afternoon. Interested in watch
Ing the preparations necessary for the
departure of the train. Inside the
waiting room most of the future pass
engers to Eureka were assembled.
Considering the activity now man
Tested around Eureka. it was not sur
prising to find that most of the Er.
reka-bound had some mine as theii
ultimate stopping place. One could
guess that from the costumes worn.
since when going to the mines every.
one religiously avoids wearing any
but old clothes. If any misguided
mortal should start out with garments
pristinely new. small trace of their
former smartness will be visible ON
his return. This is true of either
sex-that is if you see anything.
since seeing things in mine or mill
is accomplished at some personal sac
rilce
In the mill there's just hundreds of
stairs to climb. Going UP on the el
evator does not give a sufficient op-
portunity to take in the mysteries of
the various wheels and belts. jgs and
wiggling tables. A mill is n pretty
good place for exercise.
Then, too. you must be prepared to
encounter "tailini.s" during your pro
gress. They'll probably drip down
upon you from some pipe or flume or
sluice you hadn't noticed. leaving q
mineral deposit on your hat, which
doesn't improve its appearance.
In the mine it is worse, only more
so. The tunnels are decidedly damp
and there are pools of mineral-colored
water, into which at every moment
you may plunge your unwary feet
An occasional hiss. and then dark
ness, informs you that water seep
ing down from the tunnel roof has put
your candle out. Involuntarly you
look upward and an enterprisng drop
or two hits you in the eye or trickles
down your neck.
You must hold on to your nerves or
you'll jump when the air drill starts
UP suddenly. You mustn't say any
thing. even If you are scared green
when you stand on the edge of an ore
bucket and go down 20O-foot shaft
hanging on the rope for dear life
OF course there is some satisfaction
in thinking that if you did fall off
you wouldn't know it. They prob
ably couldn't stop the big bucket in
time, and If it descended upon you
you'd be smashed to smithereens
If you take tram ride through the
air, you must not mind when the
grease, which looks like black melt
ed butter. drops down on you from
the cable or grip. Maybe it will give
you "A beauty spot or polka-dot your
neck ribbon. but that is OF no mo-
ment when seeing things" Besides
as the moral this depression plainly
points has it, you should wear your
old clothes.
Beside the people in the waiting
room. a long row of men, evidently
foreigners were seated outside, each
man having bundle of bedding, as
well as other articles with him. One
Italian beside a bundle of clothing
carried his Sunday shoes slung over
his shoulder, supported by the laces
which were tied together. 1t certain
ly looked odd, but no one even seem
ed to think it worthy of notice.
Then r.
"All aboard" the conductor fried;
The people straightway thither hied; /;
The engine footed go ahead"
And on the iron monster sped
Its a lovely trip from Slverton to
Eureka. the Silverton Northern run
ming through some beautiful scenery.
While rugged in spots, the general
character of the country is mlder
In tone than in many other parts OF
the San Juan.
Passing the handsome residence
formerly. occupied by Il. G. Stoiber,
now the home of Manager |. Hallett,
and the fine buildings of the lower
Silver Lake mill, the railroad turns
up the gulch The train steams on
mast the lower terminal of the Iowa
and beyond the new buildings which
are being so rapidly erected by the
North Star. Then we begin to see
scenery.
The hills are tinted with an endless
= variety of greens from the bright
shade of the suu-tlpped grass to the
shadowy darkness of the evergreens
Among these later there is never a
nine tree to be seen. Their limit is
said To, he 5000 feet. although the al
titude at which pines will grow has
been found to vary in different 'ccali
ties.
of the spruces there were kinds
many and varied. Stiff. prim' The,
stood rank after rank and tiie mpor
file. as thcltlv massive and stc'nl'
npright as the famous Macedonia
pha'rnA.
The saucy aspens. flirting thei'
pretty disks In the face Of the breeze
were quite relief to the sombre ev
ergreens.