Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-07-15
THE GOLD KING.
The Mill a Good Place for Deaf and
Dumb People to Work-How the
Property Progresses.

Property Progresses.
At Gladstone the Gold King mill is
easily the biggest and most noticeable
object It's long red buildings occupy
nearly as much space as the rest of
the town, while the noise of the many
stamps. busily pounding out the yell
low metal, proclaims to the world
that here the precious" for which
men toll and often sin, is being sepa-
rated from its companion dross.
Noise? Yes, indeed. And more.
too Those stamps just roar as they
bring their feet down on the metal.
More than that. when they tread they
shake the whole mill. Considering
it's size. that is saying good deal If
their feet are not the biggest at any
rate they are the heaviest part of
them.
Standing on the platform just be-
hind the stamps, they jump up and
down so fast that they seem TO be ex-
ecuting a war dance, with their enc
my literally under their feet.
When it becomes necessary to check
the stamps in their mad career. the
man in charge takes big rod. With
this he turns a little bar in place. eff
fectually silencing the noisy monsters.
Then look as if tied up up under the
arms. with the foot of each dangling.
It's astonishing how human they look,
the creatures.
The vibration, of course, caused by
the stamps and other machinery is
very great So much so that the
platforms and ladders shake under
your feet 1t wouldn't be bit diff
| cult to fall down among the machinery
| If you felt in the humor for such an
| experience.
AS before hinted. the Gold King mill
is not a place that one would choose
| for meditation undisturbed. The
stamps take care of that Nor is it
peculiarly adapted for conversation
the stamps take care of that also.
Just in the very noisiest portion my
guide beckoned for me to step aside
to where young man was busily en-
gagged in-I've forgotten what 4
Mr.. H, who was plotting me,
around. went up to the young man
| just mentioned, whom we will call Mr..
w. Taking big breath. he yell
ed something into the latter's ea,' at
the same time Indicating my presence
with a wave of the hand. Mr. w
| looked as If he understood perfectly.
| but I don't believe he did. could
not hear anything.
Then they both looked toward me,
and not knowing what else to do. l
bowed. 1t turned out later that that
was exactly the proper thing to do at
that particular moment, but that was
not my fault.
| Though proper the bow was not
sufficient since both gentlemen ap-
peared to be waiting some further
movement on my part.
| 1t seemed to be about time to talEY
so j screeched out something but it
was wasted energy-I couldn't hear
word. My listeners smiled encour-
agingly and were not whit the wiser.
However tried again-with the
same effect. The third time the
thought that much practice would tend
to develop jaw like crocodile arose.
All conversational attempt ended in
laughter with the result that in or
der to become intelligible to one an
other We were compelled to seek n
| quieter spot
| Now that the improvements on the
mill are completed, it is the largest in
the country.
Other changes are in progress. The
boarding house is to be greatly en-
larged and the building of the addi-
ton commenced shortly
AT the mine steady development
work is going on. In addition to drift
ing on the veins, new shaft is being
sunk. They are now running eight
air drills.
The American tram Is now running.
It's terminal adjoining that of the
Gold King. A force of Is men is en-
ployed there at present. They start
ed to stope few davs ago. The
| American is one OF the Gold King com
pany's mines.
On the south fork o. Cement Creek
near the Gold King, the Natalie
group is situated. This comprises
some ten or fifteen claims and is the
property of the New York Exploration
company. The mine was worked by
hand last winter. but an air compress
or has lately been put In. A new
road from Gladstone to the mine has
also been constructed.
BLGEBELT..