The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-07-29
TIMES AND MINING.


Mountain district dates from the year
1879, when the Ruby Chief, Ruby King
and Forest Queen mines OF Irwin were
located. Specie payment had then been
resumed by the National Government,
and silver was worth 81 per ounce. Had
silver remained at that figure this dis
trict would today have been one OF the
greatest producing areas in the state OF
Colorado. But the decline of silver in
value marks the gradual decline OF the
mining industry in this region. When
the first army Of emigrants and pros
pectors rushed into this country hund-
reds OF claims were staked that were after
wards abandoned because the ore taken
from them was not worth 800 per ton
Transportation facilities in the early
days OF the district would not admit OF
ore worth less than this figure being
handled. Railroads were soon built but
while transportation facilities we're in
creasipg, and access to the markets
was made possible, the value Of the prin-
cipal metal produced in the district had
declined IN value until mine owners
found themselves practically in the same
condition as they were when the pro.
duct OF their mines was transported by
means OF wagons and pack trains. In
fact, ore that could be mined and mark
eted at profit by the latter method of
OF transportation was not made any
more valuable by the increased market
ing advantages later on. The result OF
this gradual decline in silver. was to re-
tard the development OF the most proms-
ing mines in the district, and in course Of
time entirely close down all properties
producing only a low grade ore. There
that silver would again resume its for
mer position on the markets OF the
world, and on the strength of this have
held on to their property, taking out ore
only when money was needed for devel-
opment purposes, or an exceptionally
rich deposit was found. Along with
the hope that silver would some day be
worth 1.29 per ounce. has gone another,
which led the miner to look forward to
the time when ore containing values of
from slS to s25 per ton could be mined
at a profit. The major part of mineral
found in this district is free milling,
there being very little refractory ore that
is known to exist, excepting the chloride
deposits near the Ruby peaks at Irwin.
All other ores OF this region are either Of
the silverlead or sulphide varieties; the
former being the best milling and smelt-
ing ore known to the mining world, and
the latter very valuable, but difficult
ore to treat. The quantity Of ores in
thir district that will assay from SO to
$50 per ton in gold, silver, lead and zinc,
is incalculable. There is hardly pros
pect. with the proper facilities at hand
for treatment, but would produce suffici
ent ore to defray all expense, and net the
prospector profit that would be far
better than the average wages OF the
miner who works for days pay. From
this it can be seen that the only hope
for this country lies in the possibility OF
treating the low grade ore at or near the
place where it is mined. The great sill
yer producing mines OF the district will
not work while silver is rs cheap as it is
at present, and the low grade properties
that produce the baser metals in paying
quantities can not possibly work SO long
as they are compelled to market their
product before it is concentrated, there
by saving the payment OF freight on any
thing but clean ore. To build and oper-
ate custom mills at a profit in this dis
trict is not only possible but can be done
If the enterprise is given the support OF
the community. To this district it
Is question OF working property that
will produce marketable product at a
profit to the owner, or owning property
that will produce marketable product,
but at loss to the operator.