Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-12-27

erty retgns supreme, hut a mining dis
trict where there are cd opportunities |
for men of moderate means. In many
mining districts it is absolutely necessary
to be in posse ssion IF q large sum of
money before there can be any thought
of the development of property or any
profitable income from the venture.
There is such an abundance of velus in |
this district, aud there is much prof able |
ore near the surface, and II is am nable !
TO such cheap methods Of treatment that
the whole thing presents an invitation
for mining ventures by those who are of
limited means 70 thos- who have good
knowledge of this industry and wide
experience of this district, it does not
seem to be very difficult matter to make
considerable fortune, possibility
which always exists when mining is en-
tered into in business-like way. 1t is be-
cause of these facts l presume that
great deal OF the work done in Clear
Greek and Gilpin counties is under the
leasing system. A majority of the miners
of the district prefer to make their living
this way than to depend upon the steady
income from the pay of daily labor. I'm
der the leasing system, they are their
own masters, mining in other peoples
properly and paying for the privilege
certain royalties upon all ores produced
They have to work harder, perhaps, and
for longer hours, but there is the charm
of independence about it all, and as when
the ground is well chosen it is pretty
nearly certain to result in the production
of livlihood, there is always the posi-
bility of making a neat fortune.
but while these conditions are so
propitious for the man of small means
there is, one might say, even a brighter
side to this situation than this. The
profits that can be gained from the more
crude methods of mining can be consid-
erably increased where it is approached
in a more business-like manner, and
where some capital is invested for the
installment of machinery for proper de-
velopment work and other things which
go towards operating on a larger scale,
all of which means economy in operation.
1t is not all surface mining in Clear Greek
and Gilpin counties for there are deep
and extensively developed properties
there, mines that go down 900 feet into
the ground and individually have their
miles of workings. their own tramways,
their own mills and their extensive
plants of machinery. Some of the veins
of the district are notable 70. their large
dimensions and permanence, both later
ally and vertically. They have been
opened up for miles and mil IS under
ground, and there are SO many for which
these great advantages can be claimed
that is would be superfuous to mention
them. Many of them have been pro-
ducing to greater or lesser extent and
practically continuously for over 40 years,
and number of them are today turning
out their so to 100 tons every "a hours,
with a regularity that would almost lead
one to belief in the impossible these
mines are inexhaustible.
"The area over which the mining dis
trict spreads is a steep and mountainous
country, and is particularly adaptable to
that cheapest of all mining methods, the
tunnel system. AS a consequence
great many properties in this district are
operated from tunnel and there are a
number of strong companies running
deep and lengthy tunnels in the antici-
patton of earning an income from the
drainage of mines and the transportation
of ore and waste. A most notable ex-
ample of this is the Newhouse tunnel,
which cuts some of the big veins of the
camp as deep as 2,4oo feet. AS an indi-
cation of what may be expected from
this work, it can be said that one of the
companies is spending about $50, 900 in
making an upraise from the tunnel to its
deepest workings above for a distance of
900 feet, feeling that it will earn this
back in the savings which will be made.
Without this tunnel it is more than prob
able that a large pumping equipment
would have to be constantly kept in op-
Grafton with its attendant heavy expense;
ventilation would have to be carried down
to the lowest level, and every pound of
ore and waste would have to be hoisted