Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-03-17
MINES AND MINING IN SAN JUAN.
lsilverton Standard


group of five claims in Mastodon
gulch, owned by Rasmus Hanson.
passed to the control of wealthy Col
orado Springs mining men for the
| handsome consideration Of 100000, "a
small portion of the purchase price
being paid down. The new owners.
however are not content with this
group alone, but are negotiating for
the Sound Democrat in Mastodon
gulch and other prominent properties
in the vicinity of the Hidden Treasure
! group The deal was made through
| the work of MIR. Walter Wilson, who
| visited Silverton some five months
ago for the purpose of Investigating
and reporting on the group The
sale is the happy termination of a long
| train of difficulties that have beset
Mr. Hanson in the handling and own
| ership OF the Hidden Treasure group
Several years ago. just when he was
getting the property in shape to do
something with it he became involved
in litigation with l.. b. Jackson over
the ownership OF some ground and
it was not until last fall that MIR.
| Hanson obtained a final court decree
awarding him cloudless title
Through all the trouble Mr.. Hanson
protected the best water right in
San Juan county, all the headwaters
of the Animas. with the intention OF
some day building gigantic mill at
Animas Forks for the treatment OF the
ores OF the upper country. 1t is un-
derstoOd now that the new owners
of the Hidden Treasure group will
build the mill in accordance with Mr..
Hanson's plan, and if so, the Silver
ton & Northern railroad will be ex-
tended to Auimas Forks this sea,
son. The Hidden Treasure group is
one of the best properties in Masto-
don gulch or the upper country. hay
ing several large veins predominatiIG
with milling gold ores. which are in
shape to be mined and sent to the
mill by tramline at nominal cost.
Not only is Mr.. Hanson to be congrat-
ulated that his long fight against ad-
verse conditions has ended in sue
cess, but the new owners are also to
be congratulated on the grand prop
erty secured. Mr.. Wilson, who made
the sale and whom our citizens know
as one of our former substantial mine
superintendents. is to be manager for
the Colorado Springs men in all their
operations in the upper country.
force Of several men have been
engaged all winter in developing the
Zuni mine on Anvil mountain. Some
two months ago the upraise for air
from the lower tunnel to connect with
the shaft was completed, and since
! that time the force has been engaged
in exploring the tremendous ore chute
that has already been proven to be
over 200 feet long and some 40 feet
wide. This is the chute that was
opened up by the lower tunnel, 500
feet in length. some two or three
years ago. but was too low grade ore
to be shipped to the smelter. Near
er the surface the ore was lead prod
met, but with depth it changed to cop
per and iron with considerable gold
values known to exist somewhere in
the chute. Whether this latter prod
uct is found in marketable quantities
or not the Zuni has ore enough in
sight already opened up that with
milling facilities will make one OF the
big mines in the San Juan.
A. E. COpp, whd visited Silverton
last fall and secured options on sew
eral mining properties in this county
notably the late j. T. Manners hold
ings in Picayune gulch and the Swan
Elias group above Gladstone, both OF
which are being operated under the
name OF the Roston-Pennsylyania Gold
& Silver Mining company, has re-
turned to this section from England
and will probably close several deals.
Mr.. Copp is said to have Interested
substantial English and Boston CAPT
tai in his enterprises.
The last 20 feet OF work on the
l0O-foOt tunnel contract on the Cop.
per Bell in Whitehead gulch was COM
pleted few days ago, but we are
not advised as to whether or not the
vein has been reached. The Copper
Belle is good propedty and when
the vein is cut In the tunnel, II in,
deed it hasn't been already-one Of
the best bodies of good grade copper
ore in the district ought to be opened
up.
l. Just as soon as j. B. Patterson re-
turns contract win be let to run the
north drift in the upper level OF the
original Champion on Sultan mount
ain. This drift will be In ore of a
shipping grade and OF sufficient guam
tity to swell the spring output consid-
erably.
AT Bear Creek a small force Of men
have been working all winter to cut
the kankakee vein. 1t is expected
that the vein will be cut this spring
and a good sized body OF fair grade
milling gold ore opened up
The Perino brothers this week dish
posed Of placer claim of 20 acres
:. l.ialr Gla aa4axasa 70 1 r sEos:Is