Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-08-14
MEMORIES OF sILvearon.

''Hh 'hHh ftklOn tan utbcI lOi 8Et TIC
scenes of grandeur and wealth that
surrounded him while there. The
hr.t natural impression upon entering
s;lverton is that of sublImity. Every
ihing in nature is on a grand scale.
nendall mountain, raising its bare.
rugged peaE. snow-topped to the sky,
stands like stern sentinel at the
gate of The east ushering in the rising
snn as II comes TO chase away the
hoar frost of the night. which gathers
even during the summer over all the
own below On Kendall mountain.
the kecnest effects OF an electrical
torn may be felt and parties some
tines climb the rugged heights that
they may test its power.
Sultan mountain, the home Of the
Hercules and old North Star mines
and mills. bars the entrance from the
south, the wagon road to Durango zig
tagging around II as II loath to start
ont In earnest, and Snowdon peaks
hoary headed, peering over It's sum-
nit. This mountain, as well as all the
others. forms pretty picture when
the storm clouds culver In fantastic
7bap'H llS Drdh, tiSNP
down among the timber on its sides.
The North Star mine, on Sultan
mountain was formerly one OF the
most important mines In the San Juan
region. and most OF the men who made
up the mining camps Of Silverton at
its beginning were employed In dig
ging ore from the rich veins OF that
mine. The principal production was
silver. and. mp to the time 1t ceased
operations. about six years ago, 1t
had turned out over $3,000.000 worth
OF ore. a party of Chicago men
bought the property year ago. reor-
ganized the company and fitted up
both mine and mill for operation. A
few weeks ago development work was
started on the veins. machinery was
put In. the mill was put In shape to
commence work and new buildings
were erected, the whole place being
much improved. In the latter part OF
July large number of men were at
work on day and night shifts and the
full force was expected to go on in a
short time. This mine has rich veins.
and the output viii soon equal that of
the early days of San Juan. Situated
Just at the foot of the town, II Is
strictly a Silverton mine, and the i'm
proved industry will add to the pro-
gress and enlargement of the place.
Down Mineral creek, from the far
off misty mountains flows a sparkling
mountain stream ripping and laugh
ing over its bed as It hastens to Join
thn nj ha
swoops the wind, sharp as a knife.
when the storm clouds hover black
and lowering over the mountains and
the distant thunder rolls.
Anvii mountain is the most rugged,
the most sublime. the most beautiful
of all. The The first of the great Red
mountain system. 1t raises its many
colored sides, bare and bleak. with
only the scantiest growth of timber to
give a suggestion of greenness. Its
first slope Is very gradual, and several
pretty cottages have found picturesque
sites on the incline overlooking the
city. but steep indeed. Is the anvil
shaped peak above and beautiful with
almost every hue that soil and rock
ever held, gray copper color. red,
brown and yellow, with touch of ma
tpre's green darkening II. Far away
to the north this system stretches,
rich In minerals and In grandeur. Civ
ing out its wealth to the toilers and
delightlng the eye OF the tourist.
At the foot of Boulder mountain,
the greenest and most shapely OF all
Silverton's peaks. lies the Kendrick
Gelder smelter. its smoky fumes ris
ing skyward day and night. its mighty
engines throbbing and its furnaces
turning out their streams of liquid
fire laden with metal. which is shipped
to the refining mills In the east. A
large amount of copper has come down
to the smelter from the Henrietta
mine during the past year. and much
more is expected as the mine contin-
ues improving and extending its oper-
ations.
Past the smelter and up the creek.
the Gladstone railroad winds its way
among canons and gorges and lofty
mountain peaks, until 1t reaches the
rich, wild region above, now pulsing
with camp life.
On the other side of Boulder mount
ain. on its gentle. green eastern slope.
above the broad fair valley Of the Ami
mas, and the road to Howardsville,
the old county seat, lies the silent
city OF the dead. Apart from the city,
shut in by wire fences and gates. hun
dreds OF bodies rest, awaiting the judg-
ment day when all shall rise 1t is a
spot wild and rough, by nature. but
touched and softened by the hand of
man. Here are old graves. long neg
lected. overgrown with grass, protect
ed by rude fences of wood. Who
shall tell the stories of those who
sleep within? Some hardy pioneer
who hraved the storms and opened the
easiest way for his followers. per-
chance. is lying there safe forever
more from earthly tempests; some
weary prospector resting In the treas
ure house whose wealth he sought In
vain; woman worn with the rude
struggle for life among the wild
mountains. child whose little heart
had ceased to beat ere II knew the toll
and sorrow of the world. Some OF the
graves were new. and the headstones
told of young men and young women
nd ,,f rlx n