Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-12-27

by Critic" of the Colorado Springs Min
ing Investor, and is worth reading:
"In no mining district in Colorado is
there such striking evidences of longe-
witty as in the vast mineral area of Clear
Greek and Gilpin counties Mining op-
erations have been carried on there for
over forty years, and il is a statement of
fact, susceptible of proof that there is to-
day more ore being mined and greater
quantities of the precious metals produced
than ever in its history. The great min-
ing industry, which is included in two of
Colorado's counties, is not one of few
bonauzas but one which contains hun
dreds of producing mines, which yield
pay ore, and earn varying profits for
their owners Its vastness is one thing
which has at one and the same time
proved its great wealth and retarded the
individual extensive development of its
mines. l do not mean to say that there
are not some great and well developed
properties in Clear Creek and Gilpin
counties, but considering the very large
number of splendid propositions there
are in the district, they are comparatively
few There is reason for this. Exten-
sive development means deep workings
and costly plants of machinery, and pos
sibly a lower per centage of profit per
ton because of these very expenses. The
greatest amount of profit per ton upon
any given grade of ore is best realized
where the material can be gotten at
quickly and cheaply, and that means
near the surface. Deeper down mines
get wet, pumping is necessary, and other
expenses have to be incurred So deeper
workings are to be avoided if more ore
can be found near the surface-and in
Clear Greek and Gilpiu counties it can.
That is why there are comparatively so
few deep and extensively developed mines
in the district-because it is so large and
there is so much ore there near the sur
face, and because they have not begun to
mine all the ore there is at shallow depths
although they have been making the dirt
fly for over forty years. And this is how
the vastness of this era at one and the
same time proved Its greatness and re-
tards the development of big mines.
"The mines in the district of which
write have produced something over ZOO
ooo, 900, which is about double the total
maximum annual output of gold in the
entire United States. The total is large
but wonder that it is not more This
thought is probably due to the fact that
l have been watching this district only
during the past few years of its prosperity.
In the past five years it has been making
giant strides and warrant that in the
districts second forty years of history
much grerter quantity of the precious
metals will be produced and saved than
from 1883 to 1898. That speaks pretty
well for a mining district, does it not,
but believe every woru of it. You, who
are young may be in position some day
to test the correctness of my prognostica-
ton, and even 1, with the aid of strong
glasses, may live long enough to see if
l have erred or told rightly.
Low grade ore and lots of it is the life
of the mining district in Clear Greek and
Gilpin counties. But it is a cheap ore to
handle. OF the total, rs per cent is
amenable to concentration, and as there
is an ample supply of water in this part
of Colorado, it does not present very
difficult or costly proposition. The ore
teams are busy all day long creaking and
straining under their great loads. But
still it continues to pour forth and still
the cry is for more ore haulers, more
mills, more treatment facilities generally.
OF late years these have been added to
very considerably, notably by the Py-
ritic smelter at Golden, but, as l said be-
fore, there is still greater demand for
treating capacity. 1 have heard it said
that the production from the district was
pretty well regulated by the mills, and
that if there were more of them that the
output would be greater. do not think
that this is far off the truth. The district
certainly needs more mills. A large in
crease to the Pyritic smelter is already
promised, so successful has it been.
"If ever there was poor mans camp
certainly this is it. Do not let this state
ment be misunderstood. 1t is merely the