Idaho Springs siftings., 1903-10-10
Hetiviiy al yreeiand.

Aetiviiy al yresiand.
A hurried visit to Freeiaud camp early
this week by Siftiugs representative
was a source of pleasure in many ways
the chief being the activity and apparent
prosperity all along the route. The viii
lage itself has not desirable house un-
occupied. This is significant. when we
consider that the principal work doing is
in the line of development, either block :
/ ing out or searching for ore bodies. The
population of the place. in view of this
fact, demonstrates that there must be a
number Of important enterprises under
way.
Freeland is a typical mining village.
and therefore has her saloons, a school
house and church, postuffice. a general
store, and meat market. We category
the saloons first in this list. because thev
are in the nsjority and are the first to
catch the eye of the dusty traveller,
whether his inclination runs to tha,
which is brewed in steaming vats all over
I
water supplied by numerous springs in
that neighborhood.
In addition to the business houses and
educational features mentioned. a spa
cious dance hall has recently been built
and no doubt is literally patronized.
Owing to our hurried visit, there was
not sufficient time in which to visit the
various operating properties. We gath.
cred few notes Of interest. however:
The Gum Tree. employing quite =
number Of men. is steadily opening up
orc bodies and has wonderful showing,
il is said. Fully SOC feet in length Of
solid lead and yellow copper ore has been
opened In one part of the mine. and the
owners state that recent developmsnts to
the west conclusiveiy subs,autiate their
claim that the Gum Tree and the we'll.
known Frreland are on the same hssure.
The quality Of the ore in the Gum Tree
has shown . gratifying improvement
with depth. and there 10 no question that
John Owen and his associates have al
ready opened one OF the largest ara best
ore bodies to be seen in the county.
While this mine is one of the early dis
covesies Of that camp and has been a
shipper for years. it can be said to be in
its infancy from the standpoint Of pro-
duction. This is owing to the fact that
until Mr.. Owen took il in hand the mine
vas worked specifically. The enlistiug
- r.~,s,1 .aI @f
ehinery. coupled with shaft sinking and
systematic exploitation. have all effected
the gratifying results stated aud are
fitting reward for the generous expendi-
ture.
The New Era group, situated . little
farther up the gulch and but short dis
tance from the postofiice, is auother Of
Preelsnd's mines capable Of large ton
mage Of ore. both smelling and coscen-
trating. Since Mi. Elgan took hold Of
this proposition, he has transformed .
mere prospect into one of the big mines
Of the district. The principsl work .,
present consists in driving the lower
level upos the vein. extending the same
into Lone Tree territory. The result will
be the opening Of continuous and rich
ore body at great depth.
A new blower has been Installed BY
the msnagement Of the Old Stag and the
work Of drifting upon the fine ore body
beesn lsst HesaAy. fSrse = ~ - h
ehsee feet of solsd ore where The vsis was
iatessii1ed. by. the croascut. This is
Aefe the at81Sst Aaapesed q shoe,
f1k1e, . mises being ba.shsd, asd
GR&ASeeAis week Tie company
11Fsetk psspSss49 Sor not esiy driving
spes ~ S6ny -. DE OA Stag. bat
psuelssing vsse shsoush - Oeeidh asd
: - - - lasssE ppspssss tsing
Uuo -. bond. Ths Old
Ssag company hes not oaly secured .
vesy 6ne psopositioa. bat it has, by start
ing the tsspel at the Oseids mill. secured
dfsinage to . considerable depth upon
the Old Stag, permitting soasemicsi ex.
traction of the ore fro0 The tunnei level
u ssnsee, . veil = savisg sesethisg |
suhstsnsisi1s tsassportatiou. The main |
idea q the tussel. Of course. i farther
1eacAisg thaa this, = drifting westward |
tnrosgh the other properties means con-
incrsasisg depth. We are Ia
formed by reliable parties that there is an
siuest eoetinssss streak of ore Il De