Idaho Springs siftings., 1903-07-11
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The U. S. Tunnel to be Driven.

ihls Important enterprise, which has
been the dream of Philip Mixsell for
Years, is to he resumed again and with
every evidence of being pushed to a sue
cessful completion. Mr.. Mixsell and
family arrived here from Denver early
thi- week and it is the intention to
star work at once.
The history of the U. S. tunnel is one
of faith that has overcome MANY obsta-
cl and the disappointments incident to
wars and rumors of wars. While the
tunnel was conceived by Mr.. Mixsel1,
much credit is also due to Jas c. Pagan,
an odlime Gllpin county operator, who
was some years ago induced to associate
himself in the enterprise. While Mr..
Mixsell attended to the details of starring
and prosecuting the work of tunnel driv-
ing, Mr. Pagan occupied himself in pre-
seuting the manifold lucrative advantages
Of the project to European capitalists
The Spanish-American and South African
wars did not assist in the negotiations, as
can be surmised, and they we're not all
the difficulties met.
The original idea was to run trans
Portatian and drainage tunnel, similar to
some well-known propositions started
since; but that idea has been abandoned
at the instance of the capitalists back of
the enterprise They wanted something
more tangible than the expectation of
royalties from mine owners who might or
might not connect their workings with
| the tunnel So this led to the acquisition
of valuable mines along the course of the
tunnel i'll both Clear Creek and Gilpin
counties. Besides the Blue Bell group,
situated near the head of Virginia canon
and owned by Mr.. Mxsell, there was the
! Kansas mine, owned by Mr. Pagan and
located at the Gilpin end Of the tunnel
This WAS a good starter on holdings, but
did not suit Mr.. Mix ell who procee ded
to acquire through purchase and lease
and bo"d that nest of fortune producers
owned by the Gold Coin Mines company.
comprising what is known as the Indiana
/ group, tweve claims in all, among which
are the California, Hidden Treasure and
Indiana mines. This secures for the
company three groups of mines that have
an envi4ble record for production. The
first group, the Blue Bell, will be reached
from this SIDE in about rs o feet This
property is composed of tue Cllrissa and
adjacent claims, all carving great re-
serves Of mill dirt, sufficient to keep a
large mill running continuously upon
the output. This group is the key to the
Hot Pot, Champion, Belm4n, Crown
Point t-Virginia, which form a net work
of paying Veins at the head of the canon.
Mr., Mixsell for years has operated in that
section aud has thorough acquaintance
with its ores and resources The Califor-
mia mine has the deepest shaft in the
state, 222o feet, and the values hold with
depth, thus assuring the success of the
U. 5. tunnel in every particular The
Kansaa group, which is situated at the
Gilpin end of the big bore and the main
shaft of which is 1850 feet deep, lack $
but $50 to 200 feet more of sinking to be
on level with the Clear creek portal. 1t
is the intention to have a survey made at
once, 70 determine the proper depth to
be sunk, and then will follow the estab-
lishment of machinery for hoisting and
running competent compressors and
power drills. The machinery on the
Hidden Treasure will be removed to the
Kansas, as it belongs to the latter prop.
erty.
The distance from the portal of the
U. S. tunnel to the Kansas mine is IS, ooc
feet, nearly three miles; but the tunnel is
in about 600 feet, so that leaves a little
over IA 900 feet to be traversed by the
new combination. The company having
secured the properties mentianed, and
having abundance of capital, has properly
decided that the chief desideratum is to
make connection as rapidly as possible
To do this, work will begin at both ends
at the same time and prosecuted as at the
Lamartine tunnel some years since. AS
in that case. this will necessitate fine en-.
gineering and tunnel driving. Another
advantage to be derivee by the U. S.
people will be the immediate intersection
of the Gilpin county holdings.
The U. S. tunnel is one of the largest
private enterprises in the state, aid its
prosecution will rebound to the benefit OF
two counties. 1t will open up at great
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