Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-07-16
new MINING CAMP
LOCAL MEN MAKE VALUABLE piscov-
cay ON MAD CREEK.
MANY eoIne TO THE NEW DIeGIH6S
SURFACE INDICATIONS PROMISE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF RICH CAMP.

from Idaho Springs have visited the new
J camp during the week and the road from
Empire westward is lined with pack trains,
prospectors on foot snd scores OF mining
men and prospectors who are testing the
merits of the big find.
y. {. Merrill, of the Big Five company
spent a week in the new camp with his
surveyors and has, as a result, staked out
some of the choicest properties to be
found there. While he is not inclined
to be enthusiastic in conversation he
stated to a representative of Siftings that
the camp contained some of the finest
veins he had ever seen in Colorado and
he has prospected the entire ssate-in-
Guiding nearly every new camp located.
The assays which Mr.. Merrill obtained
ran from $40 up, the three highest being
81, 500 and sra per ton.
]. ID. Williamson. of the ]. d. William
son Investment company, also returned
with party and has himself secured sew
ersl splendid properties. He brings back
the same enthusiasm the others do and
feels that he was fortunate in getting in
to the new field when he did.
Col. c. A. King and Sam Brothers are
up there this week and several other
parties from Idaho Spring are looking
for the gold that glitters on the surface.
Mr.. Shaffer returned Tuesday from that
point and brought back surface rock that
attracted general attention. The lowest
assay on the quartz picked up at grass
roots was 81 to the ton and one lot assay
ed {aA2 to the ton. This is a remark able
showing for surface quartz.
Denver. Golden. Central City and other
sections of the state are apparently join
ing in the excitement in the direction of
Camp Shsffer on the continental divide,
above Empire. Assays made from sur
face stuff, brought down Thursday by
J. d. Williamson. of the ]. d. Williamson
Investment Company. show from fzo up
located number of claims and he is put
ting force of men 10 work a, once.
Colonel c. A. King and Sam Brothers
returned from the camp Thursday with
several splendid surface specimens, which
according to other assays made run high
in both gold and silver. 1t is reported
that w. L. Renshaw will send party to
the new camp either today or early mex,
week. United States Mineral SURVEY or
p p Barbour leaves tomorrow for the
new field and nearly all the prominent
mining men of the camp are up there at
the present time.
Mayor Clough, of Empire, was in the
city Thursday and states that the road
from Empire to Camp Shaffer is literally
lined wirh prospectors and outfits going
in.
In speaking of the new camp. Gen
Frank Hall, the we'll known mining
authority Of the Denver Post, says:
81 went over that region with some
friends thirty-eight years ago last May.
The snow lay deep upon the peaks and
slopes. Ihave a very distinct recollection
;. of the toll and hardship of that ill-consid-
cred expedition. Probably not half
dozen men have gone over that same
ground in the last thirty years because
there are better ways of reaching the same
destination we we're bound for, namely
Middle Park.
1t is lofty, wild, bleak, inhospitable
region. far above timber line, where the
soil has been scored off, leaving the rocks
bare to be read as the pages of a book.
Here they found the outcrops of many
lodes or veins, which looked good to
them.
The entire Continental divide Is appar-
entity mineralzed; the lodes are large and
show good values in both gold and silver.
From fourteen samples of surface stuff
brought down by the original discovers
the average is S5s3 per ton. One selec,
sample gave Y, ,974. 1t is also reported
that DIR. Kirby of Georgetown had sam
plies that gave over f7o, 600 per ton. II
so, there is tellurium of high grade in
some of the mixtures.
The upshot of the business is that new
belt of lodes bearing good workable values
has been located but it cannot be operated
to any extent before next year, after
connection by wagon route has been made
with Mr.. Moffat's railway"
Tomorrow a considerable number of
people will leave for the new camp,
among them will be Phil Mixsell and
few other old and experienced mining
men. One noticeable thing 80 far, is that
no one who has visited the camp has
turned it down, and all are unanimous in
. their good opinion of the new district