The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-29
NUW lN Tilt ASI
TregO Shale Gold Boom Has En-
tireIy Collapsed.
An Interesting Bit of History
Concerning 1t.
HOLIDAY THE FIRST.
Topeka Pioneer Sent Out Pros
pectOrs in 1884.
Early Indian RumOrs of Tin,
Zinc and Lead Deposits.
HOLIDAY THE FIRST.

me TregO county gold shale boom
mas collapsed and it has been long
time since the gold shale millionaires
nave held any meetings or assayed
any cubic acres of gold but now that
IL Is all over it might be we'll to tell
how the boom started.
The first man to seriously consider
q plan for prospecting in western
Kansas for minerals was the late
Colonel c. K. Holiday. He was not
after gold any more than for zinc or
lead or other minerals, but he thought
II worth while to send out two pros
pectors, IN 1884. They were E. Baker
and David Stftt. The agreement be-
tween Colonel Holiday is now in the
possession of Charles K. Holiday and
is as follows:
Topeka, Kan, July p, 1884
For many years many persons
have believed that tin, nickel, zinc
ana other valuable minerals exist in
paying quantities within the limits
OF Kansas, or eastern Colorado. For
the purpose of prospecting for said
minerals, and, If possible, finding the
same, the undersigned Ephriam Ba-
ker, David Stitt and G. K. Holiday,
agree as follows, and hereby make
this memorandum thereof: First the
said Baker and Stitt to do all the per-
sonal prospecting and perform all the
labor and experiments required as
usually discharge said duties, and sec
ond, the said Holiday to pay all the
expenses properly belonging to such
prospecting In all discoveries made
and in all minerals found, the parties
herein named are to share and share
alike; that is to say, each is to have
an undivided one-third interest there
in The said Baker and Stitt to start
at an early day, and to make an ex-
haustive prospecting tour and the
said Holiday to advance two hundred
dollars this day for such purpose.
Witness our hands this 22d day of
July. 1884. (Signed.) z. Baker,
David Stitt, c. X Holiday"
Colonel Holidays reasons for
starting such an expedition was the
report of Henry r. Sehoolcraft. pub
Hshed in 1851 on the title page of
which WAS the following:
Historical and statistical infOrma-
ton respecting the history, condition
and prospects of the Indian tribes of
the United tSates collected and pre-
pared under the direction of the bu-
reau of Indian affairs per act of con
gress of March 3. 1S47, by Henry r.
Schoolcraft, Ii. d.
In the report were two letters writ
ten by Dr. Johnson Lykins. then In
dian agent of the Kansas agency. The
letters are as follows:
County of the Pottawatomies. Old
Kansas Agency, January 10, 1913"
Sir; Permit me herewith to incIose
you specimen of American tin found
in this region of country. the metal
from which the Britannia ware of
commerce is manufactured.
1 have not. at this remote place. for
the want of the necessary reagents,
been able to subject it to a rigid
analysis, but I believe I have suffi-
ciently tested ii to be able to pro-
nounce upon it's character, and if so,
It's discovery is a matter of some in
terest to our common country. It
exists in great abundance and passes
here for zinc Let it be tested.
If I recollect my early reading right,