Gilpin observer., 1904-11-17
Frank Hall on LeadviiIe.

Deen maue IN the depths OF the Lead
vile hills, says Gen. Frank Hall in the
mining columns of the Denver Post.
Following close upon the heels of the
vast revelations of mineral in the
Reindeer and the Coronado, comes a
startling disclosure that the old Iron
Silver mines on Iron hill, one of the
original scenes of great outpourings
Of wealth in that district over twenty
six years ago, have come to the front
with discovery of ore by diamond
drill borings which promises to eclipse
anything hitherto found in this wonder
full camp.
The Iron Silver Company has lately
been engaged in sinking a new shaft
at the north end of the Meyer placer,
the purpose of which is to develop a
new discovery made by diamond drill
sinking in its Tucson claim. The orig
inal shaft on the Tucson was sunk to
depth of GAO feet, but was constantly
impeded by excessive water, which has
since disappeared owing to the pump
ing of the downtown area. Out of the
old workings at the bottom of this
shaft over $1,000,OOO was extracted.
Since the water disappeared a num-
Der of drill holes have been sunk to
a depth of 500 feet, making a total
depth Of 1.16O feet. At this depth the
drills disclosed one of the richest
bodies of mineral ever found in Lead
vile district.
1t is shown to be over GOO feet in
length. over 200 feet in width. thirty
feet in thickness, and runs all the way
from 300 to 600 ounces silver per ton
and very high in lead
This discovery shows the enormous
strength and continuity of the Iron
and Rock hill series of ore shoots
which pass -eastwardly under the
Meyer and the Tuscon, over a mile
from the outcrop westward. and which
are now being so successfully worked
in the Reindeer and the Nil Desperan-
dunn on Rock hill.
From the outcrop of the various
shoots on the Iron-Silver property and
on their extensions to the east and
west, over 800, 100000 has already
been extracted. These same ore
shoots are now being worked on the
Meyer placer also owned by the Iron
Silver company, mile to the east Of
the point where the outcrops were dis
covered, and the company is now ship
ping 500 tons a day from an enormous
body of sulphide which averages over
$50 feet in thickness in the blue lime
1t Is estimated that this body of ore
contains sufficient to maintain ship
ments at this rate for the next twenty
years. AS is well known, this is one
of the famous old-time properties
where fine mineral was found at grass
roots. This ore was followed east
wardly and occupied the contact be-
tween the porphyry and the blue lime.
1t was the finest kind of carbonate of
lead. and was one of the factors which
attracted the attention Of the world to
Leadville in its boom days.
Past developments prove the Iron
and Rock hill ore shoots to have a
length of over two miles from east to
west, and evidently demonstrate that
they will continue still further west
ward through the property of the Roy
atty Gold Mining Company and the
Judge Overs placer still further west
One has but to examine C.. A Bohn's
claim map of the district to confirm
this view. 1t will be seen that all the
great ore bodies without exception
trend in that direction, and 1t is en-
tirely within reason to assume that
even more surprising disclosures will
follow the experimental workings now
in progress along that line of en-
deavor.
Fourteen years ago A. A. Blow.
Charles l.. Hill, Francis Freeland,
Max Boehmer, John F. Campion,
Mayor A. V. Bohn, Phillip Argall and
other noted authorities made a series
of reports to the Leadville Board of
Trade, wherein it was argued and so
stated that "the extension of the al
ready known and defined ore shoots of
Carbonate, Iron. Breeze, Rock, Printer
Boy, Little Ellen and Fryer hills in
both easterly and westerly directions
can no longer be regarded as a theory,
but have been demonstrated as exist
ing facts.
The prophetic assurance of fourteen
years ago is now being realized in the
marvellous strikes OF the past three
months. We are by no means at the
end OF the chapter. There is more to
come.
Leadville stands to-day in view OF
what has been accomplished, and in
the immediate possibilities, as the
greatest mining district In the world
with one xception-Johannesb in
South Africa. 1t has been a long time
coming. but 1t has arrived to stay.
From 1879, the initial period. to 1904.
this district has produced 1910. 0.000. 900,
more than twice the output Of its high
est contemporaries in Colorado. The
Iron Silver Mining Company has pro-
duced from first to last $1.500.000. The
mines Of Iron hill, on which Its proper
ties are located. have yielded 30,347.-
900. Rock hill, adjoining. and its vi
cinity. now the great center OF attrac-
ton. has produced $9.150.000.