Gilpin observer., 1905-12-28

Centuries ago the feudal baron OF tha'
section worked the mine for silver, hav
ing his mint-one of the earliest--in the
town nard by. This structure is now
used as the administration building and
chemical works OF the mine. From the
money coined came the origin of our
word dollar, being an evolution Of Joa-
chimsthaler. or the money Of the Valley
OF st. Joachim further abbreviated to
Thaler then into our present term. The
property is owned and operated by the
Austrian government and since the dis
coveryof radium, neither the ore or resi-
due, after the uranium has been extract
ed is sold or permitted to be exported
and 1t is with difficulty that permission
can be obtained for a visit OF inspection.
Knowing this fact beforehand, we ar.
rived in Vienna armed and equipped
with special letters from our Department
OF State. We found our ambassador was
at his county seat, some distance from
the city. The secretary in charge was
affability and courtesy personified, but
most dubious regarding the success Of
our mission, and especially as to it's being
accomplished with anything like the ce-
lerity desired, suggesting that thirty
days would be quite short enough time
in which to obtain such an object. We
said one day seemed sufficient, and two
our limit, counter suggesting that he put
himself in our hands for one day and
see what could be done in the way Of
putting little American ginger into the
Teutonic wheels Of state. He acquiesced
with many misgivings over our apparent
lack Of appreciation Of the forms and
formalities Of 'Redtapedom, otherwise,
official Austria. We finally moved on to
the Department OF Mines and after runn-
ing the gauntlet Of about dozen Off
cials, from porter up, all with varying de-
grees OF gold lace buttons, having to pass
| through each Office, we found ourselves
in the anti Chamber OF the Minister,
whom we were seeking. This operation
had consumed some three hours. not un-
pleasant nor Improbable ones to be
sure, for each Of the parties who had in
terviewed US were in turn separated from
certain amount Of information on the
subject we were investigating. Reaching
his exceliency's anti-chamber and meet
ing him, we soon learned, two quite diff.
erent things. We wished to see his ex-
cellency. His excellency was holding
an important conference. Gould we call
the next day?' Impossible-we must see
him to 1ay' Then could we call later?'
No, We could wait 'Ah, in that case il
the object of our visit could be impaired
to his excellency it might facilitate mat.
ters.' With pleasure, small matter,
simply permission to visit and inspect
the government mine at Joachimstahl.'
(Perceptible start on the part Of the
official addressed, as though we had ask
ed for a section Of the empire). The
secretary Of our embassy here came to
our assistance by affirming that our in
tentions were entirely legitimate and our
desire to see the mine was simply to as
eist in developing similar one in our
country. Our combined efforts finally
prevailed, with the result that his excel
lency promised the authorization would
be at our hotel by six o'clock that day.
1t came at the appointed hour, fairly
bristling with state seals and dignity.
days ride brought us to that quaint lit
tie village, where not a word Of English
is spoken or understood-the language
being one OF thirteen dialects prevalent
in the empire-the physical conditions
are not unlike those Of Gilpin county or
what it was forty years ago, before the
big trees were sacrificed for 'spreaders
and the smaller ones for 'laggin.' Many
OF the wild flowers are the same as those
upon Quartz hill. Nothing, however
could be more unlike than their roads
and ours, the former being built and
maintained by the government, are like
boulevards. We were moved to express
our admiration as we wound up and over
roads as smooth as a floor, and to the
superintendent Of the mine who accom-
panied US, Herr SIS infinite amusement
we described some OF our roadways
That we should no. feel the contrast toe
keenly, he promised to take US back by
very bad road, the otter side Of the
mountain where we would be recon-
pensed by the beauty Of the view. Even
this road would be considered quite q
work Of art by comparison with the aver
age in our mountains, but the driver
could not be persuaded to descend unit
he had adjusted his brake. A brake
in that country means large iron affail
that half encircles the wheel, and il
hitched to the wheel by ponderou,
chain that rattles and clanks in nerve