Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-28
Modern Mining Methods.

On the trolley line between Denver and
Golden one can see two enormous dredges,
which cost $4,000 EACH scooping up the
sand at the bottom of Clear creek and pass
ing 1t through sluices to De washed for gold
dust. The bottom of this same creek was
washed out by miners with old-fashioned
basins and cradles thirty years ago. They
got what they could from tall that was
possible with their primitive methods-but
these big dredges, which are doing placer
work on a wholesale plan, are now SCOOP
ing out fortunes that the oldfashion-
ed methods could never reach. For
the same season the old dumps at
the mouths of the shafts throughout all
Colorado, the wastage of a quarter of
century. is now being worked over by new
economical processes and is adding millions
every year to the wealth of the state.
There is a school up at Golden to educate
miners to do this sort Of work. 1t Is fifteen
miles from Denver and can be reached by
trolley cars and by several of the railways.
Golden is one of the oldest cities in Colo
RADIO and was formerly the smelling center
Of the state. With the invention of modern
methods and machinery the smelters were
removed to Denver and Golden fell into in
nocuous desuetude and Is now the residence
of quiet people and educational CEN
ter. The School of Mines established
there in 1880 by the legislature and Is sup
ported by an annual tax of one-hfth of a
mill on each dollar OF the assessed prop
erty Of the state. In addition to this the
legislature has. from time to time, made
special appropriations for new buildings,
laboratories and apparatus and the school
has enjoyed healthy and steady growth.
Its graduates are in great demand as en-
gtneers in all the mining districts of the
world.
Most Profitable Mines.
The most profitable mine in Colorado
today is the Camp Bird, near Ouray,
which was recently sold by Thomas F.
Walsh to an English syndicate 1t has paid
twelve, fifteen or eighteen million dollars
since its discovery in 1895. Another group
of mines in the same neighborhood, five or
six in number on the Revenue tunnel and
belonging to the Caroline Mining Company,
are also paying big money, but no one
knows just how much, because the owners
A. e. Reynolds and NJ. B. Fletcher OF
Denver and w. F. Havemeyer of New York
are close corporation and make no re-
port They do not take the public into
their confidence. This same combination
owns mines all over the state.
The Portland mine at Cripple Creek Is
the biggest producer in that district. At
least twenty millions of dollars have been
lifted out of its shaft and it now yields
from two to two and a half millions
year. The chief owners are Colorado
Springs people-Irving Howbert, James F.
Burns and others. The Independence mine,
which was discovered by Win" Stratton,
and made Cripple Creek famous, now be-
longs to an English corporation which paid
ten million dollars for 1t. 1t has produced
seventeen or eighteen millions. but is not
doing much at present and there is great
difference of opinion as to it's prospects.
Queer stories are told. Some engineers
claim that 1t is exhausted; others assert
boldly that game OF "freeze-out" is going
summed If the present owners should get
"cOld feet and sell out.