Gilpin observer., 1905-08-17
Anlma. Forks RedIvIvus.


The rejuvenation of Animas Forks
has come, and, judging from the activ-
ity that is being manifested in that Sec
tion, Its new life has come to stay,
says correspondent of the Denver Re-
publican. This camp is situated If
teen miles almost due north from Sill
verton, and is reached by the little
narrow-gauge Silverton Northern rail-
road, without which Animas Forks
could not flourish as 1t does. Twenty
five years ago it was the principal min
ing camp in San Juan county, and, in
fact. in the entire San Juan country.
In that remote period the camp was
considered a wonder. A town of a
thousand or so inhabitants was built
up and business of all kinds was car
ried on upon an extensive scale, al
though all merchandise and supplies
had to be packed in from long dis
tances on burro trains. All branches
of business were represented there in
those days and the town even sup
ported weekly newspaper.
"Silver" was the cry in those days,
and little other mineral was sought for
And from grass roots down the Animas
Forks district produced silver in what
at that time was considered generous
quantities. In the quest of the white
metal the miners, owing to their lack
of facilities for treating the ores and
their ignorance as to their contents,
threw over the dumps thousands OF
tons of low-grade mineral running well
in gold. copper and lead, such as has
made San Juan county one of the great
est producers of mineral wealth in the
state.
AS time went on, however, rich
strikes in other sections lured many Of
the miners and prospectors away froln
Animas Forks, and finally, owing to
the isolated location of the camp, ii
was entirely deserted and for years 1t
lay dormant, monument to the ex.
penditure of many thousands of dollars
and an uncomputed amount of labor.
All this is changed now, and this
season marks most wonderful change
in the camp. Every old building in
the town has been repaired and is oc.
cupfed and many new structures have
been built to accommodate the army
of men who have gone into the district
to aid in the resurrection of the place.
A postoffice has been established there
two general stores do a thriving bus
mess and four saloons are running
night and day.
1t is estimated that within a radius
of two miles of the town no less than
500 men are now employed in mining
and mill building One hundred and
sixty men alone are employed with
machine drills and other appliances
excavating for the great Gold Prince
mill that is to be erected there this sea
son and which will be in commission
within the next ninety days. This will
be, without a doubt, the finest and
most completely equipped concentrate
ing plant in the entire San Juan coun
try, If not in the state. The aggregate
cost of the plant will be something
over half million dollars. That the
erection of such a mill at Animas
Forks is necessary is fully proved by
the immense bodies of milling ore that
are being blocked out in the Gold
Prince mines, which are being oper.
ated by virtually the same corporation
that made such wonderful success Of
the Gold King properties, near Glad.
stone, about ten miles up Cement creek
from Silverton. Much of the machin.
cry for this new mill is already on the
ground and will be installed as soon as
the structural part of the establish.
ment is completed.