Gilpin observer., 1905-12-14
Meyers Work at LeadviI,e.

| The mining and smelling industry OF
| the West suffers distinct and serious
| loss in the death of August r. Meyer
Of Kansas City, says the Leadville Her.
aid Democrat. He was a man whose
name was linked in a most intimate
manner with the entire history OF
| Leadville. Unlike many of his con-
temporaries in the pioneer days OF the
district, he did not relax his interest in
later years, but rather widened and
enlarged the sphere of his activity all
ways retaining a profound faith in the
| greatness Of this district as one Of the
most important centers of mining ac-
tivity in the West.
4, In the earlier days of the history OF
Colorado there were comparatively few
men who came to this region who were
technically equipped to grapple with
the metallurgical problems that were
encountered in connection with the
then unknown ores of the Rocky noun
tains. Mr.. Meyer when he came hers
in the early seventies, was thoroughly
well grounded in the scientific fea/
lures connected with the mining indus,
try. Like the late N. p. Hill. he at
once appreciated the tremendous pos
sibilities of Colorado as producer OF
precious metals, and his keen and prac-
| tical intellect sought out ways and
| means for the solution of the problems
| that pertained to the treatment of the
ores that had already been revealed il
this vicinity in particular
AS early as 1876 he saw the posi-
bility of smelling the lead ores tina:
were already coming into the market.
At that time all this ore was being
shipped to st. Louis at great expense,
for lack of smelling facilities here. The
i &C Ct.ah ict,v Of t1a
this district was the practical outcome
of his efforts to treat the ores of the
district.
| Ever since those dawn days of 1876,
when the young assayer was ponder
| ing over the question of the treatmen.
| OF the Leadville ores and carrying his
| theories to a practical conclusion A.
r. Meyer has been closely identified
with the mining industry of the dis
trict. He established the smelling in
dustry here on solid and enduring
basis. His tireless activity led him
naturally into the mining business, and
he conceived the enormous possibili-
ties that were to result from the great
tunnel enterprise that now bears the
name of the Yak.
Having reached a commanding posi-
ton in the world of finance, particu-
| larly in connection with the smelling
| industry, Mr. Meyer was able to carr!
| out the long cherished plan Of driving
the tunnel under Iron and Breeze hills.
To-day the Yak tunnel enterprise il
one of the greatest monuments OF his
| genius and energy.
Mr.. Meyer was peculiarly a man o.
| action. He believed in doing things
He was broad gagged and liberal in his
views. Those who knew him best
l. af 4.
of the man in pushing ahead investiga-
ions in his favorite field of mining
and metallurgy. Possessed of ;Si am
pie fortune, he devoted a considerable
amount of it to the furtherance of e1,
perimental work in the treatment OF
ores. He took peculiar interest in the
problem OF the treatment of the low
| grade and complex ores of this district
and better and more economic methods
of handling the product While the
| field of his activity was wide. he kept
in close touch with the progress OF tho
great tunnel enterprise. and gave SER
ious consideration to all the problems
| that came up touching the develop
ment of that enterprise and the treat
| ment of the ores that were produced
Leadville owes a debt OF profound
gratitude TO August X. Meyer. or the
| thousands who came to Colorado in the
| early days and particularly those who
| came to this section of the state, few
were equipped with the requisite
| knowledge and technical training 10
grapple with the all important metal
lurgical problems. For nearly two dec
AIDES these precious metal deposits had
been tramped over by thousands O:
placer miners, who failed to realize
their importance or value. 1t was such
men as Meyer and Wood who. when
the lode deposits were discovered,
were able to not only determine the
value of the ore. but to find ways and
means for its proper treatment at the
| point of production.