Gilpin observer., 1905-01-05
coLoRApo's MAGNIFICENT MIN
ING RECORD FOR 1904.

this state, notwithstanding the sharp
OF agriculture, the digging
of coal and the manufacture of iron,
steel and allied products.
Colorado continues to stand first
among the gold-producing states, says
the Denver Republican in it's annual re-
view.
From all mining sections Of Colo
RADIO come reports of mineral strikes
of uneQualed size and richness. The
old-time spirit exists. Millions are in
the slopes and millions are under
cover, the former yielding steadily, the
latter awaiting the enterprise of the
miner.
There is enough mineral in these
mountains to make thousands wealthy.
Only small part of the field has been
prospected, and those who venture in
a Colorado mining enterprise this year
do SO under the most favorable circum-
stances ever known.
The Cripple Creek district has en-
tirely recovered from the strike trou-
bles. The last three months the dis
trict has produced gold at the rate of
100000 a month. All camp records
were broken the last month with an
output Of $2.225,O00. The worlds rich
est mining section promises to equal in
1905 the total gold output of the state
in 1904. In the last six months min
eral finds have been made at Cripple
Creek that would have astonished the
world had they been made elsewhere.
Leadville, at the age of twenty-five
years, has been born again. The most
sensational ore bodies were discovered
there in 1904. Mother Earth's treasure
vaults apparently exist in the second
contact under the Leadville basin. One
ore body, reported to be las feet thick
and covering thirty acres, opened early
in the year. producing $4,000 day
profit, and developments on Rock hill
are equally rich and important. The
known ore zone has been vastly ex-
tended, and Leadville starts it's second
Quarter-century with assurance of long
life and prosperity.
The San Juan country is holding its
own with important strikes and ton
mage. Idaho Springs broke the record
few days ago by sending out twenty
one cars of ore in one day. Deep de-
tricts OF Gunnison county and good
values are found at vertical depth of
1000 feet in that section.
There is comparatively no limit to
the mineral wealth of the state, the
veins are continuous. as far as known,
and there can be no restrictions set to
the prosperity based on that wealth.
Smelling Center Of America.
Colorado is the recognized smelling
center of America. 1t was in this state
that the first smelling plant was
erected in 1867, and the industry has
ever since increased in Importance and
magnitude. The science has been
brought to perfection, and undoubtedly
Colorado will continue to hold its su-
premacy during the years to come in
regard to the number of plants and
tonnage treated.
At present there are twelve smelling
plants in the state. the most of them
owned by the American Smelling and
Refining Company. Two of them are
zinc smelters. Pyritic plants are To-
Gated at Golden, Leadville, Grand
Junction, Buena Vista, Silverton,
Ouray, Pearl and Robinson.
The Independent Smelling and Re-
fining Company's furnaces at Golden
were "blown in" two months ago. They
are smelling 200 tons of ore day and
have a capacity of 300 tons. They have
encourage low-grade ore production.
Clear Creek and Gilpin.
The pyritic smelter at Grand juno
tion has been completed. 1t has a
daily capacity of from 300 to 500 tons.
The ores will come from the western
slope.
A matte plant, with 1O0-ton capac-
nf ri
in Larimer county, by the National
Copper Mining and Smelling Company,
to reduce the copper ores of that sec
tion. The town of Pearl is five miles
from the Wyoming line.
Besides the ores Of local production,
ore from the British possessions on the
north, from the Black Hills in South
and from some of the South
American countries. are transported
here to have their contents reduced
and refined into bullion.
The improvements in smelling year
by year have resulted in reduced
charges and higher saving of values.
and the new year starts with the sew
eral plants smelling larger tonnage
than ever before in the history of the
state.
The history Of ore treatment during
the last decade Is one of evolution in
all respects. The enormous ore pro-
duction Of Cripple Creek district has
caused the erection Of many cyanide
and chlorination plants to be erected
to treat the low grade tellurium ores.
These are known as chemical pro
cesses. and SO perfect has their work
been done that now these reduction
plants reduce more ores from the
Cripple Creek district than are han
died by the smelters.
CoIorado's Zinc Production.
Zinc production In Colorado prom
ises to take the place OF silver as the
mineral ranking next to gold In value
OF output. In 1903 zinc production
leaped with amazing bounds. and 1904
shows another increase OF twenty per