Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-10-16
, Ia PLATA COUNTY MINES
, 8 G. s. g g g g 6. G, 9, s 6, .. g

The amount Of work now going on
in the different sections of the La
Plata mining district exceeds that OF
any former time during fall months,
and the general preparation for con
tinued work through winter promises
better and more active campaign
tnan the district has had for twenty
years, when DuPauw and several 9th
er companies were spending money
indiscriminately.
1t is often marveled that the won
derful production of the May Day
mine has not exercised a better in
fiuence In attracting capital to this
district, but when 1t is realized that
the May Day is private enterprise.
refusing to give ont anything of the
facts and detail regarding production
for publication, one may stop to won
der how far the fame of the mine has
extended. There are few people In
Denver familiar with the situation in
general way, but their mouths are
sealed about the May Day. Since the
Neglected has done little in produc-
ton for about year. and most OF the
old-time producers are idle for one
reason or another, or no reason at all.
the district has been left without much
to attract, further than the efforts of
the prospector and small operator
But in spite of the things that beset
and retard the La Plata district con
tinues to make certain advancement
in development and production and
will conntiue to gain in magnitude
| each succeeding year. There are many
Investments scattered about over the
southwestern domain which are not
nearly SO sure OF returning reward for
effort and expenditure as are the
greater number of La Plata mining in
vestments. Anything in the district
| today which mas sufficient quantity
of mineral to stated or given values
per ton. which can he treated at prof
| IT is an absolutely certain revenue
Garner. though 1t may require little
more time to establish mills for treat
ing. There are many such properties
in the district. properties which are
within from a dollar to few dollars
of shipping values under present mar
kets. and conditions, and such proper
ties will be taken care of until condi-
tons are right for their profitable
treatment
| What has initiated more against
| the district than all other influences
combined has been its great distance
from money centers, while many 9th
er districts were from one to four
hundred miles nearer to the reach OF
capital Building crazy mills wholly
unfit for the treatment of the ores has
done much harm. because their fail
ure has been misleading, carrying the
idea to the unsophisticated that the
mines were no good. Misrepresenta.
| tion of promoters and hundred other
abuses have done vast harm. too.
individuals ambitious to make sales
have represented that ores were free
milling. when in fact not one per cent
would be free under the modern meth.
ods of milling. Values have been mis-
represented in noles in the ground that
possessed scarcely any values at all
and other properties of unquestionable
merit have been misrepresented
abused and retarded in development
The mining camp far removed from
the centers of money and practical
men must have hard run for its life
But the La Plata district is forging
steadily to the front
II Providence will be good and steer
all the ignorant upstart experts and
crooked promoters and middle men
away from us We will get along all
right
Jesse Shields and Will Musser are
in today from the Lightner creek coun.
try, bringing specimens from a new
discovery above the creek about 900
feet. The ore carries a higher per.
centage of lead than any formerly dis
covered in thai section and one OF
the features is quite as good as any
OF the lead-silver- -gold-copper ore ever
found In the Three Metals company's
properties below II Is thought to be
an extension on the west of the Sun
rise property owned by the Three
Metals. The ore is taken from a
depth of twelve feet from the surface
and appears to be one of the best
blossoms of prospect ever found in
the country. The vein is four feet
wide. mineralized all through, and
though appearing to be low grade, Il
sufficient quantity may probably be
shipped to the local smelter. Work
Will be continued to greater depth and
later on probably some drifting will
be done.
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