Gilpin observer., 1905-01-19
Present Mining Outlook.


in Colorado, says the Denver News,
has the outlook in mining, taking the
state as a whole, appeared as favorable
as at present. The new empire opened
up by the extension Of the Moffat rail-
road is beginning to asesrt itself. Near
the Denver end of the line reductions
in treatment and transportation
charges have added perceptibly to
shipments of ores to the smelters.
while the demand for tungsten and the
extractiOn of valuable chemicals from
sulphide ores have added to market
values in the pioneer districts of Boul-
der, Gilpin and Clear Creek, which are
to-day more progressive and much
more reasonably hopeful than in the
days of '59, when their stores of gold
and silver were opened near tc sur
face.
Zinc, added to placer appliances,
will have a leading influence in the
great central ore Selt-Summit, Park,
Lake, Eagle, Pitkin, Chaffee and Gun
nison. The present price Of spelter,
$122 per ton in St. Louis, means bet
ter market for zinc-bearing ores, fact
Of primary importance to Chaffee.
Clear Creek, Custer, Gunnison, Hins-
dale, Lake, Mineral, Ouray, Summit,
'Saguache, San Juan and Dolores coun-
ties. In all of these districts the sup
ply of zinc-bearing ores is large. Mod
| ern concentration plants are separat-
ing the iron and lead from the zinc,
thus creating concentrate which is
popular at reduction works in this
! country and abroad. Instead of $40
per ton for a thirty-five per cent. con-
centrate on the cars, the price to the
| mil NO thn Nf
will soon advance to 500 and $25 per
ton, leaving a margin of $1,000 to $11
per ton for transportation and treat
ment. This is exclusive of the gold
silver values.
The Cripple Creek district, to which
wide attention is called by the prelim-
mary report of the Geological Survey,
has three problems of importance to
work out this year. The first of these
is better drainage for the already ex-
plotted mines. The second is the de-
velopment of the ore zone from sur
face to 1000 feet below, but more es-
pecially the blind vein" area from $50
down to 1000 feet. where the bulk
of the districts gold value is yet con-
cealed. This opinion is Endorsed and
advanced by the Geological Survey,
which is essentially conservative in
Tie eAlSleuCe VI VALUES.
The third-and most general problem
lis reduction in the average cost of
mining and treatment. Upon this point
the Geological Survey makes this per-
tinent remark:
The mining methods employed in
this district present few features of
particular interest. Many large mines
are operated by strong companies, but
the system of leasing to individuals
and small companies, with royalty
charges of fifteen to twenty-five per
cent. Of the net output. remains con-
spicuous feature. The mining and
milling expenses at Cripple Creek are
very high compared with those of
other localities-western Australia,
for example, where similar ores and
conditions are found. Few of the large
mines seem to have reduced total ex-
penses below SIC ton"
In the New Years News, 1904, an ar
ticle by Philip Argall, NJ. E.. presents
this matter in detail, calling attention
to the plausibility of handling 81 Grip
pie Creek ores at a profit, near the
mines and in large cyanide plants.
ThiI was achieved in a measure during
I 1854, which closed with six plants in
operation. The possibilities in this d.
rection are vast. What is accom-
plished in western Australia, with it's
scarcity Of water, dear transportation
and high-priced supplies. should be
possible at Cripple Creek, where all
the conditions are peculiarly favorable.
Colorado's chief mining gain since
the 1893 slump In silver, to which
should be attributed eighty per cent.
Of the $47,285, Ill produced by precious
metal mines In 1904, may be credited
to special and technical training.
Nearly every camp in the state has felt
the effects of this training. Dumps
created by methods In vogue ten years
ago are now moving to the smelters,
while ores which could not be lifted at
that time without loss to the miner
now constitute the bulk of the ship
ments by rail. to say nothing of the yet
lower grades which are treated at the
mills. In speaking Of the value of this
eleWent-by no means limited to min
ing-Comptroller Ridgely says:
Another important and notable
change among enterprises of recent
years Is that they have been in the
hands of men with more special and
technical training. Plans have been
more carefully and scientifically made
and executed. There is a large supply
Of men who have been educated in our
scientific and technical schools better
educated and equipped for such work.
The result has shown better and more
thorough investigation and better
equipment for the work to be done.
in my opinion. 1t would be difficult
to overestimate the value and effect of
the improvement In this direction.
Travel wherever you will in any part
Of the country. you will find everything
being more carefully and scientifically
done. The railroads. mines and fac
tories, and In many places our farms,
are being operated by different type
Of men. with every facility and ad-
vantage that modern science can sug-
rest utilized with more intelligence
and skill, without any abatement in