Gilpin observer., 1906-06-21
Colorado Mining Conditions.

stant contains the following summary
of mining conditions in Colorado:
The proposal Of the American Smelt-
ing and Refining Company to give to
its employees of grade less than fore
man bonus of five per cent. of their
earnings is to be put into effect at
once, without waiting for the expira-
tion of the calendar year. Oficial an
nouncement of the change was made
last month. All employees who were in
the service of the company January
1st, and also May 1st, of this year, will
be entitled to bonus for the first four
months of the year, which will be dis
tributed July 1st. Following this, bo-
muses. will be distributed for periods of
four months each.
The commencement of the Colorado
School of Mines was marked by gen.
erous gift to the school of $4,000 by
Mr.. Simon Guggenheim for the pur
pose Of furnishing the building for the
construction of which he had pre-
viously given $4,000. The growth
and advancement of this institution is
such as to call forth the most generous
support on the part of the mining men
of the state, and as a result it is adding
rapidly to it's equipment.
The Denver mint coined approx
mstely $9,OOO.OOO in gold during May.
together with small amount of silver.
The receipts for the month were ap.
proximately $2,5OO,O0O in gold and over
$4,000 in silver, the latter exceeding
previous receipts for the year, except
ing those of February, when over $5,-
600 was reported.
The incorporation of the United
States Portland Cement Company,
about the middle of last month, marked
the launching of a new industry. The
company owns about $50 acres of cem-
ent Shale land in Fremont county, and
will erect 500-barrel cement mill in
the immediate vicinity. The new plant
will be constructed along the most
modern lines and will be the center of
new town which will be laid out
In the Leadville district the disap-
pearance of the snow from the noun
tains has caused a revival in prospect
ing and reopening Of number of the
more isolated properties. An increas-
ing number of these will carry on oper-
ations the balance of the season. The
rapid drying of the roads will permit
resumption of shipments from proper
ties which have been temporarily
blockaded. A matter of unusual inter
est in the district was the opening OF
the Searle placer litigation on the 1st
on May. Since that date great num-
ber of witnesses have been called and
mass OF testimony introduced. Those
who have followed the course of the
hearing have, as yet, been unable TO
draw conclusions as to the probable
outcome of the litigation.
More or less publicity has been
given to the so-called new gold fields
of Park county. which first came into
prominence last month. 1t is reported
that there are vast deposits of low
grade ore amenable to the cyanide pro-
cess, which can be worked at a reason
able profit. Sufficient data are not at
hand or which to make any reliable
statements regarding the value of the
reported discoveries. although the dis
trict has proved sufficiently attractive
to men of means who are now conduct
ing Investigations
An unfortunate encounter between
striking smelter employees and deputy
sheriffs occurred at the Pueblo plant OF
the American Smelling and Refining
Company early in May. The laborers
were out on strike for reduction OF
hours and increase of pay, and the
deputies had been commissioned 10
prevent violence. AS the result of
clash between the two bodies, one of
. III. ,..,I
others injured.
Coincident with the close of most
prosperous month in the Cripple Creek
district came the announcement of
number Of transactions which promise
to work hardship on the states most
productive camp. About the middle of
MAY the entire Cripple Creek railway
system. with the exception of the
Short Line, was purchased by Messrs.
MacNeill and Penrose of the United
States Reduction and Refining Com
pany. together with certain New York
and Boston parties. Following closely
upon the consummation of this deal II
was announced that the socalled mill
trust had been absorbed by the Amer
lean Smelling and Refining Company
This, in turn, was followed by the pro-
mitigation OF the most stringent and
arbitrary sampling regulations on the
part of the mill trust that had ever
been known in Colorado since fair
sampling became the basis of ore buy
ing md selling. These regulations. to-
gether with comments, were published
in recent issue of this journal.
The Mine Owners association of the
Cripple Creek district has decided to
take steps to prosecute parties guilty
of dealing in stolen high-grade ore. 1t
is reported that there is considerable
fund in the treasury derived from high
grade ore which has been confiscated,
and that this sum will be used in prose-
cution.
The May output Of the Cripple Creek