Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-04-26


a fair way 10 become a producer OF
good ore with the beginning of spring,
and number of properties in that
vicinity. including the Old Saxon
which has worked all winter, will be
under development within a short
time
The Empire company. operating on
the Swiss or Small Hopes group, is
now close to the desired point of con
nection with the Small Hope vain,
having run cross-cut tunnel which
Is now about 1900 feet in length.
More than dozen veins gave been
cut by this cross-cut and during the
present year quite extensive develop
ment OF the veins will be effected
by drifting and upraising
There appears to be little use to
speculate on what will be done with
the Columbus mine, which was food.
ed by the owners after it had been
asserted that their south drift ran
into the Lorillard ground, when over
lures were made to purchase that
property. The Columbus appears TO
be hoodooed ever since the manage
ment, through faulty slides in the
shaft, killed three men who were 300
feet under ground, having just loaded
and fired 16 heavy machine holes and
finding themselves caught in a trap
like rats. when the cage would not
| move.
On the east side of the range the
| Durango Girl is working with good
force in two shifts and as soon as the
snow is out of the canon sufficiently
to permit packing, the mine win be-
| gin to snip ore.
No one seems to know when the
Neglected will resume. 1t is conject-
ured that until litigation hinging on
a recent decision OF the supreme
(, court, in which motion was recently
filed, asking for reconsideration is de-
| termined upon, the mine will remain
idle. x
There will be much other work OF
development however, in the vicinity
of the Neglected as soon as the roads
and trails are again open to traffic.
7 Numerous development enterprises
J are ready to Sstart along Junction
and Lightner creeks as soon as the
4 trails are made easier of passage by
the continued melting of the SHOWS.
4 No district with as much to its
credit as the production OF the Neg
lected, May Day, Durango Girl, Eur
eka and Bulldozer, Bessie G., Cum
berland group and numerous other
mines which might be mentioned, will
retire from the active field of Western
mining. There will be plenty of mon
ey this year for La Plata mining
When districts with half the showing
can find ready money from Europe
waiting at New York for Investment,
a gold district whose ton or car can
not be duplicated in the West for
richness, will not be out of the doings.
1t is true that many of the veins in
the La Platas, so far as develop
ments nave shown, are of a sulphide
character and low grade, and will
require the minimum cost of treat
ment to ever pay margin, but the
tellurium and higher grade gold veins
of the district have paid owners and
leasers, and under intelligent manage.
ment will continue to pay.
The right kinas of mills for all dis
tricts have come slowly and the La
Platas have been no exception. The.
camp needs mill men today more than
anything else. 1t is true that much
money is needed for the development
of most promising prospects, but were
the right sort of mills here now there
are many dumps which will show
pay for proper treatment.
Among the better properties there
is no longer much opportunity to wolf
or steal ore under pretext of prom
ised development, The owners have
tired of this and refuse to do anything
; but business.
There is no local money ready for
anything but sure thing, so outside
{ money must be had