Gilpin observer., 1906-01-11
Review Of Mining Conditions.

In an editorial review OF the mining
situation in Colorado at the close of
1905, the Denver News says:
Colorado can well point with pride
to all departments Of her precious
metal record for 1904, beginning with
advanced education at her school of
mines and resulting in grand total
of $55,967,547 for the seven factors
now appearing in the output record.
The mint bureau, If it continues in last
years practice, will confine itself to
five factors, omitting the tungsten con-
centrates furnished by the mines of
Boulder county and the chemicals ex-
tracted in this city from the sulphide
ores of the Gilpin gold belt. The joint
value of these two by-products, grow
ing yearly in importance, is $1,170,OO0.
In 1898 the News took up zinc and
manganiferous ores at 100000 for
both-in 1903 the mint recognized zinc
and gave Colorado credit for $5,141,-
$40 for the spelter in such ores, based
oAA thO aNSid6S A>S" 1oiH quoto.ioh.
This citation is made to indicate the
fact that the News pioneers statis-
tics from the mines rather than fol-
lows in the wake of a distant bureau,
which makes known its findings one
year after date, when they are useful
to the state for reference only.
Colorado's gold gain last year, using
mint figures for 1904 as a basis,
reached $5,4S0,S66, or close to 22.5 per
cent. Dredging with expensive ma
chimes was followed in the Clear Creek
valley and at Breckenridge, in the lat
ter case at loss compared with the
year previous, because of the presence
therefore, that the remarkable eff
cheney of the placer dredge in New
Zealand and California, where the
placer soil is sandy and easy to handle,
does not apply to the placers of Colo
rado, except to a limited extent, as
shown at the Swan river placers near
Breckenridge. In California. in 1905,
John Hays Hammond syndicated the
several dredge companies, and under
the new organization they have hand
led the soil at cost as low as 2.35
cents per cubic yard, such a result be-
ing, of course, attainable only with
a new dredge of the most modern and
strongest construction. This record
exceeds the New Zealand experience.
The higher values per yard in Colo
RADIO is the premium offered for such
a modification of the dredge system as
will obviate the difficulty with the
rocks and boulders. When this is ac-
complished millions may be added to
the states output of gold. The expert
| ment near Golden is reported as paying
| fully ten per cent. in excess of ex-
penses, the ground averaging as high
as so cents per cubic yard. The prog
ress of syanide with dump ores at
| Cripple Creek, worth Sc per ton and
less, is satisfactory, the seven small
plants in that camp returning $3S0,3
for the year. The process should. OF
course, be applied on wholesale basis,
with a number of companies Joined in
the ownershop of a plant. Economy in
| creases with the tonnage handled.
| Last years silver increase in Colo
RADIO is figured at $3.130.454, or in ex-
| cess of thirty-five per cent. The de-
mand for lead ores at the smelters.
and an increase of six per cent. in the
market price of bar silver. account
largely for this gain. AS silver is a
noted by-product in many of our gold
ores, mining for the one metal is GER
tain to increase the output OF the
other, with or without intent on the
part of the miner. The year closed
| with a firm silver market at home and
abroad, with no accumulated supplies
| anywhere, both London and New York
| showing exports in excess Of receipts
and Mexican dollars being quoted at a
| premium, with quantities going to the
| melting pot to be shipped as bullion 10
the Oriental market. The appearance
of Secretary Shaw in the market-an
event of the near future. as the mint
department has no silver on hand
means 20 cents per ounce for the per
secuted white metal.
The gain in lead last year was $780,
1853. The gain in average price was
$3.50 per ton, or 7.3 per cent. In the
last week of the year the price Of the
best grade OF lead ore In the Joplin dis
trict WAS SIS, an advance OF 81 over
the highest price paid during the pre-
ceding week. II reports are true. the
National Lead Company and the
United Lead Company are finally to be
consolidated by reason Of the large
purchase of National Lead stock by
people understood to be interested In
the American Smelling and Refining
Company, which is part owner OF the
United Lead Company. This may be
may not be good news to the producer.
1t is true. however. that lead ores are
a basic necessity at the big smelters.
Responding to this necessity. lead-pro-
ducing mines are in demand, and the
Coeur d'Alene district in Idaho, where
lead is prominent, has Just closed the
best year In it's history. One of the
mines, the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
group, has announced December div
idend Of 100000, bringing the total
| dividends to date up to $5.b2G, 900 The