Gilpin observer., 1906-03-01
THE new ROAD NEEDED BADLY.
Necessity Of Increased Transportation Fa.
cl|lties Becomes More Apparent.

One has only to take trip to Nevada
vile and Russell Gulch to be impressed
with the necessity these mining camps
are under ,or better transportation facili
ties and access to water. These camps
look in measure. like deserted villages,
and on all sides are evidences of once
prosperous era. The stacks that we're at
one time belching forth black clouds Of
smoke are, in many instances, no longer
seen. Huge dumps indicate mines that
have in the past paid stockholders large
dividends. Abandoned shaft houses are
with their dinner pals we're seen to en-
ter in the morning and depart at night.
1t is not to the discredit OF these two
camps that more OF tie mines are not in
operation. They are still the richest
camps in Gilpin county and can be made
the largest producers. There still re-
mains sufficient ore 10 most of the idle
mines to last for years. In addition,
there are many undeveloped veins that
are awaiting change to take place
to turn them into producing mines.
Nature has done more to bring about
this condition than any other one cause.
North Clear ceeek, that once furnished
abundant water for milling purposes,
has been steadily losing it's how Today
it is no more than a brook, when years
ago, when these camps were at the height
Of prosperity, volumes of water passed
down the canyon. The flow is now SO
limited that it is inadequate to produce
satisfactory results. The mills are doing
the best they can, but they cannot pro-
duce results out of water that is so
badly contaminated, neither can they in
crease the flow OF the stream. This, to-
gether with the cost of team hauling
from the mines to the mills, are the prin.
cipal causes for the conditions that exist
at the present time in the two camps
mentioned. Other districts are affected
in the same manner but, because OF ad-
vantages of location, have not suffered
to the same extent.
What is the remedy, what can human
hands and brains do to overcome what
nature has been doing ? The solution is
a railroad from these camps to the South
Boulder creek on the Motfat road. The
flow Of unadulterated water is there SO
large that mill OF thousand tons Ca
pacity could not exhaust it. A railroad
with sidetracks can be so constructed as
to reach the principal shippers. and for
the others, the haul by teams is reduced
to the minimum. A reasonable freight
rate, regulated by the value of the ore,
will lay the low. as we'll as the high grade
ores, at the mill at profit. Millmen OF
experience and we'll known to nearly all,
have stated that as soon as railroad is
assured, they will construct mill capa-
BILE OF taking care OF the output Of ore.
The Citizens Committee has carefully
considered the proposition that is now
before the community. They gave it
their endorsement and recommended
that it is public policy to raise the
seventy-ive thousand dollars by popular
subscription. Mine owners should not
let the matter pass without thought or
consideration. II they have not as yet
full confidence in the proposition they
should, out of courtesy to the commit
tee, take time to Investigate, for the com
mittee is composed OF our leading men,
whose endorsement carries weight and
who would not allow their names to be
used in proposition without merit or
stability. The railroad is needed and
should receive the support of the citizens
OF the county.