Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-05-12
START IMPORTANT WORK
Beginning of Immense Drainage
Canal Notable Event.
CRIPPLE CREEK CROWDED.
People Gather From All Over State to
Assist In Inaugural Of an Enssrprise
Tint VIII Add Much Wealth to the
Cold Land Ownsrs.

ginning OF work on the long projected
Cripple Creek drainage tunnel was
celebrated here Saturday by festivi-
ties participated In by the most promi
nent mining and business men OF the
leading cities In the state. Excursion
trains from all parts Of Colorado pour.
ed hundreds OF visitors into the camp.
There was general rejoicing through
out the Cripple Creek district. The
tunnel drain will permit the opening
up of virgin territory containing. II is
estimated. over s20o. 100000 worth OF
gold ore and prolong the mining life OF
Cripple Creek.
About fourteen years ago Winfield
Scott Stratton, n Colorado Springs car
penter. began spending his scant earn.
ings in prospecting some outcroppings
In the Cripple Creek COW pastures.
On July 4. 1891. he located claim on
q vein which gave him rich assays
and he called that claim the lndepend-
ence. He subsequently located many
other claims In the neighborhood. and
few years ago sold his property 10 an
English syndicate for si0.000000. after
extracting many millions from II him
self. In the succeeding years the
Cripple Greek COW pastures were trans
formed into a booming mining camp.
When the high grade ore bodies on the
known veins had been extracted down
10 the GOO foot point. the water tron.
bles OF the district began. A drain.
age tunnel was. therefore. contrived
and eventually driven 20 cut the water
courses OF the district at depth OF
600 feet. hut that tunnel was not deep
enough The shafts soon reached the
tunnel Level and water troubles were
again cncorntered. After months OF
investigation. II was determined 10
drive a deep drainage tunnel which
would drain the camp at a great
depth.
The cost Of such an undertaking Is
enormous, approximating si.OOo.oOo'
The mine owners. the citizens of Color
ado. and the railroads and smelters
Ioined forces and contributed 10 the
raising OF a fund sufficlent- 70 driye
The tunnel. The work was started q
few weeks ago. and Is progressing as
fast as men and money can carry u
forward
The portal OF the tunnel is located
on the stream known as Cripple creek
I and Is situated at an elevation OF S.o2l
4 feet above sea level II will drain The
entire Cripple Creek district at
depth OF about 1880 feet from the sur
face. or $50 feet below the present
water level. The district is drained
AZ present by the II Paso tunnel
which cuts the El Paso mine on th'
west side Of the district. ION Beacon
HID. at a depth OF about 600 feet from
the surface. and the Vindicator mine
on the east side OF the camp. az 9
depth OF 1875 feet. II will therefor'
be seen that the new tunnel will draif
the Beacon HIN section at depth o.
about $50 feet and the east side at I
depth OF about 1000 feet from the sur
face.
The deepest shaft In the camp u
now about 1900 feet The new tunne
will. therefore. make available all th'
way from zoo TO l.200 feet Of additiona
ore bodies below the present waite
level and this will add millions In pro
duction.
The length OF this tunnel from 10
portal 10 the main contact near the =
Paso shaft, at which point Il begins Z
drain the district. Is about $4,000 fee
and figuring at the rate OF $50 per foot
would cost 100000 To this point II
| continue II TO the vindicator. a furthe
distance OF about $4,000 feet. as est
mated. would cost an additional $500
600.
II Is figured that II will take abou
two years 10 dig TO the contact an
between one and one-half TO two year
longer 10 build the tunnel TO the Ni'
dlcator shaft, or total OF from thre
and a half 10 four .-"ars - construs
the tunnel. But al .-'s the ore WI
be extracted from the upper and r
claimed levels
The magnitude and importance
: this project can be best conceived !
means OF figures showing what II wi
add. In dollars and cents on the world
gold production.
The Cripple Creek district has TN
far produced more than two hundr'
million dollars During 1906 the pr
duction was nearly si7.00o.0OO az
this rate OF production has been stea
lily maintained for years. II Is es
mated that the driving OF the de-
drainage tunnel will enable the Cri
ple Creek district to double It's pre-
ent record.