Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-01-21
PROGRESS
OF HOME
GOLD CAMP

| the lomanaWk mining company op.
Grating in the La Plata district, came
down yesterday evening from the
coming great gold camp, the one
which will doubtless be nearest to
Cripple Creek in production of gold.
of all the gold camps In Colorado.
Since Mr.. Crowds has been in the
La Plata district he has been asso.
ciated with some important develop
ments bearing upon the greater pro,
| duction of the district. About two
years ago he took a contract on the
lower crosscut of the May Day tun.
mel. driving 2,011 feet in ten months
with air drills, and cutting that great
vein at nearly l,0Oesfeet depth, where
greater mine tkxu ApSeared in the
upper workings wa1 pgbven It VIII
be recalled by many of the mining
people In local circles that the end
of the survey line on this project
was awaited with much interest and
anxiety, but there was man be-
hind who had driven the great Rev.
enue tunnel at Ouray to cut the Virl
ginius group at 2,2O0 feet depth and
there was plenty of money to do
hundred times the work to be done
on the May Day crosscut. The May
Day has proven more for the La
Platas than any other development in
its history.
Mr.. Crowds has been associated
with the Tomahawk company since
the first OF last June, when the work
of breaking ground for a power plant
was begun. On the first of July the
plant was operative and electric air
drills were started on crosscut
comprehending the system Of con
verging veins north of the Little Jane
mine out of which some of the rich
est tellurium ever mined in the La
Plata district was taken The cross
cut has been driven enarly TOO feet
in six months, and through dicrite
without seam or fracture "a anbraek
to. Mr.. Crowds says the new drill
Is the thing. 1t is expected to cut
the Jane vein in less than 100 feet
more of bore, at depth of about 450
feet.
The Tomahawk company has been
working Systematically with conf
dence that exploration of the great
vein system at this point will be re-
warded.
The situation was never more
brilliant in the La Plata district or
in any other gold camp. in spite OF
the fact that Cripple Creek has fin
ally arrived at solid basis of pro-
duction and that Nevada has the
mining worlds eye.
W. r. Price, manager OF the EN-
pire Gold Mining company, operating
the Small Hopes group ,of mines,
west OF the La Plata river, came
down yesterday evening. The report
er failed to find Mr.. Price. but his
friends are authority for the state
ment that he has cut the Small
| Hopes vein with his big crosscut
| bore, which has been under way over
two years. Those familiar with the
district say this means mere for
deep mining than any other enter
prise which has proven greater ore
| bodies at greater depth.
Owners of mining bonanzas in the
La Plata district who contemplate
reaching the distinction enjoyed by
the late Winfield Scott Stratton OF
Cripple Creek will be interested In
the fact that the legislature few
| days ago found 1t necessary to ap-
point a committee to Investigate the
affairs of the Stratton estate. This
action is probably justified by the
states rights, in Inheritance tax
While these last scenes are passing
and the spectacular career of the
dramatic Stratton are being refexed
our bonanza owners in the La Platas
may contemplate the futility OF striv
ing for great wealth. Stratton's mil
lions never did him much good, ant
up to this time have not done grea
good for individual or public, further
than to help demonstrate the rich
. ness of the Cripple Crekek district