The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-11-23
Critic on Waste Of Eunds

Denver. after several visits recer-.g 20
tins district, has the following 10 say n
regard 20 mine and tunnel developr1-at
IN this section, in Critics LetteF of
his last issue:
have in mind several evidences Of
poor mining methods which have been
adopted IN this feld-an unforr-aate
occurrence, by the bye, which is by no
means common only to the famous
Colorai 10 mining center. The sane
and sound men of Clear Creek deeply
regret that such things apparently
must be, but they are anxious 70 nave
you know that they are compete 20
recognize the difference between good
and bad and they do not stand syon-
sor for that which is detrimentaL |
was fortunate in having 4 long .alk
with one of the best posted mining
men in the county and one who was
fraternity. He expressed concern at
the money being wasted in senseiess
operations both in mining and mill
ing. He was anxious to see vigorous
prospecting carried on in every drec-
ton butt angered him to see money
thrown away because of misdirected
effort There is a sufficient natural de-
gree of speculation in mining without
adding to it the further manufac-
tured risk which comes Of the ignor-
ance the vanity or selfshness Of man.
Our great mining camps are yearnIng
for capital to aid in the develop
ment of worthy enterprises be-
hind which stand experienced and
capable operators, ready to devote
their energies to expending this capt.
tai to the very best advantage. The
people of Clear Creek - Of other
prosperous mining regions, are keenly
anxious to see some Of the deep de-
velopment enterprises completed
and believe, as we do, that it i. a
crying shame that q single one Of
them should lag for want of funds so
long as money is being expended
without apparent reasonable purpose.
While this seeming enormous waste
Of money, time and energy is
going forward the people Of mining
community must stand aside and let
it continue. They can do nothing
to stop it for even should
they make outcry they are classed
either as Knockers" which considered
locally is a crime Of hideous degree,
or as buffers in" with an ulterior
purpose in view.
A striking example of this condition
is apparently presented in the case of
the tunnel which is being driven for
the purpose of exploring = property
known as the Metropolitan. The work
has already been started but whe ther
it will ever be continued to its pro
posed terminal remains to be seen. ]
have been told that this new tunnel
which has its portal close to the
juncture of Clear and Trail creeks, will
have to be driven fully 1900 feet to
penetrate the Metropolitan vein and
my surface measurements Indicate
that it is a conservative estimate in
the sense that the distance will GER
tainly not be less than this.
think any fair minded, mining man
will bear me out if estimate the cost
Of the 1900 #. Metropolitan tunnel at
800, 600 for a minimum. 1t is large
sum Of money but by the time the
4, 900 are driven | think it more than
likely that the expenditure will total
that amount. If this were the only
means by which the property could
be operated at depth, if it were abso-
lutely necessary to test its merits by
the expenditure of 800, 600 might not
be critical of the venture. But to those
who know the lay of the ground the
outlay seems to be unwarranted and
preposterous and people are wonder
ing what argument was set forth
to induce the eastern hackers of the
concern to undertake the expenditure
of so vast a sum-a great share of
which is apparently totally un-
necessary.
The Metropolitan is not located
in desolate uninhabited area
but in Clear Creek, the Oldest
mining district in Colorado At least
two tunnels have been or are now
driving towards the territory owned by
the Metropolitan company and both
could be extended into the property at
considerably lower figure than it is
possible to drive a new 1900 lateral
for. Probably the best adaptable for
this purpose is the Rockford tunnel
owned by the Banner Consolidated
company. This bore is already in over