Gilpin observer., 1907-01-10
news FROM THE Mines and MILLS
Great Cripple Creek Tunnel.

Great Cripple Creek Tunnel.
The intermediate or Catch Park
tunnel will be constructed by the Grip
pie Creek mine owners to drain the dis
trict.
This action was decided on at pro
longed conference of the directors Of
The Cripple Creek Tunnel and Drainage
Company in the Offices Of President 8.
8. Bernard January I'd. William Len
nox and G. c. Hamlin were the only
members Of the board not present, but
both were represented at the meeting,
and the decision to build the interme-
aiate tunnel was unanimous.
Work will start as soon as the mills,
Smelters and railroads sign their sub.
scription contracts.
Those present at the meeting were:
8. s. Bernard, F. F. CASTILLO, Sher-
wood Adrich, ]. T. Milliken, F. G..
Peck, F. ]. Campbell and A. e. Carl
ton.
i
meeting gave the tunnel company d.
rectors full power to select the tunnel
the decision thus made is final. The
mine owners have subscribed 100000
and 100000 additional has been SUBJ
scribed from the smaller mines, which
will probably pay a percentage based
on productions. The mills, smelters
and railroads will be called on for the
remaining $15O,OOO necessary to make
| np the $1,000000. They have inti-
mated that they will subscribe this
amount and work will start on the tun-
nel the instant subscriptions are re-
ceived. Each of the nine directors has
constituted himself committee of one
10 facilitate the completion of the sub
| scription and the beginning of actual
work upon the bore.
Although the tunnel, it is expected,
will cost less than $750,0O0, the mine
owners are proceeding on the supposi-
ton that the expenditure will aggre-
gate $1,000,000 in order to be on the
safe side. All money not spent at the
completion of the tunnel will be re-
| iurned to the mine operators, railroads
to the subscription given.
At the office of President Bernard 1t
was confidently announced that work
will start at once after $150,000 is sub
scribed by the railroads and mills. The
tunnel may be begun before January
18th, although no definite statement to
that effect can be made at the present
time. Although the railroads and
smelters are confidently expected to
give the sum mentioned, the project
has progressed so far that it is assured
regardless of any unforeseen contin-
gencies which may arise with regard
to expected subscriptions.
According to the figures Of Engineer
D. w. Brunton of Denver, who recon-
mended the tunnel chosen as one Of
three practicable for the drainage OF
the district, the intermediate tunnel
can be driven from its portal in Catch
park to the main water course or point
of contact of the granite and eruptive
rock. a distance of 1880 feet, in 81
years, at a cost of 100000. This will
give relief to the west side mines, includ-
ing the Elkton, Ell Paso and Mary Nc
Kinney. The operators propose then to
continue the tunnel to the Vindicator
shaft, distance Of IL GAO feet, the ad-
ditional time being 3.2 years. The cost
will be 1921, 900.
The entire tunnel will thus be 27,-
100 feet in length and will be com
pleted in 5.3 years and will cost a to-
ia. of N21,000. The mine owners,
however, are certain that Brunton's fig
ures can be lowered as to the cost.
The east side mines benefited by the
tunnel between the main water course
and the Vindicator shaft include the
Portland, Vindicator, Granite, Strong
and Golden Cycle.
The main water course which Is at
the contact Of the granite with erup-
tive rock, is 1900 feet south of the
Mary Mckinney shaft, from 1900 to
1900 east of the FL Paso and 1,200 feet
west of the Elkton.
The portal of the intermediate tun-
mel will be 1853 feet below that of the
present E. Paso or Cripple Creek tun-
mel. The average depth gained below
the Cripple Creek will be TAO feet, thus
opening up q vast region of virgin ter
ritory. The elevation of the portal
above sea level will be 5000 feet. as
compared with S,773 feet for the Grip
Pile Creek portal. The intermediate
will be ITO feet below the Cripple
Creek tunnel, although the variation in
grade results in i general average of
TAO feet as depth gained. The tunnel
shaft, which will be 1910 feet from the
portal, will be 500 feet deep. The TAO
feet Of depth gained will thus cut the
FL Paso shaft at a depth Of between l.
500 and 1,400 feet.