Semi-weekly herald., 1908-08-10
La PLATA
DISTRICT
Considerable Mining
Activity Noted by
Correspondent
Hesperus, Colo. Aug. 7, 1908.

To the Editor of the Durango Herald
To fulfill promise made you sew
eral days ago, herewith submit some
copy, under the head Of mining news,
and to begin with. will only cover the
lower part of the district and Ohlwiler
| ridge at this writing.
The general impression of many is
that the May Day mine is practically
| closed This, however, is a mistake,
| and under the able management of
Mr.. Kelley and Superintendent Smith,
the mine is producing as usual. They
have been and are now working from
| twelve to fourteen men, and during
the month OF July shipped some four
| teen cars of ore, all of which was
| good grade.
| Just northwest of the May Day
about one-fourth of a mile is situated
the Idaho. one of the properties of
the Valley View Gold Mining company.
The Idaho is situated on the southern
extreme end of Ohlwiler ridge, prom
| inent hogback of the La Plata noun.
tains extending from the La Plata
river northeast to Deadwood mountain.
| The Idaho, during the year 1907, ship
ped somewhat In excess of 1000 tons
of ore, for which the company re-
uary /, 1908, has shipped something
l like 100000 worth of ore. The com
pany is now installing power plant
of about four air drill capacity and
have started lower cross-cut, which
will top the vein 105 feet deeper than
the present workings, and 211 feet
lower than the collar of the first
working shaft. When this is com
pleted the Idaho may be expected to
carve its name in letters of gold on
the tower of fame. along with some of
the big producers of this state.
Just across the La Plata river
Messrs. John Strayer and John Cum
ningham are operating on lease and
bond on the Movaritz, and seem to be
just on the eve of making a shipper.
The grade, however is such at present
that 1t will about pay transportation
and smelter charges. A small change
for the better would add another ship.
per to this end of the camp, and the
writer would be pleased to write an
article soon, on how the Johnnies
made it win.
Then north of the Idaho and on
line parallel with the Idaho, Messrs
Sheehan and Conroy are operating on
a lease and bond on the Little La Plata
lode and are extracting some very high
grade copper and gold ore. They
have just made trial shipment to the
smelter and II the writer was to tell
here how many 500 gold pieces Tim
Sheehan expected to haul back to the
La Platas with him when he gets a
settlement with the smelter It would
look like telling stories out of school,
so will only add they certainly have
n fine prospect, and are working sew.
erald men.
Messrs. Reider and Mulford have a
property east of the Sheehan lease,
near the top of Ohlwiler ridge, and
opened blanket vein along the line
in the La Plata sandstone. This is
new departure for ore occurrence in
this district and is being carefully
watched by mining men here. They
also have just made a shipment to the
smelter.
Just north Of the Reider property
Milton Hollingsworth is doing annual
work on his group. Is also saving ore
for shipment
The Lucky Four Mining company
situated one-half mile up Burned Tim
Der gulch on the north slope of Oil.
wiler ridge. are driving a cross-cut
for the intersection of several prom!
nent veins, have reached a point in
235 feet, and have about 300 feet far
ther to drive to reach the point of in.
tersection. They are working an elec-
trio air drill plant and two shifts. and
are making about 100 feet per month
The Unexpected, one of the most
promising properties in this end of
the district Is not being worked this
year, for the reason that until recent.
ly the company (the Van Emmett Gold
Mining Coz, would not fix price
on the property. This group of fifteen
claims cover the top of ohlwiler ridge,
three-fourths of mile northeast of
the Idaho mine.
l almost forgot to say before closing
this chapter on Ohlwiler ridge that
G. w. Avery and associates, have some
one-half ounce gold ore one-half mile
north of the Van Emmett group, aud
are busy trying to get a process to work
the ore on the ground. the values being
too low to stand smelter and transpor.
tation charges. SIMPSON.