Gilpin observer., 1909-12-30

rado Territory. Knew the Pacific lod
In Russell mining district, which wa
! discovered in 1860. He worked tn,
property for space of three months
The quartz from It ran $3.50 to 500,
/ per cord in gold dust, on an old-fash
ioned and impefect quatz mill we hat
in this county at the time,', yet he
naively states that the parties owning
the claim quit work because, under
the process for treating the ore
with the machinery then in use in
Colorado, "the gold that was known
to be in the quartz could not be
saved" The affidavit was sworn tc
before Hal Sayr, Notary Public,
and the scent revenue stamp was
cancelled.
Then letter from George R. Nit.
chell follows. 1t was addressed at
Nevada City, Colorado Territory, May
29th, 1865. This letter was written to
VIM. Hickok, Jr., and says he had
made selection of valuable gold
mines to organize a company. The
letter is very minute in its details.
Captain P. McKenna, U. S. A., made
survey OF the ground selected.
Much CT the gold, he claims, is lost
in dressing the ore either through
inexperience or inefficiency of the
amalgamating process of panning, ex-
ecuted by ordinary miners, as the top
quartz or oxydized ore contains the
greatest per centage of free gold.'
Speaks well of the Topeka and juno.
ton. The absence of practical pro-
cesses for treating was to be deplor-
ed; therefore, many of the miners,
under the influence of these faults
are now idle, waiting the arrival and
erection of more efficient machinery"
Speaks of the Frank lode as having
an excellent reputation. This mine
could yield $40 to s14 per day to the
hand. The Ohio was also rich in gold
The Pacific had this record: Ex-
cavating, SIS per cord; sS per cord
for transportation; $50 for reduction,
the total being $50 per cord. The low
est yield was $3.50, leaving s97." The
Rumley and Scientific American and
Kinney are also mentioned. He wants
Mr.. Hickok to remember that min
ers with limited capital are oblig-
ed to have immediate returns in or
dor m rnaot currapt aypapcac Coyc
there are inferior mills in the district
and gives reasons why work was sus-
pended. He recommends the proper
ties in the highest terms.
Hon. VIM. Train Muir writes to Mr..
Hickok, Jr., from New York, July Sth,
1865, and speaks of the Topeka, juno
ton, Pacific and Ohio lodes. He thinks
the Topeka one of the best mines in
Colorado. He compares it to the
'Secreto." Three more letters follow
ed, all addressed to Mr.. Hickok, Jr
They refer to the properties men
toned above and are very laudatory.
These are followed by a testimonial
tion. A mining engineer Jas. L. Will
son, a practical man and also a per-
son Of very scientific attainments"
OF Nevada City, c. T.. Sept. 7th, 1865,
wrote that the Topeka had a mas
ter lode" Three veins branch from
tie Topeka, confined group of
four extensive and promising depos-
it's" Speaks of several galleries that
could be worked on one level through
one shaft" He had an eye on the
economical working of the property.
suggesting the erection of a mill.
Assays of ore follow that were
made by Maynard & Tiemann from
ore taken from the Topeka. One re-
turned $3S031. Other assays were
made by Behr & Keith
There are extracts from the Black
Hawk Mining Journal, August 5th
1865, including August Goth and 2Sth
These are mostly about the Keith
process of smelling ores. The works
were close by the old Milwaukee mill
The first ore treated was from the
Maria, a silver mine. One of the ar
ticles is quite lengthy and says a
hundred stamp mill in Colorado will
have cost $100,000; enterprises start
ed two years since were still In
allegiance. Wet weather on the plains
was blockading freight, as did the In
dians the year before. One large train
required a year to reach its destina-
tion after leaving the river. And
much more to the same effect. A
very interesting piece of literature
showing the conditions of mining in