The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1910-02-12
MINT FIGURES INDICATE CoNsio-
ERA6lE DECREASE FROM
PREVIOUS YEAR.
STILL LEADER IN GOLD
RANKS THIRD IN SILVER PRODUC-
TON WHILE LEAD AND
ZINC INCREASE.

III pTouuCtlOn oil precious Hietaie PIC
iiminary mint figure indicate material
| decreases for Colorado in 1909 accord
ing to the governments bulletin. Not
withstanding this, Colorado remains
the heaviest producer Of gold in the
United States and ranks at least third
in silver output Under the stimulus
OF better prices for lead and zinc there
was considerable increase in the
yield Of those metals.
Generally. there was more activity
in mining circles OF the state in 1909
than in 1908. At the close OF 1908
most OF the base-metal camps had be.
gun to recover from the low-metal
prices OF 1907 and OF the early part OF
1908. and Throughout 1909 there was
gradual resumption of operations
through the various districts. The in.
crease in activity In the gold camps
during 1908, as the result of the in
flux Of miners due TO the closing of
mines in the less profitable base-metal
camps. suffered no decline when work
was resumed in those camps.
over half a million dollars from the
output OF the prosperous year of 1908.
Local cyanide plants were unusually
active in the district however, and the
Roosevelt drainage tunnel was ad.
vanced steadily and by December I.
1909. was in about 1900 feet. with
$500 feet yet to be completed. AS yet
no heavy flow Of water has been en-.
countered. one small water-course CIV
ing off about 100 gallons a minute. In
December the United States Reduction
and Refining Company reduced
charges for freight and treatment on
$40 ore to 81 ton, with the result
that more low-grade ore is being mar
keted.
Lower Clear Greek county showed a
decrease as compared with 1908. and
upper Clear creek produced about the
same amount as in 1908. There was.
however. consid yrable activity around
Georgetown, Silver Plume. and Argen.
tine in the way Of developments and al.
so in unwaterinp some old properties.
Gilpn county enjoyed a prosperous
year. The breast Of the Newhouse tun.
mel at the close Of the year crossed
Nevada gulch and the tunnel should
reach compIetiOu within the next six
months. Many II the old mines in.
creased their output and many new
producers Were added to the list. The
| discovery of a successful method OF
cyanIdlng the Gilpin county ores was
made early in 1909. and plans are on
foot to erect custom cyanide plant.
OsTeneral interest in the operation OF
Clear Greek county and Gilpin county
mines was the decision OF the stock.
holders Of the Boston and Colorado
Smelling Company to close the his
torlc Argo smolter at the close OF the
year. During October the new Modern
smelter. at Utah Junction. near Den.
yer. was blown in. II is said that the
old Carpenter smelter. at Golden, will
be again in operation at the begin.
ming OF 1910 ON ores from the Clear
Creek mines OF the new company
which he's purchased the smelter prop.
erty.
Lcadyille took on new lease Of
life In 1909. Some important discov.
Na''o N'i' III tue koiu ocit
district OF Leadyille, and the rise In
the price OF spelter was sufficient to
advance greatly the shipments OF zinc
ores. The Yak tunnel had passed the
Resurrection No. . shaft at the close
OF the year. and is headed for the Dia.
mond property. The length OF the main
drive Is now about 3.32 miles. At the
threc.mile mark lateral was driven
for 1000 feet to tho New Monarch
mine.
Although ouray county mrdc an In.
creased ~iiput in 1909. the San Juan
district was heavily handicapped by .
very severe spring and by washouts on
the railroads In the fall. Active ship
ping from Silycrton. Ouray and Tellur.
idc was not possible until after March.
and Silvcrton was cut off from rail-.
road transportation by wasaouts for
forty-six days In July and August. and
again for nearly forty days In Scptcm.
Der and October.
On September 8 tho railroad be.
tween Telluride and PiAccrvillc was
washed out by the bursting OF tho dam
OF tho Trout Lake reservoir. which
supplies tho Telluride Power Com.
pany's electric plant. transportation
by railroad was not resumed until late
In tho year. The yield from tho San
Il "a. A.