The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-28
GOLD OUTPUT OF
CRIPPLE CREEK
Product of Mines For Last Year
Amounts to Sl5,000,000
RICH STRIKES ARE MADE
Great Progress Has Been Made In
Methods of Treatment of Low
Grade Ores Which Add To
Value of the Mines.
RICH STRIKES ARE MADE

Colorado, Springs, January 27-(Special)
The Cripple Creek district during the year
1903 maintained its reputation as the,
worlds greatest gold mining camp" with
a production of 743,513 tons of a gross
bullion value of $15.850.113. g. This brings
the total production of the camp since its
discovery in 1891 well past the $3.50, 100000
mark. Compared to the production for
lsoS, as estimated by the state bureau of
mines. 1903 shows an increase of s2,S1S,197
The average value of all ores subjected
to treatment was $21. As.
During the year dividends of record
amounting to s1,100,531. 06 were paid by
IL companies as against nine in 1908. In
addition to dividends of record. profits of
the close corporations were between $780,
600 and $750O00, while the profits of the
leasing companies was approximately 81
0o0,0O0 Between 300 and $500 miners were
the year being 100000.
The main features of the year were the
extension Of leasing operations, the steady
progress of the deep drainage tunnel, rich
strikes on the lower levels indicating fu-
ture possibilities of deep mining, and the
discovery and adoption of methods for the
treatment of low-grade ores, with the
consequent increase In the activity OF
mills within the district.
The solution of the low-grade treatment
may almost be spoken of as an accomp-
lishment of the year 1908, three of the big
gest producers, the Strattons Independ-
ence, Ltd, the Portland and the Golden
Cycle, taking the lead in perfecting meth
DDS. AS a result millions of tons of ore
heretofore considered of too low value,
now lying OH the dumps and in abandoned
workings. will be converted into gold.
The drainage tunnel will be completed
within the year, according to present in
dicatfons 1t will drain the camp at a
depth of 100 feet below the present water
level and competent mining men are Of
the opinion that this big bore will prolong
the lie of the camp many years and add
tens of millions of dollars to the worlds
gold supply
The production of the entire state of
Colorado for the year 1909 in gold. Sill
yer, lead, copper and zinc is estimated
at $4o,l2.as. If to this is added the pro-
auction OF the lesser known minerals and
the value of chemicals extracted FRONT
the ores. the total is increased to s42.575.-
sH From 1865 to date, the state has
contributed in the f1ve miners named
above N,002, 15, 1856 to the worlds
wealth as follows: Gold, SAT-, 1877. 2S1. AZ:
silver, so, 64l.651.14 lead, $142,155 $50. u;
copper. sss.5 ,S7s2: SIM, $2s. sso,o5442; to-
tai. s1.oe2, AS,O7sSa
T Colorado opens the new year with the
prospect of a greater amount of irri-
CATION development than during any pre-
yious year in it's history. 1t is estimated
that enterprises now under way or pro-
Jected for the coming year will add fully
100000 acres to the land already under
irrigation in this state, which is placed by
reliable authority at 2.317,2 55 acres This
great development is due to the perfec-
ton OF storage reservoir systems, the
TACT that farmers are becoming more ed
ucated in scientific methods, and the re-
suits already achieved under irrigation.
During the year 1909 filings were made
with the state engineer for 59S reservoir
sites, with total capacity of 4S9, All, H.
900 cubic feet or 10.os7 sos acre feet, the
total cost Of which Is estimated at $685.
$4,000. While 1t is not expected that
all of these projects will be carried
through, 1t IL a conservative estimate
that as a result of these filing more
than 100000 acres of land will be put
under water within two years.
Proof of the growing popularity of Col
orado among homeseel1ers is found in the
increased number of applications made
to the state land board. During 1909
there were 4sS applications representing
% states, as against 10 in 1905 Up to
February. 1909. only 26oO acres all told
had been entered by settlers under the
Carey act while from February / to De-
cen1ber /, 1900, 1900 were entered. In
1908 tho state sold 220Oo acres; in 1909,
1900. The number of acres to be irri-
gated under contract Is 5000, the state
receiving an average price of $12 an acre.
There are %, 100000 acres of unsettled
land in Colorado; the value of school
lands owned by the state is S50,O00.000.