Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-07-04
COMING TO THE FRONT.


The Herald scribe visited Silverton
last week and enjoyed couple Of days
in the great gold and silver producing
camp. SilvertOn and San Juan coun-
lty people have labored under many dis.
advantages the past year and. COM
bined with lull in mining. the effect
is quite noticeable. In the first place.
just as the mines were getting ready
to ship last season came the long
blockade on the Denver & Rio Grande
caused by washouts and rock slides.
For six weeks or more the necessaries
OF life had to be packed into the camp.
This proved expensive and In many
cases compelled closing down of prop.
critics. Then came the second fire at
the Gold King mine, destroying mine
buildings and forcing suspension OF
work at this old time producer. and
then came the long blockades by snow
slides. Is 1t any wonder that such
unusual and extraordinary occurrences
put a damper on mining?
| During the winter and spring months
the mining men and people OF Silver
ton began to wake up to the real stu.
| ation--that the camp was not enjoy.
ing the same privileges that other
camps possessed. Up to within the
past year all believed that nothing
could prevent the continued prosperity
OF the camp. no matter what happen
ed Richness of the mines was re-
garded as sufficient to overcome all
handicaps. But at last real conditions
began to stare the people in the face
and they began to sit up and take no.
| tice. They discovered that other
camps were enjoying privileges which
were denied them. Single handed
nothing could be accomplished, so a
| call was made for the organization of
commercial club 1t struck the right
chord and the people turned out, eager
to aid in securing change in the sit.
uation. In former years when organi-
zation was limited a majority appear
ed satisfied with surroundings and
gave no heed to the call. But there
was no trouble in getting the business
and professional interests together this
spring. The organization was com
pieted by the election of w. N. Searcy
president and Warren Prosser secre.
tary. One hundred and fifty members
were easily secured who paid an mi.
| tiation fee of 81 and pledged 81 month.
ly. Then the club fitted mp room on
the main street with cabinets display.
Ing the product of the mines and a
| list OF producing mines. Mine returns
were secured and 1t was soon discov.
cred that between freight rates, treat
ment charges and cost of mining the
mines of San Juan county were handi.
capped far more than any one had ever
dreamed. AS no protests had been
made, OF course no concessions had
been offered by any of the different
| agencies benefited. The matter of
freight rates on low grade ores was
thoroughly gone over. The facts were
presented to the Denver officials of
the d. r. G. with no result. Then
Otto Mears came along for the sum.
mer campaign. 1t does not take Otto
long to catch onto conditions and he
Joined heartily in the movement inau.
gurated. So far as he was concerned
along with the three branch lines OF
railroads he was operating, the sit
uation was clear. He could make
rates but not sufficient to meet the
requirements. Then at Il meeting of
the commercial club 5OO-word tele
gram was framed and fired into Presi
dent Il. T. Jeffrey. The telegram out.
lined the conditions confronting San
Juan county and that the Denver L.
Rio Grande grant concessions for self
protection. The result was like magic.
Mr.. Jeffrey replied the next day by
granting $1.50 ton reduction on ores
of $50 value and under to Pueblo. Sa
Ida and Buena Vista points. The
reduction was as much as could be
asked with exception Of stipulation as
to per cent on zinc ores. 1t is believed
this will be remedied as soon as facts
are presented to Mr.. Jeffrey.
An average car of ore weighs TWEEN.
ty tons. The reduction in freight.
therefore, amounts to $50 per car.
Then came the matter of treatment
charges. Manager Gilbert of the local
plant of the American Smelling com
pany was called into conference and
While we are not informed as the re
suit we understand concessions either
have or Will be made. And in this con
nection the railroad has been asked
to take off the switching charge of 81
per car after arriving in Durango.
Our readers can easily see how
these concessions have stimulated min.
Ing In San Juan county and idle mines
are resuming almost every day and
before long we expect to be able to re-
port the old time activity In the Camp
Another matter that is arousing
much interest In San Juan county is
the Kuenzel process of treating ores
especially ores carrying zinc. True.