Gilpin observer., 1910-03-31
" q 'sF 7-''f-l 2 = " f7-'7f7r
MINES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

1t has been proven time and agar
that mine is as represented. Ii
other words, reports of a propert.
have been such as to seem question
able as to the worth Of the deposit
exposed. This has strong bearing
on properties in this section. Many
dumps alone will bear out the asser
tion that something was wrong in the
working of the mine and later de-
velopments have proven that the min
was, in no way at fault. One-haf OF
the developed properties in this dis
trict, it can be said, are In the con.
dition to produce vast tonnage Of a
grade OF ore that would return a
handsome profit If properly worked
Inc working Of the mine is the least
OF its anticipations. The trouble lies
principally in the management. That
Is the snag to wreck most en-
terprises. And 1t can be truly said it
has worked incalculable harm among
the mines of Gilpin.
One need look back to ten or
twenty years. Many properties show
ed high values, and the success at
tending the extraction of the ore gave
the mine good record as a produc-
er.Then, by some reason or other the
property dropped out of notice. No
more work was done. These old-time
properties, when again in activity,
have proven to be in excellent condi-
ton and are being made to pay. An
instance in point is that of a prop
erty in Russell Gulch. 1t was ex-
tensively worked in the past. Sudden
ly all operations ceased. With re-
sumption short time ago, 1t was
found that thousands of tons of ore
had accumulated in the stopes-brok-
en- ore from continuous vein of sew
eral hundred feet. This ore is being
shipped and is paying as well as any
ore taken from the mine. One can
hardly understand this. in view of the
fact that the property in question
must have been a good dividend pay
er for the amount of ore extracted
in the past must have been enormous
considering the ramifications of the
workings. ~-
Another instance is where a proper
ty fell behind in meeting it's running
expenses. Now the men employed
knew, from experience that the mine
was a good one. They did not hesitate
in taking over the property. They
were given the chance to pay them
selves, to keep the mine in opera
ton. To the surprise of the owners,
these miners not only earned good
wages, but paid all expenses and re-
turned a neat sum to the stockhoId-
ers.
Many names of mines in this dis
trict, few years ago, were as COM
mon as household words. They have
records as producers. To come upon
them in their idleness, one is apt to
say: THAT property; Oh, remember
that mine. The papers were full of
allusions to its productiveness and
the rich pockets were of frequent oc-
currence." The mine is still there and
developed to that extent its very con-
dition suggestive of great possibili.
ties. Ore bodies intact-a reiteration
is here made: Gilpin veins never run
out-waiting for some competent
management to begin just where the
where others left off working the
property.
The mines of Gilpin are all here
and are all right. Their productive
ness is unQuestioned and the values
are such as to warrant any reason
aleb outlay to put them in working
shape Facilities for handling the min
eral far surprising old-time methods.
And yet, in''the past these mines
were considered wonderful. and they
paid, too. And yet, with the addi.
tional aids of today these record
mines, many are idle. due to, must
it be said-bad management, prob
ably.
There would be little hope for the
properties were they Of the flat con-
tract sort. Such is not the case
most reputable mining men know it.
One needs not begin all over to de-
termine things. The problem Of con-
tinuation is well established and en-
terprising-one need not say econo-
mical-mining men can find a com.
potency here by merely taking hold
them with all the availability al
command.