Gilpin observer., 1911-06-15
THOMAS ToNGE
VISITS RoLLlNsvILLE.


Thomas Tonge has Just returned
from a few days visit to the Rol-
linsville district in the north end OF
Gilpin county, ON the Moffat road.
He says:
1.-The district is interesting and
typical as presenting the various
phases of mining, from prospects
to mines with big past producing re-
cords. The future outlook of the dis
trict is good.
"Rollinsville itself on South Boul-
der creek and the Moffat road only
AZ miles from Denver, dates from tho
late seventies, when it was the head
quarters of the Rollins Gold & Sill
YER Mining company, now long de-
funct, and had a hotel, stamp mill
and concentrator, etc.
"The dismantled building of the
stamp mill and concentratcr still
stands, but is used for other pur-
poses. The hotel, peculiar in archi-
lecture and primitive in character,
is now run by a worthy old couple
who do their best to make guests
comfortable and at home. On the
creek between the depot and the ho-
tel there is a colony Of beaver with
one large and two small dams.
'In the early days the nearest rail-
road point was Central City, 13
miles distant, over mountain roads,
the wagon freight being a serious
item in addition to the railroad
freight from Central City to Denver,
which was higher than now.
"The advent of the broad guage
Moffat road has put the Rollinsvipe
district on very different and in
finitely more favorable basis for min
ing.
1.-THE low lard on each side OF the
creek above Rollinsville was known
many years ago to be good placer
ground, but was not workable by any
then known method. Floating dredges
had not then been invented. 1t is
probably only matter Of time when
one may be in operation near Roll
linsville.
lover the ridge to the north Of
1ollinsville. the tungsten belt COM
mences, but it's trade gees mostly to
Nederland and Boulder. To the north
west OF .iollir,sville is the Phoenix
mining district, which, notwithstan1-
ing some production between 20 and
80 years ago, has since been more or
less dormant. Comparatively large
areas in that district are owned by
Denver banker and his associates
and another group by a banker in
Boulder Presumably the district will
have a resurrection some day, If the
present owners will give iong leases
with options to purchase at reason
able prices.
"The district south of South Roul
der creek in the direction of Central
City and tributary to Rol.insville is
interesting, comprising Lump, Moon.
Gamble ani Other gulehes running in
to the narrow valley of South Boul-
der creek. Fer instance. about a mile
and half west of Rollinsville, ad-
joining the creek and the Moffat
road Is the Grand Union group, the
leading discovery shaft on which is
700 feet higher thar the creek.
From this shaft nearly 30 years
ago, 36 tons OF sorted ore werc haul
ed over the mountains to Black
Hawk netting over 800 per ton af-
ter paying freight $14 per ton arll
mill treatment s11 per ton, to say
nothing of what went down ire creek
from the mill. Within limited rad
ius from this discovery shaft num-
erous prospect holes show n number
of most promising veins assaying
wcll.
"As only assorted ore would stand
a combined freight and treatment
charge OF $25 per ton, the property |
remained dormant for many years, In
fact, until the advent OF the Moffat
road when It charged haris, the |
present owners acquiring and adding |
the remainder of the present group |
They are opening 1t up by two tun |
nels, the portals Of which are In
close proximity to the Mofsat road.
There tunnels will cut the various |
ve.rs at $50 feet below tho collar |
Of tho discovery shaft. Tho group
-. .<A- l. AAt.1.,