Gilpin observer., 1913-08-07
WE KNOW THE CAUSE
WHAT IS THE REMEDY?


has the following to say regarding
this camp I'M the Engineering and
Mining Journal of August I'd. The
gentleman was a recent visitor here
and evidently had his eyes open ais
to existing local conditions. We wish
that he had b, en- more explicit in
suggesting remedy. Referring to
the SO Gold Mines Corporation, he
states that:
Many owners of small properties
about Central City seem to be wait
ing for this company to pump out its
mine and drain their own workings,
since 1t is one of the deepest mines
in the district and drains many 9th
ers when operating. There seems
to have been no cooperation en- the
part of the smaller operators in bear
irlg the expense of this pumping. A
large body CT ore is said to exist orl
the 1400 level of this mime but it
would cost 100000 to pump out and
more than that to cover indebtedness
on the mine before operations could
be begun. This combination of cir
cumstances has kept the property
idle long time, so that the workings
and timbers are probably in poor
condition.
Dog-in-the-
Manager Policy.
Almost all the mining camps, both
old and new, present similar instan
that some one else will turn in and
work. What a deadening sort of a
life it is. The people concerned are
not always at fault or possessed with
laziness-although they are pretty
sure to acquire the latter quality
but are frequently the victims of
chance. Many of the Colorado camps
are reported as dead are apparent
ly SO because of these people who
hang around waiting for the other
fellow to get busy and start some
thing, being neither willing themsel-
yes to work nor to accept for their
property a reasonable sum from one
wo could work it. 1t is hard to tell
on what such people live, for they
toll not, nor is their spinning of
more substantial stuff than dreams.
A Profitable SMALL
Scale Mill.
A pleasing contrast to conditions
outlined is found in the little w. S.
Smith & Son mill, a. good illustration
OF a small business run on a conser-
vative basis, without much advertis-
ing or display, but making a CONNER
cial success, nevertheless, possibly
because the owner is the manager
and is managing energetically. 1t
would seem as if there were oppor-
tunity for large number of similar
small operations in many places in
Colorado for people with limited capi-
tai but with a large stock of energy.
This mill is housed in a plain, low,
sheet-iron-covered building, on the
road between Central City and Black
Hawk. The equipment consists of a
Denver crusher and a Denver NJ:
quartz mill, driven by 25-hp. Side
valve engine. An amalgamating plate
of fair length is used and the tall
ings run over Whitley table. Mr..
Smith speaks highly Of his equipmen MT
saying that he can secure excellent
amalgamation from the pulp produced
by this mill, partly because there is
little Shining and the pulp Genes out
as product of nearly uniform size,
and also partly because he watches
everything carefully, believing that
it is not much use to handle materi-
al unless one saves the valuable con-
tents therein. This little mill is run
ON surface stuff, old dumps, ETC.,
and as business, reminds one some
what OF the gulch mining, to which
is is big brother; although on a larg-
er scale and requiring more capital,
it is not more than many a man
could easily handle.
Better Treatment
Processes Necessary.
The mine owners in this region, as
in others, have to contend with too
low price for their product, receiving
usually far less than that which
should be obtainable considering the
valuable metals contained. In this
respect, the miners are in about the
same fix as the farmers who think
that they are robbed by the railroads
and commission men; for not only are
the miners also largely at the mercy
Of the railroad, but much of what
the railroad leaves is taken by the
reduction company working their ores
This district Is much in need of a