Gilpin observer., 1913-10-09
CORRECTED STORY OF THE GERMAN M|NE
(sy E. zimmsrman.)

The Denver Times brings out a
great story concerning the German
and Belcher mines. Under a two
column head and box car type they
proclaim Colorado is to become one
OF the worlds principal sources OF
supply of radium, the wonder element
and the United States is to be made
independent of Europe
Up to this point the Times made a
correct statement and one which has
been made many times before in the
scientific journals and by many of
the worlds greatest scientists. There
is no doubt of the wonderful deposit
of pitchblende here. In fact, quite
a lot of it has been mined But the
reporter for the Times allows his
imagination to run riot in accordance
with that of his informant, who goes
on to state that 1T. Coleman dupont,
millionaire powder manufacturer and
philanthropist, has purchased a group
of Central City properties and will
erect a plant to reduce radium. With
this information comes positive
statement that a cure for tubercu-
losis and cancer by means of radium
has been discovered and will soon
be announced through the medical
profession"
In view of the recent friedman
fake this should have put a stop to
said reporters imagination. He coul
have detected a little Joker without
the means OF a magnifying glass.
Whenever any man springs a tuber-
culosis cure it is enough to put a
qmetus on the maddest rawlings OF
the most enthusiastic. The men who
are shaving their lives away to dis
cover some means of arresting tuber-
culosis are too busy to even talk
about it But on their labors many
promoters Of nostrums base their
talk" because they can quote some
OF the findings that have leaked out
and thus amass a small fortune for
themselves because of the frantic
with which any tuberculosis suffer-
er will grasp at any new remedy.
The most greivous error which the
Times fell into was to make the
bald statement concerning T. Cole
man dupont, which is absolutely with
out foundation since this gentleman
~ h4
City properties at all. Alfred /. du-
Pont is the owner Of the German
Belcher mines, and H. c. Browne
is the general manager. The mines
are being developed as quickly as
the earnest and combined efforts of
a conscientious and thoroughly in
earnest set of men can develop them.
H. G. C. Tofehrn, who claims to
be allotted metallurgist and radium
expert OF France and who gave the
Times the story, according to the
quotation of the reporter who pre-
pared the article, made visit to
this camp recently. He made an ef-
fort to purchase some of the high
grade ore and this being refused by
the German and Belcher mines COM
pany, he asked for purchase from
the dump, claiming to be looking for
a new metal, as yet unknown to the
layman. This offer was also refused.
and the gentleman departed for Dem
Yer. Before going, however, he admit
ted that he had made an Intellectual
attempt to purchase these properties,
just previous to the time that the
sale for them was consummated by
H. c. Browne.
Upon his arrival In Denver. he
gave out the erroneous Impression
that the mines had been taken over
by one Of the duPonts and that he
(Tofehrn) was to be made general
manager. This story will doubtless