Gilpin observer., 1914-01-22
.s....E.. + 1...a..t.
+ T1u AMD psossuszoAE z,s s5sno + @
(sah Lake Mining Review

/ "You look as sad today said the
prospector to his burro, "as the man
who placed his chips on the red tC
win with the ball falling into the
green, or the girl who fell into a
mud hole after dressing in white in
order to look real sweet and pretty
when meeting her steady at the park
entrance; but, neither OF them look
ed as sad as the man who dropped a
wad of $40, 900 in the development Of
a cash vein out in the Razor Back
range a few years ago. OF course,
this failure was to be expected, and
abe man had no more chance Of win
ming out than a scrub pony has in
competing with Kentucky thorough
bred racehorse; and yet he was as
enthusiastic and as strong in the be-
lief over the future outlook for his
property, when he began its develop
ment, as a newlywed couple are that
their first offspring will eventully
occupy the presidential chair And
more, no one could tell him anything,
for he knew it all. AS a matter of
fact, he had once been employed with
burro pack train, and, when the
season was over, he imagined he was
a full-fledged and experienced mining
man. So sure was he that he had
worked from the ground up, and was
Oh PYr1 <xP inf, tut
pappoose is of protein after feeding
time, that he bought small outfit
after his last payday and hiked out
for Razor Back in the belief that he
Hills, or a second edition of the
Queen of Sheba, both of which were
great mines in their time. After
week out he discovered some really
api formation, and he made more
fuss over his discovery than a bull
pup tackling his first wild cat. And.
although old-timers in the district,
who had opened up pay mines in the
porphyry and lime, gently insinuated
that this deposit was probably moth
ing more than an overflow, he would
not believe them. He made a gentle
touch on his eastern friends, how
ever, and when he had his hoisting
plant installed and in operation, it
w6s not many days before he found
that his body of ore had pinched, and
that there was no more show Of find
ing pay mineral at depth than there
was to grow American Beauty roses
in the deserts of Death Valley. And
SO he quit in disgust, and has ever
since been knocking mining by re-
peating the oft-asserted falsehood
that more money has always been
put into the industry than has ever
been taken out. But, If he had used
even burro-sense, he would have
waited before blowing his wad until
he had ascertaired. beyond a ques-
ton of doubt, that hts prospect was
really worth, a dollar spent in it's de-
velopment; for. you know, not all
prospects have the ear-marks of
mines any more than all whiskey is
good enough to be used, even in
case of snake-bite.
The failure of this man." continu-
ed the prospector, reminds me of
an experience 1 had while prospect
ing in the Black Jane mountains back
in the eighties. When l first went
into the district l found a man who
had pitched his camp in wash and
was mining in the conglomerate.
While this sedimentary was forming
flood must have swept down from
the hills above. eroding strong min
eral lodges and forming q horizontal
deposit of about two feet thick, in
the new-made ground. that was heavi
ly mineralized and even carrying rich
values in places. Above this was an
other covering of sand and gravel,
and uncounted years had piled its de-
bris on the top OF this conglomerate
mass until 1t was at least fifty feet
thick. In time the whole new-made
ground became practically solid
mass and later on, a cloudburst Great
ed a roaring torrent which swept
through the accumulated conglomer
ate, cutting a channel through it. and
exposed two feet of what appeared
to be a zone of pay mineral. had
had experience in formations Of this
character. and warned the man as to
tire futility OF his labors and his
hopes; but. he was not to be convinc
ed. and was as sanguine Of ultimate
success as the country lad is that he
will get a run for his money on Wall
street. And SO l left him and made