Gilpin observer., 1914-02-26
ment to be made through the bank.


heretofore baffled the efforts Of tht
worlds leading surgeons and physi-
clans. 1t is but six short years sine
Nine. Curie gave to mankind the re
suit of her research work to deter
mine whence the radio activity of ur-
anium contained in our pitchblende
ores received it's source.
Delving into the innermost recesses
of the mineral, which heretofore had
been utilized, simply for it's coloring
quality and plaything for the curl
GUS minded who found it had the
power of imprinting the outlined
form of iron or steel objects on SEN
sitized photo plates or paper with
out the aid of light. Nine. Curie, by
constant concentration of the ore a
thousand times repeated, reduced 1t
to its element, radium. Thus the ore
ed as a detriment and robber of val
ues wherever it occurred in our gold
milling ores, at once, like strange
comet from an unknown constellation
sprang forth and it's commercial val
ue arose from a mere nothing to the
inconceivable amount of $120 ,000, ,O0O,-
900 per metric ton, when reduced to
radium element, at the present fixed
market price. This amount, were it
possible to gather it, would make
chaos of this old earth of ours, its
power of ionizing the atmosphere
would reach out and draw the planets
from their orbits, much in the same
way as small portion of the crude
ore now effects the electrified leaf
in the electroscOpe. A mere handful,
Lould it he harnessed, contains more
energy than is now used to drive the
machinery of industry and transport
the worlds commerce. Thus the for
mer despised, unmarketable black
rock of our mines takes it's place in
our present day civilization. Refin-
ed as radium element, it is accom-
plishing in the science Of healing,
miracles, the like of which were new
er before conceived by mortal man.
Its gamma rays will penetrate deep
down to the seat of the most virulent
cancer and seeking out all the infin-
itesimal tentacles at the root, will
arrest the disease and in short
time heals the cells and tissue, SO
that the affected parts once more
become as the flesh of a healthy
child. No wonder the cry is for more
ore, that the needs of suffering hui
manity may be alleviated by this mir
acle worker.
Geology tells us that the pitch
blende area in our county is limited
in extent, but in that limited area
there should not be an idle mine. Ev
cry nook and Granny should be pros
pected for this boon to mankind and
it is up to the Gilpin county miner
to do it. Our county has been term
ed the cradle of the sovereign state
of Colorado. In SO short years it has
grown from a handful of treasure
seekers lured by the magic sesame
of gold, until now what was once the
cradle, is but small fraction 81 an
empire that dominates the Rocky
Mountain region. But a half century
mas elapsed since the attention of
the east was called to our remark
able gold discoveries. Horace Gree
ley came, and, realizing not only the
richness of our hills and streams,
but the valley and the plain, pro-
claimed to the world the great mes
sage, 'go west. Once again, our
little county is attracting attention,
not alone OF the east but of the
great and learned of foreign lands,
WHO lock to us to furnish the one
thing, which, in healing results, is
beyond price.
Fellow citizens of Gilpin county let
us harken to the call of opportunity,
get busy, back the man who is will
ing to work in our mines and thus
ald IN meeting the great demand
for our pitchblende. Reap the prof
its that await those who embark in
the venture at this time and not lay
by and "let George do it."
In the. Rocky Mountain News of
last Sunday, Capt. James T. Smith,
its mining reporter. stated that 'In
Gilpin county the mines that produce
radium are now controlled by the du-
Pont syndicate. This statement is
not borne out by the facts and should
not go unchallenged. DUPONT con-
trolls the German and Belcher mines,
together with several locations. This
IS the extent of his operations in
this county and thay ara cloaod dnuu