Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-01
(By 1. c. TERRY

(By /. c. TERRY
Sixty and one years ago. bunch of
prospectors, following a trail of gold
wandered from Clear Creek southwest
ly. thru South Park. over the Park
Range into the valley of the Upper
Arkansas near where the town OF
nuenA Vista now is located Pros
pecting along the banks of the river.
discovering, in spots, some "diggins
that were profitable, they wandered On
up the river and finally discovered
California Gulch. that richest Of all
placer deposits in the territory The
news soon spread, and a stream of gold
seekers, following for the most part.
the trail OF the original discoverers.
flowed into and up the valley. Now
and then, here and there, someone,
charmed by the broad valley with Its
fertile soil and crystal streams, would
drop from the ranks of the gold seekers
and, locating on some chosen spot. pc
come farmers and rauchmen, the pro-
genitors of the present generation.
These first settlers We're a mixed lot.
mixed in nationality. creed, character
and morals, they came from all parts
OF the United State, Canada; England.
France and Germany, and We're, ma
turally, of the more vigorous, aggres-
sive and adventurous of their home
communities. AS the population in
creased, feuds and quarrcls and some
killings over grazing, water rights and
other matters, marred the earlier
years, eliminating in the assassination
of Judge Dyer, in open court, at Gran
lite, then the county seat OF Lake
county comprising what is now both
Lake and Chaffee counties. But As
a whole these pioneers Were n sturdy
lot, hospitable and kindly and In a
few years law and order asserted IT.
self
In a cottonwood grove thru which
Cottonwood Creek winds its way 10
1oin the Arkansas river. about mile
away someone established store,
few cabins were built. hamlet was
started. the beginning OF q town.
Some appreciative individual. taking IN
with sweeping glance. the more than
30 miles of towering mountain peaks,
silhouetted against the western SKY,
exclaimed. Buena Vista, toeautlnni
view), and Buena Vista tho hamlet
was named.
Early in the settlement of the valley.
explorers discovered springs of hot wa
ter on Cottonwood Creek, near where
II emerges from the mountains and on
Chalk Creek eight miles further down
the valley. The springs soon became
famous resorts for miners suffering
from rheumatism and kindred disord-
srs, common in those days of expos
ure and hard living. Now and theh
you may meet an old timer, within
whose hoary head linger memories OF
those earlier days, and he may tell you
among other remin,rcences. oil inc
wondrous cures effected by bathing
IN and drinking these waters, perhaps
his own experience or that or sonc
friend or acquaintance For quite a
long time and up to a few years ago.
Old Bob Ray. himself an old timer.
kept a little old shack OF hotel at inc
Hortense Springs, patronized mostly
by miners from st. Elmo, Romley'
some of them came in such condition
that they had to be carried into the
house. Old Bob would take them per
sonally In hand and put them thru a
course of his own prescribed treat
ment. and in many cases. known per-
sonAIly to this writer. effect per.
manent cure. Old Bob has passed
away. his little old hotel Is unoccupied
and fast falling to ruin. his spring.
located on the side OF the mountain 20
or 100 feet above the valley. the waters
Of which are said to be the hottest
in the state, 1S3 degrees, nearly boil
ing. as II comes from the ground. Is
unused and uncared for. But ABOUT
half mile further down the creek. az
what was known as the Hayward
Springs. now called the Princeton
Springs. a new and commodious hotel
equipped with electric lights, swim
ming pool and other convcniences, has
recently been opened. catering pri-
cipally to automobile parties from
Leadville. Beuna Vista, Salida ana
other points, with some, more or less.
permanent guests from more distant
parts.
Cottonwood. Hortcnse and Princeton
Springs. show them TO be similar in all
respects. the only difference being in
temperature. the Hortense Spring has
4 temperature of 1s3 degrees, the 9TH
ers range from 40 to $50 degrees. All
have to be cooled for any use except
cooking.
New hotels. provided with all modern
conveniences. desiEnea and adapted for
invalids, are needed at or near the
Cottonwood and Horteuse Springs, the
curative properties of which are too
we'll known to be disputed and they
should be utilized for the benefit OF
the people. The waters of all are clean
and clear. They are only n few min
utes from Buena Vista. by automo-
bile. over good. smooth highways.
As placer mining became more or
less Improbable, attention turned 20
the prospecting and developing o, the
silver-lead veins in tho mountains. In
1876. the Chalk Creek District was
brought into notice by tho discovery
of the Mary Murphy mine, destined
TO become one of the big and famous
mines Of the state. This mine has
heen worked almost continuously s'ncs
itS discovery. now 45 years ago. aud is
still being worked. Notwithstanding the
high cost of labor. transportation and
treatment. 1t is said to have pro- ,
duced more than 10 million dollars. in Y
gold, silver and lead since its die
covery. Other mines were opened on
Chalk Creek, the Cottonwools and
near Newett and Buffalo Peak, east
and northeast OF Buena Vista about IL
miles on the southern extension of the
Leadville Dolomite formation.
Up to 1892 mining for silver and lead
was flourishing industry, contribut-
ing in no small way to the growth
and prosperity OF the town. then came
the big slump in the price of silver
causing nearly all of these mines to
close. few. like the Murphy kept on,
but the majority closed down, somo
because they could not be worked at