USA > Colorado > History of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming, 1540-1888 > Part 60
USA > Nevada > History of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming, 1540-1888 > Part 60
USA > Wyoming > History of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming, 1540-1888 > Part 60
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588
COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
Although the county had produced between 1864 and 1884 bullion to the amount of $28,447,400, few of
with a large stack, and the most approved roasters, which produced a few bars of base bullion, and suspended. The Brown Silver Mining company, which owned two productive mines, the Brown and Coin, also erected, about the same time, a mill and smelting-works at Brownsville. By the aid of galena, iron pyrites, and fluxes secured from other districts, the company were enabled to keep their mill going for a year, when it was closed. In the course of their experiments they shipped a large amount of silver to Phil., one mass weighing 1,800 pounds. Subsequently the mill was leased to three different parties, each of which realized a profit from working over the refuse slag. Lead-smelting in Clear Creek co. has been abandoned, the galena ores being sent to Golden or Pueblo in Colorado, or to Omaha, Chicago, St Louis, Wyandotte, Pittsburglı, or Newark for reduction. Richard Pearce, Samuel Wann, and Hiram Williams attempted the smelting of gold and silver ores with the same results as above, the refractory nature of the silver ores pre- venting their success. But what can be done in other places can certainly be done here as well, when the facilities are provided. The first concentrating mill was introduced in 1870 by the Washington Mining association which had first tried smelting unsuccessfully. The Krom machines for dry concen- tration were tried, but the mill was burned before a fair test was made. The Clear Creek co. had in 1886 a fifty-ton mill which used Krom's improved dry concentrators with profit, on low-grade ores. Rude Cornish hand-jigs and buddles had been in use from the discovery of silver; but George Teel first systematized their working in 1873, when, as sup't of the Terrible mine, he induced the company to erect a 25-ton mill using the Hartz jigs, settling- tanks, and slime-tables. Teel, Foster, and Eddy erected the Silver Plume mill in 1875, which finally failed and was sold to Franklin Ballou. W. W. Rose & Co., in 1875, builta concentrating mill to reduce the ores of the New Boston mine on Democrat mountain, which failed on account of poor ore. John Collom, after 10 years of experimenting, had a mill built from 'designs of his own, at Idaho. The Dunderberg co. erected at their mine, in 1878-9, a concentrating-mill of 40 tons capacity, with 5 Hartz jigs, and improved machinery; and A. P. Stevens erected a 20-ton mill at Lawson. Several inventions have been introduced from time to time, but none that have been able to save all the silver, and some of which have failed entirely. The Freeland Mining co. erected at Idaho springs, in 1879, the best appointed concentrating-mill in the state at that time, with a capacity of 115 tons daily. It used 12 Hartz jigs for separating the worthless rock from the ore, and a rotary circular buddle for dividing the latter into pure ore, seconds, and tail- ings, and saved by means of a second stamp-mill all that the rock contained; but the ore of their mine ran two thirds gold to one third of copper, silver, iron, sulphur, and arsenic. Then there were the Farwell reduction-works, and Pelican reduction-works at Georgetown; the Colorado United Mining company, the Hukill company of Spanish Bar, the Miles company of Idaho, wet concentrating-mills; the Sunshine of Idaho, the Pioneer, Knickerbocker, and Bay State of Empire, raw gold ore amalgamators. The ore-sampling, buying, and shipping firms were: at Georgetown, Rocky Mountain mill, Matthews, Morris & Co., established in 1876, burned, and rebuilt in 1877; Washington mill, Olmstead & Ballou, 1872; G. W. Hall & Co., 1871-2; Clear Creek company, 1876; J. B. Church, 1874; P. McCann, Georgetown and Lawson, 1877-8; Silver Plume, Ballou & Co., 1875; Harry Montgomery, Idaho Springs, 1876. The number of men directly employed in mining, milling, and handling ore in Clear Creek co. was estimated by Fossett to be 2,000. The mines have returned an average of $3 per day for the men thus employed, and have at the same time been advanced nearly or quite an equal amount in value by each day's labor, the mining property of Clear Creek co. being estimated at $20,000,000, which was what the county had produced in gold, silver, lead, and copper down to 1880.
589
MINES AND MINING.
the mines were down to any great depth. The Ter- rible, situated on Brown mountain, three miles from Georgetown, had reached a depth of 1,300 feet. The ore at this depth yielded 200 ounces of silver to the ton. Twenty-five or thirty other large mines in Sil- ver Plume district were the producing mines of the county, though the Dumont, Idaho springs, Fall river, Chicago creek, Atlantic, and Daily districts were promising, and some yielding well. Not more than half a dozen mines used pumps. The deeper mines were growing richer. Hence the inference that this country has before it a long and prosperous career at mining. The population in 1880 was about 8,000. Georgetown, the county seat, is situated at the head of a level valley, with mountains towering above it covered with pine and veined with silver. It has a population of 3,500. Higher, and at the foot of Republican, Sherman, and Leavenworth mountains, are the mining towns of Silver Plume and Brown- ville, with 1,800 and 1,000 inhabitants respectively. Notwithstanding the altitude of Georgetown, 8,504 feet, the mountains rise so much above it that half the day's sunshine is cut off except in midsummer.3
32 Thomas Cooper, born in Kent, Eng., migrated to the U. S. in 1852, and after several removes and a visit to his native land came to Colorado in 1859, engaging in placer mining with success, making some valuable discoveries. He became one of the owners of the Champion.
Frank J. Wood, another of the men of 1859, was born in Ohio in 1839, and came to Colorado from Iowa. His first location was at Central, where he remained at mining for five years, making considerable money which he lost in speculation. He then set himself up in merchandising at Empire, but in 1867 removed to Georgetown, where he opened a drug store. After a time he sold out and went into the book and stationery trade.
F. J. Marshall, who organized the Marshall Silver Mining company, which sold its property to the Colorado Central Consolidated Mining com- pany, and has been connected with some of the most celebrated mines in the county and state, was born in Va in 1816. He founded Marysville, on the Big Blue river, Kansas. He was a member of the first and second legisla- tures of Kansas. In the struggle of 1855 he was elected by the legislature brigadier-general of militia, and afterward promoted to be major-general and commander-in-chief of the Kansas militia. In 1856 he was elected governor under the Lecompton constitution, but retired to private life in 1857. Two years afterward he came to Colorado, and after a few years settled himself at Georgetown.
Charles P. Baldwin, a mining man of Georgetown, was born in Maine in 1835. On the breaking out of the rebellion he raised a company and enlisted in service of his country, being promoted until he reached the rand of briga-
590
COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
The only other towns of any note in the county are Idaho springs,33 Freeland, Empire City, Bakerville, Dumont, and Red Elephant.
dier-general. He was president of the board appointed to audit war claims at Richmond after Lee's surrender. On being mustered out in 1866 he came to Colorado, selecting Georgetown for a residence on account of the silver mines. After prospecting and mining for a time he purchased the Comet lode, which in a few months yielded $10,000, but could never be made to re- peat this production. In 1879 he came into ownership of the Magnet, which for a long time was a rich and productive property. In 1884 he was ap- pointed manager of the Terrible group of miners. He was a man of good ability and commanded the respect of all.
Russell J. Collins, who came to Georgetown in 1866 fresh from the army, in which he had served as surgeon of an Ill. regiment during the war. He was born in N. H. in 182S, and graduated from Berkshire college in 1851, afterward practising in Grand Rapids, Mich., and in Ill.
George W. Hall, born in N. Y. in 1825, came to Colorado in 1860, engag- ing in lumber dealing at Central and at Empire, but removing finally to Georgetown in 186S. In 1878 he engaged actively in mining, and became manager of the Colorado Central Consolidated Mining company's mines, which produced $500,000 in one year.
33 Idaho Springs was the first settled town in the county. It was within its limits that the first mining was begun in 1859 on Chicago bar. About 200 miners were attracted thither, many of whom remained over winter, and in 1860 the town was perceived to be a fixed entity. A hotel was opened in a log cabin, kept by F. W. Beebe, which was the precursor of the present Beebe house. Among the pioneers of 1859 who still remained in 1880 were William Hobbs, John Needam, and A. P. Smith. A. M. Noxon, E. F. Holland, R. B. Griswold, John Silvertooth, M. B. Graeff, John W. Edwards, and others, set- tled in 1860. In 1861 religious services began to be held by an itinerant preacher nicknamed the Arkansas Traveller, whose real name was Bunch, intermitted with sermons by another preacher named Potts. In 1860 the Hukill quartz mine was discovered, and in 1861 the Seaton quartz mine and the first stamp mill erected. And in this year the county was organized, and the county seat located at Idaho Springs. It was not until 1863 that any attention was given to improving the hot soda springs, when E. S. Cummings erected a small bathing house. In 1866 Harrison Montague pur- chased them and began to prepare for the reception of visitors and invalids. Their medicinal qualities and nearness to Denver have made them a popular resort and the chosen residence of a number of wealthy families. The tem- perature ranges from 70° to 110° Fahr. in the several springs, which is tempered to use by water from Soda creek. The altitude of the springs is 8,000 feet, the scenery attractive, and the climate agreeable. In 1873 a government patent was obtained for the town-site, and a board of trustees organized, with R. B. Griswold president. It was not until railroad facilities reached it that the town began to make any rapid progress. The population in 1SS4 was between S00 and 900.
This history of Idaho Springs is only a proper introduction to the history of the present county seat and metropolis, Georgetown. In 1859 George F. Griffith and D. T. Griffith, his brother, while prospecting for gold, followed the windings of South Clear creek to the foot of the mountains, where Georgetown now stands, and discovered the Griffith lode, which runs into the town-site. Like most of the silver fissure mines, it showed gold at the top, and was rich. Griffith mining district was organized June 25, 1860, after a number of discoveries had been made in the neighborhood of the first. George F. Griffith was the first recorder, and James Burrell first president. About the same time the town was laid off, and named Elizabethtown, after a sister of the Griffiths. A rude water-mill, with 12 wooden, iron-shod
591
CONEJOS.
Conejos county, first named Guadaloupe by the legislature of 1861, and changed during the same ses-
stamps, pounded out the gold from the Griffith, Burrell, Corisannie, and Nancy lodes, which soon, however, betrayed that refractory character which paralyzed mining for a time. For two weeks in 1863 John T. Harris was the sole denizen of the town, the population having run after the better paying discoveries at Idaho, Spanish bar, and Empire, leaving Georgetown to deso- lation. In 1864-65 a company formed in the east erected a mill, which, on trial, was a failure, and the discovery that this was really a silver district coming about the same time, started on again the car of progress. In Sep- tember 1864 Ex-provisional Governor R. W. Steele, James Huff, and Robert Layton discovered the Belmont lode, in East Argentine district, which, on being assayed, as I have related, established the argentiferous character of the region about Georgetown. From this time its prosperity was assured, In 1867 it was resurveyed and platted by Charles Hoyt, under direction of the citizens, and the name changed to Georgetown, by vote at a mass meeting held a the corner of Rose and Mary streets. At the general election of this year it became the county seat, and was incorporated in Jan. 1868. Under its municipal organization its first police judge was Frank Dibdin. The se- lectmen of the Ist ward were W. W. Ware and Charles Whitner; of the 2d ward, H. K. Pearson and John Scott. The Colorado Miner newspaper was established the same year, by J. E. Wharton and A. W. Barnard, the office being in a 12 by 14 building in the lower town. About the same time the pub- lic school was organized, Miss L. H. Lander being the first teacher. She was drowned in Clear creek about the last of June, 1867, slipping from the foot- log used as a bridge. In 1870 the mining camp of Silver Plume, two miles above Georgetown, was first settled; and named after the mine, which has since become famous and given its name to the district, which contains many of the most important inines in the county. The richness of the Dives, Peli- can, and other mines provoked cupidity, and consequent litigation, which for years netted a rich profit to the legal fraternity. The Terrible was at length sold to an English company, which has liberally aided its development. Georgetown receives the benefit of the immediate neighborhood of these mines, besides being the seat of most of the reduction-works of the county. Unlike the more modern towns of Colorado, little care was bestowed upon streets or buildings, although the character of the latter soon improved. It had an excellent public school, and several churches. The methodists organ- ized in 1864, B. T. Vincent, preacher at Central City, officiating. They erected a church, costing $8,000, in 1869. The presbyterian church organized in 1869, and erected a stone edifice in 1874. The episcopalians first organ- ized in 1867, F. W. Winslow rector, and built a small church in 1869, which was destroyed by a hurricane soon after its completion. It was rebuilt, and in 1877 received a large pipe-organ, the first in Georgetown. The catholics, as usual, secured a valuable block of land when the town was first laid out, Thomas Foley being their first pastor. In 1872 they built a small wooden church, and in 1875 a brick edifice, costing $12.000. Georgetown possesses a good system of water-works. The company was organized in 1874. The town has also a fire department, consisting of several companies. At a tour- nament, held under the auspices of the state association, at Georgetown, the Alpine hose company won the first prize, consisting of a silver tea-set and a brass cannon. In a contest with a Denver company the same year, the Bates hose company of Georgetown were victorious. In 1879, with the other Georgetown companies, they took the first prize of $150 at both the hose and hook-and-ladder races, and later in the year, at the state tournament in Den- ver, again took the first prize in the hose race. The Star hook-and-ladder company has also won a long list of prizes. Among them are a silk flag, pre- sented by the women of Georgetown, and two silver trumpets. At the state tournament at Georgetown, in 1877, they were victorious, and at a tourna-
592
COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
sion to Conejos, was until the advent of the railway inhabited almost exclusively by a Spanish-American
ment at Cheyenne, in July 1878, they won $50. In August of the same year they took the champion belt at the state tournament held at Pueblo, and $75 in gold. Georgetown has a public hospital, and a number of secret and be- nevolent orders and societies. The man who sawed the lumber to build the first frame houses in Idaho Springs was William F. Doherty. He was born in Me in 1837. He learned the trade of an iron-moulder, working thereat, and making occasional voyages to sea. In 1862 he enlisted in the Ist R. I. cavalry, was in several important engagements, and carried the colors in Sheridan's famous ride, in Oct. 1864. He was mustered out in Feb. 1865, and came to Colorado in May following. After mining at Black Hawk one year he settled at Idaho Springs, where, as miner and lumberman, he resided continuously. In 1884 he purchased the Spa hotel.
F. F. Obiston, born in England in 1843, came to the U. S. as secretary of the Washoe Mining company of Reno, Nev., in 1864, where he remained two years. He was afterward supt of different mines on the Comstock, and came to Colo in 1879, when he purchased, in company with J. W. Mackay, the Freeland mine, which produced, in the 6 years following, $2,000,000. He also purchased, with Mackay, the Plutus, another valuable mine. The two mines together produced $20,000 per month. The Freeland mine, in 1855, had two miles of tunnelling. The property is over a mile in length, and is situated on South Clear creek, 4 miles from Idaho springs, and two miles from the Colorado Central raildroad.
B. D. Allen, born in Ohio in 1845 came to Colorado in ISSO. He was auditor of the express company until 1884, when he purchased, with Mat- thews & Webb of Denver, the sampling-works at Idaho Springs, of which he became manager, doing a business of $100,000, and handling 1,500 tons of ore per month, or about three fourths of all the output of the district.
The only other town in Clear Creek county in 1886, with a history, was Empire. In the spring of 1860 a few prospectors from Spanish bar, a small district contiguous to Idaho springs, namely, George Merrill, Joseph Musser, George L. Nicholls, and D. C. Skinner, temporarily organized Union district for placer mining, and founded a settlement, Merrill and Musser erecting the first cabin. Dr Bard, after whom Bard creek is named, drove the first wagon into the new town. About August Ist Edgar Freeman and H. C. Cowles came across the mountains from Central. Prospecting on Eureka mountain, they picked up some bits of wire gold, and, stimulated by this discovery, continued with others to search for mines of gold and silver in the district. In Sept. D. C. Dailey & Co. discovered a lode which they believed to be sil- ver, naming the mountain where it was found Silver mountain, and the lode Empire. The Keystone lode was discovered about the same time. The min- ers at once proceeded to complete the organization of the district, electing, in Dec., Henry Hill pres., H. C. Cowles miners' judge, D. J. Ball clerk and recorder, James Ross sheriff, and George L. Nicholls surveyor, all of whom remained in office until the organization of the territory. Some further de- velopment of the mines in Union district showed them to be auriferous, and population flowed in from the adjoining districts. The settlement took the name of Empire City, and was surveyed and laid off in lots and blocks by G. L. Nicholls, H. C. Cowles, D. J. Ball, and Ed. Freeman. The enthusiasm of the first set-to at quartz-mining received a check when the owners of lodes had come down to pyrites, and the flush times of Empire were over in 1865; but ever since the art of mining properly and profitably began to be mas- tered, the mines about Empire have steadily yielded a golden return. The town, albeit it is a prettily situated spot, has never returned to the anima- tion of its first days, and remains but a miners' camp.
Lawson, a mining camp six miles below Georgetown, named after Alex- ander Lawson, owes its existence to the Red Elephant group of mines, dis- covered in 1876. Dumont, two miles below, was formerly known as Mill
593
COSTILLA.
or Mexican population, which, while they sent mem- bers to the general assembly, maintained little com- munication with the United States Americans to the north of them.34
City, but in 1880 had its name changed in honor of John M. Dumont, one of the pioneers of the county. The other settlements are Bakerville, Baltimore Tunnel, Bear Creek, Big Bar, Brook Vale, Burleigh Tunnel, Camp Clifford, Downerville, Dry Gulch, Elephant, Fall River, Floyd Hill, Freeland, Gilson's Gulch, Grass Valley, Green Lake, Hukill, North Empire, Seaton Hill, Silver Creek, Silver Dale, South Clear Creek, Spring Gulch, Stephensville, Stevens' Mine, Swansea, Yankee Bar, and York River.
34 An exception to the rule was Antonio D. Archuleta, born in Taos, N. M., in 1855, and removed to Conejos co. in 1856. He was sent to Denver in 1870 to be educated, where he remained 4 years, when he returned to Conejos to act as clerk in his father's store, and became a partner. He was elected to the general assembly in 1882, and in 1884 to the state senate. The boun- daries of the county have been several times changed and diminished, but it still contains a large area, much of which lies in the fertile San Luis valley. The principal industries in the ante-railroad period were wheat-raising, wool- growing, and cattle-raising. The farming productions found a ready market in the San Juan mines to the west, but such was the race prejudice of the Mexicans that when the active American population began to invade this region, many abandoned it. Those who were left were chiefly employed as freightsrs. In 1879 a colony of Mormons settled at Manassas, on Conejos creek, and these will probably affect the agricultural output of the county favorably. An immigration of Scandinavians was invited to this section in 1882, which will add to the farming population a valuable element. Irrigat- ing ditches are being constructed, which will bring a large body of land under cultivable conditions. Its mineral wealth is very little developed. The original county seat was at Guadaloupita, but was changed to Conejos, a Mexican town, and has a good local trade. Alamosa is, however, the prin- cipal town, having connection with Santa Fé, Pueblo, and the San Juan country. It is situated on the west side of the Rio Grande del Norte, almost in the centre of San Luis park, at an elevation of 7,492 feet, with a pano- rama of mountain views skirting the plain on every side. Aside from its fine situation it is a thriving place. It was founded in June 1878. In the first six months the sales of merchandise reached $600,000. The population at the end of a year was 500. A large amount of freighting was done in wool, pelts, hides, machinery, and bullion. Colorado Condensed, 6-7. This is a pamphlet collated in 1883 by the editor of the Rocky Mountain News, which furnishes a few paragraphs on the several counties, chiefly with regard to their present condition. Fossett's Colorado, 85-6, also furnishes a few hints of the recent advancement of Conejos county, and the Colorado Gazetteer of 1871 portions of its earlier history, but the whole is incomplete, owing to the avoidance of the Americans by the Mexicans, and the little known of the latter by the former. Pagosa Springs is a government reservation withheld from sale on account of the great hot basin of medicinal waters, which is found here. The spring is situated west from Alamosa, on the south side of the San Juan river, near its headwaters. Its altitude is 7,084 feet, the country about it is fertile, and the climate agreeable, a combination of advantages which, united with scenic and other attractions, promises to make this a noted resort whenever the required improvements are made for the accommodation of visitors. Antonita is a town which had a rapid growth. The lesser towns and settlements of Conejos co. are Amargo, Antonio, Camp Lewis, Capulin, Carracas, Chama, Cockrell, Coxo, Codyville, Cumbres, Ephraim, Fuertecitos, Gato, Juanita, Jackson, La Jara, Lava, Los Brazos, Los Pinos, Los Rincones, Los Serribos, Navajo, Osier, Piedra, Price, HIST. NEV. 38
594
COUNTIES OF COLORADO.
Costilla county was originally larger than at pres- ent. 35 Its characteristics and history are similar to those of Conejos, having a Mexican population, and embracing a portion of the San Luis valley or park. A part, also, of the county is claimed as belonging to the Sangre de Cristo, or Beaubien grant, and is unsurveyed. 36
Rincones, Rio Grande, Rivane, San Antonio, San José, San Rafael, Serro Largo Servilleta, Sheldon, Shultze Rancho, and Spring Creek.
35 For earlier county boundaries, see Gen. Laws, Colo, 1861, 52-7; Id., 1864, 68-9; Id., 1877, 186-216.
36 The history of this grant is given in a manuscript by Cutler, of the Den- ver Journal of Commerce, in my possession, as follows: A few years before the Mexican war two Canadians, Charles Beaubien and Miranda, settled at Taos, then a state of the republic of New Mexico, under the dictatorship of Santa Anna. The local governor of Taos was Armijo, a Mexican of culture and liberal ideas. He had for a secretary and confidential adviser Charles Bent, the same who was made military governor of New Mexico by Gen. Kearny when the U. S. acquired that territory, and who was killed in the massacre of Taos not long after. The Frenchmen above named obtained by purchase a large tract of desert country, lying north of Red river, the chief consideration being their promise to induce an immigration from Canada and France, an obligation which they never fulfilled, although the grant was ap- proved by the Mexican government, and signed and sealed by Santa Anna. Lucien Maxwell married the daughter of Beaubien, and purchased of his father-in-law for a small sum all that part of the grant lying north of Red river, and between that stream and the Raton mountains. He erected a fine house on the Cimarron, where he entertained in good old feudal style, sur- rounded by his dependents, and owning immense herds of cattle, sheep, and blooded horses, employing as herders all the Cimarrons. About 1869 Wilson Waddington, Jerome B. Chaffee, and George M. Chilcott purchased the Max- well grant for an English syndicate, each of them making a fortune out of it. The English company bonded the land in Holland as security for a large amount of money, and when the loan became due allowed it to be sold. But the Dutch proprietors in a few years tired of their useless possessions, and the land was sold year after year for taxes. Their agent in New York was Frank Sherwin, who bought in the shares of the Holland firm as he could obtain them until he became proprietor, and then he laid claim to a wide belt of land on the north-west border of the grant, extending over the Raton mountains into Costilla county, Colorado. Mining in this county is of late beginning, but promises well. Its iron mines include some of the largest bodies of that metal yet found in the state, the ore taken from here being smelted at Pueblo and Denver. The first county seat was San Miguel, changed to San Luis, the principal town in the county. The only other town of any note is Placer. Antonio A. Salaza, born at Abiquiu, N. M,, in 1848, began herding sheep at 10 years of age, remaining at that occu- pation 6 years, when he went to work in a general store in San Luis, becom- ing clerk, then treasurer of the county for two years, next, a stock-raiser and a merchant. He was elected to the general assembly in 1880, and to the state senate in 1882. He never spent a day in school, and acquired his education by night study. The following are the settlements in the county : Big Bend, Big Hill, Charmer, Conlon's Ferry, Costilla, Elkhorn, Fort Garland, Garland City, Grayback, La Trinchera, Lojeta, Medano Springs, Mountain Home, Orean, Russell, San Accacio, Sangre de Cristo, San Pedro, Spalding, Under- hill, Upper Culebra, Valles, Wayside, Wilcox, Williams.
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