History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 37

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

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Division No. 2-Thomas L. Flaherty, Presi- dent; Peter Donoher, Vice President; Patrick Early, Financial Secretary; Charles Connor, Recording Secretary ; John Rooney, Treasurer.

LEADVILLE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION, NO. 179.

This body, a branch of the International Union, and composed of worthy exponents of the art preservative, was organized on the 2d day of November, 1879, with thirty-seven members, the present membership being fifty.

The first officers, elected immediately after the receipt of the charter, were : President, A. D. Wuensch; Vice President, C. C. McHugh ; Secretary, W. B. Shryock; Treasurer, F. H. Myer; Financial Secretary, J. Hale Brown ; Directors, O. A. Peck, H. A. Harbaugh and J. R. Buchanan ; Sergeant-at-Arms, P. J. Call.

The officers at present are : President, James Laughlin ; Vice President, J. W. Bramwood ; Secretary, John F. Whicher ; Treasurer, F. H. Myer ; Financial Secretary, James E. Johnson ; Directors, H. C. Blakely, James Riland and D. Mckay White; Sergeant-at- Arms, F. A. God- win.

The members are stanch union men, and demand living wages for their labors, which

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

they are now receiving in Leadville. The union is on good terms with the publishers of the city, there being no differences between them, and it is to be hoped that the same con- dition of affairs will continue while the city exists.

ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.

Excelsior Lodge, of Leadville, of this order, was organized May 31, 1880, with a member- ship of twenty, and has increased to about fifty. The first and present officers of the lodge are : D. I. Ezekiel, Acting Master Workman ; Sol. Herman, P. M. W .; James Shire, Foreman; E. F. Russell, Overseer ; T. J. Baldwin, Guide; D. F. Fox, Acting Recorder ; R. P. Goddard, Financier ; J. L. Murphy, Receiver ; D. Koch, I. W .; C. H. Coffin, O. W .; Dr. A. W. Eyer, Medical Examiner. The objects of this asso- ciation are benevolent and beneficiary. It takes care of its sick, and buries its dead, and upon the death of a member in good standing, gives to his wife or other relatives, the sum of $2,000. In the twelve years of its existence, it has increased in membership throughout the United States and Canada to 100,000 active members, and dispensed in the South during the last two yellow fever panics $30,000 in aid of the sufferers, and several thousand dollars for nurses.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR.

A lodge of this order was first organized in this city on the 5th day of October, 1880, with twenty-three members, the present membership being twenty-eight. The following gentlemen are the officers : Dictator, William K. Burchi- nell; Vice Dictator, Charles M. Ferree; Assist- ant Dictator, Elias Nathan; Past Dictator, A. P. Curry; Reporter, Theodore Kaphan; Financial Reporter, Waldo F. Corbett ; Treasurer, J. S. Miller; Chaplain, D. I. Ezekiel; Guide, A. How- ard; Guardian, Samuel Cohen; Sentinel, Jacob Rich; Medical Examiner, Dr. H. A. Newpher.

This order is organized for benevolent pur- poses, and has an endowment fund connected with it, the full rate being $2,000. The assess- ments do not amount to more than $10 or $12 per annum.

THE LEADVILLE TURNVEREIN.

In any city of any size or pretensions, or even in villages where the German element is at all represented, cau be found the societies

composed of men known as "Turners," a society which found its origin in Germany years ago. When the carbonate camp was in its infancy, a society of this nature was projected, but owing to the few Germans in the vicinity, organiza- tion was deferred until a future and more auspicious time.

In the month of October, 1879, the " Lead- ville Turnverein " was organized in this city by Messrs. Oscar F. Pfretschner, Henry Bunte, Henry Simon, August Fack, Adolph Neusitz, A. Winger and Louis Lehman, the first officers being : President, Oscar Pfretschner ; Vice President, A Neusitz ; Treasurer, A. Fach ; Secretary, F. Schmidt; First Teacher, Louis Leisenring ; Second Teacher, Louis Lehman ; Trustees, H. Hibschle, J. Schloss, Dr. A. Steinau, E. Kuehl and Caspar Zweifel.

Immediately after the organization of the society, a hall was constructed on East Third street, which was fitted with a complete gym- nasium. At a meeting of the society in April, 1880, it was decided to build another hall, the one then in use being found inadequate, in some respects, to accommodate the Turners and their guests when entertainments were given. A number of the members of the organization who possessed the means, formed themselves into a stock company, called "The Leadville Turnverein Corporation," and erected the pres- ent building on the corner of West Fourth and Pine streets, which they allow the Turners to use, and which they also lease to any parties desirous of using it for entertainments, the building being specially adapted for that pur- pose. The officers of the corporation are : President, Charles Boettcher ; Vice President, Otto Berger ; Secretary, John Bruckman ; Treasurer, Jacob Schloss ; Directors, E. Kuehl, Henry Gill, Philip Leichtweiss and Isaac Baer.

In the month of October, 1880, one year after the organization of the society, and after the removal of the quarters to Fourth street, a number of the members residing east of Harri- son avenue, seceded from the old organization and formed a new society known as "The East Leadville Turnverein," with headquarters in the old hall. This society, although a new one, has elected officers, and is now in a flourish- ing condition, and bids fair to rival the parent society. The following are the present officers of the Leadville Turnverein-the old society : President, Julius Ducas; Vice President, Dr. H.

Jesse Strayer

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

Steinau ; Secretary, Theodore Pinther ; Treas- urer, Charles Bruckman ; Librarian, E. Linke ; Property Man, August Fach ; First Teacher, John Bruckman ; Second Teacher, Henry Simon ; Trustees, Jacob Schloss, E. Keuhl, E. Linke, S. E. Bruckman and A. Falkenan.

The hall is a fine one and is furnished with a complete and spacious stage, a cloak room, two waiting rooms and a supper room. The society, possesses an excellent library, and arrange- ments have been made with the leading Ameri- can and German publishers for the latest pub- lications as soon as they are issued. The gymnasium is also complete, and affords great amusement to the athletes of the society: There are three sections to the societies-the turners proper, and the singing and dramatic sections, members of which use the halls alternately ..

Both the Leadville and East Leadville Turn- vereins are well officered and managed, and con- tain on the lists of memberships the names of gentlemen who are a credit to the community in which they reside.

UNION VETERAN ASSOCIATION.

With the great rush to Leadville in 1878-79, there came a large number of the scarred and grizzled survivors of the late war, who, as is perfectly natural, and is practiced in all por- tions of the country, sought each other out when in need of aid or advice, and cemented more firmly the bonds which were formed in the camp, on the march or in the heat of battle. During the month of October, 1879, a number of the most prominent gentlemen who had serv- ed the Union during the rebellion set about to organize a society, to be composed entirely of old soldiers, both for social enjoyment and for mutual protection, the result being that on the 18th day of October, 1879, at a meeting held for the purpose, at the Baptist Church, the Veteran Union and Army and Navy Association was formed, with the following officers : Presi- dent, T. D. Howard ; Secretary, William M. Clark ; Treasurer, S. D. Baker.

On the 26th day of November, 1879, the name of the organization was changed to "The Union Veteran Association," and on the same day, the city being then in a state of tur-

moil, owing to certain lawless threats made and acts committed, the following preamble was drawn up and signed by every member of the association :

"We, the undersigned, agree to render our act- ive services, when necessary, in the interest of law and order, and to that end propose to en- roll our names in the proposed military organi- zation, to be known as The Leadville Union Veterans ; and we do guarantee our services from present date."

This was the first step taken toward making the association a military organization, and since that time it has demonstrated the fact that its members are not afraid to face the fire. During the strike a " Union Veteran" battalion was formed, commanded by Maj. T. C. How- ard, which rendered good service.

The objects of the association are : First-To preserve fraternal feeling among soldiers, sailors and marines. Second -- To aid each other in time of need, sickness or distress. Third-To maintain allegiance and loyalty to the United States. Fourth-To encourage universal lib- erty, equal rights, education and moral eleva- tion. Fifth -- To do such other things as we may deem fit, tending to the general welfare of mankind. Since the organization the officers have been changed several times, the officers being : President, Amos P. Curry ; Vice Presi- dent, P. A. Simmons ; Junior Vice President, F. R. Miller ; Recording Secretary, William F. Kavanagh ; Financial Secretary, James F. Cur- rier ; Treasurer, H. D. Gross ; Surgeon, Dr. Henry Cook ; Officer of the Guard, William F. Clark; Board of Trustees, A. P. Curry, C. M. Ferree, W. S. Ward, H. A. Newpher, P A. Sim- mons, C. C. Howell and J. J. Henry.

The association at present numbers 283, and 120 names appear on the honorary list. A good work done by this association, toeth er with the Ladies' Auxiliary Society -- a branch of the Veterans-is the erection of a large and well appointed hospital, just outside the limits, where the sick will be cared for. This institu- tion has just been thrown open to the public. and is under the management of the Board of Trustees.

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE MINES.

TO give a complete history of the mines of Leadville would be to write a volume. The description of the successive advances in the mining interest alone would occupy more space than is given to Leadville in this work, and to give a concise account of the story of the discovery of each mine, its development, improvements, its good and ill fortunes, and its production would be a work of such gigantic proportions that few would be found willing to undertake the task. It will there- fore be aimed at in this chapter to give a brief summary of each property with its present condition and prospects, together with any- thing of especial interest in its history. The producing mines will of course receive the greatest share of attention, as upon them the reputation of the camp has been built.

The wonderful change that has been effected in this region during the past three years is entirely due to the mines which have never yet ceased to excite the wonder of all who have watched their development. Stripped of all romance, the bare detail of facts will not prove uninteresting to any of our readers.

THE MORNING STAR.

A large amount of territory and containing a wonderful amount of ore already developed as well as probabilities of an almost unlimited amount in the future yet to be explored is in the Morning Star. The property was orig- inally owned by Joseph W. Watson, Gov. John L. Routt and George Corning. In the spring of 1881, the mines were transferred to the Morning Star Consolidated Mining Com- pany, a corporation with a capital of $6,000,- 000, and J. W. Watson as General Manager. He, however, remains but a small portion of his time in Leadville, and R. C. Facer, the Assistant Manager, has almost entire charge of the property. William Duff is the Super- intendent of the mine. The entire property now consists of seven different locations, com-

prising nearly 50 acres of ground, all located on the northwest side of Carbonate hill, and very extensive plants of buildings and ma- chinery are upon the property. There are four steam engines and hoisters on different shafts on the property. For the entire year, the production of ore has averaged about sixty tons daily, but recent improvements will ena- ble the output of a far greater amount. The company has been paying dividends of $75,- 000 a month. A very slight amount of stop- ing has been done, and this on the south side of the incline, between cross-cuts 1 and 3. These pillars of ore have been left standing, in many places upward of twenty feet in thickness, and on these blocks, that remain as they did several months ago, have the estimate of experts been made that placed the amount in sight at $3,000,000. Had no new discoveries been made, or had the ore limits ceased where it was known to exist months ago, the property would have been among the most valuable Leadville had ever known, and would have furnished ore to be a marvel to the world for a long time to come.

As has been repeatedly stated, however, the policy of the company to the present time has been one of development, and although from fifteen hundred to two thousand tons of ore have been mined monthly, it has been easily accomplished, from the headings of drifts, from upraises and winzes, run and driven, with a view of developing where the ore body extended, and to prove its extent.

The new shaft is one of the finest about Leadville. It is 5x10 feet in the clear, and is fitted with two cages. The shaft connects with the former workings from the main shaft at a depth of 340 feet. Over the shaft is a fine large shaft and ore house and this is to be on the main working shaft of the mine.

Over the old discovery-shaft is also an engine and shaft-house and a steam hoister has also been put up over the north shaft of

HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

279

the Waterloo claim, one of the properties of the company. The Morning Star has a vast future before it and will yield a large output of ore for very many years.

THE EVENING STAR.

One of the very best and most important mining properties in Carbonate camp is the Evening Star. It is located on Carbonate Hill between the Morning Star and Catalpa.

Gradually has the mine gained a position of importance, and Mr. W. S. Ward, who has laid the plans for working his mine and care- fully carried out those plans to the letter, now finds himself in control of one of the best properties in Leadville, with vast ore reserves, as yet but scarcely touched. Its policy has been described as conservative; on the con- trary it has been wise and will prove for the best interests of the stockholders of the com- pany.

Four hundred feet to the east and higher on the hill than the main workings, Mr. Ward, last spring, commenced a new shaft. Over this is a fine shaft-house and machinery, and the shaft has reached a depth of 300 feet, where contact was cut. From this a drift extends south for thirty feet, which shows some mineral; another drift runs east for eighty feet in lime; a new drift has just been started west, so as to connect with the old work- ings, and another drift runs to the north eighty-two feet to the Morning Star line. This last has developed a fine ore body. Fifty feet in the north drift a cross-cut runs west for fifty feet, and then again turns north. An upraise from this for twenty feet has cut the richest ore body yet discovered in the mine.

The main working shaft at present, and the one that has been principally used in the production of ore, is 400 feet west from the shaft just described. Over it is a fine shaft house and engine room, and the most approved machinery has just been put up. This con- sists of a Colorado Iron Works engine and boiler of twenty-five horse-power, and a com- plete hoisting rig. The shaft is 275 feet deep, and at the bottom a level extends for 150 feet, connecting with a winze sunk in the workings of the east, and designed in time to

continue so as to connect with a level from the east shaft. In its main shaft, at 100 feet in depth, the contact was cut. Prospecting showed the vein pitched sharply to the east and northeast, and although much ore was exposed by drifts and cross-cuts, and also a large quantity extracted in running these developments, it was not deemed advisable to work by inclines, and so at 135 feet in depth another station was made and a second level extended to the east. From this level most of the mining has been done, and most of the ore so far produced, has come. The object in. continuing the shaft to so much greater depth, and then running an eastern drift, was to get below a large bulk of ore, and thus work from beneath an ore body and shoot down, rather than to break from below and then transport the ore up an incline to the shaft.

Entering the second level, five drifts and cross-cuts are found, exposing ore bodies on all sides, the extent and value of which could only be approximated after weeks of careful study and tests. At 150 feet east, a winze has been sunk 140 feet, connecting below with the east level. For forty feet this winze was sunk through a solid body of sand car- bonates. Further to the north are two inclines running east that extend through ore in many places from three to five sets of tim- bers high, and all in ore. Cross-cuts are also run, showing the ore body of the same vast extent. In no place has a single particle of stoping been done, and to see the vast pillars standing and the thousands of tons of ore known to exist, left standing, gives one a confidence in Leadville that it is hard to obtain in equal degree in any other mine in the camp. South from the winze, on the sec- ond level, drifts are run to the Catalpa and also back to the west, exposing a large ore body of high grade carbonates. Forty feet below, other drifts extend to the line, all in ore, and back into the adjoining territory, where Capt. Slawson, of the Catalpa, has developed his wonderful ore body, and where forty-four feet of sand carbonates are uncov- ered, and not a break in the ore body. Through from these workings to the ore body exposed in the east shaft is 200 feet in dis-

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tance, and it therefore seems probable that the ore body is unbroken for this distance. Col. Perley Dodge is the mining Superin- tendent of the property.

The mine is producing from forty to fifty tons per day of high-grade ore. It is mostly a sand carbonate, although much hard carbonates are found in the mine. The mine has been paying regular monthly divi- dends of $25,000 and is besides accumulating a large reserve fund. During the month of May three dividends of $25,000 each were paid, making twelve dividends, aggregating $300,000, in less than eight months.

THE CATALPA.

Also among those properties that have been carefully opened with a view to future and permanent production rather than to hastily taking out what ore is exposed, is the Catalpa. When this property was purchased last spring by the present company, it was far from being in good shape, but Capt. Slawson, an experi- enced mining man, was placed in charge and the work since has been done most systemat- ically. The mine is to-day in as fine and safe condition as any in the land. The mine was among the first located about Leadville and has been productive from its earliest his- tory. It is located adjoining the Evening Star and the same great ore body that extends through Carbonate Hill, that was found in the Carbonate on the south, runs through the Catalpa, Evening Star and Morning Star Mines. The present company at first paid attention to the opening of the mine. The present working shaft is one of the best and is timbered most "securely. Over this has been put up a fine shaft-house and a first- class engine. Timbering rooms, blacksmith- shops, and extensive ore rooms have been added. The first station is at 205 feet. Here a large excavation has been made, and from it extends the levels to the various parts of the mine yet explored. The main level-a large one and exceedingly well secured-extends northwest toward the Evening Star line. In fact, the developments yet made from this station are almost entirely to the north, northeast and northwest. Through this por- tion no stoping has yet been done, and large

blocks of ore are standing, proved up by nu- merous drifts and cross-cuts. An immense deposit of ore has recently been found in this portion of the mine, east from the main level, aud some 100 feet from the shaft. The ore body is from nine to ten feet in thickness at this point, and the extent of the body is not yet determined, as the drift only extends into it some fifteen feet. The entire face of the drift, about eight feet high, is a solid mass of sand carbonates. If those who have lost faith in the permanency of Leadville mines, would visit the Catalpa, and especially this portion of it, they would derive much bene- fit therefrom.

One feature in regard to the Catalpa ore is that of its high grade, much of it exceeding a hundred ounces, and it is similar in appear- ance and quality to that found in the southern portion of the Evening Star. Of the entire amount taken out by the company, the net average has exceeded $80 to the ton. This is far superior to that found in the Morning Star, and to the bulk of that in the Evening Star.

The mine is shipping almost 400 tons a month and a clear profit of about $30,000 a month is being realized. The property is owned by a stock company, much of the stock being held in Boston. A dividend of $60,000 has just been declared and the mine justifies the opinion that very many more are re-as- sured. The Catalpa is one of the permanent ones that has a great future before it and that is not easily or quickly to be exhausted.

THE YANKEE DOODLE.

On the regular belt of mines extending around the west side of Carbonate Hill, and in the very center of the best paying properties is the Yankee Doodle. This was purchased in Leadville's early history by Jackson, Plummer & McIntire, and for a time success- fully worked. The ore, however, appeared in pockets only, and though at times very pros- perous, at other times the profits were not flattering. Last summer the property was sold and organized into a stock company, known as the Carbonate Hill Mining Com- pany, with a capital stock of $2,000,000. Mr. George Summers was made Agent and O.

Frank Gay

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

H. Harker the General Superintendent of mining operations.

Mr. Harker has had many years' experience in mining, both in Gilpin and Boulder Coun- ties, and since coming to Leadville has always occupied positions of resposibility. At once, in taking control of the Carbonate Hill Com- pany's property and examining the same, he determined that the former workings were too low down the hill, and that the great ore body of the mine would be found more to the east. He was led to this conclusion from the fact that the best ore chute on the hill com- mences on the Carbonate Mine of the Lead- ville Company, near where the office is located, and extends northeasterly through the Little Giant, and its course has already been defined. With this view in his mind, the old workings were deserted and a large, new, fine shaft was begun some 400 feet higher on the hill.

The present shaft of the Carbonate Com- pany is near the center of the claim. It is 800 feet from the east line and 700 feet from the west line. The shaft is one of the best built and most securely timbered about Lead- ville. It is four by ten in size and is 303 feet in depth.

At 296 feet deep a drift runs east and at 160 feet from the shaft an ore vein was cut, on which several drifts have been run. A cross-cut runs south to the Little Giant line and a good ore vein is exposed. The mine is shipping ore regularly, and although as yet the shipments are not large, a great deal of ore has been exposed and the prospects of the property are among the best in the camp.

THE CARBONATE.

Among the early discoveries made in Lead- ville was the Carbonate Mine, which was worked profitably for a long time by Hal- lock & Cooper and afterward sold by them to the Leadville Mining Company. A. W. Gill was the President of this company for the first few months of its existence and T. F. Van Wagenen, the Manager in charge. The mine paid regular monthly dividends and the property gave great promise. Some poor places were, however, encountered, and instead of paying dividends, the company became

involved in debt. A change in management followed and after a time the mine was shut down. Prospecting, however, was continued, and new ore bodies have been discovered. The mine is again shipping ore and the pros- pects are most favorable. On the mine the most extensive improvements have been made. The shaft and ore houses are among the finest in the camp. The property has yet a great possible future before it, and a probability, at least, of producing a large amount of ore.

PROSPECT.

On the south slope of Carbonate Hill is the Prospect, on which a great deal of work has been prosecuted, but as yet with no returns. A good contact has been struck and followed by an incline, the shaft and incline together reaching a depth of 400 feet.

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 37

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080