History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 38

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

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GLASS-PENDERY,

Wheu in the spring of 1879 ore was found in the Pendery claim on Carbonate Hill, a new life and impetus was given to mining. Previous to that time, it was supposed the line of contact of ore on the hill was entirely confined to that found in the Carbonate and extending around the brow of the hill to the Morning Star. When, therefore, Judge Pen- dery and his associates, after great expense in putting down a shaft to a depth of over 200 feet, at length encountered a large body of high-grade ore, there were those ready to express the opinion that it could be but a slide from the main contact above. This, however, was not the opinion of all, for others in the neighborhood started up work. In the Glass, the adjoining claim, ore was also found, and after some litigation between the parties, the two interests were consolidated and the Glass-Pendery Mining Company was organ- ized. For more than a year the property has been worked extensively. An immense amount of ore has been extracted from the mine and still geater amounts developed, so that the ore deposited is assured, and it has long been conceded that the second contact and that as important, if not more so, than the upper one, has been found in these prop- erties. Since the consolidation the work has been prosecuted through the Glass shaft,

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

although connection has been made under ground with both the shafts of the Pendery and Rough and Ready.

The shaft is 220 feet in depth, is well tim- bered and lined inside. When pressed with work, a regular trip with a bucket is made in two minutes' time. At the bottom of the shaft a station has been cut and from it the levels extend.

Running north, is the main level to the Pendery workings. This is 740 feet in length. To the south this level extends 300 feet. With the other drifts and cross-cuts, an entire underground opening of over 3,000 feet exists. The work is laid out at regular right angles and no effort is made to follow the ore bodies, but occasionally raises are made or winzes sunk, to find where the ore exists. Near the shaft an immense ore body has been blocked out that by exploration is found to be nearly 100 feet square in extent, and in places is from twenty to thirty feet in thickness.

To the south the ore seems to be pitching to the south, and an incline has been run to prospect it. On the west, the ore is pitching down hill toward the city. The main north level is mostly driven in lime, but raises made show the ore to exist much of the way above the level.

The lime in the Glass all contains a small amount of silver, and being of use as a flux it finds ready sale, netting about $4 per ton. This product alone pays far more than the running expenses of the mine and leaves the ore product as clear profit.

The property is owned by a stock company, with a capital of $5,000,000, divided into 250,000 shares of $20 each. The President is Gov. H. A. W. Tabor, the Vice President is C .. A. Manners, and the Treasurer is the Miners' Exchange Bank. Mr. J. W. Wallace is the General Manager and F. H. Cole the Super- intendent and Assayer. The following is a list of the Directors: H. A. W. Tabor, S. H. Foss, C. A. Manners, Tim Foley, D. P. Dyer, H. V. P. Block, J. W. Wallace, G. G. Russell and William Gould.

O'DONOVAN ROSSA.

This property made a sensation last spring on account of a conflict over its possession,

when rifles were freely used. The legal points are not as yet settled. The shaft is about 200 feet deep and has some mineral. Gilbert and Morrissey are in possession.

CALIFORNIA TUNNEL.

One of the important enterprises started on Carbonate Hill has been the California Tunnel, which starts on the California Gulch side, and has been driven over 500 feet. Some good pockets of ore have been found and a good quality of lime. The property is owned by a strong company, and it is the in- tention to continue driving the tunnel to thoroughly prospect the hill. At the mouth of the shaft is a good ore room. The tunnel is well built and will last for many years. An iron track extends from the ore room along the entire length of the tunnel.

CARBONATE HILL CONSOLIDATED.

The Carbonate Hill Consolidated owns three claims on the northwest end of the Car- bonate. The workings have been conducted on the Pocahontas claim. The shaft is 240 feet deep, and at 180 feet contact was cut and drifts are being run southeast and east. The prospects of the mine are very good at present.

ST. MARY'S AND WASHBURNE.

Both these properties are now consolidated in one, and in the shafts and drifts of each pay mineral has been struck. New machin- ery, consisting of a steam hoister, has been put on the St. Mary's shaft and regular ore shipments are being made.

DILLON.

There are two shafts on the Dillon, located on the north side of the hill, near Stray Horse Gulch. Both have reached contact and have some paying mineral, but it is found in pock- ets and is not yet in sufficient quantities to yield a profit.

HARRISON REDUCTION WORKS,

branch of the St. Louis Smelting and Refin- ing Company, of St. Louis, Mo., cominenced building in May, 1877, and went into blast with one furnace, in October, 1877; in August, 1878, a second furnace was added. From

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

October, 1877, to January, 1881, 49,816,733 pounds of ore, were smelted, producing 12,- 542,508 pounds of bullion, containing 1,824,- 456 ounces of silver, 2,147.00 ounces of gold and 12,413,415 pounds of lead, valued at $2,- 154,429. In January, 1881, the furnaces were shut down for repairs, since which time the following changes and additions have been made: Furnace building, 90x50 feet, con- taining four furnaces: two furnaces six feet, six inches by three feet; two , furnaces four feet in diameter, four No. 5 Blake Blowers, two No. 3 Cameron Feed Pumps; boiler shed, 36x50 feet, containing two boilers, 44x18 and 52x20; pump house, 12x12 feet, containing one No. 9 and one No. 10 Cameron Pump; sampling works, 2x125 feet, containing one engine, 12x20, two large Blake Crushers, 9x15 each, one small Blake Crusher, 4x10, one pair of Cornish rolls, 10x20, one sampling-mill; ore bins to store 4,000 tons of ore; underground flues, dust chamber, and stack, six feet square inside and ninety-six feet high. Capacity of furnaces 200 tons per day; capacity of sam- pling works, 300 tons per day; three railroad switches.

Smelting will be resumed on the 15th of August, everything now being completed. The greater part of the ore smelted is from mines owned by the company and known as the Argentine Mining Company; but the late im- provements were made with a view of not only treating the Leadville ores in general, but those from all other camps irrespective of grade or nature. Officers: Edwin Harrison, of St. Louis, President; G. W. Chadbourne, of St. Louis, Vice President; George H. Loker, Jr., Secretary; F. Fohr, of Leadville, Superintendent. Edwin Harrison is Presi- dent of the Iron Mountain Company, of St. Louis, owning the largest iron mines, furnaces and rolling-mills in Missouri. F. Fohr has been in the smelting business for eighteen years, and is thoroughly acquainted with all its branches.

LITTLE GIANT.

A property that has been largely productive, and has large ore reserves still in it, is the Little Giant, located just above the Carbonate and south from the Yankee Doodle. The mine is owned by private parties living in

Leadville, who have made snug fortunes from its workings. Connection is now made with the Carbonate, and through that ground the mine in the future is likely to be worked, as over the Giant shaft itself only a whim is put up for hoisting. The shaft is over 400 feet deep. The Yankee Doodle has also just drifted into Little Giant ground, and along the line there is a large body of ore. This mine is celebrated as being the first party to a suit to establish the fact in regard to the right of the Leadville mines to follow the ore body beyond their side lines. The suit was brought against the Little Giant by the Car- bonate, and resulted in a victory for the de- fendant.

BIG CHIEF.

The striking of ore in the Big Chief, just above the Morning Star, was one of the events of the camp during 1880. The ore body was found at a depth of 440 feet, and water then coming in it was impossible to work the mine further with a whim. A new shaft-house, with steam hoister, was then put up and work resumed. With a bucket, however, it was impossible to control the water and mine the ore, so a pump has been put up. Work has just been resumed, and the Big Chief will this year count among the productive mines of Leadville.

AGASSIZ.

The Agassiz owners deserve success for the systematic way in which work has been pros- ecuted, and that success seems to depend almost entirely on attaining a sufficient depth. The shaft is 500 feet deep, and the water be- came so troublesome that a pump was neces- sary. This has been put in, and although by an accident when first put up the entire machinery fell to the bottom of the shaft, it has again been recovered and is now in operation. Some pockets of ore have been found in sink- ing the shaft, but the owners do not expect to find an ore body of great extent for consider- able distance.

MODOC.

Above the Little Giant, on Carbonate Hill, is the Modoc, which has probably the deepest shaft about Leadville, and is over 550 feet deep. There is a good shaft-house and

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

machinery recently put up. The shaft has reached contact, and both sinking and drifting are being prosecuted.

BROOKLAND.

Over the Brookland Mine good machinery and buildings have been erected. The shaft is nearly 400 feet deep, and, although no reg- ular ore body has yet been reached, work is being prosecuted on the contact and some good mineral has been taken out.

ORION CONSOLIDATION.

The Orion Consolidation consists of two claims, on the west side of Carbonate Hill, be- low the Glass-Pendery. It is in paying ore and is being actively worked.

HENRIETT.

On the north side of the hill is the Henri- ett. Two shafts are being worked and both are in pay mineral. The ore, as yet, is not high grade, but yields a profit. Engines are used on both shafts, and on the upper one, which is 400 feet deep, a pump is kept con- stantly running to drain the mine from water.

ADLAIDE.

The Adlaide Mining Company's consists of the Adlaide and Terrible locations. Two main shafts have been sunk, besides a number of lesser importance, and a great deal of drifting has been done. The mine has yield- ed a large amount of ore, and is regularly shipping a small amount at the present time.

VANDERBILT.

The Vanderbilt is located at the junction of the two Stray Horse Gulches. It is in mineral, but is not at present being worked.

ARGENTINE GROUP.

The Argentine group of mines comprises the Camp Bird, Young America and others. They were the first mines on which carbonate ores were discovered about Leadville, and were the cause of the extensive prospecting following, which opened up the wonderful mines of the district. A large yield of ore has been taken from the mines, and they are among the regularly productive properties.

There is a tunnel over 1,200 feet in length, and a number of shafts on the locations.

CYCLOPS.

The Marian Mining Company is the owner of a group of mines up Stray Horse Gulch, on the north side of Carbonate Hill. Included in the group is the Cyclops, over which a large shaft-house and fine machinery have been put up. The mine is being worked and produces a small amount of ore.

NILES AUGUSTA.

This combined property has yielded a large amount of paying mineral and considerable ore is being constantly taken from it. It is believed, however, the main ore body is at greater depth and the shaft is being sunk.

SMALL HOPES MINING COMPANY.

This company owns the Robert Emmet, For- est and other claims that cross Stray Horse Gulch. The mines have been extensively worked and largely productive.

LITTLE PITTSBURG.

The first large stock company to be organ- ized in the East on Leadville property was the Little Pittsburg, New Discovery and the Winnemuc Mines, on Fryer Hill. The organ- ization was effected with a capital stock of $20,000,000, and regularly, for ten months thereafter, dividends of $100,000 were paid by the company for ten successive months, and one extra dividend of $50,000 disbursed among the stockholders. When the company was first organized, Hon. J. C. Wilson was chosen General Manager and H. B. Bearce made Superintendent of mining. The mine was wonderfully successful for a time and its great production caused the craze of excite- ment that at one time existed over the Car- bonate camp. That the property was over- worked is since admitted by all, and not suffi- cient attention was paid to fully develop the territory.

The break in the Little Pittsburg, in Feb- ruary, 1880, and the disastrous fall in stocks which followed, is well known From about $35 a share, the stock dropped to about $6 in a few weeks, and the hopes and fortunes of

PACITIC IRON WORKS FRANK GAY, PROP'R.

DILER SHOP

MACHINE SHOP

PACIFIC IRON WORKS. FRANK GAY PROPR. LEADVILLE COLO.

THE OLD RELIA ME BLACK HAWK WAGON CARRIAGE FORGING SHOEING

WAGON WORKS

.SHOP GLEITZMANN

BLACKSMITH & WAGON SHOPS CHAS LEITZMANN PROPR. LEADVILLE COLO.

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

many were lowered in like degree. Wilson resigned from the management and was suc- ceeded by Bearce, who, for a time, tried to hold up the property. The large ore deposit in the New Discovery claim, however, which had been the main source of supply, had been exhausted, and a system of explora- tion had to be inaugurated to again put the mine on a paying basis. Bearce in turn be- came discouraged, not only by the appearance of the mine, but from the grumbling among the stockholders in New York. John T. Her- rick then came out to look after the affairs of the company. There was still some cash in the treasury and active prospecting was at once begun.

The mine has ever since that time regularly produced ore. At times there has been great- er outputs than others, as new pockets or de- posits of ore were found, but at all times the mine has been a regular producer, except dur- ing the time of the fire that originated in the Vulture claim of the Chrysolite, through the gas created, which drove the men from the mine and necessitated a suspension of work for a few weeks.

Mr. Herrick was succeeded by Mr. F. E. Canda, who is one of the directors of the com- pany, and was sent here with full power. Mr. Canda has had control of the property since May, 1880, and has economically conducted the management, as well as actively pushed forward the work. He has pushed forward hundreds upon hundreds of feet of exploration drifts, and has discovered a great deal of ore. While no such deposits as formerly were found have been discovered, the mine has been regu- larly productive, and has yielded large amounts beyond the expenses of mining and exploring.

The Little. Pittsburg Company owns the Little Pittsburg, New Discovery, Winnemuc, Dives and Union claims, all located on Fryer Hill, and, although a great deal prospected, there yet remains much unbroken ground, and strong probabilities of the mine yet becoming of exceeding value. Good shaft-houses and extensive machinery have been put up over a number of shafts, the plant over the Discov- ery shaft being particularly fine. The com- pany has a fine office, barn, extensive saw-mill for framing timbers and other improvements.

THE CHRYSOLITE.

The greatest producing mine about Lead- ville has been the Chrysolite, and, although for a time reports became circulated that it was exhausted, recent developments show the ore body as extensive as ever, and the produc- tion is such as to justify the confidence of its friends. The property of the company con- sists of the following locations: Chrysolite, Vulture, Carboniferous, Kit Carson, Fair View, Colorado Chief and Muldoon, all ad- joining, and located on the northwest portion of Fryer Hill. Most of the property was originally owned by Borden, Tabor & Co., and has been largely productive. On the 15th of October, 1879, the entire property passed into the hands of the Chrysolite Mining Company, a New York stock company, with a capital stock of $10,000,000. Previous to the pur- chase of the properties by the Chrysolite Company, the net yield had been $1,064,858. Since the organization the company has taken out net $1,700,000, up to November 1, 1880, and since then, though but partially running on account of the fire, the production has been about a quarter of a million. The mine has, therefore, produced over $3,000,000 up to the present time, and the regular production is now from fifty to sixty tons per day, and no effort is made to force production.

When the company first took possession, in October, 1879, there were but slight surface improvements, and Mr. W. S. Keyes, who was first chosen manager, at once began surface improvements. In February, 1880, the build- ings over the Roberts shaft were completed. Soon afterward connection was made with this shaft to the other workings, and since that time the Roberts has been used entirely for the raising of ore.

Over the Roberts shaft is the finest mine building in Colorado. The main shaft-room is 40x40 feet in size, and is the center room of the building. On the south side is the machine and blacksmith shop, 35x35 feet in size; the timbering-room is on the north end, and is 35x60 feet; on the east are the engine and boiler rooms, separated by a partition, the former being 22x49 feet and the boiler- room 20x40 feet. The large, new ore-house, 22x50 feet in size, has just been completed,

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

and is sixty feet west from the main building, connected therewith by a bridge, over which are laid iron rails, and the cars coming from the mine are wheeled directly into the ore building, where they are dumped into the different bins. The entire buildings are most substantially built of the heaviest timbers, and everything put up for permanency.

The underground workings of the Chryso- lite have been most substantial and systematic. The timbering is of the very best and the heaviest of timbers have been used. There are nearly two miles of underground drifts and winzes in the mine, and all is equally well secured. In the latter part of June, or as soon as the great miners' strike was over, Mr. Keyes, under a leave of absence for thirty days, left for a trip to California. While ab- sent, Mr. J. W. Marden, the financial agent, was left in charge, and Mr. W. R. Breck looked after the mining. Before Keyes left that time, the mine showed strong signs of weakening. The fact was, it had been over- driven. Demands were made upon it for div- idends of $200,000 a montb, and this was found to be too great a strain. Keyes re- turned from California, but remained only a few days, when he resigned his position. A panic in the stock followed, and rumors were afloat of the failure of the mine. Roberts withdrew from the company in New York and new directors were chosen.

When Keyes retired, Mr. Marden again took charge and retained Mr. Breck as his assist- ant. In the Roberts shaft there are two levels, or stations, one at 113 feet and the other at 149 feet in depth. From these stations, levels had been run in all directions and the ore seemed apparently about exhausted. In ex- ploring, after Mr. Keyes left, it was divulged that the ore body existed between the levels, and by opening there, the finest ore body ever found in the Chrysolite Mine, was found, and its extent is not yet known. In fact, it appears exhaustless. In two months' time, Mr. Mar- den took out over half a million dollars' worth of ore. From August 9 to September 7, 1880, or two days less than a month, the actual ore settlements were $264,474.97. On Sunday, September 5, 1880, the shipments of ore amounted to 333 tons, worth nearly $30,000

net, and is the largest shipment ever made from the mine. On September 10, 1880, Mr. Charles M. Rolker, the newly appointed man- ager of the company, arrived from New York and took charge of the mine, a position he has since retained. Up to the time of the fire the output of ore was very satisfactory, and explorations driven showed the ore body of vast extent.

On the 4th of October, 1880, an old shaft- house on the Vulture ground, used as a lodging- house, took fire and was totally destroyed. The fire connected to the shaft, and in spite of the exertions put forth, the underground workings took fire, and the gas and smoke drove the men from the mine, and also from the mines of adjoining properties. The fire was vigorously fought, various plans being adopted, but not till November 22 was Mr. Rolker able to actively resume mining. It is shown, however, that the measures he took preserved effectually the main workings of the mine, and has allowed the destruction of only a few drifts and stopes in worked-out ground.

LITTLE CHIEF.

The richest and most largely productive small piece of ground on Fryer Hill has been the Little Chief, and if it should never pro- duce another dollar, it should not be decried. The entire territory is but little over eight acres, and of this the north and south ends, comprising more than half of its surface measurement, have never produced a dollar. In addition to this, there is a porphyry dyke running through the center, which is nearly 300 feet in width, that was barren. There were, however, in places, the most wonderful ore deposits. Eighty feet in thickness of ore existed in one place. The mine made the original owners rich before the Little Chief Company took possession, January 1, 1880. Since that time $700,000, in dividends, have been paid, and a large surplus accumulated. A large new shaft, with one of the finest plants of buildings and machinery in the West, have also been added, and the mine has been kept timbered and secured in the best possible manner.

After the retirement of George Daly, in October, John T. Herrick came here from

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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.

New York, not specially to take charge, but to examine and report on the property for Eastern owners. This he did, and the mine was worked successfully under his control till the latter part of November, when Mr. Tingley S. Wood was placed in charge. The product lately taken out shows that ore still remains in paying quantities on the first level, and the experiments to be made in deeper mining may yet prove the mine a bonanza beyond all pre- vious calculation.

THE AMIE.

The next property above the Little Pitts- burg, on Fryer Hill, is the Amie, that has been in the past one of the most successful mines about Leadville, and is to-day one of the most promising. Since the present com- pany was organized, a year ago last October, the production of the mine has been over $700,000. In dividends there have been paid out $305,000, and there is a cash reserve fund now in New York, exceeding $50,000. The company has put up substantial improvements, including four fine shaft-houses, a fine office residence and weighing room, besides a num- ber of cottages for employes. The mine is producing a very large amount of iron ore that carries some silver, and being valuable as a flux commands ready sale. This product alone is exceedingly profitable. In addition to this, however, there is much valuable ore still remaining on the first level, and without further discoveries the mine can yield a large product.

It is, however, the intention of the company to prospect below and see if further ore bodies exist at greater depth. This is generally believed by the most eminent scientists and mining men who have visited Leadville and it is proposed to prove or disprove the correct- ness of the theory. Mr. Andrew W. Gill, the President of the company has had many years' experience in mining and has thor- oughly good judgment. Did he not believe good reasons exist, that ore should be found below, it is not probable he would try the experiment, for it will be an expensive one. A fine engine and an eight-inch double Cor- nish pump have been put up on the No. 2 shaft and the shaft is being pushed down as rapidly as possible.

THE CLIMAX.

Above the Amie is located the Climax. The property is somewhat divided, from the fact that, early in its history, a portion of the claim since known as the Contract portion of the Climax, was given to certain parties, in consideration of sinking a shaft of mineral and thus proving up the value of the entire claim. This contract part has been worked considerably and two shafts have been sunk upon it to mineral, but no great amount of paying ore was ever extracted from it. The other portion of the mine proved the more valuable. On this are five shafts. The No. 2 is to the north and from it a number of drifts were run and much ore of value was taken out. The No. 3 shaft near the Amie line, however, was the most productive.

Near this and extending to the Amie line, one of the largest and richest ore pockets ever found on Fryer Hill was discovered. It has been stated the ore bodies in the Climax are exhausted and such may be the case, but located as it is in the very heart of the richest hill the world has ever known, and with still a great deal of unexplored ground, the state- ment finds few believers.

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 38

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