History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 52

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

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WILLIAM J. WILSON.

The subject of this sketch was born in Weston, Platte County, Mo., February '19, 1846. He received a common school educa- tion and came to Colorado in 1862; was engaged in freighting for several years and came to Leadville in April, 1878. Is largely interested in cattle raising, having a herd numbering nearly 9,000 on the Republican River. He also is a large real estate owner and interested in mining property. Leadville was supplied for a period of two years with beef from his herd. Mr. Wilson is unmarried and is known as one of the largest cattle deal- ers in Colorado.

W. S. WARD.

Among the many men who have sought homes in Colorado, but few if any have kept better face with the general forward move-

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

ment or been more closely allied with the mining interests of the State than has W. S. Ward. Born in Madras, India, May 25, 1844, being the son of the Rev. Dr. Ward, then Missionary to India, an old-time resi- dent of Geneseo, N. Y. Mr. Ward com- menced his education at Williston Seminary, Massachusetts, afterward attending Princeton College, New Jersey, and the Columbia School of Mines, New York, thus laying the founda- tion for that knowledge of mining that was necessary to obtain success in the manage- ment of mines. He spent ten years in the United States Assay Office in New York, en- gaged in scientific and literary work, and came to Leadville to take charge of the Eve- ning Star Mine; at present he is General Man- ager and Vice President of that company, also General Manager of the Farwell Consol- idated Mining Company of Independence, Colo., and Manager of the Terrible Mining Company, formerly the Adlaide. He is also General Manager of the Ward Consolidated Company, the Adams Prospecting Company and the Sterling Mining Company of Gunni- son. Mr. Ward never makes a mistake in mining, a result which is due to his long experience and"excellent judgment, and also to the fact of his scientific education in early youth. Mr. Ward is not one who accumu- lates wealth to hoard it, but being a man of cultivated tastes, he spends his money freely in supporting a style of living proportionate to his means. He has erected on the bluff known as Capitol Hill in Leadville, an ele- gant residence with spacious grounds and adorned with the various articles of vertu which a refined taste can suggest and wealth supply. All measures for the improvement and elevation of society find in him a gener- ous and hearty supporter. He is Trustee and Treasurer of the Veteran Hospital, also Trust- ee and Treasurer of the Free Reading Room of Leadville. During the war he was an officer in the Mississippi Gunboat Squadron, and was captured while on the Gunboat Indianola, in the famous Ram encounter below Vicksburg, Miss., after running the batteries in 1863, and spent some time in the famous prisons of Jackson, Vicksburg and Libby, and also was captured by guerrillas while on

shore duty at the mouth of Red River, and was in the military prison of Alexandria, La. The active service being over, Mr. Ward renewed his studies at Williston Seminary. He was married in Chicago, and devotes his entire time to the mining enterprises, in so many of which he holds the position of General Manager, that he finds no time, if he had inclination, to engage in outside matters. Mr. Ward is a man of sterling qualities, and his energy and enterprise make him conspic- uous as one of the representative mine owners and capitalists of Leadville.

CHARLES W. WESTOVER.

Colorado claims Mr. Westover as one of her oldest residents. He first came during the gold excitement of 1860, but remained only a short time before returning East. Mr. W. was born in Rushville, Fayette Co., Ind. When quite young he removed with his par- ents to Huntington C unty, same State. There he worked on a farm and attended school. After a number of years he removed to Afton, Iowa, and for a number of months was en- gaged in farming. He then made his first trip to Colorado, coming across the plains by wagon train. When he returned East he made Council Bluffs, Iowa, his home for a few years, when he again came to the Rocky Mountains, and has made them his home ever since. He has resided in Central City, in the San Juan country, and Leadville. He came to the latter place in 1879. For ten years Mr. Westover has been engaged in gath- ering geological specimens in Utah, Wyoming, Dakota and Colorado, making a specialty of furnishing cabinets for schools and colleges with specimens. Mr. W, has the largest col- lection of any taxidermist in Colorado, in which art he excels. In 1881, he took his son, H. B. Westover, into partnership, and the firm is largely increasing their business. In addition to the above occupation they are engaged in mining. Mr. W. has an extensive acquaintance throughout the New North- west, having spent the greater portion of the time since 1860 in the mountains. The firm is constantly receiving orders from the East for specimens, which they are filling from their well-supplied Leadville Museum.

TEN MILE REGION.

W HEN the multitude attracted by the dis- covery of the carbonate deposits at Leadville began to overflow and spread in search of new treasure fields, among the first districts to attract the attention of prospectors, was the one now known as the Ten Mile Con- solidated Mining District, beginning at the summit of the range, about fifteen miles north of Leadville, and extending along Ten Mile Creek, in Summit County. Although its now well-known silver mines are of comparatively recent date, the district is not a new one, hav- ing been run over by gold hunters in the " flush times " of California Gulch, Buckskin Joe and other famous gold camps of early days. Gold was found in the bed of Ten Mile Creek, and in the connecting gulches, and for years gulch mining was successfully carried on. Many of these gulches are still worked with profit, among them McNulty's Gulch, said to have yielded more gold in proportion to its size than any other workings in the State, and many fine nuggets of unusual size were takeu from it. A rare and exceptional feature of the Ten Mile placers was the number of silver nuggets, some of them weighing two and three ounces, occa- sionally found in them. Specimens of rich sil- ver ores, taken from near the summit of Fletcher Mountain, were sent to the World's Fair in London, many years ago, and as a result of the attention they attracted, a large tunnel was projected, which, starting at the base of the mountain in Clinton Gulch, was in- tended to cut the veins at a great depth. The enterprise was planned on a scale of consider- able magnitude, and after being conducted in a spasmodic manner for a number of years with indifferent success, reaching a depth of nearly 1,000 feet, now languishes for lack of funds to continue the work. The discovery, in 1878, of the famous Robinson group of mines,

followed by the White Quail and Wheel of Fortune discoveries, attracted large numbers of prospectors to the new camp, and in spite of the ten feet of snow that covered the ground during the winter of 1878-79, locations were made and shafts and tunnels begun in every direction. During the winter the town of Car- bonateville was settled, and, for a time, promised to become a thriving camp. On the 8th of February, the town of Kokomo, which, with its younger rival Robinson is now a prosperous and growing mining camp, with two smelters in operation, was located. In the spring of 1880, Robinson's Camp began to build up rapidly, and under the support of the great Robinson Mines and the fostering care of the late Gov. Robinson, soon became a formidable rival to Kokomo. The many discoveries made dur- ing the spring and summer of 1880, brought the district into a prominence second only to that of Leadville, and a large amount of capital was invested in the development of its many promising mines and prospects. Two smelters were erected at Kokomo and one near the old town of Carbonateville, while extensive works, consisting of furnaces, roasters, etc., were put up at Robinson to work the ores of the Robin- son Mine. A railroad to connect the district with Leadville on the south and Georgetown on the east, was projected and partially graded during the summer, but was finally absorbed by the enterprising managers of the Denver & Rio Grande Company, who with a watchful eye on the future, began the construction, under the name of the Blue River extension of the Den- ver & Rio Grande, of a road which, in spite of the many and great difficulties encountered, was completed to Robinson on the 1st of January, 1881. Much of the grading and most of the track-laying was done under a heavy fall of snow, the range being crossed in midwinter,

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TEN MILE REGION.

affording a striking instance of the energy and contempt for obstacles characteristic of West- ern railroad builders. The road will reach Breckenridge before "snow flies," and afford a second outlet to Denver, where much of the refractory ore of the district is now shipped.

The ores of the Ten Mile District are not, so far as developed, so easily worked as those of Leadville, owing to the larger proportion of sulphurets. The bulk of the ore in the Robin- son Mine is of this character, and throughout the district the ores have not been oxidized to so great a depth as in the vicinity of Leadville. Elk Mountain has thus far produced the best smelting ores, and can continue to furnish a sufficient supply for the existing smelters for a long time. The supply of lead promises to be inexhaustible, and, though not of very high grade, can, with proper facilities, be worked at a fair profit. This district, like many others, has suffered from the folly of prospectors in lo- cating more claims than they are able to work, but property is gradually passing into the hands of men of means, and in no district is the in- telligent use of capital meeting with better reward. Strikes that a few years ago would have created wild excitement are of daily oc- currence, and the present summer bids fair to witness not only the development of an ex- ceptional number of fine mines, but the sub- stantial testimony of a large bullion output. No district outside of Leadville is so favorably located, and none can show such substantial evidences of present prosperity or future prom- ise.

SHEEP MOUNTAIN.

The mountain which has probably given the greatest fame thus far to the Ten Mile District is Sheep Mountain, on which are located the Robinson, Wheel of Fortune, Crown Point, Forest and Nettie B. Consolidated, Chicago Boy, Fairview, Michigan, Gray Eagle and other well-known properties. A large amount of prospecting is also being done, and strikes of considerable importance are reported from time to time.

ROBINSON.

Robinson, the youngest camp in the district, being scarcely a year old, is situated on the east slope of Sheep Mountain about eighteen miles from Leadville. The first dwelling was built by Mr. A. J. Streeter, afterward the first Mayor of the town, in June, 1881. It is now

a thriving mining town with a handsome hotel, the Robinson House, built and furnished by Gov. Robinson for the special entertainment of his friends, excellent stores, a church, the bank of Ordean, Myers & Co., a live newspaper, the Robinson Tribune, published by Coe & McCready, and a population of about two thousand and rapidly increasing. While large- ly dependent upon the Robinson Mine and smelter for support, it has a considerable trade with the mines in the vicinity and a large prospecting element.

THE ROBINSON MINES.

The now famous Robinson Mines, constituting perhaps the best mining property in the State, were discovered in the fall of 1878, by Charles Jones and Jack Shedden, who were sent out on a "grub-stake" by the late Lieutenant Governor George B. Robinson, to prospect the Ten Mile District. After looking the district over, they began work on the lime ledge on which are located the Undine and Seventy-eight lodes. At a depth of about thirty feet, mineral from two to three feet thick was found. Afterward Mr. Robinson purchased the interests of his part- ners, and the mines were gradually and success- fully developed. An incline was run following the ore down the Smuggler claim, and a large amount of ore was extracted and shipped to Leadville for treatment. The ore is chiefly galena and iron, though large pockets of oxi- dized ore, the so-called "mud carbonates," mill- ing from two to three hundred ounces in silver, and often twenty feet in thickness, were en- countered. In the spring of 1879-80, George B. Robinson sold a portion of his interest to Cali- fornia and New York capitalists, headed by George D. Roberts, and a stock company called the Robinson Consolidated Mining Company was formed with a capital of $10,000,000, in two hundred thousand shares. The property acquired by the company consists of the George B. Robinson, Seventy-eight, Undine, Pirate No. 1, Pirate No. 2, Howard, Sallie Mackey, Peoria, Smuggler, Checkmate, Rhone, Ten Mile, Wind- sor, Robbie, Frank, Myra, and W. J., besides the Robinson placers, on which are located the Company's smelting works. J. C. Buron was the first manager under the new company, and projected and nearly completed a tunnel begin- ing about five hundred feet east of the main incline, cutting it about four hundred and

GAWS BREWERY, CALIFORNIA GULCH, LEADVILLE, COL.

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TEN MILE REGION.

twenty-five feet from its mouth. It was at the mouth of this tunnel that George B. Robinson was killed by an accidental shot from a guard on the night of the 27th of November, 1880. George Daly at once took charge of the mine, and held the management until the 10th of March, when it was turned over to Mr. Thomas Ewing, who, with Mr, Wilson Waddingham, had purchased the interest of the Robinson heirs, and who assumed personal charge of the prop- erty.

The developments consist of the original main incline, five hundred and ten feet in length, from which numerous cross-cuts inter- sect the ore body. The work is now prosecuted and ore extracted through the tunnel, which is nine hundred and fifty-four feet in length at the point where it intersects the main incline, and is considered one of the finest specimens of mining work in the country. It is about nine feet wide hy seven in height, very securely tim- hered, and is laid with double track its entire length. At a depth of eight hundred and forty- five feet, a large chamber has been excavated, in which is placed an engine and hoister for working the new south incline. This incline pitches to the east at an angle of thirty degrees and has two compartments, one with an iron track for hoisting ore, and a second provided with a stairway for the men to go up and down. It is very thoroughly timbered and is a fine piece of work. In addition to the main work- ings described, there are numerous levels and cross-cuts. The present developments demon- strate the existence of a continuons body of ore seven hundred feet in length, one hundred feet wide, and from six to twenty feet in thickness, and as the lowest workings show the ore hody to be continuons with no signs of failing, the prospective value of the mine can only be decid- ed by the future. Recent developments tend to show the existence of a second and parallel ore hody at a distance of about three hundred and ninety feet from the month of the tunnel, which, if confirmed, will add largely to the already immense value of the mines.

The surface improvements are of a character hefitting such a property, and consist of a thor- oughly equipped smelter and roaster, built as a private investment by Mr. Robinson under the supervision of Mr. Albert Areirts, a practical smelter of large experience, but now the prop- erty of the company. The company has also

erected commodious offices and other buildings necessary for the use of the mines.

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE.

The Wheel of Fortune is located high above timber line, and was one of the first mines dis- covered on Sheep Mountain. It belongs to S. H. Foss, Tim Foley and Gov. Tabor, and is developed by a sixty-two foot shaft, and two hundred and forty feet of drifting. Consider- able high grade ore was shipped from this mine soon after its discovery, but, owing to the other large interests of the owners, it has lain idle for a long time. A consolidation with the adjoin- ing Empire claim of the Silver Mountain Min- ing Company is now being arranged, and the property will probably soon resume its place as a producing mine.

THE SNOW BANK.

One of the largest properties on Sheep Moun- tain is that of the Snow Bank Mining Company, comprising the Snow Bank and a number of other claims. Great excitement was occasioned in the Spring of 1880 by the discovery, in the Snow Bank, of a ten-foot vein of galena carrying sulphurets of silver. Ore and water were encountered at the same time, and con- siderable difficulty was experienced in handling the latter. Since then, work on the mine has been steadily continued, but, though occasional shipments have been made, it has been confined chiefly to development. Messrs. Stettauer, Neeley and Fenlon are the principal owners.

THE FOREST CONSOLIDATED.

This property is located just north of the Robinson, and adjoining the Snow Bank group. It is worked chiefly by an incline following the contact from the surface, and is said to show one the strongest ore veins in the district out- side of the Robinson Mine. Shipments of high grade ore have been made from these mines, but owing to litigation they have not been worked continuously. The chief owners in the property are S. H. Foss, E. B. Ketchum and W. R. Breck.

THE WASHINGTON.

One of the most recent strikes on Sheep Mountain is the Washington, situated on its eastern slope near the base, and on a line with the Robinson. Over twelve feet of ore, from

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TEN MILE REGION.

which some very high assays were obtained, were passed through. An engine shaft is being sunk to cut the vein lower down, and the prop- erty is being vigorously developed by the owners, O. H. Harker and George Summers, of Leadville.

THE PAT CORBETT.

One of the most vigorously worked properties on Sheep Mountain is the Pat Corbett, situated on the eastern slope and within the city limits of Kokomo. The owners, Messrs. Sargent, of New York, have spent a large amount of money on their plant, which is one of the most com- plete in the district. The developments con- sist of two compartment shafts, one hundred and thirty feet deep.

THE LITTLE CHICAGO.

The Little Chicago is situated a short distance from the Chicago in a southerly direction, but on a different mineral belt. It is developed by an incline over one hundred feet in depth, on which is an engine and a hoister. The ore is principally galena and iron pyrites, with some carbonate of lead. Hoffman & Co., of Cincin- nati, are the owners, and are developing their property with commendable energy.

THE TROPHY MINING COMPANY. 1

The Trophy Mining Company own the Tro- phy, Seventy-nine and Yellow Jacket claims, just north of the Robinson Mine. On the Seventy-nine a double-compartment shaft has been sunk to a depth of one hundred and eighty- five feet, while the Trophy is developed by a tunnel one hundred and thirty feet in depth, in the face of which a four-foot crevice has been encountered. The property is considered a valuable one, and is well provided with machin- ery and suitable buildings.

THE BLACK DRAGON.

The Black Dragon, on the south of the Tro- phy property and owned by Boston capitalists, is worked chiefly by contract. Mineral assay- ing ninety ounces in silver is said to have been encountered in this property, and to exist in a considerable body.

THE BLACK DIAMOND.

The Black Diamond, adjoining and on the same mineral belt with the Trophy property, is another valuable property which is being en-

ergetically worked with the aid of suitable machinery. Ore of good quality has been encountered in small quantities, and the indica- tions of the near proximity of a large body of mineral are considered excellent.

THE CROWN POINT.

The Crown Point, situated in the foothills on the south of Sheep Mountain, has furnished some of the richest ore ever found in the dis- trict. Mineral was first discovered in a shaft at a comparatively slight depth in the summer of 1880. A tunnel was then run to cut the vein at a greater depth, and at a distance of about two hundred feet a vein of antimonial galena carrying ruby and brittle silver was encountered, assays from which ran as high as fifteen thousand ounces of silver to the ton. A few tons of this rich ore were shipped to Leadville, and the work of development has been quietly carried on, no one but the owners being admit- ted to the mine.

THE GREY EAGLE.

One of the most promising mines on Sheep Mountain is the Hoodoo or Grey Eagle lode, the property of the Grey Eagle Mining Com- pany, of which Hon. J. B. Belford is President. The development of this property progressed but slowly, owing to difficulties regarding the title. Since the settlement of these complica- tions and the formation of the company, devel- opment has been vigorously pushed, and the mine now makes a fine showing, and promises to become a large producer of fine smelting ore.

THE MICHIGAN.

On the same mineral belt with the Snow Bank is the Michigan, in which rich develop- ments have been made. The ore is mainly galena and iron of an excellent quality. Some fine specimens of native copper have also been found in this mine. It is considered a very promising property.

THE CHAMPION TUNNEL.

In the spring of 1879, a tunnel, known as the Champion, was begun in the bed of Ten Mile Creek, about fifteen hundred feet from the workings of the Robinson Mine, for the pur- pose of cutting the large bodies of ore known to exist in Sheep Mountain. It has attained the depth of 1,000 feet, and in this distance

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TEN MILE REGION.

has cut four " blind leads," carrying more or less silver. The owners are very reticent in re- gard to their discoveries, and prefer to con- tinue their work without publicity.

Among the many properties on Sheep Mount- ain in which strikes of sufficient importance to invite further development have been made, are those of the Silver Mountain Mining Com- pany, which has recently acquired the Wheel of Fortune group, the Crescent Consolidated Min- ing Company, the Gold Hill Mining Company, Sheep Mountain Mining Company, and such individual claims as the Champion and Ram- bler, Porter J. and Polar Star, Daisy, Ophir, American Eagle, Fairview, Black Lion, White Fawn, Last Chance and Triangle, all of which show mineral varying in value from a few ounces to hundreds, and, though comparatively little developed, of great prospective valne.

CHALK MOUNTAIN.

South of Robinson, on the west of Ten Mile Pass, is Chalk Mountain, which has been as yet but little developed, the only mines of note being the Grand Union and Parole, the former, owned by the Inter-Ocean Mining Company; a large body of mineral, mostly low grade, has been developed. Mill runs of as high as 500 ounces have been obtained, however, and though the property has lain idle for a long time, it bids fair under new management to contribute largely to the ore product of the district.

CARBONATE HILL.

East of Robinson, and between McNulty's and Clinton Gulches, is Carbonate Hill, which promises in time to become the scene of exten- sive mining operations. During the winter of 1880-81, discoveries of sufficient importance were made to warrant a considerable expendi- ture in the way of development, and a number of shafts are now being sunk with the aid of machinery. The Henriett has the best equipped shaft on the hill, being provided with engine, hoister, etc., and developments by this shaft are watched with great interest by owners of property on the hill.

CLINTON GULCH.

Running around, and for a long distance back of Carbonate Hill, is Clinton Gulch, the scene of some of the earliest mining operations in the district. In it begins the great tunnel, now

nearly one thousand feet in length, that was intended to tap the treasures of Fletcher Mountain. A great deal of prospecting has been done in the gulch, and many promising veins uncovered, but owing to the excitement in the more accessible portions of the district, but little work has been done in the way of permanent development. Recent discoveries of gold ore, however, indicate that during the present summer Clinton Gulch will receive a great deal of attention.

KOKOMO.

Kokomo, which, until the founding of Robin- son, monopolized the trade of the Ten Mile District, and still holds the first place, is a pict- uresque mining town, lying on the southeast- ern extremity of Sheep Mountain, at the mouth of Kokomo and Searle's Gulches, a mile and a half beyond Robinson, and about twenty' miles from Leadville. The town was located on the 8th of February, 1879, by Mr. A. C. Smith, af- terward Mayor, one of the early pioneers of Colorado. For a time there was a sharp rival- ry between the young settlement and Carbon- ateville, but the proximity and support of the mines on Sheep and Elk Mountains gave Ko- komo an advantage that resulted in the aban- donment and depopulation of its rival, which remains but little more than a name. The sit- nation of Kokomo, with regard to the mines, most of which are directly tributary to its smelters, is very favorable. To the northwest is Sheep Mountain; directly north is Elk Mountain, and to the northeast is Jack, with Tucker, Copper and Hornish Mountains below, while on the south side of Ten Mile Creek, di- rectly opposite the town, are Gold Hill-and Mayflower Hill. Since the spring of 1880, the town has been growing rapidly, and now pos- sesses two excellent hotels, the Summit House and Western, a new church, the bank of Or- dean, Myers & Co., the Summit County Times, published by Coe & McCready, " at a higher al- titude than any other paper in the world," handsome stores, and a number of pleasant resi- dences. The recent wonderful discoveries on Elk Mountain, together with the bonanzas already known to exist in the surrounding hills, are such as to insure its substantial pros- perity for many years, and now that the rail- road has reached the town, and is being rap- idly extended to give another outlet on the

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 52

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