USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Vol. I > Part 38
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Finding a ready cash market for their products, the miners by hundreds reoccupied their abandoned claims, the supplies multiplied rapidly, the curtain of doubt was lifted, and the dawn of a new era appeared. For a time the feeling prevailed that this was simply an experiment like its predecessors, and would have the same ending, but as the fires continued to blaze, and all the ores offered were purchased and paid for as soon as their value could be determined, conjecture gave way to confidence, the hills reverberated the sounds of blasting from morning till night, and soon it became necessary to increase the
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number of furnaces, so that in a few years the works were elevated to the plane of the central industry of the country.
In the primary stages the deductions for treatment were neces- sarily large. On the other hand, the producers, through fictitious assays, had been given exaggerated conceptions of the value of their ores. In order to impress the outside world with the importance of the region, and thereby induce immigration and the investment of capital, the press and most of the people in the course of their calculations settled down upon an average of about two hundred dollars per ton as the probable value of all the ores of the district. But the uncom- promising tests of reduction in bulk quickly dispelled the illusion, hence when the balances were paid, the miners felt that great injustice had been done them. Remonstrance deepened into general clamor against the works, and, incited by evil influences which condemned without investigating, threatened to become serious. At length the editor of the "Miner's Register," at the request of Professor Hill, made an examination of the entire system and published the facts, which quieted the opposition. While there could be no dispute as to the excessive charges, it must be remembered that all the conditions of the country were crude and expensive ; that there were no railways ; no cheap transportation, and that all charges, even for the necessaries of life, were in like degree extortionate. The products of the furnaces instead of being refined on the ground, had to be shipped to the Missouri River in wagons, and thence to Swansea at great expense. Wages were high, and especially of the skilled labor here employed.
When expedient, the prices for ores were advanced, so that in time the producers and the reducers came together upon the most amicable understanding.
The business of the company grew rapidly, and in 1873 the capital was increased to five hundred thousand dollars. A branch smelting establishment was erected at Alma in Park County, with H. R. Wolcott and Prof. Beeger in charge. At this time the Dolly Varden, Moose and several other mines were producing large quantities of valuable
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silver ores, and the works were built to accommodate them. They were continued as smelting works until the Denver & South Park rail- road was constructed to a neighboring place; since that time they have been used only as sampling works, the ores being sent to Argo to be smelted.
Probably the most important event in connection with this com- pany's history, next to the inauguration of the enterprise in 1867, oc- curred in this year. Until 1873, the company confined its operations to making matte which was sent to Vivian & Sons, Swansea, Wales, for the separation and refining of the gold, silver and copper. Without any previous notice, they refused to receive the matte, claiming that they had lost heavily on the contract, therefore the Boston & Col- orado company was suddenly left without a market for its products.
Matte to the value of over one hundred thousand dollars which was then in transit between Black Hawk and Swansea, was sold in Ger- many at a lower price than the company is now paying in Denver for similar matte. There was but one thing left for the company to do, and that was to go into the refining business, and send the gold, silver and copper products to the market as pure, or nearly pure metals. This undertaking, owing to conditions which then existed in Black Hawk, where the company's works were still located, seemed very doubtful as to its results. Fortunately the services of Prof. Richard Pearce, a man who combined a thoroughly scientific education with a large practical experience in metallurgical operations in Swansea, could be had. Under his direction, the refining works soon began issuing the pure silver bricks, and have continued to do so, to this time, without the loss of a day, in the fifteen years.
At first, the copper product which still contained the gold, was sent to Boston, where the company, under the direction of Prof. Beeger, erected works for the purpose of manufacturing sulphate of copper, and refining the gold ; but in a short time, Prof. Pearce dis- covered a more economical method of separating the gold from the cop- per, and the Boston works were abandoned.
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HISTORY OF COLORADO.
Shortly after the erection of the refining plant, Mr. Henry R. Wolcott was appointed assistant manager, and took an active part in the management of the affairs of the company, until he retired in 1887.
In 1878 this company, finding that it was necessary to have more ground, the cheaper fuel afforded by the coal beds of the plains, and better railway facilities, with an opportunity to draw supplies from every available mining section of the State, as well as from Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Montana, removed its plant to a commodious site on the north side of the Platte River, three miles below Denver, which was appropriately christened "Argo."
The enlargement of the business consequent upon this movement made it necessary that the capital should be increased to one million dollars, which was done in February, 1880.
The value of the products of the works, from 1868 to 1887, as presented in the following table, affords a fair index of the enterprise of the management.
That the growth and development of the mining industry in the Rocky Mountain regions has been even much more rapid, is shown by the fact, that, while for the first ten years the Boston & Colorado Smelting Company had no competition in the business of smelting and refining ores, during the last ten years, many other large establishments have been built up, and are now carrying on extensive operations.
The following is the value of the gold, silver and copper produced by the Boston & Colorado Smelting Company, from 1868 to 1887, inclusive:
1868 $ 270,886
1869
489,875
1870
652,329
1871
848,571
1872
999,954
1873
1,210,670
1874
1,638,877
1875
1,947,000
1876. 2,097,000
1877
2,154,000
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HISTORY OF COLORADO.
1878
$2,259,000
1879
2,449,500
1880.
2,730,500
1881
3,081,000
1882 3,668,000
1883
3,907,000
1884.
4,411,000
1885
4,012,700
1886.
3,681,000
1887
3,767,685
Total
$46,276,547
The ores of Colorado, in addition to the metals which can be prof- itably extracted, viz .: Gold, silver, copper and lead, contain large quan- tities of zinc, antimony, arsenic, and in some cases bismuth, making the separation of silver and gold in a pure state, difficult and expensive. It was in solving this problem by the aid of the best methods known in Europe, supplemented by many important improvements and inventions of his own, that the knowledge and skill of Prof. Pearce proved to be of great value to the company.
That the investigations made by Professor Hill in 1865, and the resultant opening of new channels whereby the great corner stone of our subsequent prosperity was laid, was an event of supreme importance, no one who has acquainted himself with the facts will deny. Notwith- standing the enormous advantages that lay before him at the outset, the success of his enterprise is directly ascribable to the superior business management which supported his scientific attainments. Opportunities of equal value were presented to others, but for the want of proper direction their projects went down in disaster.
The first experiments for the smelting of ores in Colorado were made by Prof. Caleb S. Burdsall in Nevada District, Gilpin County, about the year 1862, but soon after demonstrating the feasibility of such treatment, the small furnace he had erected, was destroyed. He then came to Denver and continued his investigations until the facts sought were thoroughly developed.
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HISTORY OF COLORADO.
In April, 1866, Messrs. John R. Beverley, J. J. Cranmer and Albert Gilbert conducted some experiments in the same direction, using the Kustel furnace, employed in the early days of mining on the Pacific slope, for reducing the Washoe silver ores. This plant was erected in Nevada district. The capacity of the furnace mentioned was equal to the reduction of about four tons in twenty-four hours, and was constructed of common red brick saturated in some kind of a chemical solution. The hearth, sixty by twenty-two inches, and the crucible, thirty-six inches in diameter, were made of clay and a mixture of fire-proof stone found in great abundance in the neighborhood. The results obtained have not been recorded, but no great success attended the effort.
The State movement was again revived at the December (1867) session of Congress with Chaffee, Chilcott and Hunt operating together harmoniously for the cause. At the very outset of his administration, Governor Hunt was confronted with an extensive Indian outbreak, and having no regular troops at command, he called on the militia, which did not respond. He then, as a dernier resort, invited a number of gentlemen to organize independent companies for the field, and also telegraphed General Sherman and the President for aid, but without effect. Sher- man was then at Omaha, and shortly after came out to see what could be done. A number of volunteer companies reported for duty, but as they could not be equipped from the public ordnance stores, they were disbanded. On the 24th of June, General W. S. Hancock and staff arrived with an escort of about seventy men, for a visit simply, and with no intent of allaying the disturbances.
The political campaign of 1867 was rather uneventful. Hunt's confirmation by the Senate formed one of the issues. While the more conservative were disposed to give him a fair chance, the State leaders proved obdurate, pursuing him for past offences and, at the same time making his confirmation contingent upon the abandonment of his opposi- tion to the State movement. Holding the cards, they were inclined to play them to his discomfiture, unless he should yield the main point at issue. For some time the Governor clung tenaciously to his heresy.
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The State men carried the war into all caucuses and conventions, many of which were induced to pass resolutions opposing his confirmation. Others, and especially those held in the southern division of the Territory, strongly favored it. The outcome will appear in our notes of 1868.
In July and August, 1867, grasshoppers in countless myriads sailed over from the northeast and settling down upon the cultivated ranches, quickly destroyed the growing crops. This was the second visitation of these destructive hosts, the first occurring in 1864. No one who has not witnessed a great migration of these locusts, can form any conception of their numbers or the devastation which ensues. The whole atmosphere seems to be densely filled with them when on the wing, like a dark curtain spread over the face of the sun. When the air cools toward evening they descend to the earth, covering it as with a blanket. When they begin eating, everything which can be eaten dis- appears like grain before the reaper, with the difference that it is irre- coverable. But the most appalling feature is the deposit of eggs in the soil thus devastated, which are certain to reproduce other myriads of the pests in the spring, which, being unable to fly, begin eating as soon as they can walk, In the visitation of 1864 the ranchmen were entirely helpless, knowing not what to do, but in 1867 all manner of devices for their destruction were employed, some of which were very successful. One of these in the form of branches of trees dragged by horses over the ground, drove the insects into the irrigating canals, which had been impregnated by kerosene, dripping slowly from a barrel set at the head. This method proved one of the most effectual. Another was a sheet iron covered with soft coal tar, drawn by horses ; the pests jumped into the mixture where they were hopelessly fastened, and subsequently des- troyed by fire. The loss of crops in the years of these inflictions discouraged many farmers so that they either sold out, or incontinently abandoned their possessions. Such as remained were very destitute until fortune smiled upon them in later years.
September 18th, 1867, Mr. John W. Smith, at all times a vigo- rous leader in public enterprises, realizing the demand for better hotel
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accommodations than were afforded by the primitive structures erected when the city was founded, having prepared all his plans, began the demolition of a number of small buildings which then occupied the site he had chosen, on the northeast corner of Sixteenth and Blake streets, and erected thereon the American Hotel, for many years, indeed until the English company came in and built the Windsor, the principal. hostelry of the city. Increased patronage soon necessitated additions, which were built on Blake street.
Early in 1868 the Rocky Mountain Railway & Telegraph com- pany was organized, to build a line from Denver to the coal beds of South Boulder, and thence to Black Hawk, Central and Georgetown, via Ralston Creek as surveyed by Mr. A. N. Rogers. Eben Smith of Central City, William L. Lee (of the Black Hawk Gold Mining com- pany) J. W. Nesmith, A. G. Langford, J. W. Watson, Alex Steele, D. H. Moffat, Jr., J. S. Brown and Henry C. Leach were among the incorporators.
January 3d, 1868, resolutions were introduced in the lower House of the Colorado legislature, memorializing Congress to admit Colorado as a State, and requesting that the portion of Dakota lying south of the forty-second degree of north latitude and west of Nebraska, be annexed to and made a part of Colorado. The same Assembly enacted the first registration law for the better regulation of elections throughout the Territory. Through the persistent zeal of the member from Fre- mont County, Hon. Thomas Macon, combined with some rather skillful trading on the capitol and other questions of local importance, the Territorial Penitentiary was established at Canon City. The commissioners appointed by the acting Governor to locate the grounds, were Hon. Anson Rudd of Fremont, and Samuel N. Hoyt and James M. Wilson of Arapahoe, who fixed the site now occupied by the prison.
At the close of the session January IIth, the Board of Trade hon- ored the members with a banquet at the Pacific House. The Presi- dent of the Council, or Senate, Hon. W. W. Webster, was on this occasion presented with a fine gold watch by the citizens of Denver,
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and the House of Representatives presented its speaker, Hon. C. H. McLaughlin, with one of silver.
On New Year morning, 1868, a serious riot occurred in the town of Trinidad, Las Animas County. It appeared from the accounts subse- quently gathered, that on Christmas preceding, a wrestling match of considerable interest had attracted a miscellaneous crowd of Mexicans and Americans, and in a dispute concerning the wrestlers, rocks were thrown and pistols fired. In the melee a Mexican was shot, and later died of the wound. An American named Blue was arrested for the offence and committed to jail, which was guarded by an equal number of Americans and Mexicans. Considerable excitement prevailed, and a brother of the man who had been killed, not content to let the law take its course, endeavored to kill the prisoner by shooting into the room where he was confined. While he was not successful in executing his purpose, two or three repetitions of the attempt created intense feeling which menaced the peace of the town. The military authorities at the nearest post,-Fort Reynolds,-were informed of the state of affairs, but took no action. A few days later Blue was liberated by a crowd of Amer- icans, which so angered the Mexicans that they began firing at the rescuers, happily without damage. Naturally the fire was returned, re- sulting in a general street fight, in which guns and pistols were freely used. Being largely outnumbered, the Americans sought refuge in a neighboring building which they barricaded, firing an occasional shot from the windows. In the course of the proceedings two Mexicans were killed, and several wounded. A courier was dispatched to Fort Lyon, then commanded by Gen. W. H. Penrose, who sent a detachment of cavalry to the scene. Repeated calls were made on the Executive, for his personal aid, therefore on the 29th of January, the legislature having adjourned, the acting Governor, accompanied by W. R. Thomas of the Rocky Mountain "News," proceeded by coach to Trinidad, only to find that the troops had maintained peace among the inhabitants, and that the exercise of ordinary prudence by the civil authorities would prevent a recurrence of the difficulty. He then extended his
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journey to Fort Lyon, with the view of requesting from the com- mandant a retention of the troops for a short time until the sheriff of the county and other officers could get the matter well under their control. It is sufficient to say that henceforward the races dwelt together in amity.
On the 12th of February, 1868, Senator Yates, of Illinois, intro- duced a bill for the admission of Colorado, with the fundamental condi- tion as to the suffrage which had been made a part of the previous measures. Again, on June 16th, the attempt was renewed, the bill of that date requiring the resubmission of the question to the people within ninety days after its passage, also the election of a Legislature which must ratify the Fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States. These conditions, together with that relating to suf- frage, etc., complied with, the State and its representatives were to be admitted without further delay. Senators Evans and Chaffee approved the bill, and were prepared for the main issue, which was that all officers elected in 1865 should tender their resignations and the people proceed to an entire reorganization of the State machinery.
As a matter of fact, the results of the war and measures for the reconstruction of the Southern States had rendered the constitution of Colorado wholly obsolete, so far as it related to the great reforms of the period. Various attempts were made to patch it up and bring it into accord with the more advanced legislation by Congress, by amend- ment, but in every instance it proved a failure. And here the move- ment ended, no further steps of consequence being taken until 1875-6, when the main point was gained through the more friendly attitude of Gen. Grant.
On the 19th of July Senator Chaffee returned to Denver after a continuous absence since 1866, during which period he labored assidu- ously for the emancipation of his constituents from territorial depend- ence. Having deserved well of his party, he was to be henceforth its leader, and the director of its destiny.
On the 7th of May, 1868, the Denver & Santa Fé telegraph line
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was begun under the supervision of Henry M. Porter. Poles were set in the streets and the wire passed to them from the Western Union office. Mr. Wm. N. Byers had been for some time engaged in distributing the poles along the route, so that when the work of construction began its advance was rapid. The line was completed and congratulatory messages exchanged between Denver and Santa Fé on the Sth of July following.
On the 21st of the month last named General Grant, who had been nominated for the Presidency, accompanied by Generals Sherman, Sheridan and Frederick T. Dent, arrived in Denver via the Smoky Hill route. The following day they took coach for Central City, Grant being seated on the box beside Billy Updike, one of the most famous reinsmen of the time. It is needless, perhaps, to add that the trip was heartily enjoyed. From Central they proceeded to George- town. After their return a reception was held in Masonic Hall, in the third story of the Tappan block, where great multitudes called to pay their respects to this renowned trio of military chieftains. At midnight the officers named, Mayor De Lano, the author, and two or three others were invited to a banquet at Ford's celebrated restaurant on Blake street between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets. No toasts were offered nor speeches made, but General Sherman did a powerful amount of talking. As he was one of the most charming and instructive conversationalists of his time, the rest were more than content to listen.
On the 8th of August following, Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Repub- lican nominee for the Vice-Presidency, accompanied by William D. Todd (now cashier of the Union bank), Hon. William Bross, Lieu- tenant-Governor of Illinois, Samuel Bowles and daughter, of Spring- field, Mass., Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Matthews, daughter and niece, and Miss Nellie Wade, afterward Mrs. Colfax, arrived by coach from Cheyenne. They had been present at the interesting ceremony of laying the last rail on the Atlantic slope of the Union Pacific railway at Creston Station. Mr. Colfax addressed a mass meeting in Denver
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on the night of August 11th on the political issues of the day,- ex-Governor William Gilpin presiding. A few days later the party visited Central City and Georgetown, then the great mining centers to which all visitors to the Territory made pilgrimages.
By the same coach with the Colfax party came George M. Chil- cott, delegate to Congress, returning from a session in which he had been extremely active in securing material benefits for his constit- uents in the way of useful legislation. It was said of him in Wash- ington, that through his geniality of manner and quiet but persistent force, he rendered more efficient service in the position be held than any other delegate from the West, wielding an influence well nigh equal to that exerted by the average representatives of organized States. He procured the repeal of a very obnoxious postal law, which discriminated severely against all the remote Territories through pro- hibitory rates of postage, thereby practically cutting them off from the privileges in the way of printed matter enjoyed by all the States; an appropriation to liquidate all properly audited and approved claims accruing from the services of the Territorial militia during the recent Indian outbreaks; appropriations, also, for continuing the public surveys ; appropriations for the branch mint, despite the almost malig- nant opposition of the Secretary of the Treasury, who had resolved to reduce it to a mere nullity, or abolish it altogether ; the establishment of land offices in the mining districts ; an appropriation for a geolog- ical survey of Colorado by Prof. F. V. Hayden, whose reports proved of inestimable value to the people, and are to this day the standard authority, consulted and followed by thousands of miners and pros- pectors, and which more, perhaps, than any other influence, has led to the discovery and development of the richest treasures theretofore hidden in the mountains; the opening of new mail routes, besides rendering material assistance to the passage of the railway bills, whereby the Denver Pacific and Kansas Pacific companies were enabled to complete their respective roads. In addition, he procured the appointment of well known citizens of Colorado to the important
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offices, which broke up the old system of sending out from the east broken mendicants to fill them. Mr. Chilcott's record in Congress reflected credit upon the Territory, elevated him to a still higher place in the esteem of his fellow men, and was, in connection with his many admirable qualities, the controlling influence in his appointment by Governor Pitkin many years afterward as a Senator to succeed Hon. Henry M. Teller, who had been called into the cabinet by President Arthur.
On the 22d of August, 1868, Mr. Colfax and friends left Denver for a tour of the mountains via Turkey Creek Canon, the South Park and the Arkansas River, in the vicinity of California Gulch. The caval- cade consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Matthews (since deceased), Miss Sallie Bowles (now Mrs. Hooker), Miss Nellie Wade (induced upon this excursion to become Mrs. Colfax), Miss Carrie Matthews (now Mrs. O. J. Hollister of Salt Lake City), Miss Sue M. Matthews (now Mrs. Frank Hall of Denver), Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Witter, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Witter, Governor and Mrs. A. C. Hunt, W. D. Todd, E. G. Matthews, Major D. C. Oakes, O. J. Hollister and Secretary Hall. Governor Bross and Mr. Bowles had preceded them by a day or two, but rejoined them in the South Park.
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