History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 15

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791

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Dr. Richard Pearce, manager of the Boston & Colorado smelting works, one of the ablest living mineralogists, after careful investigation, wrote :- " As to the origin of the Cripple Creek deposits, it may reasonably be inferred that they were caused by solutions brought up from below through the joints or lines of least resistance, the gold being, at the time, associated with silica and fluorine. These circulating solu- tions effected a marked chemical change in the rocks through which they percolated. In some cases the alteration can hardly be traced beyond the surface, as in the white rock of the Garfield-Grouse mine. In others, as in the Anaconda, the whole mass of rock became impregnated with pyrite and sylvanite, resulting in its partial meta- morphism. As the Cripple Creek mines are explored to greater depths, remote from the zone of oxidation, it is not unreasonable to expect that the economic treatment of the ores, by methods other than smelting, will offer greater difficulties than at present exist, on account of the association of the gold with tellurium as telluride."

Again, Prof. Wm. Blake, of New York, in a paper entitled " The Gold of Crip- pk: Creek," says:

"The ores of Cripple Creek are essentially a telluride of gold, in a quartzose granite gangue, generally associated with a pale purple fluorspar in small cubic crys- tals. In the upper portion of the veins, where the decomposition has been complete, no bright telluride is seen, and the gold is left free, but in a spongy state, with a peculiar dull dead brown color, and it is not easily recognized as gold except by the experienced eye. At lower levels the telluride appears as a silver white, bright metal- lie mineral, and it replaces the native gold. This telluride is commonly known in the camp as sylvanite, but an examination of the few samples I have had convinces me that it is richer in goldl than sylvanite; that it contains less tellurium and silver, and no lead, antimony or copper. It is nearer to the species calaverite or krennite than to sylvanite, and it may prove to be different from either. The crystallization is prismatic, and much striated. It is brittle, but soft, and gives a blackish gray pow- der which soils paper like graphite. Under the blowpipe, it gives, instantly, globules of high grade yellow goldl. In one specimen thin crystalline plates upon quartz being detached left behind a thin coating or gilding of native gold of a brown color, which assumed its normal bright yellow color on being burnished.

"A specimen of ore from below the water level consists chiefly of flesh-red feld- spar, but it is permeated by irregular grains of granular quartz, and has numerous cavities lined with minute quartz crystals, over which there is a fine druse of pyrites. and here and there a prismatic crystal of the telluride. On decomposing, the tellu- ride crystals appear to have the gokl with the form of the original crystal, but in a light spongy condition, which is unfavorable to amalgamation. The so-called 'cube

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

gokl' of the camp appears to have received its form from the original telluride, and is not crystallized gold. The association of fluorspar is not only unusual, but, 1 think, unique. The Huor in some places occurs massive and is sent to the smelters. who are glad to get it in their mixtures. It has a dark purple color, and some peo- ple who have read of the 'purple precipitate of Cassius ' so regard it.

"The gold of the camp is unusually fine, averaging in value over twenty dollars an ounce, and assaying 998 fine, particularly the gold from the placers. Careful experi- ments are greatly needed to determine the best way to work the medium and low grade ores, which will not bear the cost of transportation."

All through 1892 and 1893, a great many mining companies were organized. reams of stock shares issued and set afloat on the mining exchange at Denver and in others instituted at Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Cripple Creek. As a matter of fact, nearly every mine and prospect in the district was covered by a company cap- italized at from $100,000 to millions. Therefore, if an outside investor desired to engage in mining there, he must either discover a mine for himself, or take his chances with one or more of these highly watered corporations. As a consequence. very few invested at all, except in stocks of known value. Happily, at this writing. many of these schemes have been wiped out, and the camp thereby greatly benefited.

As usual in all brisk and prosperous mining sections, much vexations litigation ensued that need not be followed to conclusions here.

Prior to the establishment of rapid transit, two lines of stages plied between Flo- rissant and Fremont until the spring of 1803, when a toll-road was constructed from I layden's Divide, and thereafter used, because a shorter and better route. The county of El Paso also built a road from Colorado Springs via Cheyenne Cañon; there was still another from Canon City to the mines. In 1802, the manager of the Colorado Midland railway projected a branch line from Hayden's Divide to Cripple Creek. The line was duly surveyed and located, and the work of grading begun. Almost simultaneously a company was organized to build a narrow gauge railway from Florence in Fremont county, instigated by Mr. D. H. Moffat of Denver, who pre- sented the scheme to capitalists in New York. The latter subscribed for about one- half of the bonds ($400,000) but did not pay for them owing to the then greatly dis- turbed condition of the money market. At length, Mr. Moffat, tired of waiting on them, furnished the means and built the road himself, at a cost of $800,000. It was completed to Cripple Creek July 4th, 1804, and at this writing is carrying a large traffic and paving a satisfactory interest on the investment.

Several large mills, lixiviation and chlorination processes, have been built at Florence for the treatment of the lower grades of ores, which, by the way, constitute the major part of the product, and probably the larger proportion of the aggregate vields. Such products can be more cheaply handled there than in or near the mines. because there is at Florence an unlimited supply of residuum oils at the refineries of petroleum for fuel. One of these mills is planned to treat from 250 to 500 tons of ore each twenty-four hours. It is calculated that ores containing eight to ten dollars per ton can be profitably handled in these works. fi so, the profits of mining at Crip- ple Creek will be largely enhanced.

The Colorado Midland branch was completed and put in operation to Midland station nine miles from Cripple Creek in the spring of 1894, and before this volume reaches its subscribers it will have been finished to its final destination.

Cripple Creek, the principal town and the commercial center of the entire gokl region, has a population of about 7,000. It is under municipal government, with many strong business houses, several good hotels, well ordered public schools, and churches: has an electric light plant for public and private uses, a system of water works, volunteer fire department, two lines of telegraph, two banks, several news- papers and local and long distance telephones. The town is situated upon a spacious slope in the valley of the small stream from which its name is derived, with ample

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room for a large metropolis which will be the outgrowth of the great mineral resources in the natural line of their development. Most of the business is located on Bennett and Myers avenues, parallel thoroughfares traversing the entire length of the settlement. Some of the primitive log structures and other temporary habita- tions are being replaced by substantial buildings of brick and stone.

Judging from present indications, it is probable that the prestige of our state. that suffered so deeply from the partial suspension of silver mining in 1892-93, will be restored through the constantly increasing production of gold in this quarter of El Paso county. Though frequently interrupted, the forces concentrated upon the grand work thus far outlined have never lost confidence in the ultimate issue of their endeavors. It is not extravagant to state at this early epoch of its career that if no serious obstruction shall arise to check its advancement within the next five years. the outflow of gold will then equal the value of the entire silver yields of the state at their highest volume in 1802. Meanwhile, should the cause of bimetallism reach the stage of adoption by national or international action, and thereby cause general resumption of silver mining, the two kindred elements thus reunited will make Colo- rado one of the more richly favored states of the world, since we will then be enabled to furnish the precious metals in quantities sufficient to supply a considerable part of the material required by the coinage mints of the world.

CUSTER COUNTY.

PRIMITIVE INHABITANTS-HOME OF HUNTERS, TRAPPERS AND INDIANS -- FIRST WHITE SETTLERS-THE GERMAN AND MORMON COLONISTS-DISCOVERY OF MINES AT ROSITA-A PLOT TO CAPTURE A RICH MINE-KILLING OF THE LEADER-PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT-HOW THE HASSICK WAS DISCOVERED-SILVER CLIFF-EVENTS LEADING TO ITS SETTLEMENT, ETC.

From November, 1861, when the original counties were organized, down to 1877, the present county of Custer, named for the famous cavalry leader, General George A. Custer, was a portion of Fremont county. By an act of the General Assembly approved March 9th, 1877, the southerly portion, comprising the Wet Mountain valley, was segregated, named as above, its boundaries defined and duly organized. Its area is 720 square miles, and, by the census of 1890, its population was 2,970, a decrease, from causes hereinafter explained, of 5,110 in the preceding decade. The primitive inhabitants were U'te Indians, who made this one of their favorite resorts for camping and hunting, the climate being equable, the surroundings picturesque, and game abundant. The first Americans to invade its solitudes were Lient. Zebulon M. Pike and his handful of soldiers, who crossed it en route to the San Luis valley in quest of the sources of the Red river in 1806. It was hunted and trapped over by the carly mountaineers who came in 1826 and subsequent years. A portion of the Hardscrabble park was settled by trappers in March, 1843, who cul- tivated a few patches of ground, for a season or two. The Wet Mountain valley was reconnoitered by Capt. J. W. Gunnison in 1853. In 1863 Josiah F. Smith, his brother Stephen, W. H. Wetmore. Hugh Melrose and Wm. H. Holmes of Pueblo prospected Hardscrabble park for mineral. They located a number of mining claims, but did not develop them .*

* The synopsis following has been compiled from an historical sketch written by Richard Irwin for the History of the Arkansas Valley, O. t .. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1550.

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The first white settlers who made any substantial improvements in Custer county (long prior to its organization, however) were Elisha P. Horn, John Taylor and William Voris, who in 1869 pre-empted ranch claims, erected cabins and began tilling the soil, which they found very fertile and productive. Horn settled on the west side of the valley, John Taylor on the creek which bears his name, and on which the town of U'la was afterwards located, and Voris below on the same stream, where another small town, called Dora, was established. They were followed in 1870 by a number of other locators, who constructed a wagon road to Canon City and thus opened communication with the okler settlements and markets. Among them were the Bruce brothers, from Hardscrabble; G. W. Smith, commonly known as "Trap- per Smith;" Daniel Baker and family, with Azor Palmer and family, from Cherry creek; Edward P. and W. H. Smith, from El Paso county; the Remine brothers, from Central t'ity: C. M. Grimes, previously sheriff of Gilpin county; George Jarvis and family, William Potter and John Biddle, from Clear creek: John Wilson, Frank Case, Charles Haines and Frederick Baker, of Denver; Charles Sieber, Jacob Ven- able and James Lowrie, from Montana territory. To these were added a small French colony composed of Nels and Benjamin Jarvis, Peter Garnier, H. Y. Young, John Albert and J. Hennequin. In December, 1860, Carl Wulsten, Theodore Hamlin and Rudolph Jeske, a committee appointed by a company of Germans organized for colonization in the west, appeared in the valley and, after examination, selected a body of land in the southern portion, returned to Chicago, made a favorable report, and, early in 1870, the colony, consisting of 367 persons, including 65 families, emi- grated to the spot, arriving March 21st. They founded the town of Colfax, but owing to widespread dissensions neither the town nor the colony prospered. Much acrid feeling arose against Wulsten, their leader, and, after a long struggle, the union was hopelessly broken and the members dispersed. Some of them still remain, but the majority found homes elsewhere. During the same year (1870), a colony of Mor- mons, from Utah, consisting of eight families, was brought in by James. Oscar and Hilliard Smith, and settled on Taylor creek, above Ula, where some of them still reside. A number of wealthy Englishmen purchased tracts of fine grazing land and established ranches. While the cultivated section yielded large crops, there were no accessible markets until after the discovery and operation of valuable mines, which brought thousands of people to that quarter. In 1871, W. J. Schoolfiekl brought in a herd of stock, purchased ranches from Grimes and Remine brothers, and settled with his family. The Rothwell brothers located near Ula, and Charles Aldrich occu- pied Meadow ranch. In 1872, the stock growing interest was further reinforced by Wm. T. Frink and I. C. Cowles of Pueblo, and by James Chatham.

In 1871-72 Jacob Riser, Thomas Virden. W. F. Gowdy, Wm. Beckwith and a number of others settled there, mostly with flocks and herds. Meantime many of the pioneers who had spent some years in the mining districts began to discover evi- dences of mineral-bearing lodes. In the autumn of 1870. Daniel Baker, while look- ing after his cattle, picked up some fragments of rock near the point where the Sena- tor mine was subsequently located, within the present town of Rosita, and took them to his eabin. In June, 1870, Richard Irwin, a famous prospector and an inter- esting writer as well, while passing through that section en route to New Mexico. crushed and panned some float quartz which gave evidence of being worthy of fur- ther attention. In December following he returned and, with a comrade named Jas- per Brown, established a camp at Rosita Springs. Out of the prospecting then begun grew the town of Rosita (little rose), which in due time developed into a mining set- tlement of considerable importance. In the spring of 1874. Leonard Fredericks dis- covered the Ihumboldt. and, soon afterward, a firm named O'Bannion and Co. struck very rich ore in the Pocahontas on the same vein. Both yielded largely, and brought many people to the district. Theo. W. Herr, now a resident of Denver. became the principal owner of the Pocahontas.

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Both of these mines were largely profitable until the fall of 1878, when one Col. Boyd arrived on the scene, and in company with Walter .A. Stuart opened a banking house in Rosita under circumstances related in Volume III, page 199. They pur- chased some old worthless claims against the Pocahontas, and engaged one Major Graham, an ex-convict, to lead a party of desperadoes for the purpose of taking forcible possession of the property. They finally succeeded, and held it for a week. While Graham and his confederates were in town drinking, carousing and shooting, James Pringle, an inoffensive citizen, was severely wounded. Next morning (Octo- ber 13th), by order of the authorities, all the saloons were closed and the main roads leading from the town guarded. A company of well-armed citizens, while marching to capture the jumpers, met Graham coming down from the mine and killed him, whereupon the remainder of the gang fled, were pursued and taken, but released upon their pledge to leave the camp at once.

Mr. Herr regained possession of his property and resumed work thereon. Many other stirring incidents occurred during the brisk days between 1878 and 1880 in which men were shot and killed, which tended to increase the notoriety of the lit- tle settlement.

Rosita is situated on the eastern edge of Wet Mountain valley, among high, dome-shaped hills, seven miles southeast of Silver Cliff. It was the first town based upon the mines of that region. The lots, thirty-nine in number, were originally staked off around a plaza, in the center of which is a fine spring whence the inhabi- tants drew water for domestic uses. The town site proper comprised 360 acres, and it was patented March 22nd, 1876. In 1875 its population was about 1,500. Only a few remain at the present date. It was effectually overcome by the later prominence of Silver Cliff. At one time it had a large brewery, smelting and other reduction works, and several strong mining companies operated there. The buildings were chiefly cheap, inflammable wooden structures. Nearly all were destroyed by fire, March Ioth, 1881.

The first president or mayor of Rosita was W. H. Holmes; trustees, James Pringle, Edward P. Smith, John Hannerikratt and Martin Bromley; town clerk. James A. Gooch. The town was incorporated in March, 1881, and in April fol- lowing C. C. Smith was elected mayor, James A. Gooch, Charles Schaale, D. F. Smith and H. W. Kelly, aldermen, and F. A. Tuttle, clerk.

The first officers of Custer county appointed by Governor Routt were, commis- sioners, T. W. Hull, R. S. Sweetland and H. E. Austin ; sheriff, H. T. Blake; super- intendent of schools, Dr. J. M. Hoge; clerk, J. A. Davis; treasurer, W. F. Gowdy; county judge, George S. Adams; assessor, A. J. Davis.

The town of Ula was made the county seat until the question of its permanent location should be determined by a vote of the people at the next general election. At the election Rosita was chosen. The yields from agriculture and grazing were about equal in value to the output of the mines. The lands were exceedingly fer- tile, giving forth great crops of wheat, corn, oats, barley, hay and vegetables of the finest quality. The assessment return for 1880 showed 13.802 head of cattle, which was probably much below the actual number. The county then had three banks, four newspapers, twelve miles of railroad, ten large reduction works, some twenty steam hoisting plants, a large brewery, Holly water works, telegraph and telephone lines, a stage line, a hundred or more business houses and a large number of dwellings, in addition to other farm and town improvements.

As already indicated, the tide of prosperity that came to the Wet Mountain valley during the period just mentioned was ascribable to the discovery of val- nable mines of gold and silver, which brought large sums of money for their de- velopment, the construction of mills, the building of towns and the swift accretion of multifarious enterprises. At the outset the people believed the resources of Custer to be of greater extent than those of any other district. The boom grew

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with fervid expectation. In June, 1880, when the official census was compiled, the county had a population of 7,967: Silver Cliff a total of 5,087, making it the third largest town in the state.

The Maine or Bassick mine was discovered in 1877. Mr. W. H. Holmes, one of the earliest explorers of the valley for mines, informs me that the first discoverer of the Bassick mine was John M. True, who, with a comrade named Charlton, was sent there from Pueblo by Capt. O. 11. P. Baxter, John A. Thatcher and others, to prospect for mineral. They made the location and sunk a ten foot hole in con- glomerate or agatized quartz, but, finding no valuable ore, they abandoned it. Hugh Melrose, who owned a claim called the Musselman on the hill above, formed the Centennial Mining company to cut a tunnel into the mountain. Mr. E. C. Bassick worked for them in this tunnel, and, in passing to and from the place, at length decided to relocate the claim abandoned by True, and extend the shaft. Carrying out this intention, he soon made a discovery that a few years later en- riched him. Fossett's History of Colorado (1880) tells us that soon after opening the deposit he "sent a lot of eight or ten tons to the mill, and, to his astonishment, received over $12,000 therefor." The character and appearance of the mineral and formation were so different from anything previously known in Colorado, pros- pectors had overlooked or passed over this hill, considering it worthless. "It re- mained for Mr. Bassick to unlock here a treasure vault that has few equals any- where. From the time of the first sale of the ore, he kept steadily at the work of development. Near the surface a nest of bouklers, coated and mixed with chlori- dized mineral, was encountered, supposed to be a huge mineralized chimney nearly perpendicular. * It is impossible to give the total value of the product, as the former owner kept no books and did not preserve all his smelter receipts. Those in existence show that from July 21st, 1877, when work began, to June 2nd, 1879. 731 tons were sold for $145,144, averaging $199.92 per ton. The final yiekl of the ore was $186,654.27, or $255.34 per ton. Mr. Bassick claims to have sold more than double that amount during the time mentioned, and also to have sold $100,000 worth of ore between June 2nd and August ist, 1879." The property was sold to a New York company in July, 1879. This company worked it very successfully for a time, extracting large quantities of ore, running very high in gokl, but for some years past it has been idle. A settlement known as Querida grew up about this mine, and in 1880-81 had a population of about five hundred. Less than a dozen families are there now. It was platted in 1880 by the Bassick Mining Co. which simply leased the lots to parties who became residents. Among the early settlers of the town were Hugh Melrose, Daniel and George Todd, Lewis Railey and wife, and Frank G. Hagan.

Daniel Todd was the first postmaster, and Mrs. Jennie Southgate was the pioneer school teacher. Here the concentrating mill and the offices of the Bassick Mining company were located. The town prospered until the latter part of 1884. when the Bassick mine was closed, and about four hundred men were thrown out of employment. Querida was for several years the home of Mr. C. C. Perkins, the manager of the Bassick mines. He was a man of marked individuality, and one of the influential citizens of the county. Ula, located about three miles from Silver Cliff, is the oldest town in the county. It enjoys the distinction of having been the first county seat. Dora, like Ula, was never more than a small collection of houses, and both subsequently were almost entirely absorbed by Rosita and Silver ('liff.

Silver Cliff .- The circumstances which gave this town its name and fame resulted from a certain discovery of mineral by R. S. Edwards, Robert Powell and George S. Hofford of Rosita. The latter, it appears, crossed the plains pushing a wheelbarrow that contained his provisions, blankets, etc., with the multitude that came to Pike's Peak in 1850. Edwards and Powell had prospected, leased and

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worked certain mines in Rosita. "The low, black stained cliff on the prairie, near the old road which crossed the valley from Oak Creek cañon to Grape creek, had often attracted the attention of prospectors. In August, 1877, Edwards discovered the seam and took specimens of the rock, and horn silver, the latter an ore new to him, to Rosita for assaying. One assay by Professor Brown gave 242 oz. silver per ton ; another 20 oz. gold per ton, which, being reported, caused much excite- ment until the figures were discovered to be erroneous. Hofford owned a team which himself. Edwards and Powell outfitted. They camped at the base of the cliff, locating the Horn Silver, Racine Boy and Silver Cliff mines. These locations, according to Irwin's account, were made June 20th, 1878. These mines were after- wards developed. About the year 1880, what was termed the "carbonate craze" extended all over the mountains, excited of course by the formations at Leadville, in Chaffee, Gunnison, Park, Summit and other localities near the upper Arkansas. Everybody was searching for carbonates, and if what was found bore any re- semblance to the Leadville product, it was at once proclaimed as a wonderful dis- covery. Silver Cliff burst forth soon after Leadville, and the whole state being inoculated with the mining iever, a great rush was made to the Wet Mountain valley. The result was that a large town was speedily built near the original cliff. Speculation ran riot, mines were staked, bonded and sold without development, and upon the flimsiest of surface indications; prospecting took wide range, and it really seemed as if the newest settlement was destined to become a large and per- manent city. Silver Cliff is pleasantly situated in the Wet Mountain Valley. be- tween Grape creek and Round mountain.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 15

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company Publication date: 1889-95 Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co. Number of Pages: 791

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791