USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV > Part 37
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The recently established town of Ordway, named for Mr. George N. Ordway, formerly of the Denver board of supervisors, who owns a splendid farm there, is situated on the line of the Missouri Pacific railroad some twelve miles north of Rocky Ford, and fifty miles east of Pueblo, in the center of a rich agricultural section. The town site is one of the best in the state; is well laid out, with reser- vations for a park, church and school buildings. It has a good reservoir and water- works, and is a Prohibition town, all contracts and deeds to real estate forbidding the sale of intoxicants. At the last election it had too votes. Great expectations of the growth of this new and well-situated community have been formed, and it is believed that the full measure of its hopes will be realized.
The Holbrook ditch, partly built in 1891, was taken out of the north side of the Arkansas, between Rocky Ford and La Junta, running thence to Horse creek. It covers some 30,000 acres in the northeastern part of the county.
* From data furnished by Mr. Watrous, the superintendent.
+ From notes furnished by Mr. George W. Swink.
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By the foregoing epitome it will be seen that many wisely-ordered and costly improvements have been entered upon, vast areas of virgin land prepared for tillage, and some great enterprises inaugurated, from which must inevitably grow large wealth and prosperity. All the conditions for such results are of the most favorable character.
The county officers for 1890-91 were: Clerk, J. E. Ganger; treasurer, John Fisher; county judge, Uriel Sebree: assessor, C. N. Allen; sheriff, A. H. Gentry; coroner, Charles Barnes; superintendent of schools, S. R. Lyon; surveyor, W. N. Randall; clerk of the district court, T. M. Dicky; commissioners, John Carson, R. A. Steele and John C. Vroman.
Schools. - By the census of 1890 the total school population was 763, with an enrollment of 497, and an average daily attendance of 297. There were 11 districts and o school houses, with 545 sittings. The value of the property was $6,940.52. In 1891 the total was considerably increased by buildings erected at La Junta and Rocky Ford.
By the assessment roll for 1890 the total assessed valuation of taxable property in the county was $2,222,429.21. There were 55,227 acres of agricultural land, valued at $315,489, and 40,000 acres of grazing land, valued at $60,000. Of live stock returned, there were 4,798 horses, 366 mules, 17,478 cattle and 7,245 sheep.
The county is being rapidly settled and the cultivation of lands enlarged. The Santa Fé railway company is doing much to foster its growth.
OURAY COUNTY.
NAMED FOR A CELEBRATED UTE CHIEF-EARLY PROSPECTORS-GRANDEUR OF THE MOUNTAINS AND CANONS-FOUNDING OF OURAV-MINES OF GOLD AND SILVER- MOUNT SNEFFELS- RED MOUNTAIN DISTRICT - THREE MAGNIFICENT SCARLET PEAKS-CAUSE OF THE COLORING-GEOLOGY OF THE MINERAL DEPOSITS.
The orthography of the name taken by this county has undergone several changes since the white settlers came to know and admire the famous Ute chief, the brainiest of his race, in whose honor it was applied to the county and its capital. It was first given out as Ulé-"oo (ugh) lay"-but subsequently altered to Uré-"00- ray"-and finally printed in official reports, newspaper correspondence and other literature of the period as "Outray." After its adoption in this Anglicized form, the chief himself signed all treaties in that manner. It has no romantic or other ex- ceptional signification. An account of Ouray's life and character, together with his portrait, engraved from an oil painting, appears in Chapter XXIV, Volume II.
Ourav county was established from the northern part of San Juan, by an act of the legislature, approved January 18th, 1877, and, in general outline, included all of the present San Miguel and a part of Dolores counties. By an act of February 27th, 1883, the name Ouray was changed to Uncompahgre, and what is now San Miguel took the name Ouray, with its capital at Telluride. But a few days later, a change of mind occurring among the representatives from that section, the name Uncompahgre was abolished. Ouray took back its original designation, and the territory segregated was christened San Miguel. At this time its area is only 450 square miles.
According to the census of 1890 its population was 6,510. It is bounded on
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the north by Montrose, east by Gunnison, south by San Juan, and west by Mont- rose.
Like all counties in the San Juan region, its boundary lines are irregular, follow- ing the configuration of the mountain ranges. The whole country, except the portion included in Uncompahgre Park, is mountainous, broken here and there by narrow valleys, only a few of which, owing to the altitude, are susceptible of culti- vation. The principal stream is the Uncompahgre,* which takes its rise in the San Juan range, above Mineral City, in San Juan county. Among its tributaries are the West Fork, Red Mountain, Dallas, Coal, Canon, Beaver, Bear, Oak, Corbett, Burrows, Willow, Red Canon and other small creeks. To the westward, some nine miles from the town of Ouray, is Mount Sneffels (named for Prof. Sneffels, of the Hayden Geological Survey), one of the loftiest peaks in the La Plata system. It is here that some of the greater silver mines are located, on the east and southeast slopes, mainly above timber line, and extending well up toward the apex, where, for at least nine months in the year, the prospect is wintry and repellent in the ex- treme. The mines lie in and around the rim of two alpine basins, Imogene and Virginius, each about two miles long, and perhaps half a mile in width. Here head the several branches of Cascade creek, that rushes down the mountain to the east- ward, uniting with the Uncompahgre at Ouray, the capital of the county. Between Ouray and Silverton, on the south, and Lake City, on the southeast, the La Plata mountains present a scene of stupendous sublimity witnessed nowhere else upon any of the traveled routes of the state. It is beyond the power of words to de- scribe, beyond the skill of painters to adequately portray. The spectator is simply lost in wonderment, filled with supreme awe of the marvelous power manifest in this mighty upheaval. Neither brush nor pen, however skillful, could more than feebly outline its glories.
Other ranges have peaks as numerous and loftier, but none possess the rugged sublimity and variety of coloring found here.
The town of Ouray is, to my mind, one of the most beautiful situations on the American continent, nestled in a little undulating park of the Uncompahgre river, whose course is almost due north, inclining a little to the west. Four miles below the valley becomes a great amphitheater, known as the Uncompahgre Park, which ex- tends northward to the Gunnison, and it is here that we find a substantial planting of agricultural industry, stock ranges and the inception of horticultural productive- ness. The soil is excellent, the climate unexcelled for the growth of cereals, al- falfa, vegetables and fruits. Twenty-five miles below the capital stood the old Un- compaligre Ute Indian reservation, with Fort Crawford as its military protection, established in 1880, General Mckenzie, commandant. Near Montrose was the ranch and modern house of the great chief of that name.
The town site is about one-fourth of a mile wide, and perhaps a mile in length, an incomparable spot for such as are fond of quiet life in the mountains; a delightful dwelling place for those whose lines have been cast there in mining or other busi- ness pursuits. It is known all over the land by the extensive advertising given it by the Denver & Rio Grande railway, and also by the many superb photographic reproductions of its scenic splendors by W. H. Jackson. Before the settlers came and destroyed them, it was quite thickly studded with pines, firs, balsams and shrubs ; but a few of the original trees still remain. The streets are wide and the site is regularly laid off in rectangular blocks. At first the homes were rude log cabins, but, later on, these were supplanted by pretty cottages, and rows of frame and brick structures. The first brick building was erected by Mr. D. C. Hartwell, a commis- sion merchant, in 1881.
* This orthography is employed simply because of its general use in the literature and maps of the country. There is no such word in the Indian tongue as "Uncompahgre." The Ute word is Un-ca- ah-gre.
THE STEVENS MINE
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HISTORY OF COLORADO.
The mines which induced settlement here were mainly in Mount Sneffels district, but its growth has been stimulated and rapidly enlarged by later dis- coveries and other influences, that will appear as we proceed. Since it was rendered accessible to tourist travel, thousands have made the pilgrimage to its resplendent shrine. Lieutenant Marshall, who accompanied Capt. George M. Wheeler in his geological survey of the Rocky Mountains, and for whom Marshall Pass was named, in his report of the field season of 1875, referring to the scenic panorama of the Uncompahgre gorge, between Ironton and Ouray, says: "The mountains, or rather the ruins bordering the gorge, especially on the western side, are simply in- describable. If the god of desolation ever exercised his wildest freaks on earth, he chose this spot, and cut the lofty masses into these strange forms and weird shapes; these yawning chasms with their red jaws, these beetling precipices with their plutonic brows, horribly frowning, capping all with slender columns and spires, under different angles of inclination to the horizon, which, projected against the sky, seem to be black figures of supernatural origin, dancing over the ruins below." But it would be idle to attempt a description, either of this marvelous canon, or of the magnificence of the pictures about Ouray. It can not be done. One can only look and admire, and feel his insignificance and feebleness as a mere atom in the universe, while contemplating the work of Omnipotence. He might circum- navigate the globe and witness all that the world has to present, without finding one spot of greater natural beauty and attractiveness.
Now as to the origin of the discovery of the precious metals in this particular region, we shall present such well authenticated accounts as have been handed down, mainly from those who made the first explorations and located the first claims. The Ouray "Plaindealer" of January 2nd, 1890, gives the following narrative:
"The history of Ouray dates back to the founding of the town of Ouray, in 1875, when the little park was discovered by A. W. Begole and Jack Eckles, who came over from Green mountain, above Howardsville (San Juan county), in July of that year, and got down as far as the Horseshoe, whence they saw the beautiful park that is now the site of Ouray. They went back for supplies, and returned on the 11th of August following. Begole located the Cedar and Clipper lodes, covering the hot springs and what is known as 'Ohlwiler's Park,' after which they returne:1 to San Juan, via Mineral Farm hill. On their way through the Red Mountain country, they met a large number of prospectors, among them A. J. Staley, Logan Whitlock, Judge R. F. Long and Capt. M. W. Cline, to whom they related what they had seen and done. Long and Cline came down to hunt and fish, and while here Staley and Whitlock, who were of the party, discovered the Trout and Fisherman's lode, which was, in fact, the first actual discovery of ore in place in the immediate vicinity of Ouray, as Begole only found 'float' or 'blossom' rock, and did not locate 'Mineral Farm' until after the Trout and Fisherman had been discovered by Staley and Whitlock. Great excitement followed these events, and that season the valley was alive with prospectors from Silverton and Mineral Point. The town site was located and named by Long and Cline in honor of chief Ouray. Quite a number remained through the winter, while others went out to equip themselves for the next season, and tell the people in other sections of the wealth and wonderful beauty of the new country. Spring brought a great influx of people from Lake City and other points. It was also ascertained when spring came that a band of prospectors, among them Andy S. Richardson and William Quinn, had found their way into the Sneffels district, the preceding fall: had located mining property which they had worked all winter, not knowing that the town of Ouray had been founded, nor that any persons other than Ute Indians were between them and Utah. Nor (lid those in Ouray know there were any men in Sneffels." This statement was confirmed by Mr. Richardson, whom I personally met in Ouray in September, 1801.
Mr. William Weston, in a few notes furnished the author, says: "In July,
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1875, A. W. Begole, Jack Eckles and John Munroe came up the Uncompahgre into the amphitheater, where now stands the town of Ouray, and staked two lodes, the Clipper and Cedar, running through the present town site, and, later on, the famous Begole Mineral Farm, a remarkable group of parallel veins, the location covering about 40 acres. About the same time, two prospectors, A. J. Staley and Logan Whitlock, came down from Mineral Point on a prospecting tour, and, while engaged in fishing on the bank of the Uncompahgre, noticed the green stain of malachite, or green carbonate of copper, on the rock beside them, and this led to the discovery of the Trout and Fisherman lode. In February, 1876, Capt. M. V. Cutler took out two four-horse wagons laden with ore for Pueblo. It proved to be extremely rich, and he returned with his teams laden with provisions. This first year gave the town of Ouray a name. George A. Scott, James Macdonald and Thomas G. Gib- son arrived in August, and, in September, located the Grand View and the Ophir mines, both in town.
"Jacob Ohlwiler, Col. Blythe, Capt. Cline and Judge Long also came in during the summer of 1875, and Capts. Cutler and Cline prospected up the Uncompahgre river, just above Bear creek, locating the Mother Cline lode, afterward owned by the late Governor F. W. Pitkin."
The town site of Ouray was surveyed in 1875 by D. W. Brunton, the well- known engineer, now of Taylor & Brunton, and the following winter Samuel Stewart, Capt. M. V. Cutler, James Macdonald, George A. Scott, a man named Bullock and Capt. Cline wintered there, the remainder going out and returning the next spring. The first woman in Ouray was Mrs. Charles Morris, who came up from the Uncompahgre agency, in March, 1876. Mr. Bond was Indian agent at the time, Ouray, head chief, Shawano, war chief, and Sapinero, farmer chief. In 1878-79 the Indians frequently came up to Dry creek, some twelve miles from town, and had pony races for Navajo blankets and other stakes with the inhabitants of Ourav. Others would go on to the town to trade, and were hospitably entertained at her cabin by Mrs. Cline, her husband and herself being great favorites with the Uncompalgres. Capt. Cline was the first postmaster, his office being established in a frame building on the site now occupied by the court house. He was also presi- dent of the Town company. Ouray was incorporated in 1876. At the fall election that year, there were 160 voters. Major Charles McIntyre was elected to the legislature. Judge James B. Belford and T. M. Patterson, opposing candidates for Congress, visited and made speeches in the town.
Mount Sneffels mining district, as already stated, is nine miles south of Ouray. In the winter of 1875-76, George and Edward Wright came over from Silverton on snow shoes and staked off a claim on the Wheel of Fortune lode, the discovery of phenomenally rich ore in which was heralded throughout the country. Andy S. Richardson and Win. Quinn simultaneously made a number of locations in Imo- gene Basin, and, in the spring of 1877, William Weston arrived from London, England, where he had been taking a course in metallurgy in the Royal School of Mines, and with his partner, George Barber, staked six claims, and subse- quently went to Del Norte and brought in an assayer's outfit on pack animals. These two worked these claims, winter and summer, until 1881, driving over 800 feet of tunnels in solid rock, and ultimately selling out to a New York company for $50,000. During this time Mr. Weston wrote many glowing accounts of the region to the "Engineering and Mining Journal" of New York, the London "Min- ing Journal" and the Denver "Republican."
The now justly celebrated Virginius mine was discovered by William Feeland in 1877. Shortly afterward it was purchased by C. C. Alvord. It is now owned by the Caroline Mining company, Mr. A. E. Reynolds, of Denver, president. It has been operated continuously and profitably since 1878. Its depth is 1,300 feet from the surface, and its various levels and other openings aggregate something
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over three miles. The altitude of the mine is 12,000 feet above the level of the sea. Its present manager is Mr. H. W. Reed, a noted engineer. It was probably the first in the state to adopt electricity for lighting the mine, and has the largest electric pumps in use in the United States. In 1877 the Wheel of Fortune man- agers paid $35 per ton for transporting the ores of this mine on pack animals to Lake City for treatment in Van Gieson's lixiviation works, and the Yankee Boy and other ores from the Sneffels district were sent over the mountains to the Green smelter, at Silverton, where $45 per ton was paid for treatment. The Virginius, Wheel of Fortune, Yankee Boy and the Weston mines, at Sneffels, are all at or above timber line, 11,000 to 12,000 feet above the sea. The district is one of the most productive in the San Juan country.
In 1877 Mr. Wm. N. Byers wrote from Ouray to his paper, the Rocky Mountain "News," that the Wheel of Fortune was located, October 7th, 1875, by W. H. Brookover and E. Wright, and the first test of the surface ores, or out- croppings of the vein, gave 1,200 ounces of silver to the ton. Subsequently, G. L. Wright, Mason Greenlee and S. H. Crowell purchased interests in the discovery. During the summer of 1876, it was considerably developed, and in 1877 produced large quantities of rich ore. It was sold in October, 1877, to B. J. Smith and A. G. Hoyt, for $160,000.
The San Juan "Sentinel," in its issue of September 18th, 1877, confirms the statement that Quinn and Richardson established a settlement in Sneffels district prior to the founding of Ouray, and that they also opened a trail to the latter place. In its issue of January Ist, 1878, it was announced that Augustus W. Begole and John Eckles discovered the "Mineral Farm" in July, 1875. Among the early settlers were A. J. Staley and Logan Whitlock, Jacob Ohlwiler, W. B. Bullock, Judge R. F. Long, Col. J. C. Hagerty, J. F. Dowling, M. V. Cutler, Major Abram Cutler, Capt. M. W. Cline, R. F. Blythe, James R. Macdonald, Geo. A. Scott, T. G. Gibson, Geo. H. Smith, W. B. Hayden, Samuel Stewart and Thos. Goshorn. Among the first ladies in Ouray were Mrs. Geo. W. MeIntyre and Mrs. Dr. G. E. Moon, who were accompanied over the old U'te "Horse Thief Trail" by Geo. W. Melntyre and Dr. Moon, Byron McIntyre, A. W. Hafer and S. H. Tuttle. In October, 1875, the first cabin was erected by Staley and Whitlock, and the second by Scott and Macdonald. In October, 1875, Judge Long and the Cutler brothers went to Del Norte and Saguache to bring in supplies for the winter. They left Sagauche on their return, November 7th, 1875, with two wagons, but at Las Pinos Indian agency were forbidden passage across the reservation, which, however, they refused to obey. At White Earth, or Cebolla creek, they were joined by Capt. Cline, his two sons and their teams, and arrived in Ouray December 7th, 1875. Christmas was celebrated at Long and Cutler's cabin, the dinner being prepared by Judge Long. The same month, Cline went back to Saguache, and in March, 1876, returned with thirty people.
The first store was opened by J. D. Crane. In June, 1876, came Ira Y. Munn, his wife and son, William, Charles Munn having preceded then. The first board of trustees in Ouray was composed of Ira Y. Munn, M. W. Cline. R. F. Long, Theron Stevens and James Call. The first meeting was held October 4th, 1876. November 13th, following, R. F. Long and Miss Josephine Hadley were married at the residence of Major Cutler. Harry Cutler was the first white child born in the town. April 2nd, 1877. H. W. Reed, Israel Lobach, W. A. Dobbins, J. F. Dowling and F. W. Harrison were elected trustees. The town site had been entered January 26th, 1877, at the Del Norte land office by Capt. Cline, president of the board of trustees, and on February 3rd the first notice was issued to claimants of lots to file on the same.
The town was duly incorporated in 1876, by order of the commissioners of San Juan county, upon the usual petition signed by citizens. A rude survey had
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been made in 1875. March 7th, 1877, the commissioners of the newly created county of Ouray held their first meeting at the house of Major James Call, who, with W. J. Buchanan and H. J. Hammon, formed the board. Mr. Hammon was elected chaiman and A. E. Long clerk. The day following Ouray was designated the county seat until the next general election. It was then made the permanent seat by vote of the people. A contract was entered into with Jesse Benton to furnish a building for the use of the county. Benton has been marshal of several towns in the San Juan region and until recently held that position in Ouray. He is rated as one of the bravest and truest officers on the frontier. R. L. Wood was appointed county attorney at a salary of $600 per annum.
June 5th, 1877, the commissioners established voting precincts and appointed judges of election. In the fall of that year the following were chosen: Commis- sioners, Jacob Ohlwiler, W. L. Cornett and A. S. Richardson; sheriff, E. S. Finch; clerk and recorder, A. E. Long; county judge, Theron Stevens; treasurer, W. W. Stoddard ; assessor, D. F. Watson; coroner, R. L. Wood; superintendent of schools, Rev. C. M. Hoge; surveyor, H. W. Reed. Mr. C. W. Hoskins, deputy clerk, tran- scribed the records of San Juan county for Ouray county, and afterward became county clerk.
The official plat of Ouray, as accepted by the board of trustees October 17th, 1887, signed M. H. Mark, mayor, and Geo. C. Pierce, recorder, was filed December 23rd, 1887. In 1880 a system of water works was constructed at a cost of $40,000. The main reservoir is situated on Mount Hayden, some three miles up Sneffels creek, and contains 3,500,000 gallons. An auxiliary reservoir from Oak creek con- tains 500,000 gallons. In 1883 the citizens erected a handsome brick school building at a cost of $12,000.
There are four church edifices, the Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic and Episcopalian. The Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights Templar, Knights of Pythias, Patriotic Order Sons of America, Good Templars, Red Men and United Workmen all have organizations and well-appointed lodge rooms. The court house and jail, built of brick, cost $40,000. The Miners' hospital was the result of voluntary contributions, and is managed by the Sisters of Charity.
Journalism .- The San Juan "Sentinel" was founded by Dowling & Mckinney in 1877, but suspended in 1878; the Ouray "Times" in 1877 by Wm. and Henry Ripley. After varying fortunes it was absorbed by the "Budget," established July 6th, 1886, by C. A. Ward. Later on it was purchased by L. N. White, and the name changed to the "Plaindealer." Mr. Chauncey L. Hall was one of the editors of the "Budget," and is one of the oldest writers and press correspondents in the region.
The "Solid Muldoon," one of the most remarkable newspapers in the west, because of the peculiar style and quality of its paragraphs, rich, racy, and not infre- quently scalding, was established September 5th, 1879, by the Muldoon Publishing company, with David F. Day, a soldier in the Union army during the rebellion, and the "humorist of the San Juan " as editor. Beginning October 17th, 1882, it was issued daily during the political campaign of that year, but subsequently receded to a sparkling weekly. Mr. Day became sole proprietor in 1882. In May, 1885, Mark W. Atkins purchased an interest, but sold it in 1801. The Red Mountain "Journal" at Red Mountain is edited by George Seaman; the "Miner" by John R. Curry (now publishing the "Journal" at Cortez, Montezuma county); the "Pilot" by C. S. York and the "Review" by R. W. Morrison were published at Ouray, but are now extinct. The "Argus" was established in September, 1801. Early in 1892 Mr. Day removed the "Muldoon" to Durango and issued it as a daily.
Banks .- The Bank of Ouray was founded by J. Fogg in 1877, but soon after- ward it went into voluntary liquidation for want of capital. The Miners' and Mer- chants' Bank of Ouray was founded in 1878 by M. D. and John A. Thatcher of
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