History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 40

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

USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV > Part 40

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In June, 1887, the "Mining and Engineering Journal" of New York, review- ing the fruitage of placer mining in Colorado from the earliest times to 1866, mainly in Park, Lake and Summit counties, gave the following absurd estimates of the yields of the more prominent gulches and bars:

Tarryall Creek. $1,250,000

Gold Run.

$1,500,000

Montgomery Gulch.

500,000

French Gulch

1,600,000

California Gulch.

2,500,000

Illinois Gulch.

500,000

Cache Creek and tributaries.

350,000

Hoosier Gulch.

200,000

Colorado Gulch.

900,000

Other localities

3.500,000

Buckskin Joe.

1,600,000

Swan River and tributaries.

3,000,000 Total $17.400,000

In the absence of records one estimate is as good as another. Personally, I · am convinced that the figures given above are several millions in excess of the actual production. But it is idle to speculate upon the matter. My own judg- ment is that the entire product of all the placers worked in Colorado from 1859 to 1890 have not yieldled more than $10,000,000. The authority quoted proceeds to say that from 1866, for some years, the yield of the placers did not exceed $300,000 annually, which is much nearer the truth than his tabulated statement. At length capitalists took hold of the richer grounds, and by working them to better ad- vantage, the yields were materially increased.

Fossett, in his history published in 1880, estimates the gross product of Park county mines to January Ist, 1870, at $6, 114,852.78, divided as follows: Gold, $3,050,200; silver, $3,014,652.78; copper, $36,500; lead, $13,500.

While it is true that the existence of silver-bearing lodes was known as early as 1862, it is a well-settled fact that it was not until after the discovery of the Moose, in 1871, by the somewhat famous C'apt. Plummer, and the revelation of its eccentric but large deposits of very rich silver ore in that and subsequent years, that any impetus whatever was given to this branch of industry. This once cele- brated mine was found in the northeast face of Mount Bross, high up above timber line. This event attracted crowds of prospectors and miners to that region. It may be observed, in passing, that this peak was named for Lieutenant-Governor Bross of Illinois, who, in company with Schuyler Colfax. Samuel Bowles and others, made a partial tour of the park in 1868, and ascended Mount Lincom.

During the summer of 1871, the ground being clear of snow, a multitude of diggers congregated upon its rocky slopes and began prospecting for silver. This, after Georgetown, in Clear Creek county, where rich silver lodes were dis-

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

covered in 1865-66-67, became the second epoch in the unfolding of production in that line, and the two constituted the beginning of the change from gold to silver mining as a leading pursuit. The sequel is known, and therefore need not be dwelt upon any further than to say that, in 1893, there came a general return to first principles whereby gold mining reassumed its former prominence, with, in due course, the most surprising results.

Soon after the discovery of the Moose it was purchased by J. H. Dudley, A. W. Gill and Mr. McNab, who organized the Moose Mining company, and worked the property by a series of drifts and tunnels. From 1871 to 1876 it is re- ported to have produced over $3,000,000. The valuable ores lay in a series of pockets or deposits, there being no continuous vein. The Dolly Varden, Hiawatha and others owned by Assyria Hall and Geo. W. Brunk also became very valuable producers, yielding in the height of their prestige more than a million dollars. But the movement which imparted greatest activity to silver mining, by enabling the miners to develop their properties and dispose of their mineral at a home market, was the building of smelting works at Alma, in 1873, by the "Park Pool Associa- tion,"composed of N. P. Hill, H. R. Wolcott, Prof. Richard Pearce and Herman Beeger, which were remarkably successful until the Denver & South Park railroad was completed through the park, when they were discontinued and the ores shipped by rail to the Argo smelter.

The location of Alma and Dudley as centers of population followed the opera- tion of the various great mines opened on Mount Bross. The Moose Mining com- pany built reduction works at Dudley, and mills and sampling concerns enlivened the town of Alma while the excitement lasted. In 1880 valuable discoveries oc- curred on Mosquito mountain. Prospecting had been vastly encouraged by the wonderful disclosures at Leadville on the upper Arkansas. Hundreds of claims were staked off on all promising points of the Mosquito Range. Near Buckskin Mr. Henry Clements unearthed a large and apparently very valuable deposit of carbonate of lead ore, in the Fanny Barrett. But the great wave of prosperity was ephemeral, and in the course of a year or two died out. Although numerous at- tempts have been made to create a grand revival of mining in the South Park, a region possessing great treasures of gold and silver, it is only in exceptional cases like that of the later revelations in the Orphan Boy group, and a number of silver mines in Horseshoe district, ten miles west of Fairplay, that any extraordinary suc- cess has been achieved. Here, as everywhere else among the silver belts of the West, the paralysis which followed the great crisis of 1893 has produced stagna- tion. abandonment and ruin.

The South Park contains fine saline springs, great deposits of gypsum, ex- cellent bituminous coals, beds of brown hematite and bog iron ores, chalcedony, carnelian, silicified woods, with numerous indications of petroleum. Rude salt evaporating works were erected by John Q. A. Rollins and Charles L. Hall, in 1866, on Hall's ranch, some 20 miles below Fairplay. Several tons of salt were manufactured there. In 1881 other parties sank a well 1,000 feet deep, in the hope of discovering richer brine than appeared at the surface, but unsuccessfully. They, too, evaporated a good deal of salt, but finally gave up the search from lack of means, since which time no further efforts have been made. The lands belong to the state.

The geographical center of Colorado is located three miles northeast of Spin- ney station on the Colorado Midland railway in Park county.

Alma was established in 1872, as a result of the activity on Mount Bross at whose feet it stands. J. B. Stansell and Abram Bergh built the first house in the town for a Fairplay merchant named James, who established a store therein and gave the place the first name of his wife, "Alma." It is situated at the junction of Buckskin creek and the Platte river, two miles below Buckskin Joe, six above Fair-

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

play, and at the base of Mount Bross. Mr. Stansell also built a large ore house of logs for the Park Pool Association. The population of Alma in 1873 was estimated at 500, and at this writing it is about the same. It is still the center of a great mining section.

Dudley was also founded by the influences just named; is one mile above Alma on the Platte, but now practically deserted, the principal cause for its exist- ence having passed away. In 1873 its population was 300. Quartzville began its existence as a small mining settlement in 1871 ; had a population of about 200 in 1873, but is now scarcely more than a reminiscence.

Como was built by the Denver & South Park railway company; laid out in 1879 by George W. Lechner, one of the oldest and most progressive citizens of Park county. It was originally known as the Stubbs ranch, and until the pas- sage of the railway through the park was an important stage station. The town, mainly occupied by coal miners, was named for Lake Como in Italy, presumably because it is utterly unlike that beautiful resort, though there is a small lake in the vicinity. Mr. Lechner was the first clerk and recorder of the place. The coal inines are quite extensively worked, chiefly for the benefit of the South Park railway company.

Hall Valley. - The mines in this section were at one time-1876-77-very prominent, and yielded much silver, with some gold. It is situated in the north- west corner of the county. In the lower part the mountains are covered by pine forests. On the high range are located the once noted Whale and Leftwick mines, originally worked by the Hall Valley Mining company, named for Col. J. W. Hall, its manager, who expended large sums of money in developing the mines and in building smelters, tramways and other improvements, nearly all of which was lost through extravagant and incompetent direction. The property is now owned by C. C. Welch of Golden.

Jefferson, a small hamlet situate on the South Park railway a few miles north of Como, is the center of a number of hay ranches, where large quantities of native grass are cut, cured and shipped to market, notably Denver. It was established in 1879, soon after the extension of the South Park railway through the park. There are several other small stations along the line of the railway, as Slaght's ranch, Hartsell's, Garo, Bailey's, Estabrook Park, but none of them containing more than a few families.

Old Stage Routes .*-- The original stage route from Denver to the South Park entered the mountains via Bear creek, crossed the divide to Turkey creek, followed that stream to Elk creek, thence across the high divide to the North Fork ; followed the latter nearly to its head and crossed into the park at Kenosha Summit; thence skirted the northwestern border to Hamilton and Fairplay. A branch left it at Michigan creek and crossed the main range at Georgia Pass and thence to Breck- enridge. Still another branch left it at Hamilton and connected with Breckenridge via Tarryall Pass and Swan river. From Fairplay a road ran up the South Platte, connecting Fairplay with the mining towns above, and, crossing by Hoosier Pass, ran down the Blue to Breckenridge.

Colorado City was connected with Fairplay by a road which followed very closely the course of the located railway line as far as the crossing of the South Platte: there it left the latter and crossed to the South Platte in a direction north of east, reaching the South Platte again in the South Park, following it up to Fairplay. A branch left it in the southern part of the park and ran to the salt works and to the Arkansas valley. Another branch left it at the first crossing of the South Platte and followed Tarryall creek up to Hamilton. From Fairplay a road skirted the western side of the park, a branch of it crossing the Park

* Hayden's Report, 1873.

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

Range at Weston's Pass to the Arkansas valley, while the main road continued on down to the salt works and thence to the Arkansas valley via Trout Creek Pass and Trout creek. There was also a road from the salt works to Canon City. The more direct route from Fairplay and Buckskin, however, was by a pack trail up Mosquito Gulch and over Mosquito Pass to the placer mines of California Gulch.

Balfour is the name of a gold mining camp eight miles south of Spinney station. It was founded in November, 1893. It has about 200 houses, a weekly newspaper, a public school, and one or two churches. The formation in which gold is found appears to be quite similar to that of Cripple Creek. From present indications, the prospects justify the hope that when more fully developed it will be a large producer of the precious metals.

PHILLIPS COUNTY.

ORGANIZATION-SOIL AND RESOURCES-PRODUCTS OF AGRICULTURE-FAILURE OF CROPS-TOWNS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC .- FIRST SETTLERS.

This county was named for Mr. R. O. Phillips, secretary of the Lincoln (Neb.) Land company that laid off a number of towns in eastern Colorado. It was es- tablished by an act of the General Assembly, approved March 27th, 1889. It is formed from a strip cut from the southern part of Logan county, and bounded on the north by Sedgwick, east by Nebraska, south by Yuma, and west by Logan. The town of Holyoke is the county seat. Its area is 570 square miles, and by the census of 1890 its population was 2,642. Like Sedgwick, Logan and others on the eastern border it is an open and mostly level plain, adapted to agriculture and stock raising. It is watered by Frenchman's creek and tributaries, both small streams. The following were the first county officials: Commissioners, C. C. Washburn, I. W. Waite and P. B. Reynolds; sheriff, L. C. Witherbee; clerk and recorder, Charles E. McPherson: county judge, J. H. Painter; treasurer, B. A. Iloskins; assessor, C. M. Pickett; superintendent of schools. Oscar Trego; surveyor, J. W. Whipple. Nearly all of these were appointed to effect the purpose of organi- zation, and to serve until an election could be held by the people, but a few resid- ing in the part shorn from Logan, who had been elected under that jurisdiction, held over under the statute. July 8th, 1889, the commissioners established election precincts, and in November ensuing the following were elected: Commissioners, John C. Elder, M. Francis and Theodore Chalberg; sheriff, L. C. Witherbee; clerk and recorder, Charles E. McPherson; county judge, James Glynn; treasurer, B. A. Hoskins; assessor, Otis Casteller; superintendent of schools, C. B. Timberlake; sur- veyor, William Lowe: coroner, L. P. Lewis. At this election, also, Holyoke was chosen to be the permanent county seat. This is the largest and most important town in the county.

Thirty-nine citizens of Holyoke filed a petition with R. W. Rowden, county judge of Logan, who, pursuant thereto, on April 2nd, 1888, appointed W. N. Jordan, Jerome Lewis, B. A. Hoskins, J. A. V. Price and L. Tinkle commissioners to call an election at which the question of incorporating the town was to be submitted. This election was held April 24th, 1888, when ninety-three votes were cast for incorporation and two against. The survey of Holyoke was begun Septem- ber 17th, and finished on the 21st, 1887, by A. B. Smith, but laid off by the Lincoln (Neh.) Land company. The plat was acknowledged December 20th, 1887, by

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

H. B. Scott, president of the company, and R. O. Phillips, secretary, and was filed December 30th, 1887. After incorporation, the following officials were chosen;

Mayor, B. A. Hoskins; trustees, J. F. Kenyon, P. Raymond, A. J. Baker, Pat Walsh, A. E. Webb and Gus Temple; clerk, Robert Gilson: marshal, S. K. Cheadle; police magistrate, Perry Westover; attorney, E. E. Brannon.

To advertise the town and proclaim its advantages for the inducement of im- migration, the Holyoke Board of Trade was organized at a very early period. Chas. E. McPherson was made president; L. Tinkle, treasurer; C. B. Timberlake, secretary, and Jerome Lewis, George Clark, Charles Mader, B. F. Williams and L. Witherbee, directors. Mr. C. M. C. Woolman was the resident agent of the Lincoln Land company. In a circular issued by the board in 1889 it was stated that "the land throughout the county is beautiful to look upon, lying in smooth, even plains, or else of a gently undulating character, every acre of it susceptible of easy and rapid cultivation. The soil is a dark sandy loam, with just enough of sand to make it free from clods after cultivation, and to prevent its becoming baked or hard after heavy rains. Good crops were grown here during 1888, and up to this time (1889) they look well. Wheat, oats and rye have done well; corn is fairly good at this time of the year, and with a few showers during August will make a good crop." But notwithstanding these cheerful assurances, drouth came upon them, nearly ruined everything, and in the following winter the people were compelled to implore aid from their more fortunate neighbors whose reliance had been placed upon the certainties of irrigation. The plentiful rainfalls which had served them in previous years failed, and most of the farmers suffered severely from the wholesale destruction caused by the burning suns. The harvests of 1888 had been very satisfactory under highly favorable conditions. The Board of Trade announced in a general summary that "108 tons of broom corn were shipped from Holyoke: 103 cars of immigrants, goods shipped in; also 122 cars of coal and 11,000,000 feet of lumber were received at that point ; 200,000 brick manu- factured for buildings; 200 head of dressed hogs shipped out; 20 cars of beef cattle exported to eastern markets; 900 hides shipped by Witherbee Bros., and this at that early stage of settlement indicated a very promising activity. An epitome of general trade among the business men, showed gross sales during 1888, amount- ing to $400,000." The circular under consideration, further announced that "the 60,000 bushels of corn now cribbed in Holyoke will bear testimony to the fact that this is preeminently a grain-producing country. Fields of corn from 30 to 100 acres are not uncommon." The following estimates of yields per acre are given: Sod corn, 40 bushels; millet, 2 to 5 tons; potatoes, 100 to 300 bushels, and other products in proportion. There is no doubt of the fertility and fruitfulness of the soil, for it has been abundantly demonstrated. Unquestionably, Phillips county is capable of producing quite as large and varied crops as any other section of the state when the natural rainfalls are sufficient, but, as we have seen, these are uncer- tain, and where lands are seeded in the rainbelt region, the farmer is compelled to take the risk. On the other hand there is no such uncertainty in the irrigated sections. The farmer under perlected methods is always sure of a crop, the only chance he takes is against violent hailstorms and occasional visitations of locusts. As we have stated in considering the condition of Sedgwick county, the permanent occupation of the eastern border of Colorado and the prosperity of the people there can only be assured by the utilization of the underflow, if such exists. The sinking of wells for domestic supply shows abundant water beneath the surface. If it can not be raised by natural hydrostatic pressure, pumping must be resorted to and the product stored in reservoirs, which means, in short, that some form of artificial irrigation must be employed. While some authorities assert the gradual extension westward of the rainfalls which water eastern Kansas and Nebraska, it has not yet been demonstrated by the official records. In certain years the precipitation

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is all that could be desired, but it never has been continuous. One season will be wet, another dry, therefore we are brought back to the original proposition, that the only certainty is in canals and ditches, and where the streams are insufficient, the underflow must be sought and its treasures stored.

While the misfortunes of the past two years have fallen heavily upon the farmers of Phillips county, only a few gave up in despair. They comprehend that in the experimental years of farming in all parts of Colorado, even those favored with irrigating canals, like disasters befell, causing many desertions. Like experi- ences were had in eastern Kansas and Nebraska, where the agriculturists have fre- quently been reduced to destitution by the same causes which afflicted those of Phillips and similarly situated counties. They still have faith in the final triumph of their experiment, and while the probabilities are not wholly promising, judging by what has already occurred, the prospect is by no means so dark as the cham- pions of irrigation would have it appear.

Holyoke is prettily located. It is the division station on the Cheyenne branch of the Burlington & Missouri River railroad. Here the trainmen and engines on that line are changed, and the pay roll of the employés contributes not a little to the prosperity of the place, aside from the surrounding agricultural resources. The Burlington eating house, built at a cost of $25,000 to $30,000, is one of the finest on its line. The company also has expended large sums on its roundhouses and other improvements. The business houses are substantial frame and brick struct- ures, and there are many attractive private residences. The Lincoln Land com- pany built waterworks in 1888, at a cost of about $30,000. The supply is from wells. There is also a large grain elevator for the storage and shipment of crops. There are two hose companies. David Castetter was the first postmaster in Holyoke.

The place is well supplied with banking facilities. The Holyoke State Bank was founded November Ist, 1887, by L. Tinkle, president, and R. E. Webster, cashier, who still retain those positions. The Exchange Bank, started by Thomas Webb. president, and A. E. Webb, cashier, in 1888, went into voluntary liquidation in 1889, paying all its obligations. George E. Clark, president, and his wife, Mrs. M. A. Clark, cashier, established the Bank of Holyoke November 1st, 1887, which they still control. The capital is $37,000. The Farmer's and Merchant's Bank was opened in September, 1887, by L. W. Tulleys, president; J. N. Brown, vice-presi- dent, and W. E. Johnson, cashier. The present officers are W. E. Johnson, presi- dent; Robert Brown, vice-president, and S. T. Johnson, cashier. At one time there were four banks, three of which (as above) survive.

There are two weekly newspapers, the State "Herald" and the Phillips County "News." The first was founded in 1887, by C. W. Painter and W. N. Jordan; the latter sold to Painter, and he to A. A. Spahr in 1889. The present editor and publisher is J. H. Painter. Mr. Jordan founded the Holyoke "Tribune," which in October, 1800, was removed to Nebraska. The "News" was established in August, 1887, by B. F. Williams & Co. Several other journals were published there at different times, but only those named above remain.

A fine two-story brick school house was built in 1888 at a cost of $8,000, which was conducted by S. G. Duly as principal. The first school was opened in a little frame shanty on Main street.

Churches. - The Methodist Episcopal society owns a substantial frame build- ing. The Frenchman's Valley Mission of this church is now known as the First M. F. church of Holyoke. It was organized July Ioth, 1887, by the Rev. J. M. Adair. The stewards were A. L. Payne, W. Whipple, N. Porter. A. H. Miller and Wm. M. Adland, the latter being secretary. It was incorporated January 28th, 1888, with W. M. Adland, G. R. Ellis, B. F. Williams, R. L. Payne, Wm. Heller, J. F. Bryan, James Mackey and E. Tinkle, trustees, and E. W. Kendall, secretary.

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

The Revs. B. F. Todd, H. B. Cook and W. L. Bailey have since been its pastors. The church building was erected in 1887 at a cost of $1,500. In West Holyoke a Christian church was built in 1890. The Catholics and Presbyterians have or- ganizations but no buildings. The Baptist church of Holyoke was organized in 1887, by the Rev. Mr. Jacobus, who was followed by Rev. John Richards. It has no building as yet.

The Masons, Odd Fellows, G. A. R. and Knights of Pythias have lodges here.

The Burlington railroad company has given its employés a commodious read- ing room at the depot furnished with many of the better newspapers and magazines. The first building in Holyoke was the old sod house of William Bignell, erected on his land claim. Among the earlier settlers were Phillip Zimmerman, Jarius Shockey, Scott Evans, Rufus Cooperider, Jacob Furry, Daniel and Michael Larkins and John White, who came in 1885, when the county was still a part of Weld. They located about six miles northeast of Holyoke, took up claims, and raised crops in 1886. Many of these settlers were from York, Nebraska. Northeast of Holyoke, on the Burlington railway, is Amherst. It was surveyed by A. B. Smith, September 22nd and 23rd, 1887, for the Lincoln Land company, and the plat was acknowledged by H. B. Scott, president, and R. O. Phillips, secretary, December 20th, 1887. It was filed July 13th, 1888. Amherst is situated some ten miles from Holyoke in an agricultural and grazing section. It has a number of stores and other business houses.

Paoli and Hlaxtun are the principal points on the railway west of Holyoke, but both small stations. Haxtun is very close to the Logan county line. The above is the correct orthography, yet on some of the published maps it is given as "Haxton" and "Haxtum." It was surveyed by A. B. Smith June 2nd, 1888, for the Lincoln Land company; the plat was acknowledged October 29th, 1888, and filed November 8th. It has a post office and a number of stores, etc.

Paoli is about midway between Holyoke and Haxtun. It has a post office, with a few stores and dwellings.

Emerson is a small place without a post office, a few miles south of Paoli and near the "Three Buttes."

Wakeman is a post office southeast of Holyoke and near the Nebraska line.

Bryant is situated in the extreme southwestern part of the county. This is another of the Lincoln Land company's towns, laid off by the same surveyor. A. B. Smith, and the plat filed November 8th, 1888.

Schools. - The school census of 1890 shows 926 persons of school age: 42 school districts; 35 buildings with 2,289 sittings; value of the property $16,698. In the graded schools 164 were enrolled, in the ungraded 613, total 777, with an average daily attendance of 491. Three teachers were employed in the graded schools, and 77 in the ungraded.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 40

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