History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 50

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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HON. FRED, LOCK WOOD,

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bank brothers and Henry Altman. The Gold Run ditch, eight and a half miles long, tapping Blue river, was begun in July, 1862, by L. G. Tubbs, Ed. Green, Timothy Borden, Alex Hannum, Win. H. Stahl, Nelson Cartwright, Ed. U. Can- field and Samuel Mishler, and completed October 13th following. The Independent ditch was built in 1864, two and a half miles long, heading in French Gulch.

Mining affairs were extremely prosperous and profitable from the fall of 1859 until about the close of 1861, when the richer deposits then discovered were con- sidered practically exhausted. During the latter year, also, the war caused many to emigrate, those from the southern states going home to join the Confederate forces, while many from the north enlisted either in the Union regiments formed in Colorado, or went to their native states to take up arms for the constitution. The claims thus abandoned fell into the hands of later comers, and finally were consolidated by companies and corporations, which, by the employment of cap- ital and improved methods, operated them to great profit. In the absence of trust- worthy data it is impossible to give even a fair approximate of the yields of gold in the several gulches during the period now being considered. That they were very large is universally admitted.

From the peculiar conformation of the mountains and valleys hereabouts, it is impracticable to mine the ground known to contain golden deposits by any large system of hydraulic forces, because of the scarcity of water. Again, the gulches are comparatively level, affording little opportunity to secure sufficient water pressure. The soil is extremely porous, hence the flats can not be mined by shafts and tunnels. Much native silver has been found in connection with the gold, in the form of nuggets, round and flat, together with finer particles, like fine gold dust.

A few discoveries of quartz lodes occurred, in 1860, near Hoosier Pass, The somewhat famous Quandary mine was located that year, and some years after- ward a crushing mill was erected, but on its completion it was found that the ores were of low grade and refractory, hence could not be treated by that process. No permanent work was done toward the development of mines bearing gold and silver until after what is known as the Leadville period, which brought knowledge from experience in working and treating all classes of mineral. In 1874, how- ever, Messrs. Spears, Conant & Co. erected reduction works on the Cincinnati lode near Lincoln City, four miles east of Breckenridge, converting the produc into a matte. In October, 1878, Mr. Wm. H. Iliff, who had acquired some expe rience at Leadville, returned to Summit county, and, in company with George Il. Bressler, began prospecting on the west side of Blue river, now known as Shock Ilill. Near the surface they encountered a strong contact vein carrying 'iron and low grade iron carbonates. It was named the Blue Danube. At a sub- sequent time Judge A. L. Shock and Daniel Shock discovered the Ohio to the north of the Blue Danube, Other discoveries followed in rapid succession, sev- eral companies were organized and much work was performed.

In the spring of 1863 a revival of gold placer mining took place. Many new people arrived, among them Mr. John Shock, a California miner, who began oper- ations on the property of L. G. Tubbs & Co., in Gold Run. By systematic effort he struck, in the deep pay gravel on the west bank, at right angles to the creek, an enormous deposit, more than a mile in length and too feet wide. Out of it he took $300.000 in gold. According to his own narrative, the main facts of which we follow, in 1868, by pushing the work still further into the west bank, he struck another pay streak which viekled $200,000. Only a small part of this channel has been worked, and it is believed that some day in the near future enor- mous quantities of gold will be found there. In due course a number of gokl- bearing lodes were discovered and partly opened on the adjacent mountain sides.

The sanguine prediction uttered by Mr. Shock in 1868 has been happily veri-

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fied by later developments. A series of claims located by Mr. E. C. Moody has since been systematically developed by a syndicate of Chicago capitalists, and veins of gold-bearing ore from 4 to 60 feet in width exposed. On the north side of Gold Run Basin they have erected a mill of forty stamps. On the south side are several extensive claims, among them the Extension, with a vein 35 feet wide, which is a steady producer of yellow metal, yielding five to ten ounces gold per ton. The Jumbo is another large producer, to which is attached a mill of fifteen stamps. Adjoining are the Sundown and Little Corporal. The Gold Run placer has been worked continuously for many years, yielding large nuggets and much coarse gold.

Swan River district, in the neighborhood of the basin just mentioned, con- tains many extensive tracts of rich placer ground, that were operated to some extent by the miners of 1860, who named them, respectively, Delaware, Galena, Summit and Buffalo Flats. Farncomb Hill (named for Harry Farncomb) stands five miles from Breckenridge, just above Georgia and American gulches, over- looking the old settlement of Lincoln. A considerable part was patented with the gulches by the Fuller company, but subsequently passed to the ownership of Col. M. B. Carpenter and A. J. Ware, under the name of the Victoria Mining company. In 1884 E. C. Moody prospected the ground for the owners and found that it abounded in free crystallized gold, much of it deposited near the surface. It is chiefly in leaf. moss and wire formation in pockets. The Bondholder and Key West were first located, the others afterward. Great quantities of very beau- tiful specimens taken from these deposits have been exhibited in Denver, Chicago and New York. Many of the class called "leasers" find profitable employment in the mines of Farncomb Hill. The Boss is another well-known property of the same general character, but not included in the Victoria patent. It was located by prospectors simultaneously with those made by Mr. Moody. The Ontario, south of the Boss, is an old location that has been worked since 1865. The earliest find on the hill, the Elephant, was developed by Mr. Harry Farncomb. West of the Ontario is another group of claims, owned by George Clark, from which have been produced the heaviest gold thus far found in the county. Another is the Erie group, with several veins of the same character. The "Wire Patch" is situ- ated at the base of this remarkable hill, covering both lode and placer ground. Between Lincoln and Breckenridge we find a series of well-developed properties with large modern mills-the Cincinnati, Juniata, Blue Hill, Revere and Oro, carrying lead, silver and gold. The placers are operated each recurring season. Nigger Hill, overlooking Breckenridge, and across the apex of which the railroad circles, has mines upon its crown to the extreme point, ending at Blue river. The Washington has been known and mined for many years, and has a fine machinery plant. The Duncan, Gold Dust and Ben Harrison group are in the same neighborhood. Here also are the Elkhorn and many others. On Sugar Loaf, a spur of Nigger Hill, just outside of Breckenridge, are the cele- brated Ouray and Puzzle mines, which are well developed and a source of profit to their owners.

Warrior's Mark District .- The famous mine known as the Warrior's Mark, yielding silver and gray copper, gives the district its title. It is situated ten miles north of Breckenridge and was located in 1880. Father Dyer, the pioneer Meth- odist missionary, who is known and revered all over the mountain region, spent the years 1881-82 in developing certain properties of his own in this locality. The little settlement is called Dyersville.

The Upper Blue. - From the headwaters of Blue river, at the county line between Park and Summit, all the way to Breckenridge. there are placer and lode mines, among them the Old Quandary, Hunter and Governor. In the gulches

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leading to Blue river are the placers located by primitive settlers, Campbell, Gor- man, McLeod, Crome and Fuller.

Shock Hill is located within the limits of Breckenridge. The principal mines are the Ohio, Brooks, Snyder and Iron Mask. The Wilson reduction works stand at the foot of the hill.

Breckenridge, the county seat, is situated in the Blue river valley amid highly picturesque surroundings. The mountains have been but slightly denuded of the dense growth of pine timber in which the pioneers found them in 1859. It is the commercial entrepot of all the region round about, which, as we have shown, is exceedingly rich in the precious metals. After the great mining epoch between 1859 and 1862 the population slowly dwindled until only a few hundred remained. This state of things prevailed until the spring of 1880, when a marked revival supervened, created by new and remarkable discoveries of gold in fissure and other vein formations. Population rapidly increased during that year and several hundred buildings were erected. Real estate, previously almost valueless, advanced to high prices. Great activity was manifested among the mineral belts; number- less shafts were sunk and much ore extracted. This sort of bustle continued but a short time, however, when the greater excitement attending the discovery of very rich silver-bearing deposits in other counties caused a general exodus to those points. On the first Tuesday in April, 1880, a town government was organ- ized by the election of trustees, as follows: Wm. H. Iliff, James Whitstone, J. S. Roby, George H. Bressler, Samuel DeMatte and Peter Engle. Mr. Iliff was made president, and Mr. Whitstone, clerk. During that summer Mineral Hill, some two miles northeast of the town, developed a greater number of excellent lodes than any other in the region. Some were exceedingly rich in gold.

The altitude of the town above tide water is 9,650 feet. It has a population of about 1,800, an efficient fire department, a well-constructed water system and an electric light plant. Its prominent buildings are the court house, G. A. R. hall, three churches, a commodious public school building and two considerable smelt- ers. It has good hotels and many attractive residences. A beautiful wooded tract, with a cool spring and running stream, serves as a public park. A level space near by is used for base-ball grounds. Among the older residents are George Bressler, Judge A. Shock, D. Shock, J. Shock, J. D. Roby and George Jones. Mr. M. Silverthorn owned the first hotel. Good wagon roads lead to all the mines. Ores are shipped hence by railway to Leadville, Denver and Pueblo. No history or account of Breckenridge would be complete without special mention of Carter's museum. Mr. Edwin Carter is one of the oldest settlers, who for some time was engaged in mining. In the later years of the first decade- 1860-70-he began collecting and mounting specimens of animals and birds found within the state of Colorado. At first these products of his skill and prowess were sold to eastern museums, but in 1874 he decided to retain them for a permanent home exhibit. Meanwhile, he has gathered a large, varied and very interesting collection, comprising specimens of nearly every known animal and bird in the state. The people of Summit county are naturally proud of this beautiful museum. While the owner has been offered large sums for it, he refuses to sell.

Dillon is charmingly situated at the confluence of the Ten Mile and Snake with Blue river. The town site is owned by Harper M. Orahood, Hal Sayr and others of Denver. In the vicinity are placer mines, and two miles distant, on Swan creek, are fine soda springs.

Montezuma is connected with Dillon by wagon road, and part of the way by railroad. It is the center of a mining district located many years ago. The first silver ore was found here by Mr. J. Colev in 1863. The town was located in 1865 by O. Millner, W. W. Webster. D. W. Willey, J. T. Lunch and others. The St. John mine has been very extensively developed by Boston capitalists. Here,

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also, we find the Silver King, Bell, Blanche, Cashier, Silver Wave, Chatauqua, and other lodes of value. Four to five miles distant, on the western slope of the range, at the foot of Argentine Pass, Stephen Decatur (otherwise Stephen Bross), widely known as "Commodore," established a mining camp in 1868. In 1880 the town of Decatur was named for him. Later it was changed to Rathbone. Here are the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Peruvian, Queen of the West, Revenue, Tariff and some other mines. On the stage road between Montezuma and the railroad station, at Keystone, is Ellwood district, named for H. H. Ellwood. Several good mines are located there.

Robinson and Kokomo .- These towns of Ten Mile district were founded upon vast expectations, by hordes of people that swept over the range from Leadville in search of the same class of carbonate ores which made Lake county famous the world over. But they were preceded by placer miners from Breckenridge in 1860, who discovered and worked MeNulty Gulch, realizing modest fortunes. In these workings some remarkable nuggets of native silver were found, some of them weighing two and three ounces. Twelve years prior to the general occupation of Ten Mile, Mr. J. P. Whitney of Boston discovered and operated a number of lode veins in that section, but without profit. The town of Kokomo was located by A. C. Smith, February 8th, 1878, at the southeastern extremity of Sheep moun- tain, near the mouth of Kokomo and Searles gulches, one and a half miles from Robinson and about twenty miles from Leadville. It grew with great rapidity and bore evidence of a permanent mining town. But its prosperity was of brief duration. A few years later it was almost entirely abandoned and fell into ruin. Two smelt- ers were built there, the White Quail and the Greer. It is surrounded by val- table mines that will some day be great producers of gold and silver.

Robinson. - The first dwelling here was erected by Mr. A. J. Streeter in June, 1881. A year later a populous town had grown up, supported by the produce of many important mining ventures, but principally the Robinson group, discovered in the fall of 1878 by Charles Jones and Jack Shedden, who were outfitted by Mr. George B. Robinson, a merchant of Leadville, to prospect the Ten Mile section. Subsequently Robinson purchased the shares of these two prospectors and organ- ized a company to work the properties, which for two or three years yielded extraor- dinary profits from very extended developments. In 1880 Mr. Robinson was elected lieutenant-governor of Colorado, but was killed by one of his own men soon after. See history of Leadville, Volume II.

The log town of Carbonateville was built and settled in the winter of 1878-79, but was totally abandoned during the latter year. Not a vestige now remains. Unquestionably, when silver shall have been advanced to a price which will justify renewed effort by the silver miners of this state, the great deposits of mineral in the mountains about Robinson and Kokomo will yield millions of treasure to well- ordered enterprise, but while present conditions prevail they can only be operated under extreme 'difficulties.

Ranches and Lakes .- On either side of Blue river from Dillon to the county line are many hay and cattle ranches, and nearly all the gulches show signs of gold. At Rock creek, a rapid, noisy stream emptying into the Blue, there is a mining district of more than ordinary value. The Boss and Josie, located in 1881, are rich mines situated on the rocky hilltops, with placer diggings below. Thirty-three miles from Breck- enridge, Black creek unites with the Blue, and following the course of the stream seven miles the traveler reaches Black lake, a beautiful sheet of clear, cold water, environed by thickly timbered mountains, whose summits are crowned with ever- lasting snows. This lake has been stocked with trout by General Albert H. Jones of Denver, the owner, who has built a picturesque cottage on an elevated rocky ledge overlooking the water, where his family reside during the summer months of each

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year. Several miles to the northward is Cataract lake, whence rises Cataract creek, a tributary of the Blue.

Railroads .- The Denver & South Park, a branch of the Union Pacific system, was built into Summit county in August, 1882, touching Breckenridge, Robinson and Kokomo. A branch was built to Dillon and extended on to Keystone, con- necting with a stage line to Montezuma and Rathbon. A branch of the Rio Grande railroad runs from Leadville to Dillon, passing through Robinson and Kokomo. The two lines are nearly parallel, one taking the high and the other a lower grade. The mining town of Frisco is situated on both roads, a few miles from Dillon.

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION-SENATOR HILL'S ARTESIAN WELL-ORGANIZATION-THE TOWN OF AKRON - OTHER TOWNS AND SETTLEMENTS - AGRICULTURE AND STOCK GROWING.

The county of Washington, named for the "Father of his Country," was estab- lished from the southeastern part of Weld, by an act of the General Assembly, ap- proved February 9th, 1887, in the same year when Logan was segregated from the northeastern part of Weld. As originally constituted, Washington was bounded on the north by Logan (created sixteen days later), east by Nebraska, south by Arapa- hoe and west by Weld. Akron was designated as the county seat. In 1889 Yuma county was taken from the eastern half of Washington, leaving its boundaries as follows: North by Logan, east by Yuma, south by Arapahoe and west by Morgan, the latter having been shorn from southeastern Weld in 1889.

The greater part of Washington lies over the divide southeast from the South Platte Basin, and its streams are the small tributaries that form the headwaters of the North Fork of the Republican. Its area is 1,080 square miles, and by the census of 1890 its population was 2,301. Agriculture, without artificial irrigation, and stock growing are the principal industries. This also forms a part of the "rainbelt re- gion," and the observations we have made in writing the histories of Sedgwick and Phillips counties apply with equal force to this, therefore need not be repeated here. The farmers lost their crops by the summer drouth of 1889-90 and suffered great privations in consequence. The soil is excellent, of much the same character as in the counties just named, and, with the requisite amount of moisture, splendid crops can be procured.

While in Congress, Senator N. P. Hill secured an appropriation for the sink- ing of two experimental artesian wells on the plains of Colorado, with a view to discover the practicability of utilizing the underflow for irrigating purposes. On the oth of August, 1882. Senator Hill and Commissioner Beach of Wisconsin, who had been appointed by the Agricultural Department to make an investigation, accompanied by Superintendent Holdredge of the Burlington railroad, proceeded to Akron, and thence six or seven miles into the neighboring country by wagon. This section had been examined by geological explorers and reported to the Ag- ricultural Department as a promising point for a high stratum of water. Senator Hill and those with him inspected the land for some miles round about Akron, and at length selected the spot for a well. Omitting details, the machinery was brought to the ground and the boring commenced. Although the artesian basin was not fully developed, water was found at a depth of ninety-two feet. When the second

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stratum was struck, it rose eighty feet in the well; the third time it rose 305 feet, and at a depth of 1,010 feet it rose 716 feet. When abandoned in May, 1883, the well was 1,260 feet deep and the water within eighty feet of the top. The different bodies of water encountered showed hydrostatic pressure, but not sufficient to raise it to the surface. Commissioner Beach expressed the opinion that if it could have been sunk 2,000 feet a fine flowing well undoubtedly would have resulted. As in all the earlier experimental wells of the class, great difficulties were experienced with the imperfect casing used, and from frequent cavings. It is a melancholy fact that the greater part of the congressional appropriation sccured by Senator Hill for these tests was squan- dered in visionary work at Fort Lyon and elsewhere. Had it been properly applied at Akron, there is good reason to believe the experiment would have been successful and thereby large tracts of superior land rendered productive. Judge Belford who secured the passage of the bill in the House, is inclined to attribute the failure at Akron to influences exerted by the range cattle men, who had no desire to be driven out by farmers. At all events, there has always been a cloud of mystery connected with that affair, and this may be one of the explanations. The derrick, tools, etc., were transferred to Cheyenne Wells, where there was another failure, possibly from like causes, since which time nothing further in that direction has been done. We predict, however, that attempts will be resumed under better auspices at no distant day, and that they will develop some grand results.

The first county officials in Washington were the following: Commis- sioners, J. S. Hendrie, J. B. Westcott and P. H. Prindle; sheriff, M. R. Lovell; clerk and recorder, F. C. Brobst; treasurer, S. Cordeal; county judge, J. M. Abbott; assessor, P. W. Clifford; superintendent of schools, H. H. Brower; surveyor, H. L. Badger.

At the first meeting of the commissioners at Akron March 14th, 1887, the hall in the Commercial hotel, owned by T. L. Vanartsdalen, was ordered to be leased for two months and used as county headquarters. July 22nd, 1887, the board divided the county into election precincts and appointed judges of election therefor. At the general election held in November the following were chosen:

Commissioners, J. S. Hendrie, P. H. Prindle and J. B. Westcott; sheriff, M. R Lovell; clerk and recorder, G. M. Boss; treasurer, H. S. George; county judge, W. T. Kelton; assessor, P. W. Clifford; superintendent of schools, W. Curtis; cor- oner, E. J. Bales; surveyor, J. O. Davis. The question of county seat being voted upon, Akron was chosen by a majority of 55 of the 1, 165 votes cast.

The present county officers (1890) are: Commissioners, W. H. Geutzler, P. H. Prindle and Sylvester G. Jones; sheriff, George Tuttle; clerk and recorder, W. H. Sherman; treasurer, H. S. George; county judge, W. T. Kelton; assessor, P. W. Clifford; coroner, W. D. Otis; superintendent of schools, E. M. Forbes; sur- veyor, H. L. Badger; clerk of the district court, L. C. Stephenson.

Akron is one of the oldest of the later towns in eastern Colorado. It was sur- veyed in May, 1882, by A. B. Smith for the Lincoln Land company, H. B. Scott, president, and R. O. Phillips, secretary, who laid off the town June 20th, 1882, and filed the plat July Ist following. Until 1886 it was scarcely more than a vacant town site. In that year began a heavy immigration to eastern Colorado, principally from Kansas and Nebraska, yet there was also a large representation from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and other states. In 1885 the population of Akron was very small, but in succeeding years it gained rapidly. It is situated on the main line of the Burlington & Missouri railroad, about 112 miles northeast of Denver. It is also the first division station on that railroad east of Denver. The Burlington com- pany has a fine two-story eatinghouse, roundhouses and other fixed improvements. The train men running in from the east and west change at this place. The large sums of money paid out by the railway company at this station have been of great assistance to the people at large during the hard times, brought on by the failure of

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crops. With one exception, all of the new counties have been established in this prairie or plains country in a manner to derive the largest possible revenue from the taxation of railroads, which bears an important part in the support of local govern- ment. All railways to Denver from the Missouri river approach that city from the northeast, as the Burlington and the Union Pacific, and from the southeast, as the Kansas Pacific, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, the Rock Island, the Mis- souri Pacific and the Denver, Texas & Gulf. Because of these several lines across the plains, the old counties, as Weld, Douglas, Bent and Las Animas, which formerly extended to the eastern line of the state, have been divided and subdivided, and in each railway taxation has been an essential feature and the moving cause of their ere- ation. Baca is the only county on the eastern border without a railroad. Arapahoe county still extends to the eastern line, and the attempts made to organize one or two new counties therefrom undoubtedly failed because there were no railways there to be assessed and taxed to support county government.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 50

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