The Mines of Colorado

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Glance at Pike's Peak prior to the Discovery of Gold-Discov-

ery of Gold on Ralston Creek in 1852, and on Dry Creek in

1858-Effect of the News in the States-Crossing the Plains-

Indians-First View of the Mountains-Prospecting, Hunt-

ing-Placer Camp-Auraria-Arapahoe County-Election

of Delegate to Congress and Representative to Kansas Legis-

lature-Denver Town Company,

CHAPTER II.

Grand Physical Divisions of Colorado-The Snowy Range,

The Foot-hills, The Valley, and Over the Range-Charac-

teristics of the Snowy Range, of the Foot-hills-The Great

Mineral Belt-Metalliferous Veins-Mode of Occurrence of

Gold,

CHAPTER III.

PAGE.

Discoveries of Gold in the Mountains-John H. Gregory and

the Gregory Lode-History of Discovery Claim on the Greg-

ory-Placer and Bar Diggings-First Mining Laws-Russell

Gulch-Quartz Mining-Gregory District Organized and

Code of Laws Adopted, .

CHAPTER IV.

Visit of Horace Greeley and Party-Establishment of News-

papers-Attempted Organization of Government-Jefferson

Territory-Mail, Passenger, and Express Facilities-Over-

land Mail-First Winter in the Mines-Quartz Mills-

Wagon Roads,

CHAPTER V.

Development of Mining through 1860-1-2-3—Opening Pros-

pects Immigration and Emigration-Quartz-Mining and

Milling-Difficulty in Saving the Gold-Placer Mining-Or-
ganization of the Territory of Colorado by Congress-Min-
ing Legislation-Miscellaneous,

CHAPTER VI.

Condition of the Mines at the end of 1853-Transferred to

Eastern Capitalists-The April (1864) Panic in Stocks-

Temptation to Speculation in Gold Mining-Why the Miners

were generally embarrassed at the end of 1863-Why the

Eastern Mining Companies have been comparatively unsuc-

Gilpin County-Present Condition of the Improved Lodes-

Names of Mining Companies-Amount of Development-

Condition of Mines and Mills-Machinery-Processes, &c. 141

CHAPTER VIII.

Gilpin County continued-Swinging Round the Circle-Inde-

pendent, South Boulder, Central, Wisconsin Districts, Peck

and Missouri Gulches-Their Improved Mines, Mills, Com-
panies, Processes, &c., .

106

Park County-South Park-Towns and Mines-Salt Works-
Geology-Placer Mining in the Past, in the Present-Beaver
Gulch-Tarryall-Crossing the Range in Mid-Winter-Lode

131

Clear Creek County-General Characteristics-Idaho-Em-

pire-The Mines of Idaho-Spanish Bar-Trail Run-Fall

River-Morris and Downieville Districts-Empire Mines-

Griffith and Argentine Districts-Discovery, Development,

and Richness of the Silver Mines,

CHAPTER X.

Boulder County, Characteristics-Mining Districts, Gold Hill,

Ward, Central-Boulder Valley, Boulder City, Valmont-

Geology and Topography of the Coal and Iron Region-Belle-

monte Furnace and Coal Beds-Black Hawk Foundery, . . 263

CHAPTER XI.

214

227

CONTENTS.

Mining in the Past, in the Present-Climate-The Espino-

sas-The Reynolds Guerrilla Raid,

PAGE.

CHAPTER XII.

Lake County-Its Characteristics, Settlements- Arkansas

River Mining Districts, Westphalian, Pine Creek, La Plata,

Georgia Bar, Hope, Lake Falls, Red Mountain, Arkansas,

Independent, California, and Sacramento—Approaches, .

CHAPTER XIII.

306

vii

Summit County-Middle Park-Upper Blue River-Ten-mile

District-Result of Assays-Work doing-The Snakes-

Peru and Montezuma Districts-Lodes and Companies and

Improvements Going On-Gulch Mining, Union District,

Gold Run and Buffalo Flats-Western Portion of the County, 321

CHAPTER XIV.

Important Mining Legislation - Gregory District Miners'

Laws, Adopted February, 1860-Mining Legislation of Col-

orado Territory - Act of Congress Opening the Mineral

Lands to Pre-emption,

Processes - The Stamp Mill, In Australia, Lake Superior,

Copper Mines, California, Nevada, Colorado—Improvements,

Keith's Desulphurizer, Crosby & Thompson's, Mason's, Mon-

nier Metallurgical Process-Smelting, James E. Lyon & Co.

-Making of Regulus, &c., . .

Agriculture-The Valley-Climate, Soil, Irrigation-Crops and

Production per Acre-"The Great American Desert" Abol-

ished-Native Fruits, Culture-Pastoral Quality, Buffalo,

Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Dairy Products-Game, Animals,

Birds, Timber,

CHAPTER XVI.

Geology and Geological History-Classification of Minerals

found in the Territory,

. . 375

CHAPTER XVIII.

Recapitulation-Mills and Mining Machinery-Production of

Gold-State Organization—General Statistics-Newspapers

-Railways on the Plains-Population, Society, .

Books