Idaho Springs siftings., August 09, 1902, Image 2

About Idaho Springs siftings. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1900-1905

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Idaho Springs Siftings
The News From Everywhere Everytime
Published in the Owen Building, Idaho Springs, Colo.
Every Saturday.
FRED G. SHAFFER, - - - Editor
JOHN D. WILLIAMSON, - - Publisher
A Paper for People Now on Earth
Subscription - - - $2 Per Year
Live News Items, Up-to-date Ideas and Suggestions
for Making the Paper Better are
Always Welcome
Advertising Rates Made Known on Application
A Fair-fighting, Uncompromising Republican Paper
Entered at the Postoffice at Idaho Springs. Colorado as second
class matter. January 31. 1901.
ABOUT YANKEE HILL.
In this issue of Siftings considerable
space is devoted to Yankee Hill. It may
be that we have not mentioned Alice as
often as we have Yankee or Yankee as
often as we have Alice. It makes little
difference-theyare practically one camp,
although there are two postoffices. In St.
Paul the people refuse to read the new
testament, so it is claimed, because it
mentions St. Paul oftener than it does
Minneapolis. We trust such a condition
of affairs will not exist in the pretty little
settlements to the north ot us.
It is unfortunate that these points
have not been advertised to the world
more than they have. A glance at the
page relative to the trip to James Peak
and the page concerning the mines will
convince the most skeptical that it pos
sesses two splendid resources.
The trip to James Peak is without a
rival in the known world. It is fascinat
ing, weird and interesting. It is hard
for the people of the east to believe that
on the first day of August they can see
frozen lakes and glaciers. That they can
walk on the glacier for a mile over snow
and ice and can skate on the lake, if they
desire on the first day of the hottest
month.
The fact that the camp is employing
200 miners; that it has $16,000 invested
in mining machinery; that it has many
miles of underground workings and gold
and silver veins that are without equals
in Colorado tells the story for itself.
One can go and see these giant veins and
measure them for himself. He can see
the mines and mills and realize that he is
visiting and inspecting a camp that must
become a wonderful producer of the pre
cious metals. Its isolation from railroad
facilities has had a tendency to impede
it in away, but this will be overcome in
time, for it cannot be very long until
some of the railroad or electric compan
ies will realize what jt will mean in the
way of profit to build a road from Idaho
Springs to Yankee Hill.
Siftings has always been loyal to
Yankee Hill because it has investigated
everything thoroughly pertaining to its
present condition and future prospects.
As a result it cannot do otherwise than
loyal to the camp, for it will be one of the
most successful in Colorado with the ap
plication of the needed capital, brawn
and brain.
Every citizen there should do his best
to make the camp a success. In bring
ing success to the mines and mills he
brings success to himself and enhances
the value of his holdings, whatever they
may be. It is reasonably certain that
the Colorado & Southern railroad will
pay some attention to Yankee Hill in the
future and with the aid of a great and
enterprising railroad there is much in
store for the place in a tourist way.
We are under obligations to the peo
ple of Alice and Yankee for aid in help
ing the representative of the paper to
obtain the facts connected with the
property.
STATE DEMOCRATIC WAR.
The Democratic party of the state
begins to furnish its own proof that it is
very near the point of dissolution. It is
partly in favor of socialism, partly in
favor of the single tax, partly in favor of
Orman, partly in favor of Stimson, partly
in favor of Teller, partly in favor of
Adams, and about equally divided in
halfs, thirds, fourths, fifths and sixths
on everything.
Mr. Bryan could well come to Colo
rado with one of his famous harmony
speeches. The Democrats here are in
need of harmony. Before the election
day has passed it will be discovered that
it is also in need of votes.
It is only fair to say, however, that
success has turned the heads of the
Democrats. When the Republicans were
in power so long the same things hap
pened. Every little ward politician sud
denly became a great politician and
wanted to help suck the sap from the
treasury sugar tree. It is to be fair than
to be otherwise. It is better in a news
paper to tell the truth and keep the con
fidence of the people. It is useless for
any party, political, or otherwise to state
that long tenure of office does not make
it careless of its promises and of the
needs of the people. The officials be
come greater than those that created
them. Colorado is in just that condition
today. She is governed by a herde of
incompetent officials w T ho do as they
please and rely upon the success of the
parties they represent in the past to
again foist them upon the state.
There is always one good proposition
to fall back upon—the people are greater
than the party. They make and unmake
parties. They are greater than the offi
cials they create because they are their
creators.
Just a£ certain as election day arrives
this fall just so certain will the people of
the state, regardless of past party affili
ations retire the crowd that is now draw
ing a salary for accomplishing something
they promised and not yet accom
plished.
• Democracy is practically at its ebb
tide. It will not wash up against the
pier much longer.
SMELTER TRUST OPERATIONS.
It is indeed unfortunate for the peo
ple of the state of Colorado that the
smelter trust or American Smelting and
Refining company, should be in a posi
tion where it can retard the development
of the mines of the state. Unfortunate,
because the mining interests of Colorado
are still in their infancy. The state has
paid so many thousands and even millions
in dividends to outside investors that it
is becoming a profitable field for eastern
capital The east is also just beginning
to realize that since the Cripple Creek
boom blew over there has been less of
the speculative and wild cat in mining
and that it has settled down to a solid,
substantial business basis.
With every condition so favorable for
development and production it is little
less than a shame that anything should
be hedged in. There is no reason why
the state should not have open right-of
way for every kind of development.
We do not believe the smelter trust
will succeed in its efforts to compel the
mining men to bow to it. Gold and sil
ver is something that cannot be cornered.
Necessity is the mother of invention and
the final result of the oppression will be
the invention and introduction of new
processes that will extract the values
without relying upon the trust combina
tion. It is true that it would be difficult
to find a market for the bi-products but
the gold and silver of the mountains is
always a welcome commodity at the
United States mint.
For the past year we have insisted
that the mining men should exhibit more
interest in new processes but they have
been inclined to laugh at the idea. The
time will come when they will welcome
the advent of all these and especially of
one that will prove successful in extract
ing the values from the ore.
So far as the report is concerned that
the trust has gobbled up the Golden in.
stitution we have had no doubt of that for
the past year. It has bften been stated
that Prof. Carpenter could not treat a
higher grade of ore than the trust would
permit him to and that he was absolutely
under the control of the American Smelt
ing and Refining company. We know
nothing about this except as we hear it
from parties who ought to know what
they are talking about.
The Burro’s Briefs
And now they are telling a good one on Dr.
Barker, the whole-souled dentist. It appears that
some of the boys have a habit of remarking con
cerning the nude appearance of the doctor’s head.
The other day a shaggy-headed friend came in and
began to talk about the lack of hair. The doctor
stood it good naturedly during the ordeal, but
finally played even with the man with the rich
crop of hair by saying : “If my head was as soft
as yours I suppose I could raise hair to sell.” The
friend has not mentioned the condition of the
dentist’s pate since that hour.
“ Speaking of optical illusions,’’ remarked At
torney Sabin the other day, “reminds me of a little
one down at Denver. A party of us, among which
was R. B. Morton, was sitting out in front of the
Markham hotel when the matter of the length of
the hands on the big clock at the Union depot
came up. Some one suggested that they were four
or five feet long and I offered to bet a dollar they
were uot to exceed fourteen or fifteen inches in
length. Morton wanted to bet a dollar they were
five feet in length, or at least that the minute hand
was, and I wanted to take the bet and did take it.
We satisfied ourselves by inquiry and found that
the minute hand in question was six feet and one
inch in length. Morton got my dollar but I got
the optical illusion.”
Postmaster J. S. Waugh of Yankee was in the
city this week accompanied by the Mellville
brothers. They have a property there in the camp
that is furnishing them all the six-ounce gold ore
they want and this is enough to make fellows feel
like they appeared to feel. Postmaster Waugh
furnished the Burro with the rods and line and
hooks and flies for fishing purposes, but they were
hoodooed and no fish would come within four
miles of them.
Charley Crosson tells me that Bear Creek is a
very prominent resort this season and that Indian
Park is fast filling up with elegant summer homes.
K begins to look as if Clear Creek county would
have the greatest number of summer resorts in the
state. Advertising will bring them to the. front
and the right character of advertising is not ex
pensive.
And, speaking of advertising, I believe the
Chamber of Commerce did a remarkably good
thing when it ordered the publication of the little
circulars to give out to tourists along the line,
telling them of the beauties of the city and some
thing about its growth, progress and population.
The Chamber of Commerce is doing some good all
round this year.
The Silver Plume Standard contained a little
fling, probably intended for Idaho Springs, in its
last issue. The matter had reference to low grade
camps as compared with high grade ones. It was
intimated that the low' grade camps were prac
tically worthless while the high grade camps were
the greatest that ever happened. We do not desire
to filch one laurel from the wreath Silver Plume
has earned. She is a good camp. Anyone desir
ing particulars, however, can find them by looking
up the tax rolls and ascertaining the amount of
money paid in the way of taxes as compared with
the amount paid by Silver Plume and Georgetown.
It is a little bit peculiar that this low grade camp
here at Idaho Springs should have nearly two
thirds of the taxable property values in the county.
Perhaps it can be explained, however.
In another portion of this paper we publish a
communication from Richard Willis of Colorado
Springs who represents considerable London capi
tal invested in properties in this district. He re
fers to the “ knocker” and says some things that
are well worth reading. It is, indeed, a shame
that Idaho Springs should be infested with this
class of people. The time will come when there
will be a chance for these people to show their
hands. The city is too large to be held back much
longer by such a class —as a rule irresponsible sun
shine absorbers and worthless to themselves and to
the world at large. Breckinridge had four of them
that w’ere notoriously gifted in that direction and
they are no longer in Breckinridge. Cripple Creek
had two of them in 1894 and they were invited to
go to greener pastures. While it seems like a
hardship it is undoubtedly true that Idaho Springs
will some day awaken to the fact that she is too
decent a place to harbor the knocker.
I have several pages of poetry on the desk in
front of me written by Editor Cunningham of the
Gazette. The stockholders in that paper petitioned
the board of directors to have the publication of
his poetry stopped in the Gazette and now he
wants to enter the columns of his contemporary.
Here is one verse :
“ The cold contracts,
The heat expands,
And that’s what few people understands:”
I have a communication from an old miner
who prefers to have his name witheld but who
agrees with an article in this department a week
or two ago to the effect that placer mining would
soon have another run. He states that he knows
of three or four big propositions that will be
handled before the present summer closes. Placer
mining is by no means a thing of the past. The
other day I visited the placer owned by Cassett &
Norton, down below Floyd Hill, and saw a panful
of sand and gravel return three or four elegant
colors. This was taken from near the surface and
when the proposition reaches bed-rock there is
little doubt that it will produce abundantly of the
yellow metal. Mr. Cassett is one of the oldest
printers and pressmen in Colorado. He was run
ning the press in the old Denver Tribune office
when Gene Field contributed to fill the forms for
that paper that gained a national reputation. He
deserves success, and I hope that his placer may
net him an abundance iu his trip toward the sun
set and away from the noonday of life.
Everyone who formed the acquaintance of Dan
Mason hated to see him go back to his home in
Minneapolis. It was good fortune to be able to
take a trip to the Golden Hecla with him before
his departure and see that he is interesting himself
heavily in a bonanza that is certain to reward him
for the investment.
All sorts of stories are in circulation concerning
the fish crugbt this season, but the fact remains
that the only fish so far to arrive in the city have
been purchased or shipped in by express.
I see by the Denver Times that my old friend
Dr. John Grass of Trinidad is a candidate for the
nomination of governor on the Republican ticket.
To have a personal acquaintance with the doctor
is to admire and respect him. There is just enough
of the sentiment in him to make him a most lov
able character and plenty of firmness and dignity
to guarantee a splendid executive ability. It was
the doctor who stepped in last fall and attempted
t£ prevent the absorption of the school fund by
parties who have no right to it but who buy the
land of the state landboard for practically nothing
and then make fortunes out of it. Mrs. Grenfel
stood shoulder to shoulder with the doctor in his
efforts to preserve the rights of the little ones, but
the fusion land board was ready to give up any
thing for the little alleged rakeoff that might have
been in sight. I must admit that I am a personal
and political admirer of ,Dr. Grass. He would
make a good governor and a good governor is
needed in Colorado, the good Lord knows.
Senator Newell of Gilpin county has stirred up
the fusion menagerie in good shape with an open
letter published in the Central City Register-Call
relative to the rights of the fusionists to say that
as a. result of their blundering Gilpin county must
go without representation in the next legislature.
The senator calls things by their right names and
the communication is well worth reading. By the
way, it looks as if neither Senator West or Senator
Roberts would resign and there is no way that
Gilpin county can be deprived of representation.
The fusionists are decidedly up against it in this
particular portion of the district.
A pitiable case was brought to light in the city
this week when Mrs. Mary Stan no, a widowed
Austrian lady and her five little children came to
the city with a subscription asking for relief tc
save them from the chattel loan sharks of Denver.
Her story is a pathetic one : *• After my husband
died,” she remarked, “ I was compelled to mort
gage my home twelve miles south of here for SBS.
in order to provide for my children and defray the
expense of burying my husband. I borrowed the
money from a man named Dick in Denver and he
charged me 5 per cent per month or $4.25 interest
every month on the loan. In the thirteen months
I have paid him over {SO, nearly S6O in interest,
and it has been so heavy that I could not pay the
principal or any part of it. He is now writing me
letters threatening to close the mortgage and if he
does it will leave me homeless.” The case is one
that would appeal to anyone, and especially to
those who have pity for little children. As soon
as she told her story I asked Attorney Smith if
there was not some method whereby the poor wo
man and her little family could be protected and
the property saved to her. He states that there is
and Mr. Dick will have a jolly time getting his
money in this case. It is little less than a wonder
that these sharks are not given time to leave the
places they infest and ply their vocations. Anyone
who would even threaten to do what she says he
threatens to do—drive a helpless mother and five
little ones from food and shelter—deserves what
ever fate might befall him. If he comes to that
section of the country and offers to make his
alleged threat good a little argument would be a
mighty appropriate social event for the occasion.
The matter.has stirred up interest here to such an
extent that the shark would find a mighty rough
sea should he endeavor to do what she states he
intends to do.
Manager George W. Possell, of the ’94 Tunnel,
has gone to the East where I understand there are
investors ready to start the big proposition on the
way to renewed success. At the present time it
is evident that depth can be obtained for the tun
nel and make it one of the richest propositions,
not only in the county, but in the state as well.
Mr. Possell is one of the most progressive mining
men of Clear Creek county. Through his efforts
the dry process of concentration was demonstrated
as a success in every sense.. He has made it pay.
It was through no fault of his that the present
tnnnel was driven through shallow territory ami I
believe that enough has been done at the present
depth to guarantee what will be found three or
four hundred teet below. Mr. Possell will succeed
with the proposition because he is built on the suc
cessful plan. He has developed the property
enough to know what he has and the investor now
passes out of the sphere of speculation and invests
in a sure thing.
Quite a party of local people attended “Buffalo
Bill’s” Wild West show. It is said that every fel
low who went down represented that he had been
riding on the range half his life. And still, not
one could be induced to mount a broncho.