RESURVEY OF CEIPPLE CKEEK DISTRICT. [BULL. 254. 



did not seem to justify further extension of the boundaries. Contours 

 are 50 feet apart, and a numbered list of 324 mines is given on the 

 margin of the sheet. A line of accurate levels was run to Cripple 

 Cr6ek from Colorado Springs, thus settling the conflicting data of the 

 different railroads. 



The geological and mining work was undertaken jointly by the 

 authors of this preliminary report. The examination began in June, 

 1903, and, with some interruptions, due to various causes, the field 

 work was concluded in April, 1904. Practically every accessible mine 

 in the district was examined in greater or less detail. Mr. L. C. Gra- 

 ton served as assistant throughout this time, actively participating in 

 all branches of the work. Messrs. A. M. Rock and J. Bruce also 

 rendered very efficient aid as draftsmen. 



PBODTJCTIOK. 



Though situated close to the centers of population in Colorado and 

 in an easily accessible region, the gold deposits of Cripple Creek were 

 not discovered until 1891. To a great extent the lateness of the dis- 

 covery was due to the extremely inconspicuous character of the vein 

 croppings and to the equally inconspicuous appearance of the dark- 

 brown, powdery gold set free by the oxidation of tellurides. As soon 

 as the true character of the veins was ascertained the development of 

 the district proceeded rapidly. In 1894, when the first survey was 

 made, the production was a little less than $3,000,000, but the next 

 year this amount was more than doubled, and in 1900 the maximum 

 production of a little over $18,000,000 was attained. In 1901 and 

 1902 the production declined slowly, and dropped the next year to 

 $13,000,000. The sudden decrease in 1903 was to some extent brought 

 about by the impoverishment of several mines, but the labor troubles 

 of that year had also much to do with it. From August, 1903, to 

 the summer of 1904 many mines experienced more or less difficulty 

 from this cause. It is probable, however, that the output for the 

 current year will show a considerable increase over that of 1903. 



