1814 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



CHAPTER V.— MINES AND MINERAL WEALTH. 



But little can be told of the difficulties under which a wild and isolated country- 

 labors, of the hardships endured by her pioneers and settlers during the transition 

 from a wilderness to that of an established mining region. The trials and sufferings 

 of early explorers in the Rocky Mountains, when bodies of troops, overcome by the 

 severe storms of the winter in pathless forests, narrowly escaped starvation, are already 

 recorded and read like works of fiction. Who shall describe the wonderful adventures 

 and excessive hardships, less worthy of mention but more severe, endured by her early 

 pioneers ? Less worthy of portrayal perhaps, in that those who suffered were but on 

 wealth and fortune bent, only selfishly inclined ; more severe undoubtedly, since with 

 resources and supplies much less and numbers smaller their path was beset with sav- 

 ages on whose land they were encroaching, and their march became a conflict, a flight 

 from death, and few or none escaped. 



Careful investigation has failed to establish who were the actual discoverers in each 

 mining district. Of aspirants thereto there often is no end, and information gleaned 

 is often so beclouded as to be useless. 



In the great Pike's Peak excitement, which less than two decades ago started west 

 the tidal wave of emigration so rapidly, one was included to whom is accorded the 

 honor of being the most daring pioneer of the San Juan. To the dauntless persever- 

 ance of Baker, more than any other man, the San Juan was indebted for much of the 

 notoriety that gained her immigration and settlement. 



Eighteen years ago, at the head of a number, like himself, firm believers in the exist- 

 ence of as fine placers in the San Juan as had been found in olden days in California, 

 he started for this region. Six months later, in the winter of 1830-61, another and a 

 larger party left Denver in search of the former, of whom no news had ever been 

 heard. The difficulties of travel may be imagined from the statement that fourteen 

 days were required to cross the mountains at the Sangre de Cristo Pass. Deep snows 

 had to be dug away to secure the grazing for the stock, and when that was impossible, 

 trees were cut to obtain browsing to keep them alive. Fort Garland, at its foot, was 

 passed, and through San Luis Valley the party pushed on, after four months of travel 

 finding Baker and his men in the park now bearing his name. 



Placer mining alone was then the industry of the country, and prospecting along the 

 river, here and in the Animas Park below, they industriously continued without suc- 

 cess. 



General disappointment started them back in July. At Garland the outbreak of the 

 civil war was learned, the party separated, and Baker, going to Virginia, entered the 

 service of his State ; returning to Colorado seven years later at the head of another 

 party, he again entered the trackless region. 



Tbe Gunnison, the Animas, and the La Plata were reached and left behind. Suc- 

 cess was lacking, hardships and Indian attacks were frequent, and his party had dwin- 

 dled to three in all, when Baker himself was shot, it is said, at the mouth of the Colo- 

 rado Chiquito, another was drowned, and the third barely escaped with his life to 

 tell the story of their sufferings. 



Survivors of the original expedition of 1861 reorganized another party, and in 1869 

 it started from Prescott, Ariz., for the far-distant region. Continued attacks every- 

 where of treacherous Apaches, and dissatisfaction also, reduced their number from 

 fifty to eight, who finally reached the San Juan and proceeded for the winter to Santa 

 Fe. Leaving there in the following spring this party, increased to twelve, reached 

 Baker's Park in safety, and the Little Giant Mine was soon after discovered. 



Again wintering in Santa F6, the spring of 1871 saw them permanent settlers at Sil- 

 verton, many others following attracted with the hope of similar luck. The reports 

 of the wealth of the new El Dorado gained credence slowly. So many schemes of a 

 u wild-cat" nature are afloat in a new mining country, so many frauds are perpetrated 

 on the unsuspecting, that capital is wary. It was so with the San Juan. 



Without trails to pack out the ore when obtained the mine is useless. With trails 

 complete and the dist nice great the cost of transportation swallows the profits. It, is 

 roads that are essential, always roads ; roads for machinery for reducing the ore, roads 

 for freights to cheapen supplies. They are the first thing a new country needs, espe- 

 cially, it should be added, a mineral region, and as a rule the last thing it obtains. A 

 toll-road is a good and permanent investment, and if there exists any absolute neces- 

 sity therefor it will repay the principal with high interest. 



Unfortunately, men do not always pursue their proper vocations, and a road-builder 

 entering a rich mining country, instead of constructing a road, for which he is pecu- 

 liarly fitted, generally dabbles in mines like the rest of mankind around him, to which, 

 however, like many of them are, he is altogether unsuited. 



Mining being a branch of industry, like any manufacturing or commercial business, 

 upon reliable data alone should any dependence be placed. The following table of 

 statistics is therefore furnished, showing the amount of precious metal produced in 



