1822 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



The concentration of ores until great reduction facilities abound must continue to be 

 a very lucrative business in the vicinity of Silverton, with its lack of transportation 

 facilities. If the Messrs. Neigold were to increase the capacity of the works from 5 

 stanqis to 20 or 25 drills they could obtain plenty of custom work, and the ratio of 

 expense would be much i than at present. 



The Philadelphia is undoubtedly a most promising mine, the ore being mainly 

 argentiferous galena, with large quantities of tetrahedrite or gray copper, and indi- 

 cations of chlorides of large value. 



In the specimens of this mine, belonging to the general collection made, all these 

 constituents could be clearly seen ; assays made at Silverton of ore of the chloride 

 nature gave very large values, up to $10,000. The pay-streak is narrow, being from 

 6 to 10 inches, while the general mill -runs have been well paying in all cases. Its 

 situation is in itself presumptive evidence thereof, being 1,000 to 1,500 feet above and 

 in the nature of a spur of the Pride of the West. This is further attested by the pur- 

 chase of the ore at Greene's works, placing it at once in the category of high grades. 

 Instead of being worked by its owners, it was during 1876 leased to four miners, who 

 cleared individually therefrom $700 by the end of the season, or $2,800 in all. 



The Pride of the West lode, on Green Mountain, on the east side of Cunningham 

 Gulch and some 1,500 feet above the bottom, is one of the richest mines in the district. 



It was discovered in 1874, and owned by five men, has been constantly, but slowly, 

 worked, and in its steady development demonstrated what can be done by persever- 

 ance and muscle without capital. 



The gangue of the lode is gneiss, and the absolute width of the vein, strongly and 

 clearly defined, within and throughout which paying mineral is found is 35 feet. 

 It contains a pay-streak which averages five feet of solid argentiferous galena, with 

 tetrahedrite or gray copper in quantity sufficient to give the ore a high-grade 

 standard. 



Large amounts of this ore, giving a mill-run of 250 ounces, have been sold at 

 Greene's works. A picked specimen belonging to the collection gave an assay of 

 $8,000. The adit dimensions were at the most narrow point 6 feet high by 4| wide ; the 

 length of tunnel and drifts was 100 feet, constructed at a cost of $15 per foot, with 

 mining wages $3 per day and board, the ore being gotten on the dump for $5 per ton. 

 Since its discovery in 1874, 200 tons have been removed ; 10 tons daily are easily taken 

 out, with a facility for 50 tons were there increased facilities for reduction at Silver- 

 ton, Greene's works being at all times overcrowded. For ore of 60 ounces at the lat- 

 ter place $10 was received, and higher prices at schedule rates for that of a greater 

 value. For 60-ounce ore a ready market exists at Lake City, from $40 to $50 being 

 obtained. In consequence thereof a considerable quantity of ore of the Aspen and 

 other mines finds its way to the latter point, notwithstanding the great cost of trans- 

 portation, Avhich varies from $35 to $40, or about $1 per ton per mile. For a quantity 

 of the Pride of the West, shipped to Crooke's works at Lake, $65 per ton more, it was 

 said, was received than was paid at the Silverton mill. Some 500 pounds of picked 

 ore of this mine gave a mill-run at Crooke's of 910 ounces. Of the great value of the 

 mineral wealth of the Pride of the West some estimate may therefore be formed. The 

 owners had been offered $100,000 for their mine, but had refused it, their price being 

 $150,000. 



Illustrative of the mining operations here, which may be taken as a sample of a 

 partially developed lode of the San Juan, are three drawings (Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Plate 

 6), in plan and section, showing relative locations of adit and original point of dis- 

 covery, of the tunnel, the drifts, vein, and richest pay-streak. 



The Highland Mary, lying in the upper part of Cunningham Gulch, is a magnificent 

 property, a group of works below, and handsome buildings, romantically situated far- 

 ther up upon the mountain-side, the whole the prettiest and most expensive estate 

 belonging to any individual in the entire San Juan. They are part of an extensive 

 property embracing the Highland Mary and other mines, are owned by Mr. Edward 

 Inness, of New York City, and deserve more than passing mention. His investments 

 and capital in works and buildings of various kinds, mining property, roads, &c, 

 mainly lying in the gulch and on King Solomon Mountain, aggregate $175,000. The 

 only outlay in excess of this anywhere observed in the San Juan was that of a firm 

 in and about Lake City, amounting to $250,000 ; it was, however, not an individual 

 enterprise, so that to Mr. Inness must be ascribed the distinction of being the most 

 enterprising and extensive operator in the San Juan. The superintendent of his works, 

 a practical engineer and metallurgist, was Maj. H. D. Whittemore, previous to the 

 civil war in the regular Navy, and subsequently with the Army in the volunteers, but 

 of late years with the Ingersoll Drill Company. The mining property of Mr. Inness, 

 in detail, consists of eighteen locations ; there being 400 feet on the Highland Mary proper, 

 1,500 feet on the Robert Bruce, the western extension of the Highland Mary, the W. 

 H. Nichols being the eastern ; 1,500 feet on the Long Tom, 2,000 feet on the Royal 

 Tiger, 1,500 feet on the Mountain Boy, 1,500 feet each on extension No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, 

 No. 4, and No. 5, all located in Cunningham Gulch and on King Solomon Mountain. 



