APPENDIX SS. 1831 



This was the last of the mining districts of the San Juan personally visited. Of the 

 indications and the prospects of the two others, nothing can he said save of a hearsay 

 nature ; both, however, properly belong to the mineral territory of the San Juan. 

 Nearest and most notorious is 



THE SAX MIGUEL DISTRICT, 



lying west of the Animas and Uncompahgre where they meet on Mineral Creek, and 

 including the San Miguel and its forks, and the mountains at their headwaters. It 

 indicates both silver and gold, the placers being reported as very valuable. 



At Silverton and other points specimens were seen, which were reported to be from 

 mines on the Howard's Fork of the San Miguel; they were of argentiferous galena and 

 also sulphurets, values given of 30 to 150 ounces of latter, and averages of 120 and 130 

 ounces for the former. Machinery has gone in, mining camps are said to be springing 

 up, and sales of promising placers have been announced. As to the value of the latter 

 there may well be some doubt ; although they were, by some, highly spoken of, by 

 others they were not. At the First National Bank at Lake City, we were shown by 

 the president a vial of dust, some 20 ounces in all ; larger quantities and nuggets the 

 size of a pea were exhibited by returning prospectors ; Silverton had no bank of any 

 kind, Lake City had three, one national and one private, and would therefore receive 

 the gold dust of the San Miguel. The fact, therefore, that such incomings are but at 

 irregular times and not the inpouring of a steady stream, when many men had gone in 

 to work the placers, might serve to demonstrate the non-reliability of the stream-beds 

 for large amounts of the precious mineral. 



THE ELK MOUNTAIN DISTRICT 



comprises the range of that name, in the northeastern part of Gunnison county, west 

 of the continental divide, completely encircled by waters of the Gunnison and tribu- 

 taries of the Grand. 



Wagon-roads exist, to the east to South Park, perhaps 70 miles, to reduction works, 

 a branch of Hill's at Black Hawk, two divides, one the Continental, intervening. 

 Southwest to Lake City, the distance is about 10 miles farther, Avith easier grades, 

 down the Gunnison and up the Lake Fork. In a government report these mountains 

 are called a " geological wonder." They are of great height, and are said, moreover, 

 to be a " treasure house of mineral wealth." Specimens of the ore were seen at Lake 

 City and Del Norte, and were of fine appearance. The veins were said to be, in gen- 

 eral, very wide and true fissures. Several hundred lodes had been located and partly 

 worked during the season gone hj, one of which, called the "Whopper," with a pay 

 streak said to be fully 6 feet, had gotten a mill-run at Lake of 200 ounces. From the 

 lofty lay of the valleys, they are, moreover, claimed to be readily accessible, and coal 

 in abundance, of fine coking properties, is said to be in proximity. 



GENERAL SUMMARY. 



A commonplace description of all the districts of the San Juan has been attempted, 

 in accordance with that part of the instructions for the field which called for an 

 account of "the prospects of the mines on the Las Animas, and the number of men at 

 work, the mills at work, number and condition, and if there seems to be much to indi- 

 cate a permanent and active business. All of these will be of value, in addition to a 

 careful estimate and actual count of the men in the district"; furthermore, to carry 

 the reconnaissance to the "heads of the Animas and across the divide to the so-called 

 'Uncompahgre' district, if there be time, and it is reported there are many men in 

 that vicinity"; and, touching the region known as the "Lake District," to devote 

 some time to the statistical examination thereof. 



Examinations in detail of portions of the Lower San Juan, and instructions consid- 

 ered more pressing and urgent, so limited the time that but a passing and most hasty 

 visit could be made to the districts mentioned, the entire day being occupied in march- 

 ing or visits to divers points, leaving notes to be recorded at night. Statistical infor- 

 mation touching the mining camps and towns of the entire region is included in the 

 chapter relating to population. For valuable aid and information furnished, we desire 

 to tender our thanks to Messrs. Bobbins of the Summit, Hefferman of Parrott City, 

 Greene, Whittemore and Hudson of Silverton, and Doughty, Olney, Woods, and Hough- 

 ton of Lake. Men who will endure an interview deserve to be publicly thanked 

 therefor. / 



It was intended to have prepared a map of the various mining sections, defining 

 their situation and indicating the nature of the mineral deposit. It being found, how- 

 ever, impossible to wholly obtain the exact boundary-line of all the districts from some 

 of the county officials and the surveyor-general of the State, the project was abandoned. 



