CHAPTEE X. 



SILVER MINING IN COLORADO 



Section I. — Geokgetown silver -beaein& veins — Terrible, brown, u. s. coin, 



SHER3IAN mountain, BAKER aONE, EQUATOR, ARGENTINE, TUNNELS. 



Section II. — Treatment of the ores — Smelting works — Amalgamation 



WORKS — Concentration — Production. 

 Section III.— Snake river mines. 



SECTION I. 

 GEOEGETOWE^ MINES. 



The most productive silver-mining district in Colorado, at the present day, 

 is that of which Georgetown is the center. Indications of its mineral wealth 

 were discovered in 1859, but the developments then made were not very 

 extensive. During several years following the district was prospected by a 

 few parties, but it was not until about 1866 or 1867 that the mining enterprise of 

 the region began to assume the importance which it now possesses. About 

 that time new and valuable discoveries were made which gave a fresh incen- 

 tive to exploration ; many veins of more or less value were opened and pros- 

 pected, a few of which have already proved to be productive and profitable 

 mines, while many others, though less extensively worked, have afforded 

 encouraging results. Metallurgical works of various sorts have since been 

 erected, and are now steadily employed in the treatment of the ores; a town 

 containing 1,500 or 2,000 inhabitants has been established and provided with 

 good hotels, postal, telegraphic, and express offices, churches, schools, and other 

 essentials of civilization ; the mines are being persistently developed, and the 

 value and importance of the region appear to be steadily, if not rapidly, 

 increasing. 



