The Argentine Central Railway was a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railroad in the United States built from the Colorado and Southern Railway at Silver Plume, Colorado, to Waldorf, Colorado, (now a ghost town) and onward to the summit of Mount McClellan. Construction began on August 1, 1905, and the line was opened to Waldorf a year later on August 1, 1906, a distance of about 6 miles. It was financed and organised by Edward J. Wilcox, owner of 65 mining properties in the Argentine region that were consolidated into the Waldorf Mining and Milling Company in 1902. His headquarters at Waldorf was accessible only by pack mule for much of the year.

As well as serving the silver mining operations of the region, the railroad was also intended for the tourist trade, ascending 13,587 ft (4,141 m) Mount McClellan and intending to reach the summit of 14,270 ft (4,350 m) Grays Peak nearby. It was believed at the time that Mount McClellan was 14,007 ft (4,269 m) high, but this was later disproved. It remains the highest altitude reached by a regular adhesion railway (as opposed to a rack railway) in the United States.

The line was steeply graded and sharply curved, with a standard of 6% grade maximum and 32กใ minimum curvature (181 feet (55 m) radius); even so, it required six switchbacks on the ascent. Due to these grades, geared steam locomotives were used exclusively, the railroad rostering a total of seven two-truck Shay locomotives.

As well as ascending to Argentine Pass and Grays Peak, Wilcox purchased the Vidler Tunnel, a project begun in 1902 to expand an existing silver mine into a railroad tunnel under the pass. The line would have extended onward to Keystone, Colorado, and a junction with the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad. Work on the project stopped in 1911, by which time the tunnel was three-quarters completed. The tunnel project was revived as a highway tunnel in 1952, and the 1.4 mile tunnel was completed as a water diversion tunnel in 1969.

The fall of silver prices after the Panic of 1907 ruined Wilcox, causing him to sell the railroad in 1908 for only $44,000, taking an estimated loss of $256,000 on the line. The buyer, David W. Brown of Colorado, planned an expansion in the tourist traffic and revitalised the concept of reaching Grays Peak, but the money was never there. The line went bankrupt and a receiver was appointed on August 3, 1911; it did not operate during 1911 and 1912.

The assets of the bankrupt Argentine Central were offered for auction in a Sheriff's sale on May 29, 1912. The sale netted just $5,000, a price so low that the district court ordered a resale. The second sale, on June 2, raised $20,000, but this too was set aside; the final sale, to William Rogers on Aug. 19, was for $20,002. Arguments about whether the rolling stock of the railroad was properly included in the sale led to a lawsuit that was resolved in the Colorado Supreme Court in 1915.

A consortium of local business interests led by William Rogers reorganized it as the Georgetown and Gray's Peak Railway leased to and operated by the Argentine and Gray's Peak Railway Company. At this point, the line had 3 locomotives and 16 freight cars. While the new owners were mostly interested in freight traffic, the tourist business brought in sufficient money that it was resumed for the 1913 summer season. Rogers transferred the controlling interest in the line for the next season to his associate, egg producer Fred W. Blankenbuhler.

Blankenbuhler replaced the Shay locomotives and most of the freight cars with 40-passenger gasoline-powered railcars for the 1916 season. Some of the last freight hauled over the 9-miles from Silver Plume to Waldorf was 100,000 pounds (50 tons) of telephone poles, wire, insulators and supplies for Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph in the summer of 1917. This was for the Argentine Pass segment of a long-distance telephone line from Denver to Leadville. Because the railroad was exclusively a tourist line at this time, all freight had to be hauled at night or early in the morning. The freight charge for this load of telephone supplies was $500, or $1.11 per ton-mile. In contrast, the average freight rate in the United States in 1915 was under $0.008 per ton-mile.

Despite the costs saved by the switch to self-propelled railcars, the railroad was not profitable without the regular freight traffic it had previously carried. Notice to abandon was posted on October 24, 1918, and approved on November 9; the tracks were removed in the summer of 1919.





The following is extracted from old Microfilm and often unreadable. Include this stuff ? I just do so to give an impression as to situations in those old days. All this stuff is still down there !!!!! The normal form of transportation was railroad and rail in mines. Must look antique to see old rail still down there ? Also ask the question was the Argentine railroad just constructed to be a tourist line ?

My personal hobby is researching old railroads and 'industry' often had their own industrial railroads that never hit a map. Snooping old mines ? Very very very very dangerous. Often there might have been wodden support which obviously would be rotted away. Want to be stuck down there with zero help????





The Highest Regular Railroad In The World operated For General Traffic.

As three decades have nearly passed Gray's Peak Line on Mt. Leavenworth. To make this dizzy ascent the track is laid between Denver and Mt.McClellan in a series of switchbacks, and the trains ran, was first proclaimed the literally climb a flight of stairs in reachworld's greatest achievement in railwaying the top. This switchback system makes engineering. Its fame has not waned with it possible for a much more direct and the fight of years, but has become so rapid ascent than if the ordinary serpen universal that a trip to the west is not the style of construction had been considered complete without a ride over line. At Pavilion Point, where the line this ?? line. After leaving the Loop ? the swings abruptly across the range, is one climb to the summit of Mt. McClellan via of the greatest scenic marvels of the world. the Argentine Central Railway, or Gray's Looking down, about two thousand feet Peak Route, is commenced. In the construction below, is to be seen the High-Bridge and struction of this road, modern engineer famous Loop, to the right and in front, requiring skill triumphed over the most redoubt- Georgetown, to the left and in the rear, able obstacles ever encountered. Above the Silver Plume and a view up Clear Creek Loop may be seen the zig-zag track of the canyon for twenty-three miles to the Snowy Range. From this point is also made the town of Silver Plume the foreto be seen, to the northeast, Democrat most mining town in the state of Colorado Mountain, opposite Republican, Sherman and which it would be today if silver was and Brown Mountains, to the rear at its standard price. Leaving Pavilion Mountain and the Little and Big Point, the train swings around Leaven, Professor. Republican Mountain alone worth Range to the southeast, following claims 97 miles of underground workings, Georgetown Canyon for a ways, and from principally silver mines, which at one time a high rocky point, below you 1,200 feet, is to be seen the Georgetown power dam, good condition. It is through this canyon beyond the Devils Slide, many scenic that the first wagon road to Leadville, beauties, and off to the right is Payner Salt Lake City and the Pacific Coast was Peak or Green Lake Mountain, Alpine built, the one over which Brigham Young Peak, Sugar Loaf and others. About eight traveled with his happy family and the miles up this canyon is Naylors, Green old Forty-niner trail. This road crosses and Clear lakes, all beautiful bodies of over the Argentine Pass at the head of water whose clear depths reflect the the canyon which gives it the distinction emerald hue of the heavy pines and firs of being the highest wagon road in the surrounding them and are located in one state. At the head of the canyon is one of the most picturesque spots in the town of Waldorf (16,666 feet above sea Rockies. Their crystal waters abound in level), situated at the base of Mt. Mctrout, afford excellent sport for the fisher- Clellan, where are many good paying man and no more ideal spots are to be mines, the highest registered post office in found for camping. Leaving Georgetown the world and where the train stops for Canyon the train follows historic Leaven- dinner at a well equipped dining station. worth Canyon, the entire length of which, After dinner it's the usual custom to visit abounds with ever changing scenery. Half the post office and mail your friends a card way up is the mining town of Sidneyville, from the highest regular post office, and a a half mile above is located the first call on the postmaster will find him a very smelter in Colorado, which may be seen interesting person. He is a graduate of from the train, and its old log building, the University of South Carolina, Wash with cobblestone stack is still standing in ?ington City Medical College, has schooled in Belgium, Switzerland and Germany, has Pike's Peak is to be seen, 39 miles to the traveled all over the country and speaks east is Denver and the rolling plains, 76 six different languages fluently. It is also miles to the north are James and Long's at this point that the Argentine Central is Peaks in Estes Park, and directly opposite driving through the range what is known is Mt. Evans, Rosielie, Naylor, Cunningas the Vidler tunnel, to close the gap be ?, Giant Squaw and Prohibition Point. between the Argentine Central at Waldorf, Arriving at the summit of Mt. McClellan and the Colorado and Southern at Key- (14,007 feet), which is the great buttress stone, a distance of about seventeen miles, to Gray's Peak (the sixth highest peak in which by so doing will shorten the distance, we have reached the highest ?

An Old Smelter...distance between Denver and Leadville from point in the world reached by a regular 276 miles to 122 miles. This tunnel is now railway. There are no other peaks on this in 4,048 feet on the east end, 710 feet on continent as high as Gray's that can be the west end, with 2,778 feet to finish, and scaled by any one other than mountain when complete, will be 7,536 feet in length climbers equipped with ropes and alpen with a bore 14 feet by 16 feet. The panorama from Mt. McClellan leaving Waldorf a 6 per cent grade is ? Gray's Peak is one of matchless followed and the train is soon above timberline, grandeur and sublimity, and one that is ? line. Here the scenery changes to never forgotten by those who see it. In a more rough and rugged character with a every direction tower America's most distant view of mountains and valleys, gigantic granites in all one hundred and ? which becomes grander as the train six peaks are visible-some in Wyoming, ascends four more switchbacks on its way others near the Utah line, to the east to the top. Fifty-nine miles to the south plains, and in fact, one sixth of the entire state of Colorado is spread before you, ? works of the most delicate crystals probably the most immense sweep of vision of elfin tracery and lace and constitute a anywhere obtainable. Here one has the scene of supreme loveliness which no one pleasure of seeing the clear sky above, can describe. The Shay type of locomowhile a terrific storm rages in the valley tives is used, four being in constant service below, while standing in the region of ice at the present time and which number snow and ice, nearly three miles above sea will be doubled next year, and while this level. This is the Great Continental only employs four full train crews, yet 90 Divide, the point from which one rivulet per cent of the A. C. employees are Brotherwends its way to the Atlantic and the hood men, all picked men for heavy mounother to the Pacific, while wild flowers maintain grade work, and while small mosses abound on every side. The ?bers, are one happy family who combine ice palaces on Mt. McClellan easily rank their efforts to see that everything is run with the greatest of Colorado's wonders right and vie with one another in looking and are the only ones in the world which after the safety and entertainment of the are accessible. Dense masses of ice passengers entrusted to their care. It is crystals crowd every inch of granite walls a source of wonder to those who have and roof. The brilliant rays of the ? made this trip, that, in the brief time of electric lights are caught by millions of four hours' travel from Denver, they can ? and reflected again and again. The reach this region of snow and ice, nearly flash of fire to fire is heightened by per three miles above sea level.

The Vidler tunnel is in Mount Edwards, a short distance north of Argentine Pass and about 5 miles east-northeast of Monteounces. It was originally intended to be a railroad tunnel and to serve a proposed narrow-gage railroad extending from Silver Tiger: 1885.....

Plume to Dillon. Work was started on the tunnel in ?......and for a time headings were driven from both the east and the Tiger Extension: 1889.

The west portal was abandoned after the face 1890.

----- had been carried about 700 feet, but in spite of repeated changes Tiger: No record available for 1886, 1889-1901; no production in 1888. Tiger in ownership and reorganizations, the eastern section of the Extension: No record available for 1891-1900; no production in 1901-9; for 1910-28 tunnel was gradually advanced until in 1911 it had a length 5,118 feet. No work is known to have been done since that In 1870 Raymond reported that the Tiger had a shaft..... ?

.....time, however, and the breasts of the east and west sections feet deep on a vein that was 6 feet wide and contained two pay are reported to be separated by about 1,700 feet. The altitude streaks. The ore next to the north wall was chiefly galena ? of both portals is about 11,650 feet. The east half of the tunnel assaying about 100 ounces of silver to the ton and was ? The tunnel was not accessible at any time during the writer's visits, but inches wide. The ore next to the south wall was 6 inches wide .... some information was found in reports by G. W. Schneider, and assayed from 1,000 to 2,500 ounces of silver to the ton.

J. W. Astley, and Herbert Strickland, quoted in a prospectus The vein matter between the two ore streaks assayed from 16 ????

.....of the Argentine Tunnel Railway Co. The eastern section of to 30 ounces of silver to the ton. In 1883, however, according ? ......the tunnel is reported to cut veins at distances of 227, 248, to the Colorado Mining Directory, the ore assayed about 55, 265, 330, 380, 500, 885, 1,956, and 2,175 feet from the portal..... percent of lead and 100 to 150 ounces of silver to the ton and most of the veins were small and contained only quartz and contained galena, gray copper, and 'chlorides' in a quartz purite, but three carried lead-zinc ore. Galena and sphalerite gangue. The ore on the dump of the mine in 1929 contained ???????? containing 12 ounces or less of silver to the ton and very little both galena and sphalerite in a quartz-barite gangue, and the.... ? gold were found in the veins cut at 227, 265, and 885 feet, but vein from which the ore was broken must have been at least ???? only the last vein, known as the Flossie or Red Light, was 9 inches wide.

.... strong enough to encourage much development. This vein The vein strikes N. 40กใ E. and dips 60กใ-80กใ NW. The strikes about N. 33กใ F. and dips about 85กใ NW. It carried Sts. John tunnel, 700 feet below, was driven 1,000 feet east galena and sphalerite in a quartz gangue, and the ore-bearing of its vein in search of the Tiger vein but without success. part of the vein ranged from 1 to 18 inches in width, averaging The dip of the Tiger vein would carry it through the Sts. John about 6 inches. Some ore was stoped in this vein both north tunnel very close to the place where vein 5 of that mine and south of the main crosscut tunnel. No production figures was found. It is probable either that vein 5 is an upfaulted have been found, but the property has never been an important part of the Tiger vein, or that the Tiger vein runs into vein 5 producer. above the lower Sts. John tunnel.

ARGENTINE CENTRAL-The Denver Republican says that the district court has ordered the resale of this road, which was sold at a sheriff's sale a few weeks ago for $5,000. The 'road runs from Denver, Col., to Summit Mt. McClellan, 16 miles.

GEORGETOWN AND GRAY'S PEAK RY.-Silver Plume to the summit of Mt. McClelland, 15.9 m.; Waldorf to Vidler Tunnel, 0.5 m.-total, 16.4 m. Sidings, 3 m. Gauge, 3 ft. Rail, 40 lbs. Locomotives, 3. Freight train cars, 16.

History: -Incorporated June 5, 1913 in Colorado for 50 years, as successor to the Argentine Certral Ry. Co. (see Manual for 1913, page 1730). Road is operated during summer season for mountain sightseeing and partly during other seasons for ore traffic. Leased to and operated by Argentine and Gray's Peak Ry. Co.

DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION TUNNEL ENTERPRISES IN THE ARGENTINE DISTRICT, COLORADO.

Present operations in the Argentine district of Clear Creek and Summit counties, Colorado, are noteworthy on account of the extensive and systematic deep tunnel development of large consolidated mineral tracts by a few holding companies, such as the Waldorf Mining & Milling Company, East Argentine Tunnel, Mining, Milling, Power and Transportation Company, and Transcontinental Transportation and Mining Company. By means of long tunnel driving, carried on at great cost for several years, these three companies have opened up valuable ore bodies at depth; and it is probable that other operating companies, ?????????????? 700 acres, in which are included mines developed to as great a depth as 1,100 feet, and credited with a total production of over $3,500,000, the Waldorf Mining & Milling Company has projected through McClellan mountain, (altitude 14,000 feet), a tunnel 9,200 feet in length, which attains a miximum depth of 2,300 feet. From the Stevens mine on the west side this bore has been driven a distance of 2,400 feet, and from the Waldorf mines on the east side the Wilcox tunnel is in over 4,500 feet. When connections will have been made this 9,200-foot tunnel will have cross-cut upwards of 80 known veins, and at depths of from 350 feet to 1,250 feet below old workings on upwards of twenty formerly profitable productive ore bodies. By the driving of laterals from the long cross-cut, the intersected veins are being advantageously opened up and by means of an electric haulage system the ores ???

......view of Colorado Central Mine, Showing the Rugged and precipitous Nature of the Argentine District. such as the St. Paul Gold Mining, Tunnel, Transportation mined may be most economically transported to the milland Drainage Company, and Domino Mining Company, ??? plants located at the tunnel portals. It is the eventual (these two, as well as the three afore mentioned ??? of this company to drive a 12,000-foot development panies, are operating in the East Argentine section on and transportation tunnel, starting at a point above Silver Plume, where extensive water rights for power and mill the Clear Creek county side of the Continental Divide, which have been more recently organized and have as purposes have been acquired; this bore would develop a basis large areas of adjoining mineral ground, may be as the company's vein system to depths ranging from 3,000 equally successful in their crosscut development enter to 4,500 feet. The Waldorf Company has in operation on ores, The Vidler tunnel, which is being driven under Argenmined through two of its long tunnels, two 75-ton capacity tine Pass through the main Continental Divide by the concentrating plants, and the Transcontinental Company Transcontinental Transportation & Mining Company, is is erecting a 60-ton experimental plant near the portal of to serve a three-fold purpose, viz ??? vein development at its Vidler tunnel. At other properties milling ore, broken depth, cheap transportation of company ores, and in the mining of shipping grade ore or in the blocking out a railroad thoroughfare whereby the ore tonnage of concentrating ore reserves, is either temporarily piled mit, Park and Lake, as well as Clear Creek, counties may on dumps or treated at local milling plants...be more expeditiously and cheaply delivered to custom in the exploitation of its compact mineral tract of over smelting plants at Denver and Pueblo. In its utilization for the latter purpose this bore appears to offer the possibility of the establishment of a most important traffic route, the distance from Leadville being thereby shortened with present railroad connections by nearly 100 miles. It is probable that the Argentine Central railroad line, which now terminates at Waldorf (a distance by rail about 9 miles from Silver Plume), will utilize the Vidler transcontinental bore in tapping the Argentine, Pennsylvania and Montezuma sections of Summit county and making connection with the South Park branch of the Colorado & Southern railroad at or near Dillon. The Vidler tunnel on completion will have a length of nearly 7,500 feet and a maximum depth of 2,400 feet. It has already been driven 1,200 feet from the Clear Creek county side, and on the readiness of the enlarged power plant under installation, whereby air will be pipe delivered over Argentine Pass, it is planned to prosecute rapid driving from the Summit county side. The tunnel has, in its progress, intersected several veins of pay milling ore, for the treatment of which the company has under erection an experimental milling plant on most improved metallurgical lines. The Transcontinental Company owns a compact tract of about 600 acres, through the center of which the tunnel is coursing.

The East Argentine Tunnel, Mining, Milling, Power & Transportation Company's property of 460 acres, adjoining the Waldorf properties on the north end, is being exploited by means of several tunnels, the main or Sidney crosscut being in over 1,800 feet, with a surface depth of 800 feet and having already intersected several veins in its progress toward the considerably shallow developed main vein system.

The property of the Domino Mining Company, lying to the south of that of the East Argentine Company and comprising a group of 14 adjoining claims, is also under tunnel development, a main crosscut being under way whereby deep economical vein exploration will be made possible.

The St. Paul Gold Mining, Tunnel, Transportation and Drainage Company owns a group of contiguous claims which are presumably on the strike of the Colorado Central-Aliunde vein system for a distance of 4,500 feet. The property is being very systematically and encouragingly developed by means of a crosscut which has already been driven into the mountain several hundred feet. The St. Paul vein will be intersected at a distance of about 700 feet from the portal and at a depth of 500 feet.

The above mentioned properties, together with the Hazelton-Santiago, Atlantic, Alaska and Arapahoe constitute the more important of the tunnel enterprises in the East Argentine or Clear Creek county side of the Continental Divide.

In that portion of the Argentine district which lies on the west or Summit county side of the divide, and where the early probability of railroad transportation facilities has lately stimulated development as well as productive operations, the properties lying within the socalled Pennsylvania belt are the most important. For 15 years or more the Pennsylvania mine has been continuously worked of its shipping and milling grade lead-silver. It is worked through a series of several hundred foot length crosscuts and the present owning and operating company, known as the Pennsylvania Mines Company, has already under way a lower tunnel projected to intersect the presently producing veins at depths of from 300 feet to 400 feet below the present workings. By those conversant with the locality it is stated that this lower tunnel in its continuation for even 10,000 feet will crosscut a series of probably productive vein systems, several of which have been proven as to ore values by ???

In proximity to the Pennsylvania mine and the town of Argentine the Rothschild Gold and Silver Mining Company, owning a contiguous acreage of about 150 acres on Cooper mountain, has driven a development tunnel a distance of over 3,000 feet, which tunnel in its continuation another 1,000 feet will crosscut the Rothschild vein at a depth of 1,800 feet or more. From surface workings and shallow tunnels the Rothschild vein has been productive of shipping quantities of ore yielding as high as $1,000 in gold and silver to the ton. This tunnel has intersected several veins carrying ore of milling grade, but no serious attempt has as yet been made to develop them.

Among the tunnel developing properties in the vicinity of Argentine on the western slope of the divide may be mentioned those operated by the Braganza Mining Company and the Old Peruvian Mining & Milling Company. In addition to these there are a number of properties, especially in the Horseshoe Basin, above Argentine, which have been more or less opened up by individual owners who make a profitable shipment now and then.

The Argentine district includes a territory of about 15 miles north-south length and 6 miles east-west width, including and surrounding the Argentine Pass and Gray's Peak section of the Continental Divide. The altitude ranges from 9,500 feet to 14,000 feet. The region is exceedingly rugged, with mountains precipitously rising, above the several gulches, in the majority of which there are running streams the year round. On account of the heavy snows which for several months of the year make wagon haulage of supplies and ores a serious problem, the expense of carrying on continuous operations has been great. This expense has been greatly reduced, however, by the building of the Argentine Central railroad from Silver Plume to the summit of McClellan mountain, which road has been in operation since the late spring of this year.

In passing it may be of interest to note that this 20 mile-long railroad (it was built and equipped at a cost of $400,000 by the Argentine Central Railroad Company, which is an affiliated concern of the Waldorf Mining & Milling Company, both companies having been promoted and being managed by Mr. E. J. Wilcox of Denver), is the highest in the world, and as a scenic route is unsurpassed. From the summit of Mt. McClellan (14,000 feet), which is surmounted by several miles of zig-zag and switchback trackage, the grandest view in the state is afforded, no less than 106 towering mountain peaks with their perpetual snows being seen in the states of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. The line as far as the Waldorf and Vidler mines, except in the event of unusually heavy snowfalls, may be kept open throughout the winter months.

The region is one of granites, with occasional intrusions of porphyritic obsidian. The veins, of a width of from 3 feet to 20 feet, are of normal Colorado fissure type, with smooth walls, talcose gouge and ore in streaks, making in shoots from a few inches to several feet in width, of considerable length, of frequent occurrence and of proven persistence at depth. The ores, which occur in a quartz and feldspar gangue, are mainly galena and sphalerite, carrying silver with an appreciable amount of gold, antimonial stephanite, pyrargyrite and argentite, in intimate association with the galena, and yellow sulphide of copper carrying both gold and silver. The lead-zinc sulphide ores (galena and sphalerite), with their associated silver values, have heretofore constituted the bulk of the tonnage, but with the deeper mining operations ores ??? noted, the importance of the gold and silver-bearing copper minerals has been proven. The ores are very readily amenable to wet concentration methods, a concentration of from 4 into 1 to 8 into 1 being made on ores of a tenor of 7% to 15% lead, 4% to 10% zinc, and 142% to 4% copper. While the milling ore constitutes the bulk of the tonnage, a considerable amount of high-grade galena and sphalerite carrying gold and silver ($40 to $100 ore), is sorted either in or after its breaking and shipped without treatment.

There are two well-known vein systems on the East Argentine side, nameiy, the Silver Plume and Colorado Central-Aliunde. The Pennsylvania lode system is the most important on the west side of the divide. The Silver Plume mineral zone or vein system has an accredited production of $50,000,000, while the Colorado Central-Aliunde has been productive of over $10,000,000 (the Colorado Central mine, with its 8 miles of underground workings, extending to a depth of over 1,000 feet, having produced more than $8,000,000 since 1872). The Pennsylvania and Ohio mines of the Pennsylvania mineral belt, developed to a depth of about 600 feet, have produced several million dollars in lead-silver ores. In earlier days and even until a few years ago the production from the several belts was almost entirely of shipping grade ore. With the recent installation of modern metallurgical plants at and in the vicinity of Georgetown and Silver Plume the profitable mining of the immense bodies of milling grade ores has been made possible. The average value of the crude tonnage shipped from the mines in the vicinity of Silver Plume and Georgetown during the past 15 years has been about $75, and ore running as high as $250 in carload lots is now being mined from the deepest levels of the Colorado Central mine.

In points of acreage, development and equipment the Waldorf Mining & Milling Company is the most important of any in the Argentine district, The mineral lands aggregate over 700 acres of contiguous ground, and the timber lands and water rights are of nearly as great extent. The mineral lands lie on and about McClellan mountain, from the base of which on all sides exceptional deep tunnel exploitation facilities are afforded. The mairly explored veins, which have been profitably worked to depths of from 200 feet to 1,100 feet, are the Independence, Mendham, Paymaster, Commonwealth, Wheeling, Eagle, Johnson, Bullion, at or near the crest of the mountain, and the Stevens, on the west siope. The Stevens vein has been explored for a lateral distance of about 2,000 feet, while the others are opened up with drifts of lengths of from 100 feet to 1,200 feet, the total underground workings in all the properties amounting to about 8 miles. Through the Wilcox tunnel ore is being mined from the Paymaster, Commonwealth (this is the Santiago-Centennial vein, which has been and is now profitably mined of its ores to a depth of over 700 feet, at a point about 500 feet to the south of the upper Commonwealth workings), and treated at the Waldorf mill, as are the ores mined from the Independence, Wheeling and Mendham veins, through the 1,100-foot Tobin crosscut on the north side of McClellan mountain, and nearly 600 feet higher up than the main Wilcox tunnel (the ores mines through the Tobin crosscut and the Kittie Owsley tunnel, about 200 feet lower down on the north side, are now delivered to the Wilcox mill in railroad cars, but on the completion of upraise connections between thc Wilcox and Tobin tunnels, the entire tonnage will be handled through the Wilcox tunnel). From the Kittie Owsley crosscut there is a 1,100-foot drift in ore on the Owsley vein which is of a width of from 4 feet to 20 feet, and from which milling ore of an average value of $15 is being broken from three stopes, each of a length of about 200 feet. In the so-called Clark group upwards of 7,500 feet of workings, extending to a depth of 500 feet, have been done on the Bullion, Independence, Mendham, Paymaster and Johnson veins in making an earlier production of shipping grade ore (ore running under $50 could not then be profitably mined on account of the high costs attendant on its extraction and its freighting to the railroad), of a value of about $1,000,000. In these, as well as in the Stevens and other earlier worked mines of the Waldorf company, there are available for profitable extraction and concentration at the company's milling plants, thousands of tons of $10 and $15 ore. In the prosecution of the deeper developments, the value of the crude ore, shipped has ranged from $30 to $75 to the ton. In driving the Stevens, and Wilcox crosscuts a distance of 6,900 feet, no less than 50 veins have been intersected, and in driving to effect a meeting of the two breasts, 30 additional known veins will be cut. Of the veins already intersected by the Wilcox tunnel exploration has been but little prosecuted therefrom, except on those which were earlier proven by developments to carry shoots of paying ore; yet there is every reason for believing that many of the other. veins may prove as equally important producers with deeper exploitation, made economically possible by the deep Wilcox crosscut. It is stated that the Johnson vein, which was worked as early as 1861, was the first productive silver property in the state of Colorado. From the several mines, of the company there can now be mined daily over 500 tons of ore, the bulk of which is of milling character of an average value of $15. Exploratory work carried on through laterals from the 1,900-foot point of the Wilcox crosscut has lately resulted in the encountering of the Central Indiana vein at a depth of over 500 feet, and in which sufficient $40 ore has been opened up to permit of the breaking of 100 tons daily.

In spite of the enormous expenditures made in the acquiring of its consoiidated mineral area, in development and equipment, the Waldorf Mining & Milling Company has been able to pay several dividends. Having as a basis such a large consolidation of proven mines, and with the further development and equipment planned, which will insure the greatest economy in mining and transporting the ore to large milling plants constructed on most improved metallurgical lines, this company, under its present efficient management, should become one of the most important in Colorado. The meritorious enterprises under way by the several other large holding companies in this district ought also to prove eventually profitable.

In tunnel driving at the Waldorf properties electrically driven air drills are used. At the portal of the Wilcox tunnel there is in place an 8-drill Leyner compressor, direct belt connected with an 8-foot wheel which is powered by a 75 horse-power motor (General Electric Company). At the Tobin and Stevens there are smaller Leyner compressors and drills which are also electrically driven. At the Stevens there is an electric-powered 20 horse-power hoisting engine. Electric power is now secured from the United Light & Power Company's plant at Georgetown, 8 miles distant, but the Waldorf Company has under construction, at a point above Silver Plume, a 400 horse-power plant, and on its completion an electric haulage system will be used in the several tunnels. The Waldorf and Stevens mills are also motor driven.

At the Vidler tunnel, Imperial type of Ingersoll-Rand air compressors, steam driven, are used in powering Ingersoll and Leyner drills. At the Sidney tunnel of the East Argentine Tunnel, Mining, Milling, Power & Transportation Company, there is a splendid water-powered plant, consisting of an 8-drill Leyner compressor, direct-connected with a 9-foot Pelton wheel, which is driven under a water head of 225 feet. Temple electric drills, driven by a gasoline engine, are in successful use at the St. Paul property.





CREDITS: Grand Junction Library, The Museums of Western Colorado