74

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

 

afforded ample water for driving two large
turbine wheels. To the south, away on up
the side of the mountain, is located the
Whale mine, marked by an old tram-way
down to the mill. The parties owning the
mill and mine resided in England, and
after expending $200,000 in the vicinity,
abandoned it, and nothing has been done
with the works or mine in the last twelve
years.

Just above Spanish Bar, Trail Run
comes in from the southwest; up this creek
are some good quartz mines, and exten-
sive forests of timber. Fall River, another
small creek, about eight miles long, on
which are over 1,000 quartz claim loca-
tions, and several mills, comes down a half
mile above Trail Run, from the north.

Above Fall River, half-a-mile, Turkey
Run comes down from the south, at the
junction of which, and Clear Creek, is lo-
cated the Syracuse Mill. A little further on
we have Spring Gulch, from the north,
where is located some mills and valuable
mines. From Idaho, our train passes all
the points above named, and after a run of
5 6-10 miles arrives at

Miu Crry—at the mouth of Mill Creek,
which comes down from the northward.
At Mill City is located several quartz
mills, and aboye, on the creek, are some
valuable quartz mines, a smelting furnace,
and several stamp mills. Passing several
mills, numerous prospect holes and tun-
nels in the mountain sides, some placer
mining along the creek, and we come to

Lawsons—a small sidetrack station at
the base of Red Elephant Mountain. In
the fall of 1877, several rich quartz mines
were discovered on this mountain, and
large quantities of ore hauled down to this
station and shipped Hast, and to Prof. Hill’s
works, at Black Hawk.

The opening or “dump” of some of
the mines, can be seen away up near the
top of the mountain, marked by a white
deposite line, extending down towards the
valley below.

Continuing up, 1 3-10 miles, we pass

Emprre—a small town situated on the
north side of the road, in as pretty a loca
tion and with as picturesque surroundings
as can be found in the mountains of Col-
orado. Bard’s Creek, from the south, and
Lyon’s, from the north, reach Clear
Creek opposite each other, their deltas,
with the elevated bars of the creek, form-
ing the town site. The great mountains

of Douglas, Covode, Lincoln, and Eureka,

 

rise above the town in different directions
1,500 feet or more. The elevation of Em-
pire is 8,588 feet.

North, about one mile, away up on the
mountain, 1,400 feet, is located the Empire
mines. There are quite a number of stamp
mills and furnaces for treating ores located
at and near the town, on Lyon’s Creek and
North Empire.

The road over the range to the Middle
Park, via Berthoud Pass—11,350 feet—runs
through Empire, and is one of the most
beautiful mountain roads for variety of
ever-changing panoramic views, to be had
in the world.

From Empire, our road lies on the west
side of the creek, running along the base
of Republican Mountain, which rises
above the road, almost perpendicular,
1,250 feet, while on the east, Alpine Moun-
tain elevates its crest, 2,000 feet high; on
the sides of these mountains are shafts,
os and prospect holes in great num-

ers.

Our course is south, 4 2-10 miles to the
end of the road at

GEORGETOWN—which is situated in the
center of the great silver mining region of
Colorado, at the base of the Snowy
Range, near the source of Clear Creek,
—8,452 feet elevation—22 miles west from
Idaho, 54 from Denver, and 184 from Chey-
enne. ‘

Georgetown is the county seat of Clear
Creek county, has a population of 4,500,
and some very good business blocks; one
bank, numerous stamp mills and ore
sampling and reduction works, five
churches, good schools, two weekly news-
papers—the Miner and the Courtver—and
quite a number of hotels, chief of which
are the Barton, the Phelps and the Ameri-
can. The Barton is one of the best houses
in Colorado, and, together with its “Annex”
opposite, is capable of accommodatin
200 guests. Masonic, Odd Fellows an
other secret orders have their halls for
meetings. Gas works supply the town
with illuminating facilities, and water—
the finest in the world—is conducted in
pipes from a mammoth reservoir, 500 feet
above the city, which affords great protec-
tion in case of fire.

There are a number of little towns and
mining camps near oo chief of
which are Silver Plume, Brownville and
Silver Dale, from two to three miles dis-
tant.

One remarkable fact exists—and we have

 

iit cn a pe ag i a er ec can ee re Ns gece Gee