San Juan Guide from Topeka, Kansas • 3

litH-Sfr1' M. na9 i tl 1 1 I RUINS OF ANCIENT CITIES Rave been recently found, Indicating thut it was once the home of a people and of a civilization whoso history is wrapped up in the unknown past. The ruins of cities are found scattered over a large section of country. Largo rooms aro often found cut out of the solid rock, and the locations evidently selected and arranged for the purpose of successful deff nee. Pottery and other useful implements are found in great perfection.

The work and stylo of manufacture indicate a civilization fully equal to that which prevailed among the ancients, or in Peru or Mexico at the time of the discovery of the American continent. It may be that these are the ruins of the Aztec race that were supplanted by the suvage Indians who swept down upon them from the north or it may be that they are the ruins of a race as civilized as the people of the old world, and who had a history, if it were known, as long and wonderful as the history of Greece and Rome. V.A mines in this neighborhood will draw their supplies from Lake City; With a small expense a good road can be and also to Ananas Forks, five miles west of the head of the park. To the right of the road going west the peaks of the Uncompahgre range, the highest in the Rocky Mountains, rise UP IN TnE CLOUDS, while the valleys and canons are so deep down in the earth that the peaks seem much higher than they really are. I left Burrows Park in the morning of one of the most balmy of October days.

I had been In the saddle continually for more than a week, but these great mountains appeared so much higher and grander than any I had seen before, that the weariness of my Journey was forgotten in the magnificence of the scene in tho awful grandeur of this tragedy of nature. The pass to the head of the Animas is above timber line. On the summit we came to a beautiful lake filled with clear cold water. The road winds down tho mountain into the Animas Valley, making a gradual descent. We kept on three miles above the forks to Minerul City, the center of another mining camp near the head of the Uncompahgre, where a hearty welcome and a good dinner awaited us.

ONK HUNDRED AND FIFTY STAMPS Will be In operation before next full, and possibly twice that number. The top of South Mountain has an altitude of over 12,000 feet. It la four and a half mllca east of the main range, which divides the waters of the Atlantic and Fuel lie. Movements are on foot to construct a road up the Alamosa river to the Summit, touching the Rio Grando thirty miles below Del Norte, and short nlng the routo to Pueblo and all points cast about that distance. All the mountains at the head of the Alamosa, the Los Finos, and the San Juan, are permeated with rich mineral veins of gold and silver.

THE DECATUR DISTRICT Is directly south of the Summit, on the south fork of the Alamosa, and the Alamosa district is between that and the San Luis Valley. The San Juan river takes its rise on the eastern slope of the tame mountain range, and on the tributaries which form Its head a large number of rich silver mines have bocn located and worked the past summer. My main camp for the last season was at the foot of South Mountain, 11,000 feet above the sea but my explorations extended nearly to New Mexico and along the ranges bordering on the San Juan river and the south fork of the Rio Grande. CHAPTER V. Up the Rio Grande to the Mine.

CHAPTER VI. CHAPTER IV. The Mines of the Uncompahgre The silver districts in the western part of the San Juan country are most easily accessible up the valley of the Rio Grande. Tho headwaters of this groat river aro 100 miles west of Del Norte, In tho Bame rango of mountains out of which tho waters of the Animas and tho south fork of tho Gunnison flow south and west to the Pacific. For CO miles west of Del Norte the road is good for all kinds of travel.

When Antelope Park is reached tho mountains close in near the river, and up to late this fall there was no good wagon road either to Bakers Park or to the Lake districts. In October a fine road was completed from Antelope springs to Lake City, so that there is now a continuous line of communication from Del Norte, and a road over which all classes of freight can be easily transported. There is also a passable road for twenty-five miles up tho Rio Grando west of Antelope Park, in the direction of Ilowardsville and Silvcrton, but there is nothing but a trail over tho range following down tho steep mountains to tho head of Cunningham Gulch. A company has been formed, however, to build a road connecting the valleys of the Rio Grande and the Animas, a survey made recently, and tho necessary work will soon be done. Thus Del Norte will be connected by a direct and practicable system of roads with the mineral districts located on the Animas, the tributaries of the Gunnison river, and on the Uncompahgre.

LAKE CITY Is the center of the Lake district and is the county seat of Hinsdale county. It is situated on tho south fork of the Gunnison, just below the point where Ilenson creek comes down from tho northwest, nigh mountains rise up on all sides of the beautiful park in which the town is situated. I was there in October, after the mining operations of the season were mostly suspended. About fifty buildings of different classes were in course of construction and much life and activity prevailed. The Silver World, a good weekly newspaper, is published by H.

M. Woods, and tho ability with which it is conducted has done much to build up the town and induce the development of the mining district. A mile and a half above the town there is a perpendicular fall in the Gunnison of CO feet. A short distance further up tho stream there is another full of 80 feet, and still further up, about five miles above the town, is A BEAUTIFUL LAKE From which the town and district are named. This lake is known on tho old maps as San Cristoval lake, and was first discovered by Jesuit missionaries.

The mines of this district are chiefly found along the sides of the mountains bordering on tho lake, and on the stream down to and below tho town and up Ilenson creek for twenty miles toward the head of the Animas and the Uncompahgre. I spent five days these mines gathering specimens from some of the best known. Tho veins generally run from northeast to southwest, are well defined, and many are exceedingly rich in silver. Some of the veins aro narrow, but most of them are wider than the mineral veins of Northern Colorado, and the assay value of the ore is nearly 100 per cent, higher on an average. The Hotchkiss mine yields both gold and silver, in about equal parts, and the ore taken from the richest pay streak, five inches wide, will run as high as $15,000 to the ton.

This mine has a tunnel over 120 feet long, and work is now being pushed forward with considerable energy. After a careful examination I do not believe the Hotchkiss mine is in any way superior to many others in the lake district. Some of the best mines of this district are located on Ilenson creek. In fact, both sides of the Ilenson creek valley are permeated with rich silver veins extending up the wholo distance to the head of the stream. The bed of the stream has been cut down into tho underlying quartz till it has formed a canon, and tho sides are abrupt and difficult.

But there is no impassable barrier to the construction of a good road up this creek. Tho rich mines so numerous along its sides will soon have so great a value that a good road will be built, and what is now a craggy and almost impassable canon will soon teem with life and industry. Reduction and smelting works will soon be in operation at Lake City. As most of the mines aro above the place, the ore will bo easily and cheaply transported to the works, and the location is so low in altitude and so well protected that there will bo no difficulty in working during the whole year. In this respect Lake City will have some advantages over many other locations where tho mines are equally rich.

Down the south bank of the Gunnison LARGE COAL DEPOSITS Have been found. At present wood is abundant, and the supply is so great that there will bo no lack of fuel for many years to come. Twenty miles up tho Gunnison, on tho road to Animas Forks and the he.ad of the Uncompahgre, we come to BURROWS PARK, Around which are located many of the best mines of that section. The park is three or four miles long, and the scenery in and about it is picturesque and beautiful. There were about 50 mines located here last season.

The veins are wider than in the country below, and tho ore is equally rich. Most of the mines are well situated for development, and I see no reason why tho location Is not in all respects favorable for the erection of works for tho reduction of the great quantities of ore which will be produced. It is not likely that one-half of tho rich lodes in the mountains around this park have yet been discovered. The geological formation indicates still richer discoveries than those made thus far, and it is reasonably certain that Burrows Park will be the center of a very rich silver-producing district. The Valley of the San Joan River.

The face of the country south and west of the Rio Grande, and north of the New Mexico line, presents a different appearance from the sterile mountains of some portions of Northern Colorado. In all the mountain region which form the Summit, Decatur and Alamosa districts, and far to the southwest down the great valley of the San Juan river, there is a great variety of luxuriunt vegetation, as well as timber; and from early spring till the fall of snow in October, the country is clothed in natures most beautiful garb. In July, August and September the flora of the valleys and mountain sides is magnificent in the extreme. These NATURAL FLOWER BEDS, Infinite in variety, extend up to the snow-capped peaks. All the grasses, and many of the varieties of grain, which grow in this latitude, are found hero growing wild in great profusion.

I think it was in August when I took my first trip down the valley of the San Juan river. My party were busily engnged in locating and opening some rich silver mines on the head-waters of that stream, and from the adjacent mountains we could plainly see tlio outlines of the valley below stretching away in the distance toward the northeast corner of Arizona. To the south of us great craggy peaks and deep canons showed unmistakable evidence of the terrible convulsions to which the surface of the earth had been subjected. My curiosity led me to go down into some of these deep canons and to climb up into the clouds to the top of some of the peaks. In one of these mountain trips I came to the brink of AN OLD CRATER.

It is at least half a mile across, and looking down into the fearful abyss from the point where I stood, I estimated that it could not be less than 2,500 feet deep. The walls are nearly perpendicular, with the exception of a portion of one side near which a branch of the San Juan has cut out a deep canon, and with which the bottom of the crater is connected by a narrow passage-way, forming an outlet for the water to pass. Around this crater massive pinnacles of rock stand up hundreds of feet, and huge quantities of debris cover the steep declivities which fall down from its mouth. The peak nearest the crater we named Mount AStna, and a bald peak to the southwest, apparently 2,000 feet above all the surrounding mountains, we named Montezuma. From this lofty elevation I could see clearly the chief mountain peaks of Northern Colorado, 250 miles off, the Uncompahgre peaks, 125 miles to the northwest, and all the prominent mountains in Southern Utah, Northern Arizona and New Mexico.

The clear atmosphere of a bright summer day, so peculiar to the Rocky Mountains, seems to extend the human vision, so that many thousand square miles of this grand mountain scenery can be taken in. from a single point of view. THE HEAD OF THE SAN JUAN River is not more than five miles west of South Mountain. Not more than five miles further west the river falls down into a beautiful valley. For two days I traveled down this valley, charmed by the genial climate, its rich soil and luxuriant vegetation.

In many places I found the valley four or five miles wide, and with a soil as productive as the rich prairies of Kansas, Missouri or Illinois. Wild oats, rye, barley, timothy, red top and clover were everywhere seen, growing side by side with the numerous grasses and plants which are common to the region. The large growth of yellow pine timber in the San Juan Valley is almost marvellous. As we descended from the abrupt mountains, in the vicinity of the crater, the spruce disappeared and was supplanted by the pino with huge trunks and shooting up to an enormous height. I havg never seen in any part of the United States such excellent timber.

Water is abundant for purposes of irrigation, but Judging from the appearance of the country the rain falls sufficiently to raise good crops. Being ON THE PACIFIC SIDE Of the water-shed of the continent, the altitude 40 miles from the divide is less than 7,000 feet, and the climate is much milder than on the eastern slope of the main range. I have no doubt but what this is an excellent farming region and as the rich mines of gold and silver, which are found in all the surrounding, mountains, are developed, this great and fertile valley will come to be inhabited by a large population. That it has all the natural resources which will lead to prosperity and wealth, I have not a particle of doubt. In clirhate, soil and timber it is the best valley I have yet visited in the San Juan country.

I did not visit the famous PAGOSA SPRINGS, Which are on the left bank of the stream near the north line of New Mexico. They are said, by those who have visited them, to be the largest hot springs in the United States. The main spring is about 80 feet across, out of which an immense volume of boiling hot water continually flows. These springs have heretofore been a place of resort for the Ute and other Indians, who regard them with a superstitious reverence. The land on which they are situated is now ceded to the Government by the Indians, and in the rapid progress of our civilization it will not be long before they will be the resort of invalids from all parts of the world.

It is in the valley of the San Juan where the We are now at the head of tho Uncompahgre, and in the midst of a vast number of rich silver mines. Looking to the northwest, the Mountain of tho Holy Cross lifts its lofty summit to the clouds, plainly revealing tho form of an immense cross. To the right, the Uncompahgre Peaks tho highest in the Rocky Mountains are always in sight, while all the intervening country is broken up into deep canons and gulches, showing the evidences of tho terrible convulsions to which tho surface of the earth has been subjected. THE UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER Is represented on all tho maps as running to the northwest, but its main course appears to be almost due north for twenty or thirty miles downward from its source. The valley then opens out into a large park, abounding in rich and luxuriant grasses, good timber, and with a soil capable of a great variety of agricultural productions.

This park is said to be more than one thousand feet lower than the San Luis Park. The line of the Ute Indian reservation running east and west crosses the Uncompahgre near tho upper end of the Twenty-five miles below, the new Ute agency has been recently established. The Utes are exceedingly friendly to tho whites. Ouray, the chief of the tribe, is a man of great ability, and, so far as he has been able to control, there have been no depredations committed against the life and property of the mining population. Tho mines of the Uncompahgre are situated in all the mountains adjacent to the stream, I from its source near Mineral City down as far as the country has been explored.

THE LODES ARE LARGE, In many cases rising up higher than the country rock, and ajrc so prominent that they can be followed on the surface for several miles. On all the creeks falling into tho Uncompahgre numerous mines have been found and located. The district is quite new. It was not till last year that many important discoveries were made. Now it is certain that some of tho best silver mines of San Juan are in this district.

Mineral Mountain is near the head of the Uncompahgre, and is completely coursed with lodes, many of them showing ore in large quantities of a veiy high grade. The mountains around tho head of the stream break down ubout at the altitude of the timber line into a flat yet broken country. Small lakes, abounding in clear spring water, are numerous. Grass i3 abundant. I can only describe the mineral formation as a vast net-work of veins, tho miners covering the whole country with their locations, a great number giving promise of being very rich.

A few miles down from the head of the stream an almost impassable canon commences, extending down for five miles or more. Tho fall is very rapid, and the slopes of the mountains extending up from the canon on each side are steep and rugged. Just below the canon, and in a beautiful park or basin, THE NEW TOWN OF UNCOMPAHGRE Is located. The elevation at this point is said to be not more than 6,500 feet. Judging by tho luxuriant character of the vegetation, and the growth and variety of timber, I should judge that at most it could not be more than 7,000 feet.

There are several hot springs in the vicinity of the new town, and, what is better than all, some of the most valuable silver mines in the whole San uan country are within convenient distance. The geological formation is somewhat different than further up the Uncompahgre. In some instances rich silver ore is found in limestone formation a thing not very common in mineral deposits. Three tons of this ore, shipped to sampling works at Denver on the day I left the district, have since been tested, and yielded in bulk $1,700 per ton. Ruby silver and silver glance have been found in this section.

Some of the specimens which I saw were exceedingly beautiful. At least fifty mines of the Lower Uncompahgre furnish ore which assays from $100 up to TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS PER TON. These veins are large, well defined, and have all the appearance of being true fissure veins. But independent of these defined veins there are immense deposits of silver ore so large in extent that I shall not blame the reader if my statement is taken with some hesitation. One of these deposits is 1,700 feet long and FIFTEEN HUNDRED FEET WIDE, And is covered by five parallel locations of 300 feet each.

This great bonanza was discovered and located by Augustus Begoile. The assay value of some of the ore taken from the deposit runs up into the hundreds. I am not fully apprised as to the exact character of the whole mass of this bonanza, but if it has one-tenth of the value placed upon it by men of candor and judgment, from whom I have recently received letters describing it, then it would be difficult to estimate what it is worth. From the town of Uncompahgre a good wagon road can be built eastward along the rango bordering on the Gunnison, intersecting the road from Lake City to Saguache about twenty miles east of the former place, and all that part of the country below the canon will have an outlet which can be traveled for at least ten months in the year. Continued on sixth page.).