Western wilds

Western wilds and the men who redeem them. An authentic narrative, embracing an account of seven years travel and adventure in the far West; wild life in Arizona; perils of the plains; life in the canon and death on the desert ... adventures among the red - Page 583

578 WESTERN WILDS. " Early in 1877 two smelters were running, but rich discoveries fol-lowed each other so fast that ore was piled up hundreds of tons ahead of their capacity to reduce it. In June, 1877, Charles Mater erected the first house in the present Leadville, and opened a stock of goods therein. Before Christmas the place contained one thousand inhabit-ants; by spring it had a weekly paper, a school, and two churches. A. B. Wood made the first big sale, disposing of his half interest in the nine claims above mentioned for $ 40,000. In March, 1878, the A NEW MINING TOWN. St. Louis Smelting Company bought the Camp Bird and adjoining property for $ 225,000. By the first of June half a dozen rich mines were known; then the flood began. First came miners and investors by twos and tens from adjacent camps, then by scores from distant parts of Colorado, and soon by hundreds from every part of the world. Winter brought a slight cessation, but the summer of 1878 increased the arrivals. The next winter made no cessation, and early in 1879 the arrivals averaged a hundred per day. Meanwhile the wonderful deposits on Freyer Hill were opened deposits so rich and easily