MINING, MONEY AND MAYHEM

I pondered what to share with everyone this next to last month in the year. Should I talk about Julia E. Loomis, Colorado Springs first female doctor? Perhaps Cripple Creek or Garden of the Gods? There are many fascinating pieces of history in Colorado, so what did I decide? Read on.

Cripple Creek Victor Mine-Photo from authors collection

The Cripple Creek mining district came into being as the result of one 'prospector', Robert 'Bob' Womack. Its growth was painful. Due to the nature of the gold deposits in the area, the gold salts were in granite, not quartz like other areas, many people and a huge influx of money were needed to extract the gold. The cost of mining to extract the ore from the granite, was prohibitive. Added to this the additional problem of water in the lower levels of the mines. In order to to benefit from the ore in the mines, many needed to form partnerships to create the capital needed to continue operations. Even when the cost of refining of ore dropped to less than $20 a ton as opposed to the cost of $65 a ton from 1870, the cost was still high for the average miner. In addition was the added burden of the mining apex law. 

Portland Mine, Victor Colorado 1917

The largest and richest mine in the Cripple Creek/Victor Gold Mining District was the Portland. It produced about half of the gold that came out of Battle Mountain, "the richest hill on earth", located just slightly north and west of the town of Victor, during the boom of the district. It was also the highest mine on the mountain at 10,240 feet. It had 700 men on its payroll and the surface buildings covered the largest area. The story of this mine from its small beginning to the heyday of the district is one of the most fascinating both for the mine and the men involved. 

The Portland began on about a tenth of an acre. Most claims were 1500 feet by 300 feet, the standard developed by the Cripple Creek Gold Mining District in 1891. Three men, James F. Burns, James Doyle and John Harnan started it all. They registered the claim on January 22, 1892. The claim sat between three other claims. Doyle and Burns were aware their activity so near the others mines, would have the other owners trying to stop their claim. In order to avoid detection they worked at night in secret pulling the ore out. After and accident when, according to legend, when an ore wagon tipped, the three contacted Winfield Scott Stratton to help them. Statton, ever the businessman, he being the first millionaire in the district, agreed for a portion of the claim. He provided money needed to pay for the litigation following the announcement of their discovery. Most litigation would be due to the Apex law, which was to help prove ownership of a mineral vein. Stratton initially hired attorneys Allen T. Gunnell and Clarence C. Hamlin. He later hired Verner Z. Reed to help the attorneys. The end result, after litigation, was a property of 130 acres and included over 30 claims. The Portland became the richest and largest producer in the heyday of the Cripple Creek Mining District. (They are still mining gold from Battle Mountain today.)

Headframe, Victor Colorado-photo from authors collection

Of the three men, one sold out his shares, one became mayor of Victor and spent time in the county jail, and one became the chairman of the board. James Harnan sold his shares in the Portland. James Doyle worked together with Burns until a very public split in 1898. Doyle filed suit in Iowa, where the Portland Mining Company was registered, stating that Burns had cheated him in a business dealing on shares with the Portland. Burns counter-sued here in Colorado. The outcome, Doyle spent time in the El Paso county jail for contempt of court for following-up on his suit in Iowa. Burns won his suit, forestalling Doyle from following through. Eventually Doyle was released from the jail, but the animosity between he and Burns led to Doyle selling his shares in the Portland to Irving Howbert and leaving the company completely. Prior to filing the law suit against Burns, Doyle had been elected mayor of Victor, in fact he was re-elected during his stay in the jail. Doyle passed away in Denver in 1954. 

James Burns became the president of the Portland Mining concern. Burns gave much of his energy to building the company with an eye to growth but also to the people working for them. In a mining accident eight men were killed, Burns, along with Stratton, closed the mine, exhumed the bodies, refortify the workings, and made sure the men had a proper burial, which created a split in the mining companies board. Compensation was also given to the families of the accident victims. Burns remained the president of the company, resigning in 1905. During his time at the Portland he built the Portland mill, in Colorado City and was associated with the Short Line that connected Colorado Springs with Cripple Creek. Additionally prior to his death in 1917 he was a director of the First National Bank of Colorado Springs, and president of the Burns Trading Company. 

Harnan moved on to California and was reported to have said he had made and lost millions in his lifetime and had no regrets.

That is just the tip of the iceberg of the story of mining, money and mayhem in Cripple Creek/Victor. 

"Home for His Heart" takes place near the Cripple Creek area about fifteen years before they found gold.






A short excerpt:

While Oliver was talking, Clara watched the sky get darker and darker off to the west.

She knew what was coming. Being tied to the tree when the lightning started terrified her.

“If I promise—” Clara started.

“Ettie, you best not be makin’ promises you can’t keep.”

“Oliver—” Clara said again. She had to try.

“Be quiet! Nothin’ you say will change anythin’,” Oliver snarled.

Until next month, happy writing and Happy Thanksgiving.

HOME FOR HIS HEART
http://www.amazon.com/Home-His-Heart-Angela-Raines-ebook/dp/B00LU3HZEK/
also available as an ebook on Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

Doris Gardner-McCraw/Angela Raines
Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women's History

https://www.amazon.com/author/angelaraines-dorismccraw
Photo and Poem: http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com
Blog: http://renawomyn.blogspot.com/ 

“Film and Photography on the Front Range” (Regional History Series): Colorado Springs, CO. Pikes Peak Library District 2012