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1900 Jun, Pike's Peak Power Co.
1900 Jul, Electric Power
1900 Aug, Electric Power
1900 Nov, CC Operations

Cripple Creek District
Last updated: 29.05.2010 09:37

Modern Machinery August 1900
(page 44-46 + images(4) page 47)

ELECTRIC POWER IN CRIPPLE CREEK DISTRICT.

BY J W. DICKERSON.
CRIPPLE CREEK DISTRICT is full of surprises, and they are not confined to the outcome of stock speculations and successful mining operations, either. The engineer who visits this country for the first time will be astounded by the evidence presented on every side of the advancement that has been made by his profession in the equipment of mining properties, and by the marvelous exhibition of faith that is manifested in the district and in the reports by the experts, which the enormous investments represent.
Not the least remarkable fact that will force itself upon the observer is the wonderful development that has already been accomplished. The progress that has been made is without precedent in any country and in any time.
It is true that conditions were favorable, but it must also be remembered that the obstacles which had to be overcome were simply enormous.

Yet, Cripple Creek today enjoys many of the blessings of modern civilization which are still unknown in more settled "centers of civilization." The city itself is brilliantly illuminated by electricity, its street railway service, telephone and telegraph facilities are of the very highest order, and these are not confined to the territory included within the city limits but extend throughout the mining district.
A popular writer, some time ago, called attention to the fact that the miners of this section were the only operators in the world who were carried to their work and returned to their homes by electric cars.

Fig.12. Trolley Line Through Mining Properties.
Fig.12
Trolley Line Through Mining Properties.		 This is typical of the district, however, and it is not an exaggerated statement of the conditions met with. The accompanying illustration (Fig. 12) shows two trolley cars passing on the double track system that extends through the section occupied by the Anchoria Leland mine.
The photograph from which the cut was reproduced shows the buildings of the Anchoria in the background, and conveys some idea of the rugged character of the country traversed by the trolley line.

The liberal policy of those engaged in the development of this wonderful country in exemplified in the completeness of the equipment for the extensive mining properties now in operation. Many millions of dollars have already been expended for machinery, and a great many large undertakings are now under way that will require even larger investments than those represented by the present plants.
An excellent example of the class of construction work and the general character of the equipments that have been installed for power plants has already been presented in the initial article of this series which appeared in Modern Machinery for July.
Every feature of the installation of the Colorado Electric Power company represents the most advanced engineering practice of the day. It is the purpose of this article to consider briefly the application of the current generated at Canon City and transmitted over the hills into the mining district, with particular reference to the operation of hoisting machines by electric motors.

The company now supplies with current in the district several large samplers, between 50 and 60 hoists, mills for treating ore, including the great Economic and Arequa mills, a number of air compressors, fans and lights in between 70 and 80 mines. The power motors vary in size from two to 100 horse power.

ELECTRIC HOISTING EQUIPMENTS.
The accompanying illustrations from Figs. 13 to 24 inclusive, represent the practical application of electric power, transmitted by a long distance system, to gold mining.
Fig. 13. Wisconsin Claim, Portland Gold Mining Company.
Fig. 13. Wisconsin Claim, Portland Gold Mining Company.		 Fig. 13 illustrates the hoisting plant on the Wisconsin claim of the Portland Gold Mining company. The motor is a Westinghouse 15 horse power machine. It raises a 875 pound bucket on a geared hoist made by the F. M. Davis Iron Works company of Denver at a speed of about 350 feet per minute.
Fig.14. Night Hawk Mine, Bull Hill, Stratton Property.
Fig.14. Night Hawk Mine, Bull Hill, Stratton Property.		 Fig. 14 is a view of the hoisting machinery on the Night Hawk mine, on the west slope of Bull Hill, one of the famous Stratton properties, and located near the well-known John A. Logan. The motor is a Westinghouse 10 horse power and winds a seven-eighths inch cable around the drum of a friction hoist made by the Hendrie and Bolthoff Manufacturing and Supply company of Denver, Colo.
Fig. 15. Wild Horse Gold Mining Company, Bull Hill. Midway.
Fig. 15. Wild Horse Gold Mining Company, Bull Hill. Midway.		 The hoisting outfit of the Wild Horse Gold Mining company, one of the companies controlled by the Woods Investment company of Colorado Springs and Victor, Colo., is shown in Fig. 15. The motor is a Westinghouse 30 horse power winding a three-quarter inch cable around the drum of a hoist made by the Denver Engineering Works, thus raising a cage from a depth of about 375 feet. The property is located on the north slope of Bull Hill at Midway, a station on the Cripple Creek District railway.
Fig. 16. Wilson Claim, Free Coinage Company.
Fig. 16. Wilson Claim, Free Coinage Company.		 In Fig. 16 is shown the hoisting rig on the Carter lease of the Wilson claim of the Free Coinage company. The motor, which is of the General Electric type, is of 5 horse power and operates a gear hoist made by the Denver Engineering Works, the depth being about 90 feet.
Fig. 17. Jones Lease, Morning Glory Gold Mining Company.
Fig. 17. Jones Lease, Morning Glory Gold Mining Company.		 Fig. 17 represents the hoisting rig on the Jones lease of the Morning Glory Gold Mining company, controlled by the Woods Investment company of Colorado Springs and Victor, Colo. The Westinghouse 15 horse power motor is used for operating a hoist of the same capacity, made by Fairbanks, Morse & Co. The hoist lifts an 850 pound bucket from a depth of about 450 feet.
Fig. 18. Jack Pot Property of Creaston Leasing Co., Raven Hill.
Fig. 18. Jack Pot Property of Creaston Leasing Co.,
 Raven Hill.		 The Creston Leasing company's hoisting plant on the Jack Pot property on Raven Hill is represented in Fig. 18. The 15 horse power motor is of the Westinghouse type and operates a hoist of the same capacity made by Fairbanks, Morse & Co. The depth of the shaft is about 575 feet. The property is now operated by the Woods Investment company.
Fig. 19. Arapahoe No. 1 Claim, Castleman & Raine Lease, Ironclad Hill.
Fig. 19. Arapahoe No. 1 Claim, Castleman & Raine Lease, Ironclad Hill.		 Fig. 19 shows the hoisting machinery on Arapahoe No. 1 claim of the Castleman & Raine lease on the east slope of Ironclad Hill. The motor is a five horse-power machine operating a geared hoist supplied by the Denver Engineering Works. A bucket having a capacity of 500 pounds is lowered to a depth of about 190 feet by a five-eighths inch cable.

Fig 20. Blue Bird Property, 
Bull Hill.		 On the Blue Bird property is located the plant illustrated in Fig. 20. It consists of a 30 horse power Westinghouse motor which raises a 1,000 pound bucket from a depth of 575 feet in an inclined shaft, by a three-quarter-Inch cable. The Denver Engineering works supplied the hoist. The Blue Bird is on the south slope of Bull Hill, and is owned by Mr. Johnson of Colorado Springs.
Fig. 21. Bonanza King Mine, Gold Hill.
Fig. 21. Bonanza King Mine, Gold Hill.		 The Bonanza King mine, on which the hoisting plant shown in Fig. 21 is operated, is located on the west slope of Gold Hill. The motor is a Westinghouse 10 horse power machine which winds the cable on the drum of a Hendrie and Bolthoff friction hoist, raising a bucket carrying 750 pounds from the depth of about 250 feet.
Fig. 22. Morning Glory Claim No. 4, Gold Hill, near Anaconda.
Fig. 22. Morning Glory Claim No. 4, Gold Hill, near Anaconda.		 The hoisting plant of the Morning Glory claim No. 4 of the Morning Glory Gold Mining company on the south slope of Gold Hill, near Anaconda, is illustrated in Fig. 22. A five horse power motor operates a five horse power whim made by the P. M. Davis Iron Works company of Denver. It raises a bucket weighing 500 pounds in a shaft about 190 feet deep.
Fig. 23. Jo Dandy Mine, Raven Hill.
Fig. 23. Jo Dandy Mine,
Raven Hill.		 Fig. 23 illustrates the hoisting rig on the Jo Dandy mine, of which Mr. Coe is the superintendent. The property is located on Raven Hill. The Westinghouse motor of five horse power operates a winze upon the 185 foot level, raising a 500 pound bucket by a half inch cable. The hoist was supplied by the Hendrie and Bolthoff Manufacturing and Supply company of Denver.

Fig 24. Los Angeles Mine.		 In Fig. 24 is illustrated the hoisting apparatus in use on the Los Angeles mine of which Senator B. Clark Wheeler is superintendent. The electric motor is of 30 horse power capacity and was manufactured by the Westinghouse company. By means of a hoist, supplied by the Denver Engineering Works, it raises in an inclined shaft a bucket carrying 1,000 pounds from a depth of 700 feet.

ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC POWER.
The use of electric power results in a great saving to customers in addition to reliability of service, as already referred to. The winter and early spring months have developed since the system was constructed almost unprecedented snow storms, and during the summer months remarkably severe lightning has been experienced; yet for over a year there has been no shut down.
"How often do you shut down to clean up?" asked a recent visitor of Mr. Jackson.
"We never shut down," was the reply, to the astonishment of the caller.

Taking the system as a whole it is one of the most complete in the country with an adequate, conservative provision everywhere for reserve, yet with the fewest pieces of superfluous machinery installed, the general superintendent says, just for the fun of running them.
The saving to the consumers of electric power in the district, making a comparison with the cost of coal under the same conditions, is fully 50 per cent.
Coal worth $1.25 in Canon City will be worth $4.75 per ton when it reaches the average shaft house, and in bad weather the cost will be greater than that.
The freight from Canon City, the center of the coal region, is now $2.10, and it is hard to estimate the cost of hauling the fuel up steep roads through snow and mud, but one is not likely to overestimate it.

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