THE LABOR HISTORY OF THE CRIPPLE CREEK DISTRICT CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS INTRODUCTION The Cripple Creek District lies in the first range of the Rocky Mountains, about 25 miles west of Colorado Springs, and 85 miles southwest of Denver. It has an altitude of from 9,000 to 12,000 feet, none of the mines being at an elevation of less than 9,000, and some being over 11,000 feet above sea level. Geologically, the region is of volcanic origin. Great flows of lava have issued from a formerly existent volcano in the heart of the district. When these hardened they were subjected to severe stresses in the earth's crust and broken by countless fissures in parallel systems. Later, hot percolating waters from deep-seated sources in the earth came to the surface, bearing in solution gold telluride, with quartz. These were deposited as the valuable ores in the fissure veins of the district. Rough, gaunt and broken, dry and almost arid, cut into barren rocky ridges and valleys where scraggly dwarfed trees eke out a bare existence, and naught can flourish save the hardy mountain grasses and wild flowers;-it is not a place to invite human habitation, nor to support it under ordinary conditions. The only sign of occupancy in 1890 was the Womack cattle ranch occupying the present site of the city of Cripple Creek. In 1893, less than three years later, the city of Cripple Creek numbered about 5,000 people, and close at hand were Victor, Anaconda, Altman, and numerous smaller towns. Three wagon roads led into the district, from Divide on the north, from Colorado Springs on the east, and from Canon City on the south. Along these roads night and day passed heavy trucks drawn by six and eight horses, bringing into camp provisions and building material and mining machinery, or leaving with loads of ore for the smelters. Heavy passenger coaches came in every night to swell the number of fortune seekers. On the north, the Colorado Midland Railway was running a branch road in from Divide, and the Florence and Cripple Creek Railway was pushing even harder to get into camp from the south. The reason for this rapid change was gold. Robert Womack had in 1890 sunk prospect holes and secured ore that assayed high in gold.1 News of his success had spread quickly, and soon prospectors poured in from all directions. More than 40 mines were in process of active development by 1893 and prospect holes were being sunk in every dierction. Nearly $3,000,000 worth of ore had been shipped from the mines already, and every week new veins of rich promise were being opened.3 The social conditions of the region were those usual in an unsettled mining community. Life at the camp was generally rough. Men were many and women few. Saloons and dance halls were numerous. The roads were poor and the city streets even worse. Dumps from the mines often crossed the sidewalks, and half filled the streets. Houses were mere frame shells, or rough log huts. Prices of all merchandise were very high as the result of the 20 mile haul over mountain roads; the poorest shacks rented for $12 or $15 a month; fire wood was $4.50 per cord; and water sold for 5 cents a bucket or 40 cents a barrel. 1 Cripple Creek Illustrated, Warren & Stride, p. 11. vide mines listed by the Colorado Springs Stock Exchange early in 1894. Cripple Creek Illustrated, Warren & Stride, p. 23. |