A visit to the Galena mine, on Spring creek, shows that property to have at least advanced so far that it can now with safety be classed as a mine. To have advanced so far has cost the Smith-Moffat people, who are working it under a bond and lease, a lot of money, as the work they have done has cost anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000.

The tunnel that those people started has been driven in an even 1,200 feet. The bore did not happen to strike a body of ore, so an upraise of 150 feet was made, where pay values were found, and here a drift has been run for 150 feet.

The streak that pays is narrow, occasionally pinching to as low as three inches and never, so far, widening to more than a foot. Some of the rock runs as low as $25, but the forty or fifty tons now saved will average anywhere from $80 to $100.

The Galena vein is about 25 feet wide, and both walls are granite. The rock between the walls is a phonolite in part. Values are found on both walls. From the point where mineral is now being broken to surface the distance is 375 feet, and so far no stoping has been done.

The ore house recently built is not large, but it is most conveniently arranged and its size can be increased many times without trouble.

Superintendent McDonald is highly pleased with his present showing, but at that he does not expect to make any particular production for some time to come, as the policy of the management is to thoroughly develop the property, and as the bond still has some time to run and on any ore now shipped a royalty would have to be paid, the reason why stoping is not started is evident.

The Galena mine was first opened in 1893, and the values at that time were mostly in silver. A little ore was marketed, but so far it has never made any money. When the Smith-Moffat combination took charge it was the opinion of Manager N. H. Cone that he most likely had another Victor mine on his hands, the conditions being somewhat similar.

That Mr. Cone's idea may prove correct is what everybody in Cripple Creek sincerely hopes.