• News/Tidbits
• 1903 Jan., 1; Free Coinage G. M. Co.

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Quite a little stir has been created about the camp by the news of a good strike in the Free Coinage properties on Bull hill at Cripple Creek this week.
The strike was made at a depth of 28 feet, and the ore is quite similar to that in the Pharmacist mine, near by. Three assays made of the ore each gave returns of about 21 ounces to the ton.
The owners of the property have ordered hoisting machinery, etc., and will soon have the property in shape for shipping ore.
While this is a stock company it is one of the few companies that were formed for mining and not for stock speculation, and not a share of the stock is offered for sale, the men who are connected with it being satisfied to make their money from the proceeds of the mines.

• Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection: ⊞ The Aspen Daily Chronicle; November 19, 1892

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 581
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Engineering and Mining Journal, Volume 55, 1893 (Jan-Jun)

Principal Producing Cripple Creek Mines - 1898:

Name: Pinto Mine (Bull Hill)
Owner: Free Coinage Mining Co.
Capital:
President:
Vice-President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Superintendent:
Manager:
Lessees: Fisher & Reed, Altman
Description: 235-foot shaft; 25-horse power horizontal boiler; 6x8 Fairbanks, Morse & Co. hoist.
Employes:
Contact:
Notes:

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 202
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Colorado State Mining Directory, 1898

• Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection: ⊞ The Morning Times, July 31, 1898

A NEW SHAFT HOUSE.
As rapidly as carpenters can put it up, a fine shaft house is being erected on the Pinto, on Bull hill, to take the place of the one destroyed by fire a few days ago.
It is to be equipped with the best possible machinery, and in size will be considerably larger than the old one.

• Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection: ⊞ Morning Times, December 22, 1898

• Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection: ⊞ Morning Times, October 1, 1899

(From Colorado Telegraph.)
Free Coinage—A good strike is reported from the Neville lease on the Pinto. The find reported is at the junction of a pharolite dyke and a cross lead. A grab sample assayed $680 to the ton.

• Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection: ⊞ Aspen Democrat, August 9, 1901

(From the Cripple Creek Press.)
Some especially good ore was broken into yesterday on the Nevile lease on the Pinto on Bull Hill.

• Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection: ⊞ Aspen Democrat, August 10, 1901

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Direct to Page 131

The properties of this company are worked under lease, the main workings being operated by Harry Shell and associates, who have a small force at work.
The property belongs chiefly to the estate of the late Sam Strong.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Direct to Page 872

The Free Coinage ground on Bull hill is again shipping heavily. Nearly every piece of rock taken out shows either rusty gold, or sylvanite, and according to assays, the ore should run better than $200 a ton.
The ore body carrying this ore is about two feet in width.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 2
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ PROFITS, Volume 3 (April 1903-March 1904)

Lessee Shell, operating the Pinto claim of the Free Coinage Company, has just marketed 50 tons of ore which will give returns of $40 per ton in gold.
This is one of the best leases in the camp; ore is being shipped from five different levels, and both the lessees and the company are netting a handsome income.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 2
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ PROFITS, Volume 3 (April 1903-March 1904)

The lessees on the Pinto claim of the Free Coinage Company on Bull hill, have just marketed three cars of ore which will run $50 per ton in gold.
The vein is holding out well and steady shipments are being maintained. There are at present several sets of lessees on the Free Coinage properties, and all are in good ore.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 11
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ PROFITS, Volume 3 (April 1903-March 1904)

Free Coinage.—Lessee Mercer, operating under sub-lease a block of the Wilson claim of this company on Bull Hill, is shipping about two carloads of ore weekly, which it is said will average three ounces to the ton. The ore is being extracted from a two-foot vein at a point 200 feet north of the shaft in the 250-foot level.
J. O. A. Carper of Denver, who holds a lease on the entire property, will commence sinking the new three-compartment shaft to a depth of 1,200 feet about the first of August. At present Mr. Carper and associates are taking out ore on the third level of the Wilson claim and on the fifth level of the Pinto, where several machine drills are being worked.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 643
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Reporter 1904 (Jan-Jun)

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 710
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Reporter 1904 (Jul-Dec)

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 731
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ The Mining World, Vol. 24 (January-June 1906)

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 34
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ The Mining World, Vol. 27 (July-December 1907)

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 67
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Reporter; Volume 56, No. 3
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Reporter; Volume 56 - Jul.-Dec. 1907

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 447
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ The Mining World, Vol. 27 (July-December 1907)

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 486
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ The Mining World, Vol. 27 (July-December 1907)

Cripple Creek—Carper & Co., leasing on the Pinto-Bison of the Free Coinage group on Bull hill, are developing a 3-ft. vein, the ore from which has shown a slight increase in value within the last few days.
This vein, at a depth of 200 ft, carries mineral of grades ranging from $18 to $34 in gold to the ton. The ore body shows a knife-blade seam of very rich stuff, but no sorting will be done other than separating coarse rock from screenings unless the high grade streak widens out.
Shipments are regular from the property.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 114
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ The Mining World, Vol. 28 (January-June 1908)

The Free Coinage Gold Mining Co. continues for the present year the same leasing policy adopted for several years past, and the lease, expired by limitation on December 31, is renewed for 12 months on the Pinto mine to Lowry & Rogers, last year's lessees.
The royalties to be paid to the leasing company will be graded, ranging from 10%, on low-grade milling ore to 35% on high-grade smelting ore.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining and scientific press. v.98 Jan.-June 1909.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science - Jan-Jun 1909

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science - Jan-Jun 1909

A complete plant capable of carrying work to great depth is to be installed within 60 days on the properties of the Free Coinage Co. by an eastern syndicate, which has taken a lease upon them.
The shaft on this mine, now 575 ft. deep, is to be carried to the 1,000-ft. point. No lateral work will be attempted until a depth of 800 ft. is reached.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science - Jan-Jun 1909

DENVER, COLORADO—A syndicate of Boston capitalists has taken a five-year lease on the property of the Free Coinage Co., of Cripple Creek, to operate that property below the 550-ft. level. The property consists of the Pinto, Rising Sun, Wilson, Bison No. 2, and Pueblo claims, forming a compact group on Bull Hill.
These have been recently examined by Forbes Rickard, of Denver, who will act as the consulting engineer for the new company, called the Altman Leasing Co. Sixteen sets of lessees are now working on the mine above the 550-ft. level, and these operations will not interfere in any way with the operations of the new company on the lower levels.
Operations under control of the Altman L. Co. are to commence immediately on the Pinto claim, and the shaft, which is now 575 ft. deep, is to be sunk to 1000 ft. No lateral work will be done until a depth of 800 ft. is reached. A new hoisting plant will be erected in place of the old equipment now on the property.
The production of the Free Coinage to date is over $2,000,000 from above the 550-ft. level, and a heavy production is expected from the lower workings.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining and scientific press. v.98 Jan.-June 1909.

The Altman Leasing Co. has purchased machinery for the new plant to be installed at the main shaft of the Free Coinage G. M. Co. at the Pinto mines.
Work will commence sinking the shaft as soon as the installation is completed.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science - Jan-Jun 1909

DENVER, COLORADO—Leases in general admit of much variety in point of terms and conditions specified, but it is uncommon to find one which reserves the upper part of an extensive claim-group and gives to lessees the right to mine below their lowest level.
Such an undertaking has been made the basis of a five-year lease recently given to the Altman Leasing Co. by the Free Coinage Gold Mining Co. on their 30-acre tract, beginning from the horizon of the 550-ft. level of the Pinto shaft, downward to any depth to which the lessees can carry operations within the time-limit.
This is conditioned upon sinking the main shaft several hundred feet deeper. It is a good example and a practical expression of confidence in development of ground that is central to some of the richest parts of the Cripple Creek district, lying, as it does, between the Isabella mine and Vindicator groups on Bull Hill, about the town of Altman.
The Free Coinage Gold Mining Co.'s property includes the vein-systems of the Pinto-Pharmacist, Wilson, Pinto-Bison, and Pueblo mines, and is among the successful companies of the early days of Cripple Creek; it is now being actively worked at several levels, all under the leasing system.
Since 1894 this group has produced from 1¾ to 2 millions of dollars, from workings that are superficial as compared with those of its neighbors. Among the latter are the Isabella and Findley, which reach depths of 1100 and 1400 ft. below the collars of their respective shafts.
The Altman Leasing Co. is installing a powerful Vulcan geared hoist, of capacity to reach to a depth of 1500 ft., which will take the burden from the present equipment before it reaches its limit. Combining the features of large acreage with its location in the midst of the most productive mines of a rich section, there is probably not a similar mineral tract in the district that can be leased in a compact group.
In addition to the main 'deeps' lease, this leasing company has two blocks above the 550-ft. level, in one of which high-grade ore has been discovered through prospecting upon the Black dike of the Bison claim, which corresponds with the Isabella dike of the Government report upon the mines of this portion of Bull Hill.
Air for machine-drills is taken from the Union Leasing Co. from the plant at Deadwood. At first a small force is being employed in shaft-sinking and in prospecting. Extensive drifts and cross-cuts make available to stoping much promising ground, without costly outlay in dead-work. The management is enthusiastic over the prospect of early shipments.
The new company is organized under the laws of Colorado, with a capital stock of $100,000. The principal office will be maintained in Cripple Creek. Geo. R. Woodin, of Boston, is the moving spirit of the enterprise.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining and scientific press. v.98 Jan.-June 1909.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining and scientific press. v.98 Jan.-June 1909.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 10
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ The Western Investors Review, Vol.15 (June 1908-August 1909)

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining and Scientific Press. v.99 July-Dec.1909.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining and Scientific Press. v.99 July-Dec.1909.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining and Scientific Press. v.99 July-Dec.1909.

The Altman Leasing Co., operating the properties of the Free Coinage Gold M. Co. under lease, from a depth below the 500 station of the Pinto shaft has taken over a 100-ft. lift above this level - the fourth level of the shaft - and has made a strike of importance on the Pinto basalt dike.
The dike is about 80 ft. north of the Black dike, for which a crosscut was being carried, and the strike was unexpected.
The ore body exposed is all of 4 ft. wide and Superintendent Cooper reports the ore running from $22.40 to $48 to the ton.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 18
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science; Volume 61; July to December 1910

Free Coinage—At the 250-ft. level of the Carper shaft, at the intersection of the Pinto and Bison claims, a rich strike has been made by Jesse Adams, lessee.
The streak is about 8 in. wide, and carries coarse free gold.

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page

• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Link to Page

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 481
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science; Volume 63; January to June 1911

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 118
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science; Volume 64; July to December 1911

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 165
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science; Volume 64; July to December 1911

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ 332
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science; Volume 64; July to December 1911

• Hathi Trust Digital Library; Link to Page: ⊞ xxv (ad25)
• Hathi Trust Digital Library: ⊞ Mining Science; Volume 66; July to December 1912

At the annual meeting of the Free Coinage company, held this week, J. B. Neville was elected president and treasurer: A. L. Neville, vice-president and secretary; and A. V. Hunter, director.
The company's estate adjoins the Isabella group on Bull hill and is being operated under lease. Production from the Free Coinage group, mined above the 750-ft. level, has been in excess of $2,000,000.

An important surface discovery has been made by lessees of the Free Coinage Gold Mining Co. at the Pinto mine, on the summit of Bull hill. A new vein has been opened at shallow depth on the west line of the property with specimens showing sylvanite and free gold.
Assays run in the hundreds of dollars.