The now famous Cripple Creek district was for many years a cattle grazing country, but as early as 1849 there had been some gold excitement near Mt. Pisgah. In 1891 Bob Womack, a ranchman in charge of a Denver firm's cattle in the district, found some good looking gold ore. He brought specimens to Colorado Springs and after considerable difficulty succeeded in interesting a few men with capital, who journeyed over the hills with him and located the El Paso Gold King mine, a property that has paid its owners hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The news that there was gold over the hills to the west of Colorado Springs induced hundreds of men to flock to the new camp. These men had little money, but energy and perseverance in abundance, and by their efforts the value of the new field as a gold producing area was proved. The richness of the ore found in the district was soon heralded over the country, and a grand rush began. Today the Cripple Creek district is the greatest gold-producing camp in the world.

There are twelve towns in the immediate district, with a population of not less than 70,000 people. The principal towns are Cripple Creek, Victor and Goldfield. Other towns in the district are Independence, Altman, Anaconda, Elkton, Cameron, Arequa, Lawrence, Mound City and Gillett.

The semi-annual review of Cripple Creek discloses a gratifying state of affairs for the first half of the present year. The great gold mines during that period shipped out 288,300 tons of ore from which was derived $10,180,000 worth of bullion.

These figures are based upon the returns furnished by the mills and smelters and are as nearly officials as can be had without appealing directly to the private accounts of the companies.

As the years pass, the estimates which are made upon the output of the camp are prepared with greater care, so that the total presented may be depended upon to represent about the exact condition of affairs.

In days gone by, when the camp was young, everything was done on the wing and any thing told was believed. The greatest latitude was permitted in making up the totals and in this manner the production was frequently set several million dollars above the actual output. The showing presented herewith is most creditable and indicates the greatness of the gold camp.

Any district that can maintain an average production of $20,000,000 is entitled to rank among the greatest of the world, and this is what Cripple Creek is doing. The camp has been handicapped somewhat by internal conditions, to recapitulate, the curtailment of production at the Portland on account of the starting of the new mill and the same state of affairs at the Elkton because of a grievous water situation. There have been others, but space will not permit their enumeration. Enough to say that a camp which produces better than a million and a half a month, if not the greatest gold camp in the world, is the greatest in the western hemisphere.

The month of June showed a good increase in the production from the Cripple Creek District, the estimate of the output being 48,000 tons, yielding a gross value of $1,850,000. The showing is excellent, in view of the fact that The Portland mine is running about half production and the Elkton about two-thirds. The break down at the La Bella plant paralyzed six shippers on Bull Hill for two weeks, causing a decrease in the output from that point.

The mines of the district are doing well and are fast getting into shape where they will make even a better showing. A camp that can produce from $1,500,000 to $1,850,000 worth of gold is indeed a wonderful proposition. Its record is all the advertising it needs. The camp has produced over $10,000,000 in gold during the past six months.

The dividends paid by the precious metal mines of Colorado in 1901 amounted to $12,097,472. The total production of ores, actually accounted for, was $58,847,797. So it will be seen that the dividends exceeded 20 per cent. This, it is interesting to note, does not include the profits of transportation, light and power companies, smelters and reduction works, or of mercantile pursuits depending on the mines, nor the vast amount earned by laborers engaged in mining the ores. The dividends by the mines were equal to 4 per cent, interest on $300,000,000.

The incorporated mining companies of the Cripple Creek gold district paid in dividends during 1901; $4,940,691. In addition to the money distributed among their several stockholders, the various companies have added to the reserve funds, and hundreds of thousands were expended in the purchase of additional territory and permanent improvements.

The leasing companies, which take an important part in development work, paid at least $750,000, which makes the record of the camp for 1901 equal $5,690,691 and the total since 1891 reach $24,378,849.

The dividends paid in the first six months of the year amount to $1,231,000. The showing is quite satisfactory, taking all things into consideration.

The Portland Company has paid no dividend since January 15th, on account of the wise policy of conserving its cash reserves during the completion of the new $700,000 chlorination mill at Colorado City.

The Elkton has paid no dividend since April 20th, on account of an unusual water situation in the 8th level, which is now happily solved.

One of the encouraging facts is the reappearance of the Golden Cycle Company on the public dividend list, with next month.

The last half year of 1902 will witness a much larger dividend record, as the Portland will have resumed and the Elkton in all probability, both of which can make substantial showings when they got to paying dividends.

ACACIA - Formerly paid one cent per share quarterly.

Last dividend of 1c., $15,000, paid December 15th, 1900.

Total to date, $45,000.

ARROW - Paid 2c. per share. $54,000 from proceeds sale of property November 15, 1901.

AMAZON - Pays at irregular intervals.

Last dividend 5c., $30,000, March 15, 1900.

Total to date, $62,000.

ANCHORIA LELAND - Paid monthly and quarterly dividend of one cent a share on an issued capital stock of 600,000 shares.

Last dividend 3 cents, quarterly, paid April, 1899.

Total amount to date, $198,000.

BANKERS - Dividend of 15c., $187,500, from proceeds sale of property, paid March 15, 1901.

CREEDE & CRIPPLE CREEK - Dividend of 2c. per share, $16,000, paid in May, 1901, from revenue derived from Union Bell stock in treasury of company.

CRESTON LEASING COMPANY - One of the notable successes of mining by this system in Cripple Creek. Operated the Jack Pot mine and paid to its backers $504,000.

Last dividend, $7,543, paid in December, 1899.

Total, $512,471.

DOCTOR-CHIEF MINING & LEASING CO. - A notable example of the success of mining on the Doctor mine.

This concern paid $220,000 in dividends December, 1900.

total to date, not obtainable. This lease was bought out by the promoters of the Doctor-Jack Pot Consolidated in December, 1900.

DOCTOR-JACK POT - One cent monthly, suspended temporarily.

Last dividend of 1c., $29,000, paid August, 1901.

Total to date, $232,000.

ELKTON - Increased to four cents quarterly.

Latest dividend 4c., $100,000, paid March 20, 1902.

Paid during 1901, $325,000

Total to date, $1,404,460.

EL PASO CONSOLIDATED - Pays dividend occasionally.

First dividend, $10,795 in 1897

$24,250, paid December, 1901.

Stock dividend amounting to $80,000 paid in March, 1901.

Total disbursements, $115,045.00.

FREE COINAGE - Pays at irregular intervals.

Last dividend 12c, $120,000, paid September, 1901.

Total in 1901, $120,000.

GARFIELD CON. - Dividend of 10 cents per share, $125,000, paid March, 1901, from proceeds sale of property.

Total to date, $159,000.

GOLD COIN - Increased to 3 cents monthly.

Latest dividend, 3c., $30,000, paid June 25, 1902.

Paid in 1901, $360,000.

Total to date, $1,090,000.

GOLD CRATER - Dividend of $2.50 per share, $250,000, paid March, 1901.

Total to date, $250,000.

GOLD KING - Three cents quarterly.

Latest dividend, 3c., $28,105.50, paid October 20, 1901.

Paid during 1901, $84,316.50.

Total to date, $300,527.

GRAFTON - Pays at irregular intervals.

Latest dividend, one cent, $10,000, paid January, 1901.

Total to date, $30,000.

GOLDEN CYCLE - One cent per share monthly, suspended temporarily.

Latest dividend, 1c., $10,000, paid December, 1900.

Total to date, $440,000. This company will resume dividends in July at the rate of 0.75c a share.

ISABELLA - Pays quarterly, various rates, suspended temporarily.

Latest dividend 1c., $22,500, paid March 23, 1901.

Paid in 1901, $22,500.

Total to date, $742,500.

LAST DOLLAR - Two cents quarterly.

Latest dividend 2c., $30,000, paid April 10, 1902.

Paid in 1901, $120,000.

Total to date, $270,000.

MARY McKINNEY - Three cents quarterly.

Latest dividend 3c., $30,000, paid April 10, 1902.

Paid in 1901, $150,000.

Total to date, $420,000.

MIDGET - One and one-half cents per share monthly.

Latest dividend, 1.5c., $15,000, paid April, 1902.

Paid in 1901, $105,000.

Total to date, $270,000.

MODOC - One cent monthly.

Latest dividend, 1c., $5,000, paid June 15, 1902.

Paid in 1901, $60,000.

Total to date, $295,000.

ORPHAN - Dividend of 8.5c. per share, $106,250, paid November 15, 1901, from proceeds sale on property.

POINTER - One cent at irregular intervals.

Latest payment, 1c. per share, $12,500, made June 1, 1901.

Total to date, $25,000.

PORTLAND - Six cents quarterly.

Latest dividend, 6c., $180,000, paid January 15, 1902.

Paid during 1901, $720,000.

Total to date, $4,207,080.

STRATTON'S INDEPENDENCE - Various rates quarterly.

Latest dividend February 20, 1902, 10 per cent, $122,000.

Paid in 1901, $793,000.

Total to date, $3,187,000.

STRONG - Five cents per share monthly.

Latest dividend, 5c., $25,000, April 10, 1902.

Paid in 1901, $300,000.

Total to date, $1,490,000.

TOURAINE - Dividend at rate of $7.75 per thousand shares, $7,975, paid June, 1901, from proceeds of sale of property.

Total to date, $84,975.

VINDICATOR - Increased to five cents quarterly.

Latest dividend, 5c., $55,000, April 25, 1902.

Paid in 1901, $170,500.

Total to date, $807,000.