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Compromise Mine History and Project Goals Exhibit <br /> The Compromise Mine is one of the largest and richest silver mines in the Aspen Mining <br /> District and of signifigant historical value. The Main Entrance to the Mine is located at <br /> the top of the Little Nell ski run on Aspen Mountain. It's workings are consolidation of <br /> several mines- the Emma, Aspen, Durant, Conomara, and Little Giant. The highest <br /> workings are 1400 feet above Aspen and the deepest ones are 700 feet below the city <br /> streets. <br /> The Mine's productive hiostory began in the early 1880's with the discovery of immense <br /> bodies of high grade ore in the Emma and Aspen Mines. The first important discovery of <br /> ore in the Aspen Mine was made by J.D. Hopper. The original Owner's of the Aspen <br /> mine had given up on their efforts thinking the property was worthless. Mr. Hopper <br /> obtained a lease on the claim after deciding that the Owners had not penetrated the <br /> property far enough vetically. Though at the time he did not realize it, this assumption led <br /> him to a fortune. Late in 1884, Mr. Hopper struck bonanza ore in the process of sinking <br /> the Aspen Shaft below the two hundred foot level. He realized over$600,000 in profit <br /> over a few short months. This strike, along with the discoveries in the Emma and Spar <br /> mines, helped start Aspen's silver mining boom. <br /> Shortly after these major strikes were made, legal battles began to brew over their <br /> Ownership. The main dispurte was over the right of apex ownership. Mining law stated <br /> that the Owner of the outcrop or apex of an orebody or vein could follow the vein into <br /> someone else's mining claim if it could be proven that the ore was a continious shoot. <br /> This provoision of the mining law resulted in bitter and sometimes violent confrontations <br /> between apex and sideline mining claim Owners. The legal fight between the Durant and <br /> Aspen was the moast famous of all apex contests. Shots were fired underground between <br /> opposing shifts of Miners and millions were spent in litigation. <br /> Settlement of these lawsuits was eventually effected with the formation of the <br /> Compromise Mining Company. The big players in the apex litigation, David Hyman, <br /> Jerome B. Wheeler, and DRC Brown owned most of the company. Major mining <br /> operations on the Compromise began in earnest and fortunes for its owners assured. Vast <br /> quantities of rich silver ore were removed from which over 20 million ounces of silver <br /> were produced. The Mine has over forty levels of workings over 2000 vertical feet with <br /> many miles of tunnels. The Compromise remained a rich producer until 1893 when the <br /> demonetization of silver caused Aspen's mining industry to collapse. It was worked <br /> itermittently until the 1930's when all mining ceased. <br /> In 1986, Aspen Mountain Mining Corperation took Ownership over the Compromise <br /> Mine and under State of Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division Prospecting Permit <br /> #P1992020 began clean up/rehabilitation of the mine, driving new workings in search of <br /> silver deposits, and construction of surface facilities. The Mine remains open, silver <br /> deposits identified, and ready for production once the costs of silevr reach a substaible <br /> market to support mining costs. In addition to mining operastions, Aspen Mountain <br /> Mining Corperation has opened parts of the Mine for Tours and operated under State of <br />