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<br />juW w nuwuci, a,u auauc a. c mgu- -- ~--- - - - ~ ,
<br />ly~killed professionals. Othgrs are Now that gold is hovering around ~ a s ° , s ' , ',~ ~ . r ~`
<br />selfemployed and enjoy the free- an ounce, Gold Hill Ventures ~ ,~"•
<br />dom to work their own hours. Many believes that mining will be profit- '3pj. `.~ . C ~,' 4 '
<br />young families located there to able once again. The Cash mine .~ ,. ~ + r
<br />fake advantage of affordable hour- was bought by the company th 1958, ~~°~, i ~° ~" ,
<br />ing, neighborly interaction, and a worked until 1964, shut down and ,~ '
<br />centuryold two-room school. Ten reopened th 1983. Blocked out ore ,+" '~. ~, ~~ '~s ,,,; ,
<br />of the 32 children in the elementary reserves in the Cash and Freiberg ~" '€
<br />school aze in kindergarten. They mines are what prompted the con- ,, ,~"; ~ ,,,R' .
<br />walk to school, with .a generous struction of the Gold Hill Mill. ~~ -r .
<br />number of friendly dogs to accom- According to project spokesman n, ; m • - ~~,~`
<br />pany them, just as children and Mazk Steen, Gold Hill Ventures is ~.. ~` v
<br />dogs have always done in the betting close to E2 million dollars ~ <s ~,'`w ~ .- {4 - e~ ,_, .r•
<br />mountain town. that the company's mines contain . F~• ~ ~ r
<br />Ironically, the very feeling that enough ore to keep the mill running Kx"" ~ . ~ . s
<br />the town is intent on preserving for the next 30 years. Gold HillVen- anoiooysvwiaPerreM~
<br />was founded by gold miners and [ores owns hundreds of patented gob Mason, chairman of Gold Hill's Committee - _ gold milling operation Gold Hill Ventures is
<br />their families. The main difference mining claims and controls most of on Mining and Environment, listens as Alian G. building in the town,
<br />today is that the residents no long- the land between Summerville and gird, manager of the Cesh Mine, describes the
<br />er are economically dependent on Left Hand Canyon.
<br />the mines. In the old days, threats Although the chance to strike it
<br />to the town were fve, sickness, and rich is the classic American Steen pointed out that the moon- long-time Gold Hill residents and essary county and state permits. In
<br />the fear that the mines and mills dream, it's not surprising that the fain residents benefit from the owners of the Gold Hill Inn. Al- recent months, the Firms have nev-
<br />would be shut down. Todayy mnrr~ Gold Hill Mill is viewed as a threat company's preservation of open though the Finns sold their rrdnrne er discussed anything except mon-
<br />residgnts Eeel their 6ip,Qest threat by some local residents. Without space, 'For years, people have . c al_uns to Gol1c Hill Ventures thev ey with me. As for their aesthetic
<br />~s mmmg r~ an economic tie-in, the mill is seen bcen hiking, hunting, and cutting are_4pi><ISt~jo the miB's location. concerns, these same people kept
<br />`"F2W-Ll1ftL~fl>-residents know how as a menacing presence to those gjewood on our property, which we 'The tailings pond will be an eye- an abandoned school bus in the
<br />special a place Gold Hill holds in who oppose it. bought and held onto for mining .sore on a beautifu] meadow," said backyard of their restaurant for
<br />Colorado mining history. The first "I'm more troubled by things we purposes. L` we hadn't, at least 50 'Bazbara Finn. She said she is not over a decade," he said.
<br />publicized gold strike and the first don't know than reassured by homes would have been built there opposed to mining in the area, but Drily time will felt if the mill will
<br />local government in the state were things we do," said Bab Mason*by now." a mill, she added, is a different sto- change the community, but not ev-
<br />in Gald Hill. The first major dis- chairman of Gold Hill's Committee The company's detailed answers ry. "If we knew what was coming, eryone is worried. Jce Weaver, ~'
<br />covery of telluride ore in North on Mining and the Environment. overwhekned some and reassuredd~ we would have held on to our who moved to the town in 1933, and
<br />America was made th the nearby After sending fliers to mountain others. Some felt that the mill, land." worked in the Cash mine ins" ~,~
<br />Red Cloud and Cold Spring mines. residents, he moderated a meeting which is designed to process 50 tons Frank Finn feels that the Mined 1950s, watched the milling equ., ~
<br />Placer gold was found thJan- Sept. 19 where the townspeople en- of ore per day, is a bigger opera- land Reclamation Board, whichyymen[ being uNoaded, and his eyes
<br />uary, 1859, on Gold Run Creek, be- gaged in a question and answer lion than anyone thought it would oversees mining and milling activ/1`lit up. "It's the best thing that ever
<br />low the present site of Gold Hill. session with company represents- be, hies in Colorado, is ineffectual. He happened to Gold Hill," he said.
<br />The discovery was publicized high- Lives. Mason emphasized that they Mason and Steen met again a few rnmplained about the lack of time And as for the newer residents who
<br />ly in eastern newspapers, and the were not there to do battle, but to days after the town meeting. Asa that the town had to respond to the don't feel as attached as he does to
<br />news spread like wildfire to pros- obtain information. result of the second meeting, Gold company's perznit application, and the town's mining heritage, he
<br />pectors waiting out the winter in During the course of the meet- Ilill Ventures incorporated gome o[ the apparent ease with which Gold added: "If they don't like it, they
<br />Denver. In the area's first year, ing, a detailed explanation of the Mason's suggestions regarding Rill Ventures was allowed to pro- can move."^
<br />the mining camp swarmed with 4; mining and milling facilities was tailings impoundment and mon- teed with their mill construction.
<br />008 to 5,000 people. In Mazch, 1&59, presented. Topics included ground itoring Eor environmental quality: Steen takes exception to that. Sylvia Pettem is a freelance writer
<br />Cold Hill citizens created Mow- water hydrology, tailings disposal, A few of the residents who "We have been working on our living fn Boulder County. She is au-
<br />tain District Number 1, Nebraska traffic patterns, noise, dust con- weren't mollified, have rallied milting plan for aver two years. It thor of a book on the history of the
<br />Territory. i trot, and land reclamation. around Frank and Barbara Finn, took us months to obtain the net- mirilng industry is the county.
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