Mile Post 35.24
The Randolf Mill and Chamberlain Sampling
Works were build on the original Hill smelter site, located east of
Black Hawk between the
New York and Iron
City mills. In the piece of the 1900 Sanborn map below, the
Randolph Mill is the southern structure while the Sampling Works seem to be
all of the northern structures
1900 Sanborn
Gilpin Historic Society
The Randolph Mill used amalgamation and
concentration processes. It had 50 stamps, 10 plates, 10 bumping
tables, and used water power. In 1914 operating part of mill consisted
of crusher, Challenge feeders, 10 750-pound stamps (53 drops a minute)
amalgamation plates, 2 Gilpin County bumping tables, 6 Wiltley tables,
electric power. It's capacity was 75-100 tons.
Randolph Mill (front) and Chamberlain
Sampling Works (rear)
Colorado Historic Society
Note, this photo was probably before
1900. The iron clad elevator which was part of the crushed ore storage
of the Sampling Works seen here behind and to the right of the Randolph Mill
Stacks were shown in the 1890 Sanborn Map, but was replaced by ruins (see
above) in the 1900 Sanborn.
Chamberlain Sampling Works Traffic and
Operations
by Keith Pashina
The Chamberlain Sampling Works was an
important mill in Black Hawk. One reference Professional Paper #94, Ore
Treatment, Labor and Royalties, Freight Rates (Chapter XII), by E.S. Bastin,
C.W. Henderson, and J.M. Hill. I have a photocopy of this document, provided
to me by Lind Wickersham of Tulsa, OK. Here are some interesting quotes from
this document:
The sampling works pays the miner for his ore according to certain
schedules or contracts based on the assay of the ore for the precious
metals… An attempt is made to crush, sample, assay and pay for the ore in
one to two days, and in this promptness of payment lies the great advantage
of the sampling works to the small producer….If the ore is shipped direct to
the smelter a much longer time elapses before payment for it can be
received, and as a rule only the larger producers can brook this delay;
moreover, the smelters do not handle less than carload lots.
And,
At present the Chamberlain sampling works act almost exclusively as
agents for the American Smelting and Refining Co….The sampling works have
many contracts with the mining companies whereby the latter can ship their
ore either to the sampling works or direct to the American Smelting &
Refining Co.; any contracts made by the American Smelting & Refining Co.
will be fulfilled by the sampling works if the ore is shipped to the latter.
The bulk of the ore from this district goes through the sampling works
before going to the smelter.
Next, here is an example of traffic to the Sampling Works in 1907. This
information I photocopied, then tabulated, from the Colorado Railroad
Museum archives, entitled The Gilpin R.R. Co., Ore Report August,
1907.
The Gilpin R.R. Co., Ore Report for September,
1907
TRAFFIC
SHIPPED |
CAR RATES AND
AMOUNT BILLED |
From |
To |
Number of Cars |
Tons |
Ton Rate |
Car Rate |
Total |
Ore Traffic |
Old Town Mine |
C. D. Ore Co. (1)
|
6 |
43.65 |
$0.50 |
|
$21.80 |
Barnes Mine |
C. D. Ore Co. (1)
|
1 |
|
|
$4.50 |
$4.50 |
Druid Mine |
C. D. Ore Co. (1)
|
2 |
|
|
$5.00 |
$10.00 |
Aduddel Mine |
C. D. Ore Co. (1)
|
2 |
|
|
$5.00 |
$10.00 |
Saratoga Mine |
C. D. Ore Co. (1)
|
2 |
|
|
$5.00 |
$10.00 |
Pleasant Valley Mine
|
C. D. Ore Co. (1)
|
1 |
4.8 |
|
$1.00 |
$4.80 |
So, in one month we see 6 different mines shipping to the
sampling works in generally in small amounts. I noted that an earlier month
ledger showed 17 cars one month from the Old Town Mine, but that seems to be
the exception. Also, the document quoted above was published in 1917, when
the sampling works was still an active business.
Finally, the same Professional Paper #94 goes on to say:
The Chamberlain sampling works at Black Hawk was built on the site of the
Hill smelter soon after its removal to Argo in 1878 and has been operated
continuously since that time…
Below are some additional photos of the area.
Glimpses of Golden Gilpin Colorado
1909
Abbott Collection
|
Closeup showing the Sampling Works and Randolph, 1909
Abbott Collection |
Looking up from Clear Creek
Gilpin Historic Society |
Looking up from Clear Creek
Gilpin Historic Society |
This view is of the west side of the Randolph Mill. The Randolph’s
flume is on the right, with the mill in the far right background. The
structure with the stack in front is not the Randolph, but an unnamed
building about 200’ west of the mill.
Denver Public Library - Western History
Collection |
Close up of photo on left.
Denver Public Library - Western History Collection |
Hill Smelters which previously occupied the Randolph
Mill Site. 1878
Gilpin Historic Society |
A view of the east side of the Randolph, and what
looks like sampling works structures on the right margin. This is an
enlargement of an image from the DPL Western History Collection. |
Randolph Mill 1892
Abbott Collection |
Randolph Mill and Sampling Works
Keith Pashina Collection |
Map by Dan Abbott
|