THE MIGHTY ARGO -- MONUMENT TO MINING

by Pam North

The great gold rush that began in Gilpin County's Gregory Gulch in
1859 had its counterpart in the Idaho Springs area as well.  George A.
Jackson made the first major Colorado gold discovery in January of
that same year at the confluence of what is today's Chicago Creek and
Clear Creek.  Clear Creek Canyon was populated almost overnight with
50,000 gold seekers, of which only a lucky few were richly rewarded.
The easier placer gold was taken first, then the hard rock lode mining
followed.  Over 13,000 mining claims were recorded from 1859 to 1861,
and by 1902 over 300 of the hard rock lode mines were being
worked. Many of the most successful of these were on Seaton Mountain,
between Idaho Springs and Central City.  As the shafts reached depths
of 1000 feet or more, the ore buckets, weighing over 1000 pounds,
became increasingly difficult to raise to the surface.  Adding to the
problem were increasing water levels in the tunnel depths; the
inefficient pumps and equipment of the day were unable to handle the
volume of water encountered, posing the possibility that some of the
richest mines would have to be shut down if some remedy wasn't
improvised.

Silas and Ralph Knowles proposed the concept of digging a tunnel under
the flooded mines to provide drainage, and also to furnish economical
transportation for the gold-bearing ore.  Their proposal was presented
to Samuel Newhouse, who formed a partnership with Thomas Weir and John
Montgomery, and their corporation sold stock to raise money for the
project.  A big celebration was held in Idaho Springs to celebrate,
and the proposed tunnel initially was named the Newhouse Tunnel, but
soon was retitled the Argo Tunnel.  It was the largest mining project,
and when completed would be the longest tunnel, in the entire world.

The digging began in 1893.  Hand drills, hammers and black powder were
the crude tools for the backbreaking labor.  So much dust was created
by the early drills that they earned the name "widow-makers."  During
the course of the project, hand drills were improved and dynamite
became available, helping to ease the construction.  The advent of
electricity to the area brought lights to the tunnel, and electric
engines to replace the donkeys in pulling the ore cars.  The tunnel
progressed more rapidly with these improvements, being completed at a
record one-half mile per year.  The 4.16 mile long tunnel, completed
in 1910, had a diameter of 12 feet for the first 2 1/2 miles, then a
diameter of 6 feet for the remainder, and the entire length was at a
.3 grade to the portal, providing good water drainage and easy exit
for the ore cars.  Ending 1300 feet below the surface near the
northwest corner of Central City, a concrete shaft with a lift
connected the tunnel to the outside world.

Envisioned with the tunnel was also a state-of-the art mill to reduce
the costs of handling the gold-bearing ore, thereby ensuring the
overall success of the project.  The Argo Reduction and Ore Purchasing
Company, incorporated by R.E Shimer, then built the largest and most
modern 300-ton mill in the nation, able to recover a higher percentage
of values.  Four-ton ore cars were delivered from the tunnel to the
tipple where the cars, in groups of three, were dumped into 50-ton
storage bins, from which the ore was transfered by electric conveyor
belt to the chain bucket elevator, and raised to the top of the mill.
A huge stamp mill then pulverized the ore into a fine dust, and
updated methods of extracting the precious metals brought a higher
level of recovery than what had been obtainable in the past.

A major flooding of the tunnel on January 19, 1943 resulted in the
tragic deaths of four miners, and was the demise of the operation of
the entire Argo enterprise.  The tunnel, mill and mines had provided
employment to thousands of miners over the fifty years of its
operation.  Over 200 million dollars of rich ore had been transported
to Denver for smelting, and the mill itself had recovered over 100
million dollars of gold values. The close of the Argo effectively
brought about the end of gold mining in Colorado.

The Argo might have been left abandoned, but in 1976 James W. Maxwell
purchased the property.  His interest in preserving the property and
its link with mining history led to his renovation of the five-story
mill.  Upon its completion, Maxwell opened the building to the public
for educational tours.  Most of the equipment that was used to process
the gold ore is still in place, adding even more historical value to
the site.  A museum is housed in the bottom level, displaying
artifacts of the industry, old photographs, payroll records and
milling receipts.  The Argo has attracted visitors from all over the
United States, and many foreign countries as well.  It has been
featured in many national publications, and has functioned as a set
for several film productions.  Its uniqely significant role in
Colorado mining history earned it a place on the National Historic
Register in 1977.

The Argo is located in Idaho Springs, just of I-70, and is open May
1st through September 30th on a daily basis from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. for tours.  Admission is $9.00 for adults, and $ 5.00 for
children 7 years and over (free admission for children under 7).


Note:  Thanks to James W. Maxwell for sharing information on the Argo.