![]() The accusations, animosity, gunplay, and expulsions that followed were part of an ongoing struggle throughout Colorado's mining communities which came to be called the Colorado Labor Wars. Barney, which Wells declared a "murder", created much intrigue and national interest. The disappearance of mine guard William J. The Telluride Miners' Union was led by Vincent St. Bulkeley Wells was one mine operator considerably hostile to the union. Telluride's labor unrest occurred against the backdrop of a statewide struggle between miners and mine owners. Even the boarding houses were precariously placed on the mountainsides. Work conditions were treacherous, with mines above 12,000 ft (3,700 m), a lack of safety measures, and bitter weather in winter months. At this time, workers were putting in 10- to 12-hour days and the mines ran 24 hours a day. 1899 brought big changes as union strike action led most mines to grant miners $3 a day for an 8-hour day's work plus a boarding pay of $1 a day. Unions were formed as miners joined the Western Federation of Miners in 1896. The Colorado National Guard was called out and there were deaths on both sides. Īround the turn of the 20th century, there were serious labor disputes in the mines near Telluride. This brought a brief but unprecedented boom to Telluride before the Panic of 1893. The cheaper and consistent transportation for passengers and freight allowed miners and goods to flow into the San Miguel town and ore to flow out to the mills and foundries elsewhere. It continued further up the valley to end its Telluride branch at Pandora, serving the mines and the town until 1952. In 1891, the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, also begun by Mears, arrived in Telluride, eventually building a two-stall engine house, water facilities, a section house and a bunkhouse, sidings, and a depot. He exited the bank with $24,580 and later became famous as a bank robber. In June 1889, Butch Cassidy, before becoming associated with his gang, the " Wild Bunch", robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride. This increased the number of people in Telluride, but it was still expensive to get gold-rich ore out of the valley. In 1881, a toll road was opened by Otto Mears, which allowed wagons to go where only pack mules could go before. Telluride began slowly because of its isolated location. Although gold telluride minerals were never actually found in the mountains near Telluride, the area's mines were rich in zinc, lead, copper, silver, and ores which contained gold in other forms. The town was named after valuable ore compounds of the chemical element tellurium, a metalloid element which forms natural tellurides, the most notable of which are telluride ores of gold and silver. Telluride was originally named "Columbia", but due to confusion with Columbia, California, the name was changed by the post office in 1887. : 51, 54 John Fallon made the first claim in Marshal Basin above Telluride in 1875 and early settlement of Telluride followed. The Smuggler gold vein above Telluride, and placer gold in the San Miguel River, were discovered in 1875. Gold was first discovered in Colorado near present-day Denver, setting off the Pike's Peak gold rush of 1858. The town population was 2,607 in the 2020 United States Census. The Telluride Historic District, which includes a significant portion of the town, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also one of Colorado's 20 National Historic Landmarks. It is especially known for its ski resort and slopes during the winter, as well as an extensive festival schedule during the summer, including the Hot Air Balloon Festival, which traditionally occurs the first weekend in June. Telluride and the surrounding area have featured prominently in popular culture, and it is the subject of several popular songs. A free gondola connects the town with its companion town, Mountain Village, Colorado, at the base of the ski area. Numerous weathered ruins of old mining operations dot the hillsides. Steep forested mountains and cliffs surround it, with Bridal Veil Falls situated at the canyon's head. These telluride minerals were never found near Telluride, but the area's mines for some years provided zinc, lead, copper, silver, and other gold ores. The town was founded in 1878 as "Columbia", but due to confusion with a California town of the same name, was renamed Telluride in 1887 for the gold telluride minerals found in other parts of Colorado. The first gold mining claim was made in the mountains above Telluride in 1875, and early settlement of what is now Telluride followed. ![]() ![]() The town is a former silver mining camp on the San Miguel River in the western San Juan Mountains. Telluride is the county seat and most populous town of San Miguel County in the southwestern portion of the U.S. ![]()
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