Show Thoughts From the Past Serene Mountain Area Played Important Part in Early Days of Southeastern Utah All good things must come cometo cometo cometo to an end for at least a few months say Gordon and Effie Fowler when they come down from Miners Miner's Basin to spend the winter in Moab Utah You can bet your bottom dollar dollar dol dol- lar though that as soon as the th roads clear in the spring no time is lost by these mountain lovers in getting back to their foot high cabin at the foot of Mineral Mountain For those acquainted with the surroundings it is understand understand- able h how w the Fowlers can become so attached to the peaceful and beautiful basin Probably no other other oth oth- er spot in the La Sal Mountains holds to such a romantic past as this time one-time thriving mountain community which had at the turn of the century six forty-six box box- holders in the Miners Basin Post PostOffice Office Only a few of the hewn hand-hewn log cabins remain standing but the sixty year old adobe dobe of the sole o occupants of Miners Miner's Basin is in excellent shape and good Gordon Fowler at the door of his two room mountain mountainhome mountainhome mountainhome home that was formerly the US U.S. Post Office of Miners Miner's Basin Utah Shown are tools of the mining industry of yesteryear yesteryear- z A t w 1 y pia Effie and Gordon Fowler at home in their La ha Sat Sal moun moun- mountain mountain tain cabin located at historic Miners Miner's Basin Dasin The log construction construction con con- has been standing for fot over 60 years for many years to come The hills pockmarked with diggings and remaining mill machinery picks shovels and wheelbarrows tell a story of adventure adventure ad ad- venture of the gold seekers over the years since 1898 Unique in its setting is the mine is still being worked by Mr Fowler Flowing through the floor of the tunnel is a sizable stream of of cool clear radioactive water Adjacent to the mine flows a spring of pure water never never never nev nev- er varying from 38 degrees Coming ComIng Coming Com Com- ing within 10 feet of the Fowlers Fowler's cabin this water has been running running run run- ning through the same hollowed hollowed- out log trough for Cor sixty years Also unique to such mo mountain living is an ice cave with a never ending supply of ice for ice lee cream making and refrigeration Fowler first came to the Basin from Chicago in 1907 to assist his uncle In working the claims The spot was a bit too remote though for a young feller said Gordon so I gadded about a awhile awhile awhile while farming in Colorado and running a hotel in Utah until the death of my uncle when I took over the property Fowler has a theory about Mineral Min eral Mountain and it is so well founded as to have the sanctioning sanction ing of some well-known well andre andere geologists lIe He so strongly strong ly believes that deep within lies liesa a deposit of pitch blend or a rich uranium vein it has caused him to lengthen the tunnel one ter of a mile mUe toward his goal Eighteen years of l steady teady digging dig ging ring during the summer months without the least discouragement is why call him the most optimistic miner in the hills hUls In earlier days Fowler has spent winters on the location having packed in the winters winter's supplies mule-back mule and coming out when necessary on snow snowshoes shoes Since he acquired his wife Effie Effle though he says they dont don't go for tor It tt quite that much Improved roads now enable the Fowlers to come to town at atwill will You can see their bright red reet Jeep in Moat Moa every Tuesday They alternate the trips Effie comes one week for groceries and anet mail man Gordon comes the next fr tr a haircut mall mail and a malted milk mUk When the red reet Jeep is seen in Iz town regularly each day Moab knows that winter has set in in Continued on en P page Ag g 8 0 MINERS BASIN Continued from Page Pago 1 the mountains and Moab likewise likewise likewise like like- wise will know by the Jeeps Jeep's ab ab- absence absence sence Bence when spring has come t to the Basin Living at Miners Miner's Basin never lonesome for the Fow Fow- lers Although the road for thelast the thelast thelast last three miles Is steep rough and rugged townspeople will find their way there by climbing resting the vehicles refilling the radiator and taking the In n steps The guest book shows that few come who dont don't return again and again Comments written in the book ook such as Next to heaven most peaceful spot rye Ive seen and why didn't I find It ft before show how that all who come are pleasantly pleasantly pleasantly plea plea- surprised and none pointed jointed The congeniality of the Fowlers Fowlers Fowl- Fowl ers rs to visitors their persistence e and belief belef in their project has caused aused all who know them to extend encouragement gement and and the good wish that next year brings pay lay |