Mines were important in Ouray history. First, the mines made Ouray possible because there was so much from gold and silver. In the mountains the mines were rich. The mines brought other miners to Ouray and made it bigger. Then more business came. For example blacksmiths came to Ouray. Blacksmiths built all the tools and sharpened them.  The blacksmith was a good paying job. Then one day in 1888 railroads came.  The mines got bigger because the trains hauled ore for the mines and made more money. Also they hauled ore more cheaply. Another thing that helped the mines was the Beaumont hotel because it drew rich men who wanted to invest in the mines.   There is one mine that was famous was the Camp Bird Mine. Tom Walsh owned it. There was so much gold that they were making five thousand dollars a day and became the richest guy in the world. The miners made three dollars a day. In 1978, the price of gold went down and all of the mines went out of business including the Bachelor Syracuse mine. The Bachelor Mine still remains as a mine tour today. Today our town is dependant on tourists, not on gold and silver.   However, there is a mine that is in business today.  At the Ruby Trust Mine, they have three men working at the mine.  Gold prices are hitting record highs.  More mines might open in Ouray!  Mining is important to the history in our town.