Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-02-01
THE EVENING NEWS.

BELcHsa M1NE.-We visited this mine
yesterday, situated between Crown Poin,
and the Overman claims in Gold Hill dis
trict. This claim was among the early 10
cations, and originally contained 1900
feet, but $50 feet has been segregated to
the Apple and Midas claim, leaving the
Belcher 1920 on the ledge. The first
work of prospecting was done through a
tunnel which was commenced in the hill
Immediately south OF the Gold Hill mill,
which was run distance of 500 feet, cut
ting a ledge Of yellow quartz pitching
west at an angle of 30 degs., which was
very rich in precious metals. At this
point eight galleries were worked out,
rising on the ledge, and ten galleries, or
sixty feet in depth, sunk on the same, pro-
curing for the Belcher the prestige 1t has
since maintained This tunnel Is timoered
after the early style, and the ledge in the
same is yet being worked advantageously.
At the tine prospects found in the tunnel,
the company resolved to develop their
mine, and accordingly q shaft was COM
menced on the ledge far up on the hill
side, where the hosting works are now
located. Proceeding to the mine, in COM
pany with the Superintendent, Mr.. Lam
bert, and our friend Charley Brooks, we
step upon the cage, firmly clasp the bar,
the bell taps, and away We 90 towards
the depths of Tartarus. This shaft has
been sunk to depth of three hundred and
fifty feet, and IS divided into three COM
Partments, one for pumping-the entire
depth Of which may be reached by per-
pendicular ladders, firmly fastened to the
timbers, and valuable in making any
needful repairs-the other two compart-
ments, four BY four and one-haf feet in
the clear, are used for hoIsting-on one
side . cage is used and on the other
bucket. At depth of l75 feet drift
was run east and west, intersecting with
the tunnel in the ravine, at distance of
one hundred and sixty feet from the shaft
This drift is winding in its course, and
shows fine ledge, nearly one hundred
feet in width, from which large body Of
ore is yet to be extracted. Work was
then resumed on the shaft, and when an
other hundred feet had been sunk, drift
was run through the ledge, which was
struck in the shaft in a northeasterly d.
rection. A DRIFT was run two Numbered
feet and breasting in northeasterly di-
rection, was commenced, and five gal
leries of ore worked from the bottom of
the ledge, which is exposed by this drift
for a distance of nearly two hundred feet,
and which is rich in gold and silver ore.
The ledge IN this drift is irregular in its
features, though perfectly and plainly de-
hned BY bold walls. The ore is of q de-
composed character mixed with quartz.
The shaft was sunk still further, and at
the depth Of $50 feet. q very large body of
water was struck, which kept the pump
actively engaged for a long time; but at
the depth of 800 feet, drift was run
northwest, and at distance of fifty feet
from the shaft, the ledge was again cut,
which AT this level is nearly fat. From
the point where the ledge was cut, drift
was run distance Of $50 feet to the north
east, through the ledge, which lies east of
north and west of south; at the end of
this drift. the ledge was again cut through
for distance Of eighty feet. Going back
to the first drift, another drift was run
south for seventy-fve feet, and q cross
cut, forty feet 10 the east and thirty feet
to the west, has been run without cutting
either wall to the ledge. In the drift, at
the lower level, the east wall of the ledge
has been cut in several places, and is COM
posed of the same black clay, peculiar
only to the Comstock lode. At this time,
the go feet level is being worked and at
the end of the northwest drift, the ledge
(there nearly hat,) has been breasted for a
number of galleries in width and hight,
throwing in sight an immense body of
rich ore, which may be taken out at lei
sure. All the drifts are double, two tracks
being laid, and thus facilitating the work
ing thereof. In the two lower levels of
the mine, the same peculiar formation is
met with, and consists of an undulating
streak Of very rich ore, now raising, then
dropping, but ever maintaining richness
that is healthy to stockholders. Posing
our graceful form again on the cage, the
bell tinkles in the upper air, and with a
gentle motion We ascend the shaft, issuing
from the same in clouds of misty fog that
arise constantly from the heated depths be-
low. The motive power of the hosting and
pumping works consists of two engines
one of 50-horse and the other Of 30-horse
power; these are supplied with steam by
two boilers, one twenty feet long and fifty
inches in diameter, the other sixteen feet
in length and forty-six inches in diameter,
with couplings so arranged as to work
either engine singly-so if one be in want
of repair the other can do the work. An
eight inch Cornish pump serves to keep
the mine drained by half-time use, and is
said to be the best in the State. The
building is sixty-6ye feet in length BY
forty in width. in the eastern part Of
which is the boiler-room, l4xl4 feet in
size. On the south of the main building
il the carpenter shop, in which the tim
bers for the mine are fitted, and in the
main building is a blacksmith shop for
doing such forging and sharpening of tools
As may be necessary. The water used for
the boilers has been taken in buckets from
the shaft and deposited in a tank. from
which it has been pumped in the usual
manner but two inch force-pump, with
= six foot stroke, IS now being erected,
and the water win be forced from the dis
charge point Of the main pump in the
tunnel directly to the engine. From the.
shaft the ore 10 taken on cars TO magnih-
cent dump, which is eighty feet in length,
twenty feet in width and twelve feet in
depth. The back wall Of this dump is
two feet thick. and set at slight angle
against the bank, the imbeTs thereof be-
ing of massive posts firmly mortised to-
gether, the bottom being Of heavy plank
ing, and the whole being . massive and
Necessary piece of work. The mine fur
nishes employment to fifty men, who work
eight hours to "shift, and hoist about
forty tons per day. The Belcher's divi-
dends per month indicate the richness OF
the ledge, and the vast body Of ore now
in v;eu in the mine furnishes good evil