Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-10-07

to attain the requisite depth for success
fully opening the mine-the water being
the principal drawback to speedy develop
ment. It is asserted that the ledge when
cut was twenty inches in width, Of fine
sulphureted ore, as much like that Of Gold
Hill proper as it were possible to find, and
when the water becomes drained and the
lead is sunk on, a fine body of ore will be
the result, and will perhaps demonstrate
the fact that the Comstock does not end
in the Gold Hill mines. Quien sabei
Adjacent are the deserted works of the
Sperry Company, which will soon be
again in operation. A short distance
south we come to the Jewel and Daney
mines, both Of which have cut small stra.
tams of good ore at a. considerable depth,
but never in a sufficient mass to render
the mines of the dividend order. Passing
along the road, made excellent by the re-
cent rain, we drive down the gently de-
scending canon, through narrow de6les,
and over hard grades, and turning the
corner, presto! the rolling waters of the
Carson are at our feet. Just beyond we
see the Santiago mill, nov in charge of D.
Mckay, Esq, but yesterday not at work.
From the Santiago to our point Of destina-
ton, the road has been cut from the face
Of heavy hanging walls, and a most sub
stantial bridge has been built across the
Carson, all done by that indefatigable
worker and mill-man, Peter rockingham,
Esq, who is sole proprietor Of the Vivian
Mill, where our party was most hoSpi-
tably received by Mr.. F. F. Coffin, Fore
man of the works, and where we partook
of as fine a dinner as a hungry quartette
could desire. Afterwards we paid a visit
Of inspection to the mill, which is most
eligibly located on the east bank Of the
river, and on ground that places it above
the reach of any freshes, so common to the
waters of the Carson river. The exterior
Of the mill is rough in aspect, but inside
we find that everything is kept as neat
and clean as q lady's 6ouGoir, and that the
entire arrangements of the mill are most
excellently adapted for the reduction and
saving of mineral from ores. The motive
power consists of a center discharge water
wheel, which is driven with great momen-
tum, the requisite "fall" being obtained
through a wide ditch and thoroughly con-
structed hume that taps the river some
three hundred yards above. Four bat
teries Of four stamps each-a solid piece
Of work-crush daily about thirty tons Of
ore, which is worked in eight pans, four
inside and one outside settlers; and as
good returns of bullion are made from
this as from any mill in Nevada. Ada
cent is a blacksmith and carpenter shop
and buildings for the accommodation Of
the employees at the mill. Besides the
w~ater-power, a fine engine Of ffty-horse
power is in position, with a boiler Of am
pie capacity, that can be used if necessary,
though only in case of some breakage, for
as we climb out to where the water falls
resistlessly into the embracing tubs and
see the huge shaft revolving with ceaseless
movement, we forget that steam is King,
and are ready to pay any necessary hon.
age to the giant strength Of properly d.
rected cold water as here applied. The
Vivian is an excellent mill. with evident
signs of prosperity. We fingered as long
as possible at the hospitable place, and
then passed up the ano to the plain (;
thence over the hills, and after a drive Of
three miles around, found ourselves one
mile, or thereabouts, above the Vivian
and at the Merrimac Mill, which Is one Of
the finest on the Coast. 1t was built in
the year 1861 by the Ellsworth Brothers,
and from batteries to slum tank is thor
oughly constructed, and is an object Of
pride TO the present owners, who pur-
chased it of the Messrs. Ellsworth. Like
the Vivian, the motive power is water,
and a most magnificent Turbine wheel,
we think almost the. only one at work in
Nevada, manufactured at the Vulcan
Works in San Francisco, furnishes ample
power for running the heavy machinery
thereto attached. The Merrimac Mill is
superintendent by Mr.. Darlington, who,
with his foreman, Mr.. ". J. Hamilton,
received our party and paid every atten-
ton to our comfort, as well as furnished
every means of information in their pow
er. The batteries Of this mill are superior
10 any we ever saw, and consist CT twenty
stamps, which crush about forty-three
tons OF ore per day. Fifteen Wheeler,
four Knox and two Varney pans are re-
quired to do the proper amalgamating,
which are subsequently aided by ten agi-
tators and six settlers, the slum passing
through several watts and the whole tall
ings being finally crushed in a huge reser-
voir one hundred feet long and eighty
feet wide. There are also two miniature
stamps in a cast-iron battery, used for
prospecting small quantities of ore, and
running jointly with the Varney pans.
The entire machinery Of the Merrimac is
of q most excellent character, and the ap-
pearance of the mill and its method Of
working ores is hard to be improved upon.
At present it is crushing Yellow Jacket
ore, with good results. Bidding adieu to
our host, Mr.. Hamilton, we go up the
river half a mile and pay a visit to
Reilly's Mill, which is at present
running but eight stamps and eight
Varney pans, although it is the intention