Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1865-08-04
Mining in Nevada Tertiary.


graphic and fan OF instruction. that Il cannot
fail 60 interest the readers Of the Democrat.
NKGTSiA CRY. Arm 2sth, 1865.
r. fis Bcfiei Literary CluJ:
LADIES AND GENrtENEN: Having re-
oeived an Indirect invitation 20 become a
contributor TO Your valuable association.
permit me. BY proxy. 90 present 20 yCa a
rough sketch Of thu Silver Mines Of Neva-
da. not promising. howcvr. fine aow of
language or vivid description. but a sew
facts and remarks. which may perhaps be Of
interest.
The presence Of gold and silver bearing
quartz IN this vicinity vas discovered IN
1853. by gentleman by the name Of Com
stock. from which the famous Comstock
Ledge takes its name. the exieu; Of which
- - yet unknown. although il has already
been traced for over t~o miles. north and
south. being of course. somewhat irregular
and disconnected in character and formA-
ton
The cropping" Of the Ledge. that j..
the ledge protruding from the surface Of the
ground. we're iound 70 be rich both in
gold and silver. although the former was
found in more abundance than the latter.
bot upon attaining a great depth Il Is the
reverse. IN fact. but little gold Is obtained
eNcepi a the surface. Imnediatel, upon
thi- discovery, the widest excitcment pre-
vailed throughout the coast; men rushed
here by thousands. capital vas invested.
work commenced, and from a barren and
desoiate waste. has sPrung up. m SIX years.
a city Of vast wealth. importance and mag
nItude. wiil however. confne myself 60 n
description Of deep mining. and give yo1
a. good an idea Of Il a. can.
The initiaiory step. Is TO form a CON-
pany Nth a certain amount q capital. a To-
cation . made Of a. many feet as j. practi-
cable. and then the company Is incorporated
and ready 70 commence operations. Hoist
Ing works are first constructed. usually pro-
PEELED BY horse power AZ the start. bot in
variably changed for steam power a. soon
a. a great debth has been reached. will
take a mine. known As the Yellow jacket
for my example. and with which am well
acquainted. The boisting works of tins
company are built Of wood. are about 40 4
CO feet IN dimensions. exclusive Of the
blacksmith and carpenter shop and oAice
the motive power is an eighty horse power
engine. capable Of hosting COO tons Of ore
a distance of fO0 feet every t~enty-fOur
bours. besides proPeliing pump Of enor-
nous proportions. FOR the purpose Of drain
Ing the nine. The shaft. which j. sixteen
feet IN length by four in Width and divided
into three compartments. vas commenced
about year ago. and sunk 10 the depth Of
$40 feet. a. which distance a level vas op-
ened /. p. a tunnel was run due west until
the vein containing the silver bearing
quartz was found. and then excavations
were madc IN al directions except down
ward. until the ore was exhausted. The
tunnel near the shaft a. well a. the shaft t.
self. j. heavily timbered and braced With the
most Substantial material. while the excsva-
tions are iimbered BY sets. IN a durable
manner. a set Of timbers consists oftwelve
pieces. comprising four !. l.-sts. seven feet in
height. four tie. Eve feet IN length. tso silis
and two caps each six feet IN length. and al
- BY , inches IN breadth and thickness.
and placed on a solid Foundation snd set
perfectly level and plumb. and 90 framed
a. % form portion Of other sets from the
siics and top.
H. this level thc timbers are r. sefs IN
height. Cor about io0 feet from The bottom
Of ihc tuanel.) and about ~ sets square a.
ihe foot. making over 700 sets of timber
in this ievci. although a large number Of
them have been fiied With waste rock. tbas
saving fhe expense ofhoisiiI < ii % he sur
face. besides strcnrthcning an,l supporting
fhc loser tinbers The shah vas then
.uns to e iarthcr depth 81 -3 feet. and upon
running ucsi al before. the ledge vas again
str1rk. much richer ani q more extensive
proportions than that in The fr.t level
About one hundr,d miners are now employ
ei in working this .evcl. ard BE- b. estiuatci
that BE- vii take AZ least SIX months to take
DE ore from t. A. th.s depth t sas found
necessary fo nee mining pump. on acoount
of thc increasing quantity Of safer. shi,h
of itself b. an enormous sni expensive piece
of work. forcing fhe ~ater to thc suria ce at
ihe rate of sboat 50O gallons per minute.
From the nlouth of the shaii. track j.
built 90 a Suitable p'ace called dump. ior
loading teams. snd siso beiov. a similar
traek b. lad 30 diaercni parts % The mine.
Cars vhicb VII contain about iR0O poanis
of rock. are usci. and a. fast a. Sled taken