The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-03-11
THE WAsHoE SILVER MINES.

As many are now investing their capital in
the lodges of Idaho Territory, the following
account of the operations, productions, and
expenses of some of the noted mines of a
similar character in Nevada, may throw some
light upon the subject, from which quartz
operators can derive some benefit, and make
some estimate of the probable result of their
investments
The close of the year suggests a review of
the work of the last twelve months in the
Washoe Silver Mines, and the reports sub
mitted at the annual meetings of several
leading companies lately furnish interesting
material for remark. The year began in the
climax of the mining-stock excitement which
had commenced three years before, and had
gradually risen until it affected nearly every
body and absorbed nearly all the spare cash
in this city and vicinity, extending even to
remote parts of the Pacific Coast. Gould h
Curry was in demand at So, 900 per foot, and
other valuable mines in proportion These
prices were based on some kind of reason,
but a thousand claims that were utterly
worthless were selling at high prices also.
The decline began about the, first of the year,
and continued until May, wken.it burst into
a panic, which reached its highest point in
August, when the Gould 4 Curry went down
to 5000. The wildcat stock was completely
destroyed but the valuable mines survived !
and revived and confidence and prices have
been gradually advancing together tor some
time past. The panic mas not been without
its benefits chiefly among which are the de-
mand for strict accounts of all expenditures, |
careful scrutiny of all the work done, and |
frequent visits by the officers to the mine. So
long as the price of stock continued to rise
no questions were paid, the work was badly
done, no full accounts were rendered, and /
money was squandered in matters which could I
be Of no benefit to the mine
The Gould & CurrJ is the most productive
silver mine in the world. The yield for the
year ending on the first inst. was S4,898. coo
lin round numbers 100000: which sum
nas obtained from &C, 600 tuns of ore, avera-
ging $40 per tun. About two evenths Off
he S. 100000 were net profit, and were dis
ributed in dividends; one-seyenth was spent
n building and litigation, and the remaining
our sevenths went to the ordinary expenses
If the mine and MILL The Weld was only z
eventy per cent. Of the value so the tailngs I
# the Gould & Curry Of last year contained r
81, 10000 The waste of that mine is almost =
quail to the entire production of any other. \
n the previous year the yield of the mine |
vas SIS, $50, 455, making total of S., 887 900
dded to the commerce of the world in two
ears. The mine is a silver mine, but thirty
er cent. in value, though only two per cent !
4 bulk, of the metal extracted, is gold The
ost of reduction now is. about $l2 per ton, Il
4 the company's mill. e
During. the last year the Ophir reduced r. !
80 tons, in value 100000. The total yield !
-as $768, 900, or eighty-four per cent. of the :
ssay value. The ore was reduced at a cost
S32 per ton in patio and barrel, the price :
f the two processes being about the same.
The Empire, at Gold Hill, is the only prom Er,
lent Washoe Company of which we have any
tie and comprehensive information From
arch, 81, to December '64, period of y
lirty-three months, the company worked :,
$500 tons, or about $50 tons per month, at :
cost Of $l3 per ton for hauldng and re- h
icing. The total yield of the $4,000 tuns, al
as $40 per tun, making total of $1,000 hC
10; of which $4,000 were distributed in TO
vidends, and the remainder was spent other C
Use, including about $500, 900 expended on ia ia
70 mills, a new shaft and other improve nj
ents. 1t is remarkable fact that the Gold m
ii mines, when first opened, yielded atolt
rec times as much gold as silver, in value :
ID those which have reached depth of 800.
400 feet produce now nearly three times In
much silver as gold.
THE OwYHEE RoUrE.-Mr: Hill Beachey is
gagged in stocking stage line to run on vi