Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-01-23
THE EVENING NEWS
The Occidental Mine.

EuC OcciucntnI Ikiuc.
In accordance with a long-cherished
wish and intention, w paid a personal
visit Of inspection to this prominent
"outside" mine yesterday afternoon.
It is situated in u large ravins near the
new Dayton toll-road, about two miles
portheasterly from Gold Hill, at which
point the great lode up on which it is
located crops out most prominently.
This lode runs nearly north aud south,
parallel with the Comstock, aud about
two miles east Of it. 1t is easily trace
able for two or three miles northward
through the St. George, St. Patrick,
st. John, and other adjoining claims,
which at some not very far distant flu
ture period will be properly opened and
worked with success. The ore dump
house Of the Occidental mine is situated
Immediately beside the toll-road, and
by means of u short track the cars from
the main tunnel Of the mine dump their
precious loads directly into it. From
here the ore is transported on wagons
to mill with the greatest imaginable IA
cility. The dump, blacksmith shop,
boarding house, dwellings, cabins, etc.,
connected with the mine, constitute
quite a little village at this point.
iNrERSA WORKINGS.
Under the guidance Of Mr.. Henry
Date, the efficient foreman, we proceed
ed to make q critical examination Of the
mine, and for two or three hours or so
we did some particularly arduous climb
ing up aud down incliues, wines, and
through tunnels, slopes and other sub
terrausan intricacies. The Occidental
mine, although Of much more recent
date in its discovery and development
than the mines Of the Comstock, is far
more regularly, systematically, choaply
and effectively worked than any OF
them, and differs from them in other
material and peculiar characteristics.
The ledge has n very regular dip or IN
clination east, like the Comstoek, OF
about As degrees from the surface down
to the lowest workings, and the vein
matter between the walls averages
about IS feet in width. The streak Of
pay ore, however, is from six TO 10 feet
thick. Il is variable yet continuous
not lying in unreliable chimneys and
punches, as in the Comstock, but in one
huge sheet from top to bottom. Thus
no work is thrown away in prospecting,
but this great pay streak Is simply
stoned and breasted out, all the work
being done in pay ore. The main tun-
mel, which is the base of all operations,
is 900 feet in length, and the ore is all
picked, blasted and tumbled without
the least asserting or selection, from
above down TO the cars in this tunnel,
which at the north end is 700 feet be-
meath the surface. Thus no hosting
works are required, aud, the mine being
perfectly dry throughout, no pumping
has to be done. Owing to the complete
winzs aud drift connections, the mine
is very thoroughly ventilated in every
part. Very little timbering has to be
done, owing to the favorable nature OF
the ground, the hanging wall being
supported here and there by single
round timbers and caps, and an occa-
sional pillsr Of ore left for that purpose.
Neither are there any ladders used
in passing to or from any part oil
the mine, by reason OF the west
or foot wall having such an inclination
that one can climb up and down it as
he pleasss without danger or much iu-
convenience. 1t certainly is = peculiar
mine, and an extremely convenient and
cheap one to work. Neither is this re-
markable mine any more than fairly
opened, although it has been q bullion
producing, paying institution for some
time. We passed over, under and
around immense sections OF pay ore and
saw enough already developed to last
for two or three years at least, indie
pendent Of the untold millions OF tons
iufallibly existing further north and be-
low the tunnel level. Seventeen meu
are employed running a new tunnel and
in other points of development, and
about fifty are actively engaged work
ing in the mine, extracting nearly 100
tons of ore per day. It does not come
up to the White Pine standard OF rich-
ness, but it yields nn even, regular pro-
fit Of from Sc to SIS per ton, taken just
AS it comes, without asserting. 1t IS
easily blasted, and much Of it i, readily
extracted with picks. Owing to the ae-
sence Of base metals and the very trac-
table nature Of the ore, it il
worked 10 the mill with the most
perfect facility. The walls Of the vein
are very distinctly defined and regular,
the west wall being of u hard schistoso
porphyry, vhils-like the Comstock-
on the east Of the vein is an immense
enclosing wall Of clay, which is known
to be at least Is feet thick, rs II has
been cut through in one or two places,
disclosing tie fact that beyond it is
plenty of water. Il is doubtless owing
to this huge clay wall that the mine IS
kept so dry ; indeed, beyond it, the wa
ter appears at the surface OF the
ground. Two wines hare been sunk
100 feet below the tunnel level, in the
psy streak, and ore of II richer and bet
Ter quality developed, sustaining the
established principle in thus mine, that
the ore increases in richness as we'll rs
quantity as greater depth IS attained.
These WINES were sunk partly for pros
p~eeting purposes, and in order
10 open and connect this part OF the
mine with the new tunnel now being run
from a point in the %rarine, below the
toll road, which is already in 500 feet,
and when completed will open the ledge
400 fee, deeper than the present work
ings.
CHARACTER OF THE ORR.
The mntrix of the ore in the OccIden-
,al mine is what some people might
term .'gypsumized quartz" but sG'en-
ti6cally it is termed cr~ystalized carbon
ate Of lime. At the %northerly ex-
tremity, however, i, is more OF the
exclusively quartz character. The pro-
portion of gold to the silver in the bull
lion is Just about the same MS IN the