The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1870-07-19
LITER FROM SAN FRANCISCO.


sax fnANeIscn. July II, 1870.
n.sR METAL MINES.
Since your articles on smelling works.
etc, which were republishld and enin-
mented ON in The Bulletin, there has
been much more talk upon the subject,
and greater interest felt in the base
metal mines Of the Pacific Goast than
before II has ennsed an inquiry into
the extent Of the base metal mines, or
inther Of the argentiierons galena
mines and how they may be turned to
the benefit of this city. as well as the
discussion OF reduction works. such
ores are found in great quantities IN Arr
zana near the Colorado river, TO some
extent on Santa Catalina island, near the
coast Of Los angeles very rich IA inyo
county. as at Cerro Gordo, Caseo, and
other localities la the ncighborhood Of
Ovens river and lake But the most
prolific and valuable Of all sections
seems TO be your own. including East
ern Nevada and Utah Your argentifcr-
ens.ealena section seems to commence
in the Toiyabo range. bounding Reeso
River on the east-the immense lodges
in Washington and Marysyille districts, OF
that class Of ore. having no superior.
Then YOU haye Eureka district, now
attracting much attention by the large
shipment of metal, aud your own dis
triet. which looks rich enough to supply
the world with lead. south Of yon IS
the great lead mine Of POtosi. aud cast.
ward are the mines Of Utah. more nu-
merous than | can mention.
These, in each locality. are AS rich If
richer than the lead mines of other parts
of the world; then how vast must be
the interest when fully developed. OF
all this. Eastern Nevada has the advapt-
age. from the facts OF the ore containing
a larger percentage Of silver, the vicinity
Of the railroad, the healthiulnoss Of the
climate aud the general facilities for
working. II wants now Snn Francisco
capitalists to attend 10 this, both for
their own interest, in thus making n
great business for the city and 10 deyel-
op their contributary country. There
il no more fear Of the great production
of lead glutting the market than there IS
Of glutting it with silver aud gold. As
great as the lead product is IN the United
States. there requires an importation Of
some twelve thousand tuns annually.
II is pnt TO SO many uses that there will
always be demand for il. The Bulle-
tin makes the statement that twenty
thousand tnns Of lead arc used annu-
ally in tho manufacture Of white paint
"a, afl4F Furinff. u
even should there not be a European
var, lead viii sell for a good price at all
times. The weight aud quantity OF this
metal will render the construction Of
railroads necessary, and the numerous
manufactures required TO bring it 10
useful form. and the many changes il
undergocs, make il one Of the most
valuable Of medals for the country in
which it is found
SMELLING WORKS ~ SAN FRANCISCO.
II is not generally known that in San
Francisco is one OF the most complete
lead smelling aud refining works Of the
United States; yet such is the fact. The
stranger will of course notice the high
shot-tower, ON First street, and tho eX-
iensiye lead pipe mandatory nj the base
and may suppose that this constitutes
the lead works OF this city but this is far
from being the case. At Black Point are
the extensive reduction and refining works
Of Selby 4 Co, which are prepared to
benefcinte all the lend ore or rich lead
that is at present supplied by the mines
of the Pacific Coast These have been
established several years, with additions
constantly making improving them to
what they now are Upwards Of S4uo,-
900 were expended on them before they
became remunorativc. aud the prospect
is now that they will constitute most
valuable piece of property. Hero ores,
rich lead or crude bullion, are melted and
refined, and the pigs Of lead or ingots Of
silver prepared for market. The pro-
eesses adopted are kept profound secrets,
no one being admitted TO the interior but
the men connected with the institution
No prying, world-teaching reporter is adj
mittod and as consequence the oXist-
ance Of such works is but little known.
They were first started to supply lend for
the shot tower and pipe mnnufactory; but
are now SO extended as TO furnish lead
for every purpose required, besides send
ing to New York /, 500 tuns annually A
large proportion of the ore comes from
Rush Valley, Utah, the balance from
lnyo county and from the Colorado river.
From the lead reduced, about $50 900
monthly is taken of silver in fine bars.
The lead Is purchased from the miner at
the rate Of from $50 to 800 per tun, aud
the silver il contains is accounted for.
Tins it will be seen that the mncr or
smelter in the interior is well paid for
ms product These works have capacity
to reduce all the lead that can be at pres
ent obtained, and the demand is for
more. Perhaps TIE miners Of White
Pine and Eureka would do better by
sending their ore or lead bullion TO this
market than by sending it East
GIANT POWDER.
Another of the institutions OF san
Francisco of special interest to the miner
IS the mandatory Of giant powder.
These works are located ON the Ocean
House turnpike, about three miles from
the city, in as lonely and wild locality
as you would find among the sogebrush
nils OF Nevada. A half dozen houses,
standing apart from each other, consti-
into the works, and but few men are en-
Pioyed about them. This article, like all
o'her great Improvements, seems very
NioW TO get into use; but il is gradually
overcoming the prejudices entertained
aShnst 1t, aud in short time IL is quite
suis 10 predict that no other powder will
be used. II seems 10 reauire only n