The New York herald., 1870-11-19
THE ORES OF THE GREAT BASIN.


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The Treasure House or tho Continent.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Nov. 7. 1870.
From the breaking out OF the "washoe" excite
men In the year 1851 until the close OF is8S 1t least
one thousand mines containing precious metals
were discovered and located In the State OF Nevada
and Territory OF Utah. Chemical assays showed
tnat the ores from these mines nearly all very
rich, yielding from 5000 to 900 per ton. Little or
nothing could then be done to develop their wealth.
however Tor the reason that frelghts over rough
mountain roads cost fifteen to twenty five cents per
pound from this city, ana labor was worth ave dol
lars to six dollars per day at the mines But the
chief drawback was the generally intractable nature
OF the ores The gold, silver, lead and copper were
SO nrmly locked up In the embrace Of base
metals that all ordinary mill processes. failed
10 save more than very small percentage OF
the total value Tantalus was not more tanralized
than the owners OF these mines. They knew that
the wealth was there. but all attempts to unlock 1t
Alter months, and in some cases years, Of perse-
verlng efforts, the working OF the majority Of these
mines OF "intractable' ores was abandoned, and
little or nothing was done with Them until the COM
pletion of the Pacific Railroad. That thoroughfare
changed the aspect OF affairs completely, however,
by opening up profitable market for the sale Of the
ores here In their rough or native state. over
LOCO tons per month are now brought
down here by the Central Pacific Railroad, and
ABOUT mar as many tons are monthly sent over
the Union Pacific ana connecting lines 70 the smelt
ing works at Newark, N. D., whicn were lately en-
argea 10 consequence OF the great increase OF ore
value OF each ton OF this ore Is at least $780, The
nrn which purchases the largest amount OF them
here informs me that $500 per ton would be nearer
the general average, but even at the former figure
their great value Is shown.
OF the one thousand tons which are now brought
two hundred tons are reduced here. The remainder
are sent TO Swansea, in Wales. All oil the minerals
ponderallDg metals are silver and lead, and our
smelling works can save these alone. All OF
and am assured that the smelling works at New:
ark labor under the sa ne disability. The President
OF the United States lately stated ana truthrully
tained the treasure box Of tho world. Despite the
possession of this great mineral wealth, however
there Is not perfect ore smelling establishment In
the United states About 1000 tons OF ore per
month worth $500, 400 TO $780, 900. are now sipped
over the two branches OF the Pacific Railroad; but
this 1s only the fainteSt beginning or a
business that VIII soon be almost without
limit Nevada, Arizona Utah, Idaho and Montana
are vast beds vi mineral wealth. Without indulglng
In hyperbole, might almost say Of the two llrst
named that blow from hammer VIII send back O
metallic ring for nearly every acre of the Territory
In hveyears hence the ore shipped To San Francisco
over the Central and Southern Pacidc and Caiior.
ma and oregon railroads, Will amount to- at least
500 600 to $50 oo0,000 annually.
This great business or ore shipments over the Pa
cinc Rairoad Is reyolutionzlng mining IN the state
ahu territories named. Even II the ores could
be reduced by ordinary mi process, the ex-
pense OF shipping supplies ana or purchasing
and Keeping good mill IN order, the cost OF fuel in
treeless country ana o. maintaining u superinten-
dent and corps OF assistants ri heavy salaries is
SO great that ii is found TO be cheaper to simply dig
the ore out and send it by rail to tiic water where
the great Reduction works VIII eventually be, and
where fuel, chemicals and labor 10 be au at the
minimum OF cost. Bat where the ores are OF tho
''intfacable' KIND as they nearly all are, the ad-
vantage OF Shipping them nom the mine is Increased
vastly. Swansea reduces the bulk OF our ores now,
with immense profit to English Capitalists but THIS
VIII not always be the case.
Hundreds OF persons in the Atlantic States in
terested ID mines ON the Pacific slope, which they
either acquired by purchase Or discovery. In many
cases they abandoned these mining properties under
the impression tnat their mineral wealth could never
be made available. such persons are not generally
aware OF the revolution produced in mining In the
Territories by the Pacific Railroad. They and the
people Of the East should know that we are now be-
ginning TO make extensive and profitable inroads on
the mineral wealth which mother earth has SO long
Kept undlstnrCed IN her prolific in the great
interior basin or the continent.
Since the last rail was laid at Promentory at least
two new mines per day have been discovered in the
State OF Nevada alone. Discovery was q bar fri.
umph formerly, but now mine Is among the most
valuable OF properties The traditional honest miner
need no longer 60 begging for the aid of capital to
machinery which was patented aI the creatlon--his
two nands-he can dig out his ore, ana his mule OF
team can carry 1t down 10 the railroad line. The
railroad company win haul II TO tdewater even ii
the miner cannot pay the freight IN advance, and
WHICH HIS ole TcdcHeS lulS CITY tueTc are plenty O
cash buyers for 1t at $3.50 to $3.50 per ton. The
miner is. therefore, becoming very independent
and important parsonage. The Pacific Railroad has.
IN fact, knghted HIM, and he can soon crack
MS nngcrs at capital ana defy II. AS rule he no
longer wanders overthe country, houseesS and often
with an empty stomach, having the traditional hour
sack-on which IRE the printed words, warranted
TO weigh 100 puunds'i-rougniy sewed on with bach
eor fingers, to keep the wind And weather from his
nobility lii the rdln bnt with b0iled' shirt store
clOtheSp anu well oiled 3aunch, he struts EARTH
one Of the most independent lords or creation.
Most extensive and valuable mineral discoveries
have been made In Utah within nlne months, ana
miners are turning their steps ihther In great num-
Ders. Tie miner, as he develops the wealth OF utan,
will crack the nut OF Mormon cxcusiveness as
quickly and uncereontousiy as IL Is possible ac.
compiish that task. The Pacific Railroad Is proving
an "open seshm to the mineral wealth OF the great
interior basin lying between the Rocky ana Sierra
Nevada Mountains.