, 1872-12-28

ploted, will be the Sutro in Nevada, which is In
tended to supply air, drainage, and means OF
transit for ore, to the mines Of the Comstock
lode. -Four miles will be the length Of the main
tunnel, and to this numerous branch tunnels
must be added to strike the different claims.
The Bank Of California the principal owner Of
the Comstock, has been from the first hostile to
the tunnel project, end it was in spite Of its
earnest opposition that the work was COM
menced.
By Congressional legislation, the tunnel
company is entitled to royalty Of 81 per ton on
all the ore raised from each claim
which it taps. Only few Of the
claims are paying good dividends. The Belcher.
one of tho richest raises probably one hundred
and fifty tons per day. The royalty does not
seem in the least excessive when the etremendous
expenses Of tho tunnel are considered, especially
if the advantages to- the mines claimed for it are
realized. These mines, at depth Of from ff-
teen hundred to two thousand feet, are SO hot
TINT the men work with difficulty, and in clothing
almost pfimeyal. The water which is pumped
out is nearly hot enough to cook an egg, even
when it reaches the surface. The heat, which
iao.eauss as ths uines doapen, will un-
donbtedly prove an obstacle to the full
development Of their riches. This OBJ
s!acle, it is claimed, tho tunnel will
in great measure overcome BY the free circula-
ton Of cool air which it wiuatford. This advan-
tage, with the others enumerated, the owners OF
the Comstock evidently do net think sufficient
compensation for admitting so powerful an ally
to the territory which they have hitherto ruled
with m almost absolute sway; and, with tradi-
tionl miner jealousy OF interference, they are
about to carry the act Of Congress- allowing the
royalty before the Supreme Court, in the hope
Of having it declared unconstitutional.
It is wonderful that, in iace of all the diff
culties, the tunnel should have strug-
gled into existence, and even have
passed it's first half-mile. 1t was pro-
jected By man who had neither capi-
tai, practical knowledge Of mining, nor powerful
friends. The first 900 for it Was raised by
the Miners Union OF Virginia City. This suo-
cess was due to the untiring energy and perse-
verance Of hIr. Sutro, who, undismayed by either
rdicule or opposition, plesl the cause OF the
tunnel, almost literally in the streets and ugh
ways oi the city, and accompanied his eloquence
with the convincing argument Of q pledge that
the wages OF the miners should bo raised from
three to four dollars per day.
From this small beginning it started, and, by
dint OF like perseverance, company has been
formed, ground purchased, ano 1rom one 10 TWO
million dollars already raised and expended.
The rock through which the tunnel is being
driven is porphyry, and though hard enough to
require constant blastiug, yet tho tunnel has to
besecurc1y timbered OF about four feet
to insure it's safety. The leader; or small tunnel,
is about 1000 feet ahead, and the only actual
progress the work is now making is in this, as
during tho past few weeks large numbers Of men
havo been discharged, including those employed
in widening this small drift. This, as we'll as
other reductions, has evidently beon caused by
scarcity Of funds, and, indeed, the great daily
expenditures necessary to carry on the work
might we'll find tho bottom OF even alonger purse
than that Of the Sutro Tunnel Company.
Grand undertaking as the tunnel certainly is,
yet it is too problematich in its character to in
vito confidence, with the prospect Of spending at
least twelve millions before any remuneration is
obtained, and with the additional certainty Of an
unccasing fight with its powerful and wealthy
neighbors, it becomes too uncertain to tempt
prudent capitalists; and tho greatest hope for
the tunnel seems to be- that it may strike one Of
the rich leads with which the region abounds.
OF SO fortunate circumstance, however, there
are no present Indications.