Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1872-01-13
THE T TUNNEL.

pediency of granting Government aiu
In Its construction, performed their
duty faithfully, returned, and have
submitted their report. Among the
regular Geographic dispatches from
Washington, under date of January
9th, is tho following:
The report Of the Sutro Tunnel Com
miss.oners was transmitted to the SEN
ate to-day. The Commissioners report
that the tunnel Is entirely feasible, aud
may be constructed In less than TWO
and n half years, ut u cost OF about -FOUR
and Il half millions. They believe that
the Comstock lode Is a true assure
vein. continuing down indefinitely
aud express the opinion that While tho
tunnel ia not a necessity for vcntlia-
ton or draining, yet any scheme which
promises increased economy In the
working OF the mines and rendering
valuable n vast amount Of now worth
less ~low-grade ores in the ComstocS
lode, becomes of national import
ance. Whether the Sutro Tunnel pro-
ject fultls this condition Of econnrny
depends on the efficacy Of the methods
now employed in Germany and OTHER
countries OF Europe for the %coacentTa-
ton and profitable working Of low
grade ores. On this point the Commits
Sion has not In this country, by per
sonal investigation, been able to OBJ
tain the desired information. In coii-
clusion, the report commends the Sl-
tro Tunnel to favorable consideration,
as an exploring work for deep mining.
To us this telegram is satisfactory,
as perhaps 1t may also be to the Sntro
Tunnel Company. We have always
been in favor Of the Su:ro Tunnel as a
private enterprise, not being able to
SEQ why It should be favored with Gov
ornmeut assistance any more than the
Daney or other tunnels projected for
deeper mining in the Comstock lode,
vet perfectly willing that Government
should assist all alike in case it chose
to lay aside Its established policy In
that respect. The most Objectionable
feature In tho Sutro project Is its cx-
acting a tribute or royalty OF two
dollars per ton on all ores taken by
the various companies from any por-
ton of the lode, whether from the
depths or tho surface, either BY the
companies themselves or through tho
Sutro tunnel, after the said tunnel Is
completed. The charge Of twenty-five
cents to each miner for passing through
the tunnel, to or from his work, is also
Objectionable, as Of course IL would
have to be taken out Of their daily
wages. Other circumstances also ON
bined render the Sutro project the
most extensive private monopoly eve
concocted In this section. Now rs to
this report of tho Commissioners, as
published above. No one ever doubted
the feasibility Of the tunnel project,
and now that It has been actually
commenced after years of preparatory
Prospecting. we consider it' compile
tiuu With" i.o i.G . i.I yca"' It'ie
possible. A commencement has boon
made at the eastern end, and the four
shafts along Its route are also CON-
menced. When these shafts shall be
sunk down to the tunnel level the tun-
nclling can DO commenced each way,
making in all nine points Of construc-
ton. In case Sutro could get permits
sion, he might also commence imme-
diately at the western end of his tun-
mel, through the Hale & Norcross,
Savage or Gould & Curry shafts, which
are already sunk almost down to the
tunnel level and will DO quite down to
tina, Lowell long before the shafts Sutro
Is sinking. Thus he could work his
tunnel ut both ends eve now If no
chose to do so.
The Commissioners very justly re-
mark that "thc tunnel Is not n neces-
sity for either ventilation or DRAIN
age" yet they consider "any scheme
which promises increased economy In
the working OF the mines and render
Ing valuable a vast amount Of now
worthless low-grade ores In the Com
stock lode, of national Importance"
In the sentence following the above,
they cast a serious doubt as to whether
the Sutro Tunnel Is Of any practical
benefit, even for that purpose, and, In
conclusion simply recommend the tun-
mol to Favorable consideration as an
seploriny work for deep mining"
Briefly stated, tho Commissioners say
the Sutro Tunnel is not needed for
ventilation or drainage, and that In
fact they do not know that 1t Is good
for anything In particular; yet, as 4
prospecting enterprise, it should be
favorably considered, samo rs any
other scheme for exploring or pros
pectlng and developing the mineral
resources of the country. They simply
damn the project with faint praise,
whether they really intend 1t or not.
We called for q Commission of the
kind through the columns of the News
long beford Congress concluded to
send one to look into this noted tunnel
project, and when the Commissioners
came we formed a very correct esti-
mate of them rs gentlemen Of sound
practical Judgment and integrity, who
would lock we'll to the true interests
Of the Government in the matter. But
whether Government concludes to rem
der any aid or not, We have no doubt
that the Sutro Tunnel will be con-
structed, for private capital Is already
being made quite effectively available
for that purpose. Although OF no
practical use In working the Comstock
ledge, yet tho tunnel Is quite likely to
develop other lodges In its course, as
yet unknown, and perhaps lodges Of
t,o tl,aralp ~provinU a henefit tn