Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1872-08-08
SIERRA NEVADA MIME AND
MILL.

Yesterday morning we visited the
Sierra Nevada mine on Cedar Hill,
just north Of Virginia. In company
with Mr.. John Lambert, the gentle
manly Superintendent, We
Battered tho Miae
Through tunnel situated to the right
Of the old wash gravel bed OIL the up
per side Of the Geiger Grade. Pro-
ceedlng along this tunnel about 100
feet. passing numerous old cuts, rises
and slopes, We reached a large OPEN
Ing we'll secured with timber, and
climbing up six or eight sets OF timber
found ourselves at the
Orc Breasts
or the upper mine. Men were busy
on all sides Of US. stopping, breaking
down. picking and wheeling the ore to
shu,es which carry It to the tunnels
below, from whence it Is taken In cars
and dumped directly into the co,npany's
mill, ready for reduction. After n sat
isfactory examination Of the ore In the
different breast, we descended again
10 the tunnel level and passing ina
northerly direction through several
large chambers Of old abandoned
works. reached a drift running In an
easterly direction so feet, terminating
at all almost perpendicular winze,
down which we climbed about 40 feet
more. then following another east
DRIFT 70 or so feet. reached the
New Orc Body
Struck 4 short time since. This bids
fair 10 prove a valuable and extensive
deposit. 1t has been prospected 80
feet Ia width and raised upon 80 or 40
feet and still In good ore From there
We again descended through a series OF
crooked, tortuous. old tunnels and
drifts to the level OF the
Lower ni1e.
Here again were men taking out
some fine ore, aud n little further on
to the north and east. others running a
prospecting tunnel along the east
casing Of the ledge. This tunnel is In
one 100 feet. It Is the intention to ex.
tend it to the length OF 800 feet and
then cross-cut at different points, when
.ome fine developments may be looked
for. The ledge OIL this level loses ell
tircly the b%roken-up appearance lt
bears above. showing distinct. well de-
fined clay walls, and In places consid-
erable bodies Of white ore. richin gold.
and occasional streakS Of black sui
phur-ts that assay as high "a $4,000
and g. 900 per ton. This IA evidently
the genuine ComStock lode. Three
hundred feet along the main tunnel or
adit brought u. out to its mouth and
the company's
A fine, we'll arranged, convenient
structure. capable OF crushing 20 tons
Of ore per day. Extending below the
mill are long trains OF slulces for con-
c-ntrating aud saving the tailin2s.
Under the mill Is q shaft 700 feet IN
depth, from which they pump the
water necessary to Il 1t.
Taken Altogether,
The mine and mill Il more convent
emily arranged for cheap working than
any IN the State. The mine Is certain
" the easiest and best ventilated. and
everything wears the appearance OF
the strictest economy In the manage
nent. There seems only II thing
lacking, and that Is. that while they
are taking out the ore bodies near the
surface nothing whatever Is being done
to develop the mine lower down.
With a shaft 700 feet deep, splendid
pumping machinery, and Il hoisting
engine standing idle. the cost OF pros
pecting the lower levels would oe com.
paratiSely nothing. 1t seems strange
that work which can be so easily done
and which might place the Sierra Ne
vada side by side with the best paying
mines Of the Comstock, should be 80
long neglected.