Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1875-06-25
PRODUCT OF THE MINES AT
THE CENTENNIAL.

tco Ou MlIieS duu NlIiliuS, WHICH Will
doubtless be read with interest by a
large share of those who are accus-
toned to scanning the columns of the
SENTINEL. 1t will be observed that
he puts Eureka down as the second
mining district in point of importance
in America. Following is his report
in full:
To the United States Centennial
Commission: Your Committee on
Mines and Mining respectfully re-
ports that the act approved March Sd,
1871, which provides for the celebra-
ton of the one hundredth anniversary
of American Independence, requires
the commission to provide for the ex-
hibition of the products OF the mines
as well as the soil. and being sensi-
BILE of the great importance of a gen.
eral representation Of the mines and
minerals of the country in 1876, your
committee has taken great interest in
the work, and is encouraged to be-
lieve that this department of the exhi-
bition will prove to be extensive and
extremely interesting.
As many of you are aware, mining
and the reduction of ores upon an ex-
tensive scale are yet in their infancy i'll
the United States. So little was known
of the reduction of u silver ores in
1862 that the most successful could not
obtain more than from so to 60 per
cent. of their true value, while at
this time, only abont twenty-five
years after, III ores are now being
worked up from IS to % per cent, thus
saving from 35 to 40 per cent more
silver than was saved at that time.
The working of the slum at this time,
which passed away as valueless, is
now, under our improved processes,
probably carried on under the direc-
ton OF our skillful mill operators.
There is no place in the world where
mining and the reduction of free silver
ores are so extensively and so success
fully done as at Virginia City, in the
State OF Nevada, some of the mines
Uhe Virginia Consolidated, for in
~stance) yielding as much a 8 81, $50 900
per month, while, with a like amount
of machinery, the California and other
adjoining mines would give a much
larger amount of silver bullion.
The argentiferous galenas. and other
lead -bearing ores of Eureka. Nevada,
reduced by the smelling process. are
giving daily from sixty-tive to seventy
tons of crude bullion. So extensive is
the product of that section becoming
that a railroad is now rapidly approach
ing completion from Palisads to con.
meet Eureka with the Central Pacific
Railroad to carry off the product of her
furnaces.
As an evidence of the increasing in
telligence ofour miners,this district was
totally abandoned in 1866 as of no value,
and in 1869 work was again resumed,
and now her immense ore bodies are
developed and their vast extent is fully
assured. The same may be said with
equal propriety of nearly every mining
State and Territory ofthe Pacific Coast.
Time and labor are destined to bring
about results not now anticipated by
the most confident. Eureka is proba-
bly, the second mining town in America
at this time.
The opinion is pretty well estab-
lished in the minds of intelligent min
ers that the results of mining and the
reduction of ores are likely to become
as reliable as are our agricultural or
almost any other of our industrial pur-
suits.
But your committee do not propose
to write a history of mining and the
reduction of ores, but to emphasize a
period i'm our onward march in this
most fascinating, important and pro-
ductive pursuit.
From all the ore-bearing States and
Territories we learn that ores are being
collected for the great National Exhibi-
ton. Arizona has appropriated 1000
to aid exhibitors, and her Legislature
has selected a Centennial agent, under
the provisions of her Appropriation act,
to superintend the shipment of her
ores and other articles for exhibition,
and under the act the Boards of Super
visors in the several counties have APP
pointed agents to assist In boxing and
| shipping to some convenient poirt in
the Territory her products for trans
portation. There is but little doubt
but the people of Arizona will sub
scribe the balance of the stock appor-
toned TO her.
The Legislature of Nevada at its last
session appropriated 100000 to be ex-
pended under the direction of her
| State Board of Managers to place her
mineral products on exhibition. They
| also propose to erect a small quartz
| tIlIIi Oil tIit cAlilDitiDII EIOuhuS WI Tie
reduction of ores from the great boz
nanzas of the Comstock. This will
constitute one of the most interesting
features of the exhibition, especially
to those who have never witnessed the
operation of converting ores into bull
lion. Agents are canvassing that State
to raise by subscription to stock and
by sales of medals Nevada's quota,
while others are engaged in collecting
a cabinet to be placed on exhibition by
her board of managers in the exhibi
ton. Your committee are informed
that a ton in silver bars will also be
placed on exhibition from that State.
California will be largely represented
both in her gold and silver products,
and also in various matters OF interest
connected with mining.
Oregon will be represented on thai
occasion by some of her rich ores.
Colorado, with her appropriation oil
$4,000, will be fully represented in hel
mineral products, as your committee
Is informed.
Idaho and Montana will be repre-
scented by their gold and silver ores
dust, and nuggets. On behalf Of the
United States, a full and complete col