Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-04-18
RAY MOND 4 ELY.

RAYMOND 4 ELY.
IL IL with feelings Of peculiar gratif-
cation that VIC are able TO announce the
completion Of tho pumping machinery of
tho Raymond & Ely, and its eminently
satisfactory working. On Friday after
noon, AZ we yesterday remarked, trial
was made OF tho ponderous appliances,
and they worked to perfection. As to u
great extent the prosperity Of Phoebe de-
ponds upon the vigorous exploitation of
the Raymond g. Ely mine, and as the
power to make those explorations, in its
turn depended on keeping the mine free
from water, the proposition is thus mar.
rowed down to the question Of ability in
keeping the mine free from water. This,
in the minds OF many was very prob.
lematical. The shaft has attained depth
OF 200 feet, which brought the bottom
not less than 500 feet below the level of
the valley, where large quantities OF wa.
ter have been found ut various depths
from the surface, varying from seventy
five to three hundred #. With these ex-
amples before them it was thought by
many of our citizens that in its
lowest depths the Raymond d. Ely
shaft had tapped reservoir or series OF
reservoirs OF water of indefinite extent,
and which would be beyond the power OF
ordinary appliances to exhaust. On the
other hand many commended, and amongst
them were found most OF the experience
ed miners and men well versed in such
operations, that the powerful apparatus
would be found abundantly able to cope
with all the water likely to be met with
for great additional depth. Amid these
varying and conflicting opinions the
officers OF the company took the pest
possible course they could pursue, and
that was to enlist in their behalf men of
the greatest mechanical skill and true
experience in such matters, and entrust
to them the task Of constructing such
appliances as would in their judgment
best answer the requirement of the occa.
sion. The result of their labors is now
to be seen, and its operations fully justify
the confidence reposed in those who de.
vised and set up the machinery. The
object to be achieved, may be briefly
stated thus: To keep the workings of
mine already 1900 feet in depth free
from water, the amount OF which
latter was an unknown quantity, it
might be much Or not SO much
but in any case it was to be taken away
and the mine kept drained. To nccomp.
lish this result the machinery we shall
presently describe was set up, and there
is every reason to believe that it will an.
swer the purpose for which it was in.
tended. In describing the pumping APP.
partus, we will commence at the motive
power, with the steam engine, which IS
OF different construction to those here.
tofore seen on this coast, and considered
by competent judges to be superior to all
others heretofore employed for such pur.
poses. The thrust Of the piston.rod is
on the same level with the crank shaft
80 that there is no strain or power lost
by the sides being on different level
with the piston. The bed.plate is also diff
ferent from those usually employed and is
known as the Coress pattern, and is the
first made OF thar pattern. 1t already
finds SO much approval that all of the
heavy engines used for the great Com.
stock mines are being constructed on
this plan. The weight of the engine is
about fifteen tons. The cylinder is 26
inches in diameter, having stroke of 70
inches. Another novelty attached to
this engine is the valve motion, which is
different from any heretofore used on
this coast for pumping or hosting pur.
poses. 1t is known as the balanced
puppet valve, worked by cams and
levers. and is very similar those used on
tho engines of the Mississippi steam.
boats. These valves work very salts.
factorily. To them is attached Scott &.
Eckert's cutoff, which. besides having
variable cutoff to be regulated by hand
as the Judgment Of the engineer may re-.
quire, rs also n governor attached. by
which appliances great regularity in
working the engine and economy in the
consumption OF fuel is obtained. The
hy-wheel is vast and ponderous iron
circle, weighing 80 tons, "a feet in di.
ameter. 1t is monstrous affair. Its
huge arms stretching out like Victor
Hugo's celebrated Devil-fsh, ana lust as
deadly to any one unfortunate enough ia
come within their charmed circlo while
in motion. Connected by pinions on the
main shaft arc the two immense spur.
wheels. each IL feet in diameter and
weighing $4,000 pounds. They are fitted
with morticed teeth, 1917 inches face
formed of rock maple. These teeth wer,
prepared here, and dressing them TO the
proper dimensions was a work of preat
skill and nicely. The two spur.wReels
run parallel with each other, connected
by tho yristpin, to which tho pitman or
rod that connects with the head of the
pump-bob is attached. Being connected
in this manner the great strain of the
pump rods is divided equally between
the two wheels. We are informed tina,
this is the first pair of morticed wheels
mat have been used on tho coast. bu,
the plan meets with such general ap
provni that the system is being adopted
70. All neavy pumping machinery. The
putnam ls a massive beam % feet long
praced, strengthened and bolted in every
possible manner to enable it to resist IN,
neaVy strain to which it is subiected n
Is connected with the head of the "bob'
with ponderous COUPLING keyoa %
cnrely in it's place. The pumn.Loh ,ha,
works on the surface Ia nm .no. WV"
mass of wood and iron, in the shawn ou ~
an enormous L turned uns;da 49, "
The body Of it is formed of huge sona "n
logs which are put together and strsnoth
ened by the heaviest kind OF iron trrs,
work, tied. braced and bolted to eac Jt
in manner that defies any force that |;
may have to encounter in the perform
ance of its work. One end of tho nos,
piece projects over the pump shaft and il
there connected with tho pump.rod, th,
latter extending length of IL. 900 #, o.