New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-28
THE BURNING or VIRGINIA CITY,
A BLOW TO GOLD MINING.

A BLOW TO GOLD MINING.
PROBABLE sToPPAGE OF ANY HEAVY GOLD PIoDUc-
ION FOR SEVERAL MoNTHs-A MATTER OF IN
TLREsT on TWO COyTINENTs-THE VALUABLE
MACHINERY AT TIE GREAT MINIS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSr.l
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-Dispatches from Vjr-
gnia City, in relation 10 the destructive fire in that place,
and the loss TO the mining interests notably the Big
Bonanza mills and mines, regarded here az made
quatc they foil give any idea of the immense prop
ery at stake and the hearing of the loss the hui
lion trade OF the world Dr. LndeTman director OF the
mint; Gov McCook Of Colorado, Gen Garfield OF Oho'
and the Of THE TRIBUNE, all Of whom Wis
tied the Virginia City mines during the past sum
mer, unite in the belief that adequate idea OF
the loss has yet been conveyed 10 the pub
lie. Virginia City was composed largely or
wooden buildings. There only few brick structures
in the town. aud these remote from each OTHER as
10 be Of little service In ing the flames of great fire.
The buildings belonging to and connected with the sew
oral mines which destroyed more than dozen IN
number, were all of wood. These covered machinery
costing millions Of dollars This machinery vas notonly
massive hut int icate, aud all Of IL was built expressly
for the works in which IL did service. The hosting ma
cbinery Of the Consolidated Virginia Mine very SUI
pror and not only cost an immense sum of money but
required many months TO build. set IL in
position, and adjust il TO the shafts. The
building which covered the shafts, and machinery
Of this mine, very large wooden structure seasoned
almost 10 the point OF combustion, and within a few
yards the business offices, The assay offices, and
other buildings belonging TO the nne besides large sior
ages Of lumber and wood in the mine, II
incredible that these should all have burned without
destroying the 1ne hosting machinery which requires 10
be adjusted accurately the works of clock. fire,
such that il described have been must have warped
and sprung and BROKEN the immense Wheels bars,
drums. &C., rendering them useless IN the future.
The mills of the Consolidated Virginia. where
al. 1.st .H and TIM
fire also have ruined tie engines and machinery
within these large structures, whch even more
pensive than those Of the hosting works These mills
belonged To private persons and their only relation 10
the mine that they received the ore ard worked IL
for so much ton. The mills principally owned by
the Same firm, Flood Mickey, Fair d O'Brien, which
holds majority of the stock OF the Consolidated vir-
ginia California, Gould & Curry Best & Becher, and
Savage Mines.
The Consolidated Virginia Mine producing at the
of the disaster about 2OO0oO0 worth OF bullion
month about half OF wh'ch gold. The from
which this was taken hOisted almost wholly through
the three chambers of rs shaft by the machinery that
- no disabled and not likely 90 he replaced for
many months. The mills that are also destroyed sepa-
rated this ore and the ASSAY offices melted the bullion
into bars From present indications rot pound OF
be taken from either the Consolidated Virginia Mime
California Mine until tho machinery is replaced,
and not ton Of it DO treated until the mills
bull; This would require, with all the
OF the richest firm in the county, several months.
The California mnc which is Only few rods from the
Consolidated Virginia. las no shaft, and IFS ore was
hoisted by the machinery Of the latter consolidated
shaft however, for the OF both mines, being
sunk and well in progress when the fire occurred
Machinery for THE shaft and for the Co
stamp in process of construction, were also de-
stroyed This mill to have bonn the largest In the
country and WOule have done the work OF nine ordinary
mills. The machinery had been building for nearly
months
In counting the loss by the fire. therefore, the neures
should lie confined TO bc loss Of buildings Virginia
city and the machinery and rppurtenance Of the mnes
account, should he taken OF the 80 900 600 per
month which the mines producing, and which must
now until the hosing and milling capacity Of the
mines restored. Unlike coal mine, the orc In the
Big Bonanza cannot burn and cannot be destroyed by
either fire water but 1t also cannot bs available with
ont the costlies machinery Should six months elapse
these mines restored 10 their old condition, the
effect the gold and silver market Of the world will be
very great. The loss Of 100000 gold month viii be
felt Francisco where performs its functions
a circulating medium. The gold is sent 20 NewYork,
where it also relations with trade aud commerce,
and subsequently il to Europe and finds its way
10 the German Empire whose Gold law goes into effect
in January. The loss of silver of equal or greater
must also have IL eject on the markets OF the
world.
cause he only slightly damaged, which seems hardly
probable consider the facts, the bullion product be
resumed after few weeks delay. Dispatches received
here to-day from Mr. Mackay, Mr.. Fair and other OK
perenced gentlemen OF them having connection
with the mines, say, however, that there can be no
production for several months The Best and Belchcr
Mine which adj0ns the Consolidated Virginia the
South has no finished shaft Of its own; but
the next nine the south, the Gould *
Curry, al.O controlled by the Bonanza party,
bag an excellent shaft down over 5000 feet, and
has also superior hosting works chamber or DRIFT has
been run from the Gould 4 Curry 1000 foot level
through to the north, connecting that mine with the
Consolidated Virginia. Through this chainbcr the
miners must escaped unless they were hosted nom
the Consolidated Virginia mine before the fire reached
H. Tie 4O foot Level Of the Consolidated Virginia cor
resnouds with the 900 foot level OF the Gould ~
Curry.
The seusatioD regarding the flooding OF the former
mine is not worthy Of consideration. II ~ drained
through the latter mine, the pumps OF which are ado
yuate 10 keep half dozen Of such mines dry IL IL pos
sble that .e bonanza party map employ the line hoist
ing works Of the Gould and Curry Ia raise some OF the
richest ore in the Consolidated Virginia and California
mines from time 10 Time enough 10 keep up expenses.
although the these mines are below the lloo
foot level IL known here that most of the insurance
of the bonanza party was held by themselves They
gayized an Insurance company and instead OF paying
pereentage IA outside companies, kept the business in
their own hands.
TOTAL loss OVER S3,OOO,0O0.
r,,r INSURANCE COMPANIES SUSTAIN S1,200,O00
or yT-BAD MANAGEMENT BY THE fIRFMKN-
TIE HOMELESS IL BIvOUAc ON TIE HIIIsIDEs