Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1875-07-10


Meadow Lake District, commenced, the
Ens&priss mine was discovered. and In
q very short time IL proved to DO the
Richest and best mine In the whole dis
trio4. Being situated Just north Of
the old Hsnnes Pass routs. In The high.
sst portion Of the Sierra Nevada. the
news Of the discovery and opening Of
the new district spread Tar and vide In
. very abort time. and hundreds Of pso-
pie from both California and Nevada
rushsd thither In the eager hunt after
suddsa wealth. Very rich specimns Of
gold quartz. taken from the surface
cropping Of the various lodges. were
frssly shown. and added abundant fuel
70 the raging excitement. Wood and
water we're plenty and lumber was cheap.
consequently it did not taks long 70
build mp q town. and In two months the
town Of Summit City. subsequently,
named Meadow Lake. after the beauti-
full lttls lake upon whose shores II wa
built, contained a population Of several
hundred inhabitants. with broad streets.
big hotels, stores, and two ''hurdy" or
dance hoasss In full blast. to say nothing
Of Q lively. vell-conducted newspaper.
Il was only about three weeks after
the excitement commenced. when pros
psctors were actively exploring the
hills in all directions searching for rich
lodges, that John Lanham was one
afternoon on his way from Summit City.
to woodworth's Station. on tbs Hen-
ness Pass road. Crossing the beautiful
clover fslds Of fordycs Valley. he toilsd
up the long steep ascent o,
the mountain range beyond. and
near the summit, somo six miles
from Meadow Lake he sat down 70 rest.
He was in the midst Of q naked granite
formation, the tall pines growing out OF
Tho crsvices OF the rocks. with here and
there q rich spot Of soil and vsriurs re-
posing In some little basin. ravino or
other favored locality. The small bare
rocky knoll upon which he WAS seated
vas somewhat different In eoler
from tho surrounding rock forma-
ZION, and picking up . stone he ~listless-
" commenced beating with u the
rock upon which he sat until he
broke Cd some Of Il. Carslessly exam
lining ID. he n greatly surprised al
seeing that u was perfectly .'lousy''
with small particles Of gold. John Lam
ham became an excited man mt once.
He broke on several more pieces, and
found that no had indeed made . valua.
BILE discovery. He~ Immediately turned
back to Summit City. where he informed
his prospecting partners Of what he had
found, and nsrt day they vent with him
to the plncs. They located the best part
Of The lead. which was easily traceable.
running in . northeast and southwest
direction. and named Il the E~itopd~.
The snterprising company FORMED in
the location soon started In TO develop
their rich mine. and its fame spread far
and near. A considerable amount OF
very rich gold ore was taken out. and
thousands Of dollars worth. In the shape
% specimens. found their way into the
sockets Of eager examiners and prospsc-
ior. all Of whom begged pieces Of Il to
ahow 10 their friends. The fortunate
owners we're offered largo amounts for
their respective interests, but none
cared TO sell more than Q few feet. some
oagsr buyers giving A. high as $500 per
foot for . limited interest. Some Of the
locaiors, however. held their stock
hrmly. and could not be induced to part
with an inch Of ii. The mine
uas opened by means Of big
out into tho surface cropping,
and some Of tho ore was shipped to
Swansea. England. for treatment. Ten
tons Of Il was hauled 10 Virginia City,
where 10 was worked at the Sacramento
mill. and yielded ovs $l0e to, the ton.
A mill WA finally procured and erected
at the mine. but that mill never was
n success. II was Of tho old
Chile style. the crushing being done by
means Of hugo cast iron rollers or
revolving In q eircuiar bed. But
the ore itself proved 10 bsrsther rebel.
lious, not being inclined 10 yield up all
riehss by common mill process. II
was q very peculiar species OF ore
brownish granite or
appearance, and containing
A large amount Of anthony. arsenic.
and a small proportion OF galena. IL
crushed very easily. but owing 70 the
pressncs Of the base minerals mentioned
a large amount Of the gold was lost in
working. A roasting furnace was pro-
cured but. somehow. II failed to
eject the desired result. being only q
martial success. The mill and machin-
cry was In inexperienced hands, and was
not Of the right sort anyhow. conse-
ouently proved o failure. The mine was
opened TO the depth Of twenty-five feet,
At which depth the ledge IL about
six feet wide, we'll developed. with
smooth, regular walls enclosing II, and
the cut was run 10 the extent Of
about sixty feet, following the
vein. The richest spot, however:
Vas found to b at the point Of
discovery, although other good little
strsaks and punches Of rich ore were
found at other points. II 10 esti-
mated that fully eighty thousand dollars
vas taken from this mins. bot q large
proportion OF this was carried Oh sur
rr~ptitiously in the shape OF rich speei-
mems. 1t was the richest ore OF its
kind ws ever saw. aud from q critical
examination Of the mines OF the district
AZ that time, we considered the Enter
prise to be the richest and best OF them
all.
The short season for working was
followed by the heavy Winter so usual
in that elevated region. and nsxt came
the decline and fall Of the district itself.
Frequent assessments and ill-success
disheartened the Enterprise stockhold-
sn, and ons by ono they were sold
out. and the whole mine finally
passed into other hands. II has been
allowed 70 lie idle ever since. the mill
machinery was removed long ago. but
now that another excitement Ia being
stirred up, based upon n new process
being discovered BY which the re-
,ractory but very rich ores OF that
district can be worried TO good adj
vantage, the Enterprise mine
is coming 10 the front once
more. II Is o valuable piece
OF property; that richest spot Vas
not the only ono in II. and with
proper working the mine will corns out
all right and bscoms Of note In tho not
far distant future. Il IL situated nearer
In ths rnilroad than any other mino In