Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-29
SILVER MINES.

During 1878, says a late number o
the London Globe, the Consolidated
Virginia gradually began to yield {
higher grade ore and in larger quaint
ties than previously, and in the fol
lowing year prospects became very
bright indeed. Mr.. Whitehill, The
State M~ineralogist for Nevada, thus
reported in 1875: "During the pas
two years this mine has yielded bull.
ion to the value of s., O00, 900, the prin'
cipal of IL since last Jude." AS the
outiurn in September, 1874, wa $780,
600, and in October $3.50, 00O-or 81 Ill.,
600 during only two months there
could be little question about the rapid
development of the mine. OF the adj
joining mine, the California, the same
authority reported even more favora-
bly,. "The ore here averages 5000 a
ton. About 10 feet below the 800 foot
level the richest portion of the ore is
found. 1t is said to average 81, 200 per
ton. 1t has been estimated by reliable
persons hat this bonanza will yield
over 500, O00, O00." Mr.. Raymond, the
Commissioner of Mining Statistics,
was equally sanguine in his views, al
though he considered it prudent to
average the value of the whole mass
of ore at only $3.50 a ton. Adopting
the estimate, and calculating or the
basis of an output of 500 tons of ore per
diem for 300 working days each year,
the annual yield of this group would
amount to s4,40O, 900. As the cost of
converting ore of this quality into
bullion absorbes about 80 per cent. of
the gross value, the yearly profit &C.
cruing to the proprietors could not be
less than 93. OO0, 900. These results ap-
peared so utterly incredible that Mr..
Linderman, the Director OF the Mint,
went himself to inspect the mines,
taking with him an expert in Profess
sor Robert Rogers, of the bullion re-
finery Of San Francisco. After ex-
hausting inquiry and very minute in
spection, this latter authority reported
A" it would seem fair to conclude that,
with proper allowances, the ore body
equals an amount which, taken at the
actual assays, would give as the ulti-
mate yield of the W mines-the Con.
solidated Virginia and California
$500, 600, 900, or ESQ, OO0, 900. One fact
stands prominently revealed in this
mark. The lower the level reached
the higher has been the grade of ore.
1t seems to have been first met with,
in paying richness, at a depth of 1900
feet from the surface. Encouraged by
this promise, the adventures went
down another 100 feet, and tapped the
shaft with a horizontal drift to save
haulage. Here the ore was richer
still, so they carried the shaft down
again, first to 1900 feet, then to 1850
feet, and on each occasion was we'll re-
warded. This goes far to prove the
truth of the theory in favor with many
mining engineers of experience, that
when a true vein has once been struck
the proper policy is to sink to the deep
if the upper strata are not rich enough
to repay working.
Enormous as are the foregoing esti-
mates of the wealth lying in these
mines, the latest reports from the spot
afford room for believing that they will
be greatly exceeded. Colonel Jules
Berton, the president of the Bureau
DIES Mines des Etats du Pacifque. was
recently requested by the directors Of
the Paris Mint to obtain the latest and
fullest information about the produc.
ton of silver in the States. This au.
thority afirms that the wealth of the
Consolidated Virginia appears bound
less, and greatly surpasses that Of all
other mines in the district, except the
California, which promises results just
as extraordinary. Nor Is this a mere
matter of opinion. AS we have seen
the yield of the former during the lat
ter half of 1874 averaged something
less than 100000 per month. The to.
tai output for 1875 showed a startling
increase of prosperity, the amount be-
ing $500, 000l, or at the rate Of 291 ,O00l
per mensem. But what is to be said
when we como to the astounding fact
that the total yield Of this wonderful
bonanza during the first three months
of the present year reached 1850, 00OI,
giving an average $50, 0O0t per month,
or at the rate of $500, OOOI a year? AS
Stunning that the ore is converted into
bullion at a cost Of 80 per cent of its
gross value, the proprietors Of the
Consolidated Virginia have the COM
Portable prospect before them Of di.
viding 1920 00l at the end of the year.
As they received dividends to the
amount Of $500, OOOl in 1875, while the
California mine is stated TO be only
commencing operations at present,
these fortunate venturers may be con-