Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-30

stamps we can look down through aside
opening upon the great hail wherein the
crushed and puIyerized quartz Il carried
30 the separBfors and amalgausators; a
ballroom in which the machinery might
be said 30 resemble great company OF
walters spinning around 10 the music Of
the sfafnps.
Out Of this place the vesiiges Of earth,
quartz and rock disappear, and the quick
silver process takes place which prepares
the ore for the retorts. By side door we
pass into the engine room, the lowest
building Of all, and are here shown the
power BY which the machinery of the
stamps above. and the separating rooms
below, is moyed-a modest, unpretending
agent that does lis great work without
noise, and is the exempiificaiion Of power
In reserve,
Having now gone through the upper
works, | was eager to explore the mine IT.
self, In whose service 50 much machinery
is employed. The hospitality of my hosts
has provided such luxurics for their guests
as the character of the work will allow.
We are shown into pleasantly furnished
room adjoining The shafts Ia the holsiing
works, where all the casi-oh clothing of q
generation Of beggaTs seems collected.
The eye of the attendant here measures
our figures, and we are at once deprived
oil those habiliments which adorn and
beautify man, and changed into the sem
blance Of something very trying 70 our
vanity. A pair Of brogans, yarn socks,
trowsers very much too short, shirt Of
flannel, and perhaps coat, with such a
slouched ha; as q street gamin would de-
light in, make up The toilet for our under
ground journey 4 lantern completes
the outfit. We take our places by the
opening Of one Of the shafts, still tTemu-
lous, still doubtful Of the unknown re-
gions we are about 10 visit, and await the
arrival Of the next car OF ore; IL comes !;
the men remove IT from the cage, and we
take Its place, lantern in hand, our guide,
one of the foremen, our companions and
friends, !" the two men vino have made sill
yer mining what it Is in Nevada, John w !.
Maekay and James Fair. The signal is
given; a slight jerk OF the cage, and We
start. Then darkness, only family re-
iieyed by the lanterns we hold; arushing
sound, the dripping Of water, and astrange
sensation al the heart, which is relieved
when the CHEEKY voices Of our hosts are
heard discussing matters Of mining I'm.
portance as cooIIy as ii at their own dim
ner tables
Our destination is the lower level, 600
feet beneath but We pass openings here
and there upon our journey, through
which we catch "a glimpse Of light and
hear the sound Of The workmans pick I;
these are the upper levels. At last an.
other jerk the rushing sound Is over; we
are stopped; we step of the cage, into
what? The eye cannot yet distinguish,
but the atmosphere is strangely altered !,
we were cool and comfortable above; the
air was bracing there, and also in the
shaft. Here we are In the tropics, and
are abou. 10 traverse passages cut by the
hands OF man one.third Of mile beneath
the surface Of the earth. | ask my hosts
10 stay a moment that | may realize the
impressions that are now upon me the
sensation Is 50 novel, the reality 20 re-
mote, that IL may be dream and mo
such thing" We have left the busy city
behind us, with its stirring, active life,
and here We are in another city less habi
table, but still active. The scene is
changed magically, and the mind il un-
prepared for 50 sudden transformation.
We arc at last standing face TO face with
the greatest body OF silver and gold ever
discovered. The great body Of the
Bonanza Is at our side, and above u.s.
Here before US IL mass Of gold and silver
computed 10 be worth three hundred
millions, which yields over two and half
millions a month, and pays dividend Of
ten dollars per share each month upon one
hundred and eight thousand shares. -
LdDFencG BdfTett, in GGtdLy for April.