Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1876-06-13
PUMPING MACHINERY.

EDITOR Nkws: 1ns eouon Aken "
the mining Superintendent Of the Com
stock, In erecting new machinery. Ger.
tainly appears TO an outaidsr aingularly
at variance with what ought to have
been done. when viewed by the light
Of former experience. Last year q num-
Der Of mines required new pumping ma
chinsry or works, and the best ability
was conuulted to determine what style
aad size should be adopted. and II was
decided 10 put in gsared engines, work
ing through b~alancs-bobs upon the rods
In the shaft, some with single gears and
others with double gears. The Imperial
engines were put up OF various styles;
some with the common slide. others
with cross cutoff; some plain beds and
others Corliss beds; but all substantially
the samo. except in degree Of cast; near
IL all about the same amount Of power,
and all with q vague idea Of being able TO
pump from q depth OF 5000 feet. In or.
der to accomplish this the diameter Of
pumps was reduced 10 II inches. In
only one case was q l4.inch pump used,
and this after the l2.inch pump had
proven inadequate TO drain the water.
Now here Is where the mistake was made
and what Ii being repeated at tho pres
snt time with the new machinery. II
might have been excused last year, but
this year II has not the shadow Of an
excuse. In the mines to which the H.
inch pumps were applied. all were OF lii.
tie depth. and experience has shown that
the greatest bodies Of water are encoun-
tered within u depth Of 1900 feet. and
that when the water Is struck, II contin-
uss to flow until the reservoir IL emp.
tied, and then settles to u regular and
average quantity easily kept under con.
troll. Yet until controlled II may keep
back the progress Of the mine for weeks
or months with all the heavy expenses
running. compelling assessments with
out results.
Now, what ought to have been done
WAS to have computed the power OF the
engine ut It's greatest stroke on the
pumps for a depth OF 1000 feet or 1000
feet, and make the pumps OF sufficient
diameter to absorb this power. which
would have given II and l6.inch pumps.
With this size the water would have been
easily kept under. with tho machinery
moving ut q moderate speed. When
the depth Of 1000 feet, 0r the limit OF
the engine with full stroke Of pump
was attained. II the water still continued
to require full motion. then Il would be
clear that the engine wa too small for
the mine, aud that new or additional
machinery was necessary. hut, II II
proved that the water dill not increase,
and that the engine could keep the mine
elsar with u allow motion. then all that
would be necessary would be to shorten
the stroke Of pump. increase tho motion
Of the engine, AMI proceed with the
sinking. A. proof Of the foregoing, 1t
il only necessary 10 take any OF the
mines with last years machinery. and
In every case II will be found that IL this
course hal been taken. an immense
amount Of time and money would have
been saved. Take the case Of the Over
man, where li.inch pumps were put In
In place Of la-inch. Had the engine
been properly fastened, and l6.inch
punps put In. how much time and mon.
ey would they have saved
Now let us examine the present years
new works, and we will ind them
making the same error. Direct.acting
engines are the rage, and small pumps.
The power Of the engine Is computed,
and pumps Of the smallest diameters to
attain the greatest depths are adopted.
First the Belcher-30 and G2.inch, com.
pound, with 1i-inch pumps; greatest
possible depth, 1900 feet; and they are
now within n few hundred feet Of TINT
depth. Next the Combination shalt
- and Gt.inch, with double set of H.
inch pumps; greatest depth, 1000 feet.
Next, Savage-27 and i8.inch, with IL
inch pumps; greatest depth, 1880 feet.
Next, Hale & Norcross and Chollar-
similar In size and depth. Then the
Ovsrman, with ii-inch pumps; greatest
depth, 5000 feet; with others, such an
the G. & c.. Alta. Lady Washington and
and I think Lady Bryan. Oi the latter,
however, l am not sure.
Now il only takes n glance to ~forctell
the result. Deep mines will he stopped
for vant Of pumping power, even with
a small quantity Of water, and tho shall
low mines will no doubt 60 through the
same experience an ! have pointed out,
viz: the engines will have to DO driven
al a dangerous rate Of speed every time
a body Of water is struck. and Il tho
body il considerable. the mine will BE-
shut down ON everything but pumping.
until the miserable, small pumps have
time to drain II.
The lesson taught by the experience
OF years Is that all the pumping ma
chinery now going up is far too small.
Instead OF ~ and ii.inch pumps. they
should be from ~ to 20 inches. Mt least.
Gold Hill. June =, 1876. IL.