Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-09-20

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By invitation Of Superintendent
Wermuth, Of the Hoosac mine, we
visited that property yesterday, and
went through Its underground work
ings. The mine il situated on the
southeast side Of an isolated peak,
known Is the Hoosac mountain, about
four miles and q half from the town OF
Eureka. A good road branches of
from the Secret Canyon highway, and
winds around and over the hillside
terminating at the works. The first
impulse of the visitor after arriving, Is
to climb the rocky mountain top aud
enjoy the magnificent panorama that
stretches out 1t his feet. Almost with
in . stones throw lies Silversdo and
Pinto, and one can trace the Hamilton
road for miles until 1t fades away In
the desert. Casting the eye to the
south and east. one sees fold ON fold
Of mountain ranges, each rising to .
higher elevation until the horizon 10
bounded by lofty domes Of the White
Pine range, some forty miles distant.
1t 10 not an inviting looking country,
nor q that . person with aesthetic
tastes would 60 into raptures over.
Tho mountain sides are all bare,
brown and desolste, SCARED with deep
canyons, showing evidences Of having
been convulsed with the mighty
forces of nature, and covered with q
sparse groWth OF pinenut; and the
plains Rlisten under tho rays OF the
sun, the dazzling light reflected ON
long sand stretches and beds Of alkali.
From u point of observation no less
than nineteen different districts can be
counted, commencing At Morey 10 the
west, and sweeping In Q circle until
Cherry and Schell Creeks can be To-
Gated due east. Although no trace Of
civilization can be deserted, the very
wildness and forbidding aspect has Q
charm, and Is we'll worth . morn
ing's ride to enjoy the vista.
THE NINE.
The Hoosac mine owes its discovery
to this very fact: w. Wermuth, while
wandering over the bills some eight
years ago, climbed an immense out.
crop Of quartzite to look ut the seem
cry, and while descending from bis
elevated post he caught sight OF some
mineral-bearing rock which, on *
animation, proved to be rich galena
ore. He Immediately located the
ground. and since that time has de-
voted his time. money and = vast
amount Of energy to its development.
Before taking our readers down into
tho Aoosh. 40 - snol 2-..k a. .tnt~
that the location 10 directly on the
great mineral belt that runs from tho
Richmond on the north TO Secret can
yon on tho south, every foot of which
can be clearly traced by the immense
outcrops OF quartzite, and nowhere
more plainly than at the point where
1t crosses Hoosac mountain. Under
meath . section Of these groupings and
10 tho north, the old main shaft was
sunk. When 1t reached q depth OF
fifty feet, Q short drift. fifteen feet
In length and running to the eastward.
tapped q large chamber of ore, and
from this point thousands of tons were
extracted and sen to the furnace.
AT II TUNNEL.
Our entrance TO the workings vas
effected At . tunnel lower down on the
hillside and to the east of the CROP
pings mentioned above. This tunnel
was run through the q~uartzite and
ledge matter until 1t reached the old
shah, $50 feet from the mouth, and
connecting with 1t &C depth of 100 feet.
While the tunnel was progressing, nu-
merous stringers of ore we're mel with,
aud at some points these developed
into small bodies. Al q place 800 feet
from the entrance these indication s
were 80 numerous that an upraise was
made, following the ore on the hang
ing wall. At . distance Of 20 feet Q
OF ore was encountered that
eventually proved to be of magnificent
proportions. The chamber from which
II WA stopped out Ia l70 feet long and
attaius . width of from 20 to 80 feet,
the height varying from Is to Is feet.
One Of the most prominent features of
the mine is met with at this place.
For Q distance of " 100 feet the clay
banging wall Is fully exposed, and its
smooth, polished surface proves that
there has been very little, II any, dis
turbauce since the vast mineral body
wa deposited in the assure.
DIP AND COURSE.
This wall has . regular pitch 10 tho
east Of from Is 10 60 degrees. and the
ore bodies found close to the clay pre-
serves the same dip. The general strike
OF the ledge Is almost due north and
south. As evidence Of permanence, this
hanging wall IL very valuable, aud
wherever 1t 10 met with, 10 the tun.
mel. drifts, chambers and wines, the
preservation of its regular dip 10 very
noticeable. Clambering over debris
and keeping on our upward way, We
pass from the chamber to what Is
known Is the upper one, mentioned ia
the beginning OF this article - having
besn found at . depth of 50 feet in the
| old shaft. This body of ore, although
not of a. great extent - the one just
len, was q large deposit, and has been
followed almost to the surface. At the
time Of our visit We could see the min
ers At work ct . spot some 80 feet over
our heads. perched up aloft on the
huge timbsrs and busy drilling into
the ore. The vein IL Ave feet wide
whore they are ct work and spreading