New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-26
NEVADA'S WEALTH.

A
FrrKrKA. New. Oct. 6.-The mining district of
Eureka IN the semi-desert region of Eastern Nevada
is attracting considerable attention by reason OF ITS
large and increasing production of silver and OF eau
To reach the place from Newlork requires about SIX
DAYS: but we can ride in a palace car nearly 10 the
entrances of the mines. We leave the Central Ia
ciic Railway at Palisade, l,sO0 miles west Oh Ohl-
cago. and 575 miles from san Francisco. From TINS
pojnt narrow gauge railway extends eighty miles
south 10 Eureka
A LIVELY MINING SETTLEMENT.
This town is now one of the most prosperous and ac
tive mining camps in the country. II reminds one
somewhat of Virginia City and Gold Hin they were
in the early days of the COmstock Ten ago the
region was a wilderness. in the possession OF the
Utes and the ShoshOneS Now there is a population
,,f between four aud five thousand people. chiefly
active, middle-aged men, engaged IN mining ana
smelling. The town is built "A narrow valley,
which is the natural outlet of extensive mining
region. no less than fifteen mining districts being
more or less tributary the prosperity of the place.
II is the central depot and point of departure for the
stage lines 10 Austin Wnite Pine and Phoebe Al she
merchandise for the country nor'hward, toward the
Colorado arriving by rail. is distributed by teams
San Francisco and the Sacramento Valley are the
chief sources of supply. The direct trade with the
East is limited but is increasing. The people are
enterprSing and enthusiastic. They are construct
ing substantial hotels warehouses and public buid-
ings Of brick and stone. Water under pressure is
supplied TO Of the houses and for fire purposes
from living springs in the mountains. Money com
mauds from one AMI a half TO two p4r cent per
month Greenbacks are not current, AMI silver is
refused in SIMS of over five dollars. Skilled minors
and mechanics receive four dollars day, bit the
number of IDLE men ahont the mines, anXlons'N
waiting for employment, shows thar ms rate IS
sustained by the Miners Union, rather than by the
demand for labor ..,,,..
The District Of Eureka can boast Of row Welding
than any OtheTdisrirt in the country II has become
q great metaurgcll centre. The ores require
treatment b. fire in furnaces, rather than IN ulS
os at the Comstock The pro met has been large,
and mnch money has been expended IN opening the
mines and in erecting smelling works Good au-
toTties consider the total product OF the dsIct as
not less than 100000 coo in value.
SILVER ND ~ IFAD.
The chinnevs of five or six large lead aud silver
smelling works extend high NJ along the mountain
slopes on either side of the valley, and pour out
clouds of arsenica vapors, tantng the ar with the
odor of garlic for miles around. The furnaces OF
these works WELD continuous stream of molten
lead holding silver and gold in solution 1t Is cast
in bars of 100 pounds each, and accnmnlates IN
great piles about the furnaces Itrequres train of
ten platform ears daily to take this lead bullion
70 Palisade. The usual load is 100 tons, worth
$500 a ton. and aggregating about SlOonO0O
month in value. The precious metals beng secure
safety and the value of the lead covers the cost OF
tra1sportatiOn Only one establishment. the Rich
mond has attempted the separation of the metals on
the spot and the production of SOFT merchauablr
lead. It IS successful accomplished ny means 81
the modification Of PattinSon's process, used IN
Marselles France, and introduced here Tor the hrsi
time in the United States. In tins process adyan-
tagp is taken # the fu-iblty If the ALLOW of lead
and silver. At the cooling point OF the lead, inns
fluid in a small portion of the lead. Bv onening
tap the bottom Of the kettle the silver flows out
and leaves the lead in a crystalline spongy mass.
ne from which tins larg, production OF 0nl-
lion is obtained consist chiefly Of the oxide and car
Donate of lead, mingled with oxide OF iron and clay
and some gaena They are earIhy IN theli appeaT-
ance and would seem worthless TO the unulatrd.
From four to five tons of ore. averaging about $50
in value per ton. required to make one ron OF
hulion The fuel is charcoal, made from the scantY
forests ~ pnOn pine the higher slopes OF the noun
tains The whole country is being rapidly denudcd
Of its timber to supply the insatiate furnaces.
WAGON trains loaded with charcoal-four immense
wagons coupled tOg, ther, and drawn by teams OF
twelve 10 sixteen muleSaTe feature OF the StIcetS
OF Eureka.
4 LAWSUIT or 4 QUESTION OF MINTRALoGY.
Puby Hill and Prospect Mountain, two or three
miles from the town. are the chief centres of mining
Their rocky sides are dotted over with piles ofrusty-
colored earth and ore thrown out by the miners
from shafts and tunnels. The rocks are chiefly
limestone and the large deposits Of ore found in
\ il lying between quartzite one sile and shae on
N the other 1t Is irregnary distributed in deposits
u and 'chmneys" making but ;tle show or the
flc~ but opening ont below into wide chambers and
fssures foil Of ore.
The somewhat anomalous and ssbScure nature Of
these deposits has given rise to considerable tiga-
tion The work of tho two puncipal mines, the
Eureka and the Richmond, has been greatly re-
tarded hv a DISPUTE 90 rhe ownership o. q iarJe
body OF ore whca the Richmond followed down
wards until it passed ~ w't1n the me Eronpd
claimed b. the Eureka Company. The Eureka
Cnmpt,tv instituted suit of eiectment. The case
which, By stimulation was tried IN SIN francisco be,
fprc Judges Field of the supreme Court sawyer OF
:be United States Circuit Court, and llliger of
the United States District Court, has recently hcen
decided. II il of the most interesting and re-
raarkabie cases in the annals OF mining litigation.
Distinguished experts Of national fame were called
Ou both sides. Those for tine Rcnm0n COmDany
affirmed that the masses of ore are distinct ana that
tney are IN no manner connected as 70 make them
n'iuuOus BODY OF Lode they believe That these
ore bodies penetrate and Gil irregular cavities and
seams in thC pTgCXistcnt rock or hin'stOne-the
''country-TOck." as understood 10y minerS-and that
ills rock Is part Of the ioie eXcept as lncl0Slng
boiling bOu icing IL. On the other rand, the eX-
prts called bv the Eureka Company testified in sub
stance, that he limestone is so impreguatcd with
ore in Irregular masses that u may he followed by
the miners IL search Of ore like vein or lode and
that therefore the whole stratum OF limestone rock
IN which the ore occurs may be FegaT led as "a
great lode great VEIN ~ the proper sense OF ire
word rs used oy miners. The learned Judges adopt
ed this latter view and based their decision upon
IT, awarding the ground in dispute to the Eureka
COMPANY. hey decided thai tne limestone zone be-
tween the quaTtZIte sIde ana the seie on the
Other, constitutes within the meaning OF tho acts
OF Congress- lode or VEN aS understood b. prdc-
teal miners
DECISION THAT VIII ENTAIL CONFUSION.
We thus have from the Court new and enlarged
view of the meaning Of the miners term, lode. 1t
Is now made to Inclu le tho country rock when
ever such rock By holding b0dios
or ore in such a manner that the miner may follow