The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1877-01-13
WARD, AND ITS MINES.

past few months, representative OF this
paper visited the section few days ago
for the purpose Of taking it in, and
makes this report concerning it: Ward
ia situated on the eastern slope OF the
Egan range of mountains, White Pine
county, directly opposite jeff Davis
Peak, in the Schell Creek range, which
is separated from the Egan range by
Steptoe Valley. The mountains on
which the mines are located raise their
heads above the valley some four thous-
and feet. and the feat of going to the
summit from Ward is conceded to be
something more Of trick than that OF
climbing to the summit Of Mount David
son from Virginia City. Ward is stu
ated far enough above the valley to in.
sure good climate, which at the pres.
ent time is quite as good'as that of
Phoebe, the town, within its present
boundaries, being sheltered from the
north winds by spur of the mountain
sloping gently to the south. 1t enjoys
by for better climate than any place on
the route between Phoebe and Ward.
The town, upon our arrival, did not pre-
sent that hurrah appearance that many
are led to suppose from the flattering re-
ports coming from there, but was some
what more quiet than usual, the cause
Of which as We afterwards learned was
purely OF a transitory nature, and which
would be dispelled by the first payday,
then not far distant. After taking in the
town and digesting all the favorable
aud adverse opinions as to the future
of the camp, attention was naturally
turned to some of the prominent mines
in easy reach.
In company with DR.. Philson, first having
armed ourselves with pass from Martin White.
| President Of the Martin White Company, and
with Frank Baker, Foreman of the Paymaster.
| as guide, We proceeded to explore that now
famous mine. 1t is at present worked through
a tunnel eleven hundred feet in length, about
| one-haf of which distance 1t follows the ledge,
| huge body Of ore, widening out at times to
thirty-fvs feet, almost the entire mass being
| smelling or milling ore-that near the sur
face being smelling and In the lower
workings changing to milling. Considerable
ore has been stopped out above the tunnel and
wines have been sunk to q considerable depth
and found to penetrate high grade milling ore.
The header is in ore and there Is good reason to
believe that 1t could be continued for hundreds
| Of feet without danger Of finding the limits Of
the ore body in that direction. This mine
stands without q rival In Nevada outside of the
Comstock. Te say more some would charge us
with exaggeration. The Defiance, Young
America and other mines Of this company We
did not visit, but from the very best authority
feel safe In saying they promise we'll for the
future.
In company with Thos. F. Ward, from whom
the town Of Ward takes its name, we visited the
name Of the Ward Consolidated, Of which he ia
Superintendent. Works going on ct present only
on the Shark, and at the bottom Of the shaft q
body Of ore four feet wide-free milling-pre-
sents itself. But . small force of men are al
work at present, but 1t is expected that this
force will be largely increased upon the arrival
Of Mr.. Gleason, the President Of the Company
who is expected to arrive by the 10th Of the
month"; The San Mateo, q monster vein of car
Donate ore, situate q short distance below and
parallel with the Shark has been cross-cut fol
distance OF over LOO feet before the hanging
wall is reached. Mr.. Ward gave us some figure.
concerning the grade of this ore, but that, along
with much other valuable information that wal
crowded upon us during our short visit, has
escaped our memory. Suffice 1t to say that the
| OTeS VI Iulue carry tuo uODle III pay
ing quantities, much Of which goes up in thu
thousands The mine, should it meet the eI
pectation Of its owners only half way, will be al
that any reasonable man, or set of men, coult
desire. All the mines of this district dip to tn,
west, and have q uniform course west Of north
and east Of south.
. The mines visited by us are but few of tn,
most prominent Of the district. Altogether
the mines around Ward foreshadow q brigh
, future for that place. Lake Valley District
Just over the Egsn range, is also attracting
. some attention just now, assays from som,
Of the lodges of the district going as high a
s., 100 to the ton.
The Martin White Company have two fur
nsces and 20-stamp mill, the latter known a
the Troy. The furnaces have been runnin,
, regularly from the first, only stopping 70
needed repairs. These furnaces are so arranged
that there is little or no danger to the health
, | workmen from fumes, and 30 far no sickness i
traceable to that cause. The furnaces OF tn
, Company are under the direct supervision o
, F. II. Thomas, man who at once impresse
! you with the idea that he understands his bust
l ness. The bullion from these furnaces pre-
sents white appearance. indicating that 1t car
0 ries high percentage of silver. One furnac
was undergoing repairs at the time of our yisi
and would to all appearances soon start up
a The mill, known as the Troy mill, ia fast ap
preaching completion, and was expected 1
] start up by the 10th inst, but had not done 8
ut the time OF our departure. The leachn
process. not an untried one on the ores of thi
company, IL to be inaugurated at this mill
!. We understand that tests have been made on
small scale with success. II successful on
: large scale there can not possibly be room TO
doubt as to the future OF Ward. The buildin
covering tho various departments OF this mil
: presents an imposing appearance By tn
teaching process 1t Is thought that create
number Of tons Of ore can be treated in q give
-. time than by any other now in use. L. I
Clement is the General Superintendent for thi
Q Company.
Water is being brought into Ward by Colont
Bell and others. 1t Ia their intention at preser
( TO bring the water in pipes IS far as the edge
town.. where large tank will be built, an
Z the water delivered In carts from that poin
The town is never likely TO suffer from q lac
Of water. A few miles south o beautiful streal
OF water, called Willow Greek, flows down froi
d the Egan Mountains, where an inexhaustibl
supply can be obtained. This stream Of wat,
j. 10 little fortune itself,
a The ores Of the section are milling and smell
Ing. Thus u will be seen that when the min,
'- once fairly commence the work Of delivering u
=. their hidden wealth, but few mining CAM
~ Will be able to present more lively sppea
u ance than Ward The smelling ore known