Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-01-05
LETTER FROM CINNABAR.
SUPERINTENDENT's OFFICE, !
ALTOONA MINE.
Decemher 9th lS1z

EDITOR JOURNAL Dear Sir Yours
OF the 18th duly received, and am free to
admit neglect in not itemizing an occa-
sional for the JOURNAL, whose every issue
OF this waning and eventful year has
sought us oft with glad tidings and good
cheer of Trinity county in general, not
forgetting our isolated camp when occa-
sion justified a tlattering mention of it.
But there are reasons why silence became
us best, among which an honest convic-
ton that the trials, vexations and tolls of
mining life do not the better fit man
for the quill, certainly not in the present
instance. And again, misfortunes gath
cred thickly with the year that came like
cloud bursts in the spring time, and many
an industry has felt their blighting effects
in this year of ~. OF such ours is no
exception.
Mining, at best, is hazardous-quick-
silver mining douby so. Not that its
globues are more wary of gathering than
sands of gold or silver, but it seems to
have lost its status of former years and its
value has become unstable as the wind.
The low figure at which it rules blasts the
hope of large profits TO the producer, while
its production must and ever will be at
tended with enormous expense.
But it's of " Cnnabar " must write,
and as the sound of the pick and drill is
unheard outside Altoona's lines, can give
no flattering account of neghboring
mines.
One year since we were admonished
that greater depth must 5e attained on
our ore vein, as our upper levels could
not long honor the drafts we were making.
This could be done by sinking (for which
heavy machinery would be necessary, or
by tunneling al greater depth than here
tofore. The latter course was chosen,
and on December 10th, '76, commenced
the arduous task Of running a bedrock
tunnel, the length of which would be,
when completed, 7S0 feet.
Could the history of this enterprise be
written in detail-its almost constant
showering Office cold water that issued
forth often with hydraulic pressure, the
execrations, invectve and bitter excla-
nations that have issued from the unlucky
wights whose fortune it was to face it -
| doubt not that many sensation of the
day would yield it precedence. But the
end came when on November the 25th
we encountered the vein for which we
had been in quest eleven months and six
days. Four feet in width we found it,
and beautiful in all its surroundings
For day silence reigned in that tunnel,
and there was revelry by night. please
excuse further detai!) Yet a task awaited
us. 1t was the raising of shaft to the
level above. Ninety feet must this be
driven and, as | write, sixty leet has
been accomplished. The remaining thirty
will yield in time, but is tedious indeed.
Artificial ventilation has been necessary
for the last eight months, in order to
maintain an existence at the working
point. Our shaft once completed will
relieve this and enable us to breathe free
again. Then will we turn upon the vein
where first encountered and follow its
meanderings whithersoever they lead
And if convulsed nature, in her hey day
of mine making wcdged these walls Alright
who knows but that, in turning her head
to sean the makeup of some sister comets
trail, or acknowledge the salute OF II
Saturn or Jupiter, " Bonanza =" toy
may not have rolled unheeded from her
lap to find II resting place here. If so,
pledge the JOURNAL it shall be adv ised
All other features of mining here are at
a standstll. The reason why-'tis Win.
ter, and frost-aden atmosphere by night
and by day makes cinnabar washing a,
Improbable as it is unpleasant.
Respectfully Yours,
G. A. LAURENCE.