Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-04-03

IL 4 70 li,s,,,a
vada = neat3y coa1p1ote6
mouths i : expected that II. -
owners can have the use 81 IS is
and thus secure demonstrated - =
value Of one Of the great eno;r.M9
feats of modern days. This tu
was begun in October, 1859 h. ,uu ae
Adolph Sutro, for the purpose of 80. "
ing the famous Comstock lode ~ g
heart of Mount Davidson. Storey ~ ns
ty, New, mountain which lifts ;ts I hu,
nearly 5000 feet above the level oS.a
Pacific ocean. His idea, after a !. ~. us
full study of the mine, was to rerde. a
necessary the enormous expense ~. 10
labor of digging and working a shat qua
shafts downward, by running a tnna'
from q low position on the moun,a;.
side upward toward the Comstock IoSs
which it would touch 1890 feet frOs s
the starting point. The undertaLo;au
once completed, the present system !;
working the mine would be chanoad% !,
his plan was successful. What tb..
system is, and what it costs. mava.
realized from the statements of a Co.,
tleman who visited the mine in lSTs
He writes that "every ton of ore sv
tracted, and every gallon of water ths,
springs from the rock, has TO be hoistsS
from 500 to 1000 feet, according to tbs
level on which they accumulate. IT,,
the water cannot be pumped more than
100 feet upward at time; and that
from the twentieth level to the surface
it is pumped into and out of invent,
cisterns. The expense is enormm:
there being daily used for the hoistns
works over 600 cords Of wood, costinss
over $13 per cord.
This labor and expense, which in.
creased with the sinking of the shafts
seemed to Mr.. Sutro matter that could
be remedied by a tunnel, which wm
begun as has been mentioned. This
tunnel is IL feet high, ID feet wide Al
the bottom, and - feet wide at the ton
with double track railway, and drain,
on each side for carrying off the water
When the Comstock lode is reached, i
is intended to construct cross tunnels
running 10000 feet each way. The
point to be attained with the main cut
will be about 1000 feet under the sur.
face, and the entire length of the prin.
cipal tunnel will be nearly $4,000 feet
The average progress in boring for this
gigantic undertaking has been about
eleven feet per day. The Temperature
of the atmosphere at the header il
stated at 96 degrees, and the QUANTITY
ofwater flowing out at nearly $1,000
gallons. When completed, it is e1.
pected that the tunnel will drain all the
mines above the level of the tunnel.
rendering the hosting of ores by shafts,
and transportation thence to the mills,
unnecessary because reduction works
will be built at the mouth), give great
drainage and ventilation to the mines,
and effect, in fine. a wonderful economy
In managing the lode. The cost ofths
enterprise will be between $4,OOONO
and 100000, which, it is believed
may soon be saved by this new railroad
ventilating and drainage system which
taps the silver heart of mountain and
creates new artery for the flow ofis
wealth. The tunnel will not be open
until an understanding has been arrived
at between the owners of the vauw
mines and Mr.. Sutro. He will clss the
gates at the bulkheads in case ddh
agreement and let the mine-ownenSn
care of themselves.