The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1878-12-15

~ ~ ~ HOAAON aux nAOIuluks
ws we're furnished with s.ddle-horses
and With Uncle Billy Hazeltins ~ guide
set out for the Blu. Jacket mill. in the
Basin. on the east aide Of the bold Bull
Rum range Of mountains which stood
directly before "a. The FIRST two miles
OF our route Vas up an Easy grade
through . deep canyon; the steep sides
Of which being smooth and grassy to
their very SUBMITS, and the babbling
stream Of clear cold water flowing ut
our feet. presented = very cheerful
picture that frosty morning; one rarely
enjoyed this late in the season. Leav-
ing the canyon, al length, the route lay
70 the summit by . steep Hig1ag trail up
which horses labored about an hour,
for which ws-not our animals were
fully repaid In the grand. unobstructed
view Of country stretching like a vast
panorama away to the northward, taking
in War-Esgle mouutl ain at the foot of
which lies Silver City; aud to the south.
west the ~ could truce the course OF
the Owyhee ON it's way to the Columbia,
far into Oregon, until they became to
vision merely a bright thread, finally
lost in the distance. After enjoying tho
novelty OF such unusual elevation even
in this high-toned country, for u few
moments. tie descent to the eastward
was found much easier, and the sur
rouudings quite IS attractive NJ the
ascent. The same smooth grassy sur
face-usually in Nevada, sage-still is
found, extending down to and including
the foothills. Arriving at the mill We
were received with characteristics cordi-
ality by superintendent Morey, whose
hospitality has become proverbial. After
accepting ON invitation to refresh our
selves with mountain dew, Mr.. Morey
pointed out to US u recent location on
the north side of the canyon only a
short distance below the mill, which has
since developed extraordinary merit, and
which he has bonded from Marley and
McClay, it's owners, aud one Of whom
was, NO believe. its discoyerer. The
lead contains gold as well as silver, and
wo learned yesterday that over four Ions
OF ore has been extracted, assays from
which ran al high as $40, 900 in golS,
and $22 900 in silver, to the ton. The
discovery Of such ore in that vicinity
will doubtless have the effect Of causing
it to be thoroughly prospected next ssa-
son.
During the day We were accorded
the privilege Of viewing the Blue jacket
mine. A tunnel upon the lead has
been driven a distance of 1000 feet, 800
feet of which cut through a chimney of
ore much superior TO the quality Of hat
heretofore obtained. and at q point
where the ore body began dipping below
the tunnel level. 200 feet from its face. a
large perpendicular shaft is being sunk;
a heavy engine. driven by compressed
air supplied by q powerful compressor at
the surface being established in a cham
Der on the tunnel level, ~ perform
the work. The drills used in sinking
are also driven by compressed air. Work
is being pushed forward rapidly as pos
sible, the shaft having reached a depth
OF about II hundred feet aud a drift to
tap the ore body. is being started. When
it is reached aud opened, there is every
reason to believe q body OF ore uusur-
passed by any development Of a similar
nature in this portion OF the State. will
be exposed. Pursuing our way across
the hills into tue basin, the pretty little
camp OF Columbia was 1901 discovered
nestled in a little valley enclosed on
three sides by smooth but lofty hills, |
and opening to the South. Hero we
found many cid acquaitances. and in
company with Bob Hughes as pilot we
visited the "In6del," the principal
mine o worked by the Columbia Co.
Through the courtesy OF j.. j. Dolan. |
Foreman, we we're shown through it's
entire interior, and have no hesitation
in saying that the mine IL clearly n
much better one than we had expected
to see. Two tunnels have been run
upon the lead; the lower one, |
three hundred feet in length. at its face
being two hundred feet below the sur
face. From this level q winzo 100 feet
deep is sunk upon the lead, from which
an excellent quality Of ore was being
taken. The vein is we'll defined through
out. being encased between smooth, I'M
broken walls wherever opened anu will
average in width nearly, IL moi quite,
three feet. The ore thus far extracted
from all parts Of the mine, has been OF
good milling quality, and steadily i'm
proves as depth is attained. Samples
Of that from the lower workings which
we selected, have proven to be excess
lively rich. and some very handsome
ones we have on exhibition at this Offices
Returning to tho foot Of tho hill just
below tho mine, We wero by j.. J.. Mea-
cham shown through one Of the most
complete and best arranged mills u has
been our pleasure TO examine in Eastern
Nevada. II can be run by either steam
or water power, and in a self feeding,
rotary d~ry.kiln, possesses q new and
greatly improved feature for pre-
pairing the ore for the stamps.