The New York herald., 1878-12-30

The black mark from the shaft to the west was the
direction in which the was sought and found in
the beginning as previously stated; the two black
marks represent bonanzas or large bodies of very
rich that reached near the 9O0foot level.
These bonanzas the line separating the
Crown Point aud Beicher mines, and both Of these
companies took out large amount Of silver.
Recently third series OF shafts have been started
much further to the east--viz.. the Gould 4 Curry
North Consolidated Virginia and Overman-in order
to develop the mines upon which they are snnk and
the mines adjoining them. The first two named cx-
pec sink vertically from 1900 to $500 feet before
reaching the wall. which limits the body of the
ore-bearing quartz The Overman, from the greater
distance eastward where IL has begun TO sink is not
likely to reach the west wall before 1t has attained
depth Of 1900 feet from the surface In the develop
ment Of such great mines everything is necessarily
colossal scale. "immensc" is the only word
that expresses the thought every department that
is looked at. IL all the vertical shafts put togeth-
they would extend fully six miles; the main work.
ing incnes would be four miles: wines. vertical
and incline. would be twelve miles, the drifts on
the various levels would be 1l0 miles: altogether
1872 miles.
MINES IN THEIR INFANCY
Up TO within few months the unfavorable deyel.
opments made for the past three years led many to
doubt the bearing character of the lode below the
1900 foot level but discoveries very rich ore
several hundred feet deeper have thoroughlS dspeod
that apprehension, and the opinion now is general
that mining on the Comstock is but in its infancy.
The extent OF the rich ores recently discovered no
tell till the mines thoroughly explored by
drifts. cuts and wines. There be- however
no valid reason why ore bodies Of equal magnitude
and richness should not be discovered below any
depth yet attained; in fact, the history of the Com.
stock leads to the conclusion that the grow in
richness the deeper they are found, while the ore
bodies fewer in number and OF greater dinien.
sions. The commencement Of the shafts already
alluded 10 shows in q very practical way that those
best acquainted with the character Of the lode have
every confidence in the future.
A fear has been entertained that mining much he.
low two thousand feet would be too expensive and
too hot but that fear existed before they reached the
first thousand feet Science and mechanics will over.
come those greater difficulties i'm the future as they
have overcome those that threatened thcm in tle
past The best mining authorities here speak 10 me
OF 1000 feot deep without tho slightest hesitation
With the present appliances for hosting ore that
would be impossible the expense would be too great
In conversation with Mr.. Mackay learned that he
had recently heard OF discovery for hoist
ing made by Frcnchman, ] think he said, and a
skilled machinist was Immediately sent from san
Francisco to Europe to study II out There is not
valuable piece OF machinery in the world connected
with mining that the "bonanza kings in pos.
session OF tho drawings. Nothing in their profession
escapes their attention. There scientists and
mechanics ready, 80 they assert. 70 reduce the tenn
peraturo OF the mines TO that OF pleasant spring
morning.
1Hr PRODUCT or THr MINES.
In the early days of the Comstock mining small
amounts Of rich ore were sent TO Francisco to be