Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-06-27
The Richmond Commission.
ITS FINDINGS AND RECON-
MENDATI0NS.
MIR. PROBERT'S MANAGEMENT Sc
vERELY CENSURED.
THE REFINERY MUST GO.

we have had occasional glimpses Of the
report Of the Commission sent out to in
vestigate the affairs Of the Richmond Com
pany. We nave not been at liberty to
make public its contents, as it was designed
that it should be withheld from the press
until after the shareholders meeting next
month. This injunction seems not to
nave been imposed on the other side Of the
Atlantic, as we find the document exhaus-
lively reviewed by the London mining
papers. Mr.. William Gabbott, stock and
share dealer. 8 Diapers, Gardens, London,
under date of June 9TH, contributes to the
Mining Journal an elaborate article touch
ing the conclusions of the Commission.
We make such extracts from his comments
on the report as we can find room for.
Speaking of the Richmond, from informa-
ton CLEANED from the report of the Com
mission, he says:
THE PROPERTY
Is q very extensive one, and even by
Americans is styled a =" princely domain"
1t consists Of mines, smelling and refinery
NOth no, oliilt HI Otbtt Dul4lltros NOOu
ranches and water rights. On all these
reports have been made, and also on the
lawsuit, fuel, bullion sales, accounts, man
agement, and financial position, under the
heads named, adding forty-iye recon-
mendations for future working; fourteen
maps and plans accompany the report.
The main shaft of the mine has been sunk
300 feet, the engine power for same being
sufficient for a depth Of about 1,500 feet.
The mine is at present free from water, but
as there is a possibility of meeting it in
depth, and there being no pumping-gear
nor enough room in the shaft to fix it,
further sinking maj be for a time arrested.
Prospecting in portions of the property
other than that which is being worked was
neglected until the summer Of 1877. The
discoveries in the adjoining mine--Eurcka-
have, it appears, been the only incentives
even then. The suggestions for ~explora-
tions made by Mcssrs. Price, King and
Richard, were not carried out up to 1875,
and attention has been chiefly confined to
the ore body Of the mine. The theoretical
views of Mr.. Probert were barriers to ex-
plorations in the 200-foot level, and alto
gether the mine was calculated by him to
g take care of itself" At the beginning Of
1877 the mine was literally at a standstiil
for want of ore, and snch stuff and trash
was supplied to the furnaces, that although
five furnaces were running the estimated
profits were very small, and so scant had
the supply Of trash at last become, that it
was contemplated to cIt down the pillars
in the mine to keep one furnace going.
The company had been restrained from re-
moving ore from Potts chamber, which
had been the source of supply, hence the
scarcity.
SURPRISE Is EXPRESSED
By the committee that the body OF ore in
the disputed ground was ever touched,
seeing that the ore is so poor, and, accord
ing to Mr.. Probert's own admission, the
core was Of No value whatever" There is
eccentricity Of Judgment and deposition
in this which is astonishing. Mr.. Probert
plunging the Company, as the late Chair
expressed it, in "a long and costly
litigation for worthless ore" y n n 4
The mine appears to have been impoyer-
islcd for motives which the committee de-
clines to impute. OF the future Of the
mine Messrs. Hague and plummer speak
most encouragingly, but all depends on
the way in which it is worked. Let us
hope that the suggestions will be strictly
atd BuN- lhCSN att III All SAA lA4Sil-JS
of stone, two h~ydrocycle, and orc
circular furnace (; the latter three are re-
garded as hobbies of Mr.. Probcrs, and the
money expended on them as thrown away.
slo.ealiness characterized this depart
ment. The boilers, four in number, are
0 in an unsafe state through faulty set
ting, and it is recommended that they shall
be put in a safe condition with as little
delay as possible. The tone furnaces have
been proved to show better results in every
to
THE ''noBBy'' FURNACE,
And the nlodus operandi Of making these
ones show the larger ret1rn has been
fully exposed. The discrepancies in smelt-
ing are discussed and explained. The loss
of valuable fluc dust and fuel through ex-
cessiye blast is commented on, and also
the loss made on the ores which
nave from time to time been
purchased. The litharse theory, of
which tho shareholders have heard so
much has been shown to be a fallacy. As
to the assays Of 5 and 6 ozs. Of gold to the
ton OF the company's ore, Mr.. Probert
must have been ''throwing the hatchet."
The refinery is an entire failure. The idea
was originated by Mr.. Probert, who. after
rights in respect to granting Ii
for the flozan patent in the United
a arrangements with the presi-
dent of the company for adopting it at a
Of 81 per ton of base bullion
treated. Up to August, 1877, Mr.. Probert
received 4 ,75ot, for royalty, besides 2,000l
a year paid him in respect of his services
As managing director. There is great in
consistency showa in Mr.. Probert's CON
1,.af -. ..atttrx t1,a. - ..,&lx
the patentees whilst in the company's en-
ploy. In the late dispute this gentleman
has had with the five 'bosses'' who located
a piece OF ground adjoining the Richmond,
he maintains that the ''bosses'' had no
right to locate ground whilst in the. COM
pany's service, and as they had obtained
knowledge and information while working
in the mine as to the direction in which
the ore body lay, that knowledge belonged
to the company, and shonld nave been
communicated to himself, that he might
taken the ground ON behalf Of Rich
mond. Mr.. Probert's case aud that of
"bosses five" are parallel, and it would
seem the committee also entertain this
opinion. Whether the legal proceedings
suggested to be taken against the vice
president is a wise ono or not remains TO
be seen. Presidents of American mines
have given English companies a good deal
Of trouble, and also put them to great ex-
pense, and it is just possible that Mr.. Pro-
bert, should he turn obstinate in conse-
quence Of proceedings being taken against
him, n trump up some claim against
the company, they might find themselves
in a dilemma. Whilst the committee were
at the mine certain
"INFoRMAL CONTRACTS"
We're made for charcoal q. excessive prices
by Mr.. Probert. As they were there for
the express purpose Of considering the
state Of affairs, especially relating to the
extravagant handling Of the company's
money, the contract could not have been
made except in defiant spirit. The excus
made that his word was his bond with he