Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-10-10

tho Last Two Noares
It cannot be denied that al the present
time the Silver Hill holds an important
position among the mines Of the south
end Of the Comstock and that an un'
usual interest il conferred upon the pres
ent workings Of the mine to the east or
the 1900 level. In view Of this fact q
representative Of the Nrws yesterday
sought and obtained from S~upsrintend'
snt Hillysr permission to visit and
inspect the mine.
The crosscut east on the 1900 leve'
has been driven 500 feet from the station
Of the incline. This incline commences
at the $50 level and the pitch and cross.
cut have carried the face Of the lattel
about 1000 feet east Of the shaft. This
is the most sasterly working on the
lower end. the point reached being
further away in that direction thar
would be reached by Q line running par
allel with the Comstock and extending
through the Alta shaft. This 10 one
reason why the present workings are oil
interest.
Again, ON the HOO level . crosscul
was run in the same direction and near
the east side Of the ledge passed through
las feet OF broken quartz Of low grade.
but showing q much better formation
than had been encountered in the same
direction either on the 800 or 800 levels.
The formation wa thus demonstrated to
be making down. The present crosscu'
on the 1900 level 10 now within Q lew
feet Of where this formation should be
struck on this still lower level.
Another reason why unusual interest
is centsring upon this crosscut Is that
the approaches to this portion OF the
vein on the 1900 level are much more
promising than on the levels above.
The whole length Of the crosscut 10 In
vein porphyry carrying slips OF clay,
s,rinpers ui quartz and quartz crystaliza.
tons all through ii. The formation ia
also highly mineralized and the por.
| phyry itself, which is Of o lively, BIRDS
| eye kind, carries gold and silver In
amounts ranging from 81 to 50 per ton.
As the face OF the crosscut is neared,
these indications OF Q mineral deposit
close ut hand increase. There Ii less
porphyry, moro clay and considerably
more and richer quartz. The clay seams
are such, both in consistency and ap.
p~earance, as arc encountered In the Vi.
cinity Of ore bodies, the whole formation
being Of q very kindly nature withal.
To sum the situation up, therefore, and
to use u broad. yet meaning Comstock
phrase, the Silver Hill has on the 1900
level an excellent prospect. To say
moro than this might lead to too great
expectation; to say less would certainly
not do the mine justice.
The mine Is getting into excellent
shape for business. A building 10 going
up which is greatly needed and which Is
intended to cover two new sets OF boil.
ers, q large. new air compressor aud q
machine shop. The shop now in use is
well arranged. but too small. II con.
tains a planer. Q drill press. Q bolt cut
ter, q lathe and Q drill. These will be
moved into the new building when COM
| pleted. The building will be l22 feet
long and 46 feet wide. The frame OF the
western portion is up already and all the
| timbers are ready to be raised. The car
pentsr shop. has besides the usual facili.
| ties for work, two saws and an improved
carriage for handling timbers-one that
will not allow the sticks to move and
thus bend the saws.
The two new sets OF boilers (making
four in ally are In position and set in
their brickwork. One Of the smoke
stacks has been raised. The foundation
for the new dir compressor Is receiving
its hewn-stone copings. This founda-
ton is not rs large and deep al some
which have been laid for the big pump
ing engines Of the Comstock. but is sec.
ond to nons in quality. and is 40 feet
long. 22 feet wide and l6 feet deep. The
copinRs are very large and heavy. The
steam cylinder Of the compressor Is on
tho ground. 1t 10 "a inches In diameter
and has q stroke Of six feet. The com
pressor is being constructed at the Full.
ton Foundry on the Divide, which 10
sufficient guarantee Of its excellence.
Other conyeniences are either in pro-
cess OF construction or in use. A broad
wood chute is being made next the road
and leading into the boiler room. A
stockade bulkhead Is going in from this
chute north -one that will last and pro-
tect the embaukmsnt. There is Q nov
city in air compressors also in use at the
works. 1t Is operated by Q solid wheel
crank on the shaft Of the pumping en-
CINE and has O stroke Of 8 feet. This
| has been in effectual operation some
| time aud works well. It was invented
by Superintendent Hillyer. He has
also constructed o new.style bob which
ia in use in the incline. It consists
simply Of Q huge weight suspended by
a chain which runs over o wheel like q
sheave and which Is attached to the rod
in the incline. It 10 cheap, simple. not
liable to break. loses no power, and Is
therefore effectual.
Among other late improvements 10 o
tank on the hill to the east which gives
1875 pounds pressure at the works
enough to make 1t effectual for ordinary
uses and especially for distinguishing
tres. In short. Mr.. Hillyer has done o
great deal Of good work cheaply during
the two years he has had charge Of the
mine, aud the change, both on the
surface and underground 10 most
| marked. When he entered upon the
duties Of his office the 600 level had just
been reached. He has prospested that
level thoroughly. the 800 fairly and the
800 partially. rs well as the HOO. He
has also sunk the incline 700 feet and
run the east crosscut on the 1900 level.
This Is q thoroughiars broad and roomy
and contains q double car.track.
While the Silver Hill 10 not Q hot
mine it has in its present workings Q
higher temperature than any other Of
the south end mines. This increases
very ~psrceptibly as the crosscut 10
pushed east, and when the eastern and