Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-30
COLONEL FAIRS TWO LINES.
Two Straight Marks on a Sheet Of Paper
Valued at $4,000.
Virginia tNo,., Enterprise

Virginia new Enterpriso.4
Last fall, when the excitement in
regard to the Sierra Nevada Mine was
at its greatest hight, the reporter hap
pened in at the office Of the ConsOli-
dated Virginia Mine. After some
talk with Colonel Fair in regard to
matters connected with the Bonanza
Mines, he suddenly said Come this
way and | will show you something
The colonel led the way to his pri-
vate ofice-his own particular sane
tum sanctorum. AT one end of this,
pushed against the wall, was a long
and broad table, which was covered
with maps. A glance at these sufioed
to show that they we're maps and
tracings of the underground regions of
mines. The sheets were covered with
a bewildering array of lines in red.
yellow, blue, green, etc, a color for
each level, The red, blue and other
zigzag lines in bright colors looked
more like so many streaks of light
ming than anything else, but all were
plain enough to the initiated. AL
though these lines we're piled on top
Of each other, like those of patterns
in the fashion books, a mining super
intendent would have no trouble in
following all the drifts, c~ross-cuts.
wines and other openings belonging
to each level.
On the table, surrounded with piles
Of maps, tracings and sketchings, was
a drawing board on which was tackled
a large sheet of drawing paper. A
case Of drawing instruments stood
near at hand, and on the paper were
drawn two lines-nothing more.
DO you see those two lines ?" said
Colonel Fair.
The reporter saw them, but did not
take a great amount of interest in
them, and intimated as much.
Said Colonel Fair: 30 you know
that there are plenty of men on the
Pacific Coast who would give $4,000
to see the two lines that are drawn on
That sheet OF paper Z
The reporter began to feel some
what interested, and looked hard at
the two lines and the angles thereof,
finally concluding, however, that he
would cheerfully dispose of his peep
at the magical two lines for less
than half $4,000.
How long do you suppose it took
me to make the two lines you see on
that paper? ?" asked the colonel.
The reporter thought he would give
him an abundance OF time and finally
said Four hours"
-Four hours" shouted the colonel.
" Why, sir, it was three days before |
was able to place those lines as you
see them-three days, and mighty
hard work at that"
The reporter viewed the lines from
various distances and angles. but was
unable to see how three days labor
could have been expended in produc-
ing them.
DO you know what | had to do
before drawing those lines? | was
obliged to go through all the maps YOU
see lying about this room. Now do
you begin to. see why there are men
who would give $4,000 to see those
two lines?"
Those two lines must be intended
to show the foot and hanging walls of
the Sierra Nevada Nine" said the
reporter.
You've hit il cxactly-that is OK.
actly what they are. In order to find
out how to draw those two lines I was
obliged to go through all the maps of
all the leading mines at the north end
Of the Oomstock, and get from them
the exact angle Of the foot and hang
ing walls on all tue levels, and from
the data so obtained strike an average
then | was able to draw my two
lines, What do you think of them,
now that you know exactly what they
are 2"
TIE reporter said l think they
are not far enough apart at the bot
tom" IIF..
They are as they are shown, and
we have no right to alter them, said
the Colonel.
At this time the decline was down
but a short distance below the 2l00
level, and the two lines showed the
walls to the 300 level, at least. The
reporter desired greatly to spread
those lines at the 300 level, but the
colonel would not consent to the
widening.
FSee what | have been doing during
the past three days to find those lines
pointing to the piles of maps, "I\
cannot alter them"
When the 2200 level was reached
Che Fep0rteF thought of those two
lines, and watched the first cross-cut
as it was advanced. The lines were
right there. 1t remains to be seen
where the lines will be at the 1900 and
24O0 levels. All that may be said of
the two lines is that they have no
crooks in them, and that they will be
Ia gO0dly distance apart at the 200
level.
At the time the reporter first saw
the lines secrecy was enjoiped, but he
he is now at liberty to give all but
their exact angles, From what has
been said in regard to the 1900 level,
however, mining men will be able to
make 4 very close guess at the two
lines worked out with so much pains
and PATIENCE by Colonel Fair,
A man bought some of the $40 gov
ernment certificates at the Cincinnati
office, and missed one after retiring