Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-02-22
WHAT MIR. CHAPLIN SAYS.
He Will Not Consent to Sink a
Joint Shaft-His Reason for Re.
fusing to Do SO-Ete.

a few days ago, from Samuel A..
Chaplin, the principal owner in the
Lower Comstock, from which we
are permitted to make the following
extract:
Who is it that is so spiteful toward
me in the article in your LYON CoUN-
TY TIMEsl The editor and proprie-
tor | don't know. | think some one
who owes me some old grudgc caus-
es such shameful statements to be
made-or else it is some one who
has got mad because we won't GIVE
THE NINE away, or, what is THE
SAME THING, join some of the other
mines south Of us in sinking a joint
shaft and let them ASSESS US till our
stock is all sold out. For one I
don't propose to place this company
in a situation to ruin every stock
holder in il, if l can help it. If the
paper would keep some truth in its
statements it would not seem 50
great an outrage. 1t says: SIT is
the old, old story with him. No
sooner is his price acceded to, than
he backs out and wants more" The
fact is, there has been no offer at all
from any one, and no price fixed, and
no backing out. l have been wait.
ing with good deal of interest for
some one to make an offer. The
only thing proposed was that we
join in that joint shaft which would
be so far away from our mine that
every sensible man would think US
crazy to do such thing.
The proposition referred to is that
the Lower Comstock (Mr. Chapin's
company, the Cherokee, the Dayton,
and the Kossuth join in sinking a
shaft which would cut the ledge at
a depth Of between 1900 and 1900
feet. At that depth it is expected
and predicted, by all competent
miners, that the numerous small
veins running parallel with Gold
Canyon unite and form one vast
ledge which is much wider and
richer than any other part of the
Comstock heretofore explored. The
proposal appears to us in very
favorable light, since it would un-
doubtedly be the best possible way
of testing the value of this end of
the Comstoek at comparatively
great depth. The fear that the stock
holders in the Lower Comstock
would be assessed until their stock
is all sold out will appear puerile
when ii is borne in mind that the
shares Of that company would be
greatly enhanced in value by the
sinking of the proposed shaft. Be-
sides, while this shaft was being put
down prospecting could be carried
on through the old workings, and il
would be surprising indeed, in pres
encc of the many most promising
indications already met with, if an
ore-body which would more than
pay all working expenses, were not
discovered comparatively near the
surface.
The editor of the TIMES is not ac-
tuated, in this matter, by any but
the most laudablc motives and a
desire to see this really valuable por-
ton of the Comstock thoroughly
and, consequently, properly explored.
If Mr.. Chaplin would cause work
to be resumed as it ought TO be on
the Lower Comstock, all the neigh.
boring companies would soon fol-
low his example, and the District
would regain its former prosperity.
The Lower Comstock is the key to
the situation at this end of the lode.
If it is worked the other mines will
be; If it is not worked it is TO be
feared that the other mines in its
immediate vicinity will continue to
remain idle, to the impoverishment