Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-02-23

Colonel Sam. T. Curtis. Supsrintend.
emit Of the Justice mine, has returned
from o visit to tho Columbus District.
he says there Is no snow in the district.
Columbus Mining District lies in a
basin .hich evidently some day or other
has been the center Of heavy volcanic
action. The greater portion Of the
mineral belt Is at present covered with a
heavy Gaping Of volcanic rocks and
masses of trachyte snd iron stone.
The mineral belt is very extensive so
far as at present traced. extending eight
or nine miles in length from east to
west aud about O mile b width from
north to south-reaching from q little
north Of Candslaris down 10 Columbus.
The system OF veins-vhich are nu-
merous crops out boldly In many
places, exposing rich miberal on the
surface. The general coupe OF the veins
il easterly and westerly, wt4h some lodss
crossing at nearly rights angles in .
northsrly and southsrly objection. The
dip OF the veins Is to the u3rth and east.
The principal mines wore Ing or devel-
oped to any extent are 81, Northern
Belle, Victor. Mt. Diablo, Metallic and
Mt. Potosi. Other minesasuch as the
Lucky Hill, Washington Tunnel. East
Mt. Diablo and East Belle, are just
starting . system OF worksSfor the de-
vslopment Of their claims.
The Northern Belle has + Bsllevills,
nine miles from the mine. tto 30.stamp
mills for dry crushing. win Stedfeldt
furnaces. Cost OF hauiing otes, 80 37I
per ton. They arc taking ous about 20
tons per day and running one mill with
q capacity Of 90 tons.
The Victor Is milling ore d New Bos.
ton, 20 miles away.
There are at Columbus two small mills
but they are sadly out OF repsir. There
is plenty OF water at Columbus for mill
ing, the supply being obtained by sink.
ing from 8 to 20 feet. Wood at Candle.
laria Is S18 per cord. at Columbus Sl4.
The lumber and timber supplies OF the
district are principally derived from the
railroad at Wadsworth. Lumber Is worth
$50 per thousand. Water is now hauled
from Bellsville or Columbus and costs
from 8 to 6 cents per gallon.
Colonel Curtis took q great number OF
assays from the different surface CROP
pings Of the locations throughout tho
district, and he says there can be no
doubt but that a little capital aud energy
will make IL one OF the greatest bullion
producing districts Of the State. The
veins are in q belt OF clay states with one
or two lodges Of porphyry and green.
stone In places. The walls are solid and
many OF the veins narrow 30 that no
great amount OF timbering will be re.
quirsd. The ores are principally chloride
aud anthony and silver ores. Some
ores he thinks could DO worked to . fair
percentage by wet crushing: but most
have to be roasted and reduced by the
dry process. He has Q large number OF
samples OF all grades, but none OF them
90 less than 500.
A project 10 being mooted to bring In
water from Q hums from the White
Mountains, and to aume wood to within
three miles OF Candelaris. Surveys
prove this practicable and the estimated
cost 10 $500, 000.
The Colonel thinks Q mort feasible
project would be to build q narrow gauge
railroad to the intended terminus OF tho
Virginia 4 Truckee road on Walker
Lake as soon AZ that point Is reached.
The distance ia about 40 miles and there
IL plenty Of wood and water there for
milling purposes. The train could take
down the ores and take back freight,
supplies OF Nil kinds, including wood and
timber. stores, etc. Ores could be RS
duced In this way at less expense than
any other. The farmers along the line
OF the White Mountain iumo claim the
water for purposes Of irrigation, and ar.
rangemeuts must be made with them
before the water can DO diverted for
other purposes.
The trip there now Is q rough one.
The stage facilities are not good. and
parties visiting there should 90 literally
supplied with blankets as there are no
hotels Or boarding houses there. A good
hotel at Metallic would be q profitable
Investment.
The Colonel is favorably impressed
with the district, as will be seen by the
foregoing. He has also proved his faith
by his works, for he has bonded several