Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-03-06

INNS NM ncoo INV
There Uader the freseas MAN.
ssemeus- over 100000 4oupds
OF Iron, Steel aud Brass.
The Union shaft, although not Is
large 4 shaft as some others on the
Comstock. Is equipped in some respects
with the heaviest machinery on the lode,
hence is probably the best calculated for
mining operations Of any in the world.
The machinery is all new, all constructed
after the most approved plans, and so
combines power. capacity and speed as
to be operated most economically and at
the same time do the greatest amount OF
work.
Operations at the Union shaft have
been parsgrsphsd in the News from
time to tine a. Improvements there
have been added. Now that the works
there ara nearing completion II is fitting
that the whole should be put into o CON-
dsnsed form for future reference.
TIE PAST.
A year ago last June the North Con-
solidatsd Virginia property was pur-
chased by the Sierra Nevada. Union
Consolidated and Mexican Mining Com
p.nies. At that time q small building
stood over the shaft, covering . donkey
engine, q set OF boilers, Q small air COM
pressor, and an infsrior.gsarsd pumping
engine. The shaft at that time was
1856 feet deep aud full OF water.
In October Of that year preparation
for the erection Of the present magnin-
cent works was commenced. 1t IL not
necessary to follow the work step by
step; but the hill was cut down 10 feet
and a level spot containing an acre OF
ground obtained. On this have been
erected the following buildings, which
constitute the present hosting works:
THE PRESENT.
The main building has . length from
cast to west Of l5l feet, Ii AZ feet wide,
and is so constructed a. to hight as to
place the most elevated portion OF the
building over the sheaves. from which II
slopes back over the hosting engine,
thereby sconomiziug both space and ma.
terial.
Standing south OF this and even with
the east end is the carpenter shop. Ito
feet long, IS feet wide and 20 feet high.
It is fully equipped with saws and all
improved modern apparatus for saving
labor.
North Of the Main structure are the
buildings covering the boilers and the
pumping engine, air compressor. etc.
The boiler building is l02 feet long. %
feet wide and and IS feet high. It con.
taius Ave sets OF boilers. 81 inches In
diameter and 16 feet long, each set ca
pable Of furnishing steam equivalent
to 2O0-horse power. The building for
the pumping engine Is east o! the boiler
room and is so feet long. 40 feet wide,
and il % feet high in the upper story
and has q lower story IL feet in height.
East Of the pump-sugine building. aud
detached from the other portions OF tho
works, 10 q large and conveniently ar.
ranged blacksmith shop, well stocked
with tools and sbundantly supplied with
FORCES.
East OF the main structure and con-
nected with II 10 the rope house. This
Is It's feet long. 80 feet wide and two
stories high. It 10 the thoroughfars
also to the orc house and dump and has
tracks for cars on both floors. On the
lower floor il the machine shop Of the
works. This shop is fully equipped
with the finest machinery and tools. and
In II repairs are economically and quick.
ly made.
Still further east 10 the ore house,
which 10 10 feet long from north to
south, 30 feet wide, and has o capacity
Of 1900 tons.
Below the carpenter shop Is q bath
and changing oom for the men. The
apartment is IS by IS feet and fitted up
to accommodate 1900 men working on
three shifts.
North Of the works and in the canyon
in q cooling reservoir covering three
acres. This is connected with the shaft
us feet below the surface by o tunnel.
The water for the condenser OF tho
pumping engine will be raised from the
level OF this reservoir and having done
its work will again descend to the ressr.
yoir, spread itself over the surface, be-
come cooled and thus be used over and
over again. .
The works have a gypsy hoist for
handling timbers. three air comprcssors.
a pumphoist for raising and lowering
heavy bodies such a. pumps. bobs, etc..
through the shaft, blowers and all the
appliances used in mining on the Com
stock. They are protected from tire by
four outside hydrants and nine on the
inside. all conveniently arranged and
supplied with 2i.inch carbolizsd hose
attached and ready for instant use.
Tho works are remarkable for their
adaptation 10 the uses and purposes for
which they are constructed. They give
all the room needed and just where
needed. and yet there 10 no space not
utilized. They were designed BY VIM.
II. Patton. a. were also those at the e.
4 G. shaft, Yellow Jacket and othei
places where the most improved build.
ings have been erected.
Last June the works were put In
charge Of Thomas Il. Rooney as sup'r.
intendsnt. The shaft. which was oiiRi.
nally OF three compartments. was en-
largsd to four compartments below the
100 level, ss follows: pump shaft, z by
z feet; south shaft. 6 feet 9 inches by
5 feet 6 inches; two interior sompart.
ments 4 feet by 8 feet 8 inches each.
These measurements are all in the clear
aud TO give room for the timbsrs, an e.
cavstion Of 3OxS feet must DO made. As
an insts0cs OF tho energy with which
the work Of the shaft has been managed
undss Mr. Rooney 1t is worthy Of record
that during one week this shaft was