New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-23

ounce ore, at the mine, Is worth about p|o ton'
net.
In the Pocahontas mine examined that part o.
the lode nearest the surface entering by tunnel
about 100 feet from the summit OF the VEN, ana
passing through a number of the old workings. The
had about all been taken out OF this level but II
was very easy to see the character Of the ground IN
which it was found. and l traced the vein for
long distance by its well-defned hanging wall. and
by PORTIONS of the streak shat had been left along
the gangwavs The deepest workings in the Poca-
hontas $40 feet below the surface. and there are
az that depth gns that the vein is Dinching out
Considerable reserves have been left in the mine
above tins lower level hut could make no esu-
mate of their extent. This mine has been bonded
for something more than 3O0OOO, but the oonG
has expired. and II ~ now doubtful II Jhe SAFE WIZ
be made. | have 10 d0ubt that tAe POeahonias
mine will produce largely for many years TO come.
but | should think II would require long uine 10
take from II enough ore 10 pay expenses. TAR inter
est the Investment. and clean pront OF
100000.
DESCENT THAT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE, TO SAY
THE LEAST.
To study the character # tho vein ~ greater
depth went into the Humboldt, which adjoins
the 2, cahoRtls on the east and IN which q shaii
has been sunk to depth Of Cos feet. Dressed IN
rubber coat, over-alls and old hat, got into the
sheet-iron bucket in which the and waste rock
head was about levc with the ton Of &c. Til IN
SIDE of this bucket was wet and muddy, and my
p sinon was any hing but comfortable one. MI
Thornton. tie superintendent of the mine, stood
with one foot on each edge of the bucket. and gave
the word 10 the engineer 20 lower away" The
shaft Is not a pcrDend cuar one. but has been sunk
on the dip OF the vein at angie OF about GU from
the plane Of the horizon, and the bucket, there
fore. iusteal Of swinging free like an od-fishioned
watar-bucket ia a well. slid down against TWO
long tiinbers placed parallel with each other on he
lover eide Of the shaft about foot apart. III order
to guide It.
This wac about the most awkward way OF enter
ing a nine that hav. seen The inclination II th'
bucket prevents one from standing or sqaattlng Oh
his feet in the bottom II it, but throws hin. whether
he likes il or not. upon his hands and hne upon
the side of the vessel where NE must remain ID ihe
position Of a toad inst ready to jump, until he
reaches the bottom one # the stations. Tie Whole
inside Il the shaft was wer and shiny fro the
water that IT is consia .tiv nee ssary 10 ban mp III
a water tank and the SIP rnt ndcnt emf rl~in
me ~ we went down. by roiuiing oUt the place lA
the shaft where q for man fol Oh from the hucae'
two DAYS before and went siding down tAe slhit at
q fearful rate for one hundred ami fifty feet bef re
he succeeded in switching himself on into one III
the eves. One Of BIS legs and an arm were broken
and his body was BADLY bruised, but his escape from
death was almost miraculous for the point where he
lost his Mold was nearly 800 feet from the bottom Of
the shaft
Accidents m The mines are very iTeqnen'' out
they are almost always due 20 carc.es>ness only
few days ago young man was killed oy 1a"Hg
down y shaft in the Payweu NINE near tins camp
The hole was abou- one hundred feel deep, ana 20
pr,vlsion lad been made far yeGtiiating it.
blast Of giant powder had Just been fired of IN the
bottom. and the man went down TO Resume work
He found the air bad. and getting uDon the bucket
siopaIed those on top to hoist. When near he sur
face be lost consciousness fell % the bottom, and
was instantly kius.. IN accident in whIch miner
showed great presence of mind occurred III a small
shaft at the Bull-Domingo mine during my vlsl to
IL tn other day. Two holes bad been drlled III the
bottom Of the shaft about twenty ie-t DcoW the
surface. ana miner taYlng placed chargt OF Illll
powder in each hsd lighted the use and was heing
raised to the surface by wind lass one fpot
IN a loop IN the rope. The loop shppei out ana ne
fell TO the bottom and although several bones were
broken and he was badly bruised as to be unaoie
10 move he instantly pulled the fuses on OF the
charges and so saved himself from certain death by
the explosion.
DEVELOPMENT or THE HUMBOLDT.
On leaving the shaft at of the stat ons found
that levels had been in each direction from IT
following the course OF the vein TO the end lines
! the property. These levels. Of course have 10 be
considerably wider than the narrow ore-boiy, a
they serve a gangways through which all ore anC
waste material taken from the mine are transuoriet
TO the sbafr. Running lengthwise along the top o
the ROOF of the evels except where the stopng has
been done and plat orm of timber had taken tA'
Mace of the original rock. streak Of ore coul b
seen by holding die mp TO it. In many place.
thus ore was on the very edge Of the drift, and be
| low il where il had been removed in driving TN
Oonrwav. tie hanging wall Of the vein could b.
seen a smooth and solid face OF rock. The ore L
found IN LAYERS. Ne rest to the HANGING wall Their
Is generally a thin sewage Of soft clay or kaoll
tDaf ike the butter with winch COOK smcars III
baking pans 10 prevent the bread from sticking 4
them, causes the ore be easily separated from II
Wall rock on taat side WI hlut disturbing the la'
fer Next t. this thcle Is generally thin streak
gray copper rich in silver then come iron and cope
pvrites and thicker stratum OF heavy spar
beyond which there is often still another streak
the urav copper or pyrites. These different miner
ola arc Of course. as seen from below. presente
with their edges downward. and the whole are fror
fevy inches TO two o. two and half feet in thick
ness Sometimes the ore in the process Of depositio
seerns 10 have been disturbed. and then the gra
conner the pyrites and the heavy spar instead G
appearing in wei defined strata are mixed togethe
in an anonymous mass, the whole occupying aDou
the same space as the siratIhed VEIN
Wherever went in the Humboldt mine foun
ore in reserve but attempted 70 make no estnla'
of it, amount. The work now beng done IN III
NINE is chiefly for development, the scarcity q
miners during the Summer and whiie u Is con
fortabe to be prospecting IN the mountains haNlni
cansed wages to advance beyond point when tl
superintendent thought reasonable. Inc Chieflaii
Ieayepworth mine Is just nos removing more OF
! +hor any other on the HUMBOLDT -PocahOntGs vel
hut the superintendent was away, ana dId not
| underground in that mine. but saw some enorin"
| hlncks of ore which came from it. lhey seemed ,
ca'rsIst of an almost solid mass OF gray copper, VIII
a small admIxture of heavy spar and one oil thei
was nearly three feet square
OTHER MINES oF THIS CAMP
since coming to Rosta have also visited sever
| ...- IL Oh. a-nn llnr n-snre VEN