Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-16
MINERAL HILL CORRESPOND
ENCE.
Total Failure I'm n Erection Of q
Smelling Furnace, and Other
Matters.

| Total Failure II M Erection of q
Smelling Furnace, and Other
Matters.
MINERAL HILL, September IS, 1880.
Ed. SENTINEL II is not pleasing TO note
the total failure of any project which is
supposed to benefit a community, but the
total collapse of the draft furnace, which
made an unsuccessful attempt to reduce
some OF the ores in Union District last
week will bear criticism, inasmuch as it
was built by an idle theorist, whopreferred
building after his W peculiar views than
to adopt any we'll known method which
has been demonstrated by practical expert
ence to be the best.
THE FURNACE
In question has been on the 'stocks" for
nearly a year; torn down and rebuilt sew
eral times, at the within OF the builder, and
was finished complete about the 1st ult. 1t
is, or rather was, an ordinary draft fur
mace, somewhat similar to the one in the
canyon north of Eureka, but merely thrown
together and without any proportion. On
the day upon which the thing was to start,
several of our good people j~onrneyed
thither, to note the success or failure OF
the enterprise. Tomaso also made the
journey by easy stages on a walking horse.
We found all the empty bottles to be gath
cred about the country piled up near the
furnace, and also several sacks Of salt. In
answer to an inquiring look we were told
that this was ~'fiux," which caused q smile
among the usual sedate crowd. Everything
o being in readiness the proprietor
stuffed the flue full of green logs to warm
'er up;" filled the ire-box, and started the
thing. Now the "ructions" commenced.
Throw in another bottle, Joe. What is
the matter? Do you see any Stag yet? Is
them logs burned? Sprinkle some more
salt in there; sock ii to 'er. Throw in two
or three of them white bottles, Joe," were
some Of the excited demands of the ''boss,"
and continued uninterrupteGly until the
top caved, at 8 P. M. As soon as this was
repaired the sides caved in, and it was
expedient and to the best interests
of all concerned, as well as to save, as far
possible, the reputation of the builder,
that the thing be closed down for repairs.
The thing had no bottom to retain lead,
even il any had been made, which was ut
terly impossible, as the whole outfit burned
DclOIo tHo GREEN lOSS Wcfo muCu
more than charred. The verdict of the
jury, who viewed the ruins. was in accord
ance with the above facts, to wit 'sThat
this furnace died a natural death, owing to
the want of practical and intelligent work
manship in its construction. We also be-
lieve the advent of defunct whisky bottles,
either white or colored, to be inimical to
the best results attainable in this style of
furnace, and would further recommend
the supercllious proprietor to visit Eureka
at his earliest convenience and make some
observations in regard to the practical
workings of silver-lead Ores" The verdict
in this case has a widespread and general
application, and it would be well for pros
pectors who contemplate the erection of
any simple style of furnace, to build astyle
which is known to be right, and not be
led away with the idea that any mass of
rocks thrown together will answer the pur-
pose, or theorize and experiment upon
something which they know nothing about.
MISCELLANEOUS.
1t is said the Star Company, of Union
District, will soon let a contract to extend
their crosscut 100 feet, or to the Taylor
ground.
The manufacture Of charcoal is entirely
suspended in this vicinity; there is scarcely
a man to be found on any OF the wood
The Oldest inhabitant already predicts a
long and severe winter. 1t is Indian Ben,
the oracle" He bases his opinion on the
fact Of our having such a dry summer, and
scouts the idea Of prognasticating the
weather by noting whether hogs sleep with
their shouts to the north or otherwise.
We are promised some speeches at the
primaries next Saturday.
The elimination and recrimination be-
tween two prominent citizens, a few days
since. was not conducive to the good moral
character of either, but very amusing to
the audience.
The social party at Mineral Station on
Friday evening was an enjoyable affair; SO
pronounced by the delegation from here.
TOMASO,