New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-03
SUTRO TUNNEL.
$ PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE VALUE.


COULTER
To the Bdit0r Of Thc Tribune.
SIR: In q paper called Tie Mining Record,
and published m this city, IN s issue Of the 2ih Juy
there appeared a letter signed James Deayan' ana
dated Virginia CITY. Nevada, july 10, 1870 In this
letter apparently desires 10 give TO the "ord
his the past present aud uiure Of the Sutro
Tunnel in its relations the Comstock Lode The moss
cursory prrusal OF this letter VIII suffice 20 show ls am
mus which is nothing more nor less Than Gra'u'o"s'
unworthy and cont mptibe effort to nlnrc m en-
tcrprise Which, It's Dated resnt II hardly s"coln
TO any tots country. The writer OF TINS letter Is nh
known to myself. he probably is 10 most people,
and no notice whatever would he taken OF an accuse
ton from obscure In. Tor The fact tnat n0t
content with the publication % hs views In the news
paper which ne favors with Them. effort has been
made to give the thing additional prominence by the
printing issuing Of the letter. under cover ana
IN the form OF a circular. the downtown financial
community generally. AS have already said. no sort
Of notice OF thus communication OF Mr. Deavan
would be taken, but for this-its motive being
papable. Tho larger shareholders Of Sutro Tun-
mel are indifferent the private or public opinions
Of any man OF any number or men re-
gardng the value, present or prospective, Of the
enterprise In which they are engaged; bnt as
there are now in its proprietary some thousands OF
Shareholders many OF whom are persons OF moderate
meaus and whose minds be disturbed by the arcie
In question: It has been thought advisable as one some
wi If prominently
Company in the past that should make public com
munication which at the time that 1t woud not
be designed rs reply the letter of Mr. Delavan pub
llshed in The Mining Record would probably serve TO
some OF the premises assumed by that gentle
man. ami reas,Jre the friends Of the enterprise.
WHAT THE sUTRo TUNNEL Is DESIGNED TO ACCOM-
PLIsH.
Tie surO Tunnel IS designed TO facilitate the worNng
of the mines upon the Comsock Lode by means OF the
drainage ventilation importation Of ores, waste rock,
and of her advantages it VIII afford these mines II Is
additionally intended to serve as the lhiuai
point for institutug tho work OF dlscoV-
cry and development of the entire mining
region OF which constitutes the key II is also TO De
the avenue outlet for the that presumably exist
in the numerous powerful VEINS 1t has inerseet"d
at right angles in lts course toward me cons och LO1
and finally il intended 10 supply me iueXhansilDe
water power which flows through It, ana when VII De
used at its mouth Tor the pr9pusion OF tne mus ara
shortly erect there for the reduction OF he rover Bre
OF the Comstock when eXs III Gu'ht'',et' paac
tcallv speaking, lni;able and which cannot De sue
cesstuly treated at any other point or oy any oper
the company have constructed their tunnel from ITS
starting point ri the base OF the mountains near e Gar
nearly l3ut ne " 400 r' INN The cronppes of rne
lode on the surface Virginia Clty and the company
are now engaged In constructing, win All possible MS
1nIci I,ter. br nc6es north and SOUTH along line
of tl, COmstock Lode. a. the cOmpany's works
have progressed results have jusined IN con-
sruction in an eminent degree. All other work has
been sII5orinaed To Uhat OF completion of the main
and branch tunnels a tie earliest day pracucao.e ana
IA few more viii suffice Ter this, the company
are now turning their attention 10 their Otner ana es
mate ntents.
THE COMPANY's TITLE TO VALUABLE ORE BODIES
IL is firmly believed by those who have been III
mately associated with the fortunes Of the enterprise
for wears past thai company in their own
right and by direct conveyance from the Government,
one Of the most valuable mineral grants IN existence
In the progress OF the tunnel TO the Comstock Lode they
bave intersected a number OF VEINS on each OF when
the company have proprietary right OF 4,oOO rect
without attempting the time Being to do work upon
TN e veins of any appreclabe extent sufficient has been
done TO prove the existence OF OF probably paying
value and I'm large amounts, while for the question OF
the quantity OF the Comstoek practically vail
abb for the uses the Sutro Tunnel Company, need
only refer you following from one Of the very best
authorities subject Writing about 1t lately the
Editor OF The Territorial Enterprise. Virginia City,
Nevada says
The present supply Of low-graGe the Comstock
range Is practically nexhaust9e; IL forms me great
mass OF the mineral belt or lode, the 0onanzas beng
only comparatively small sections mere ana tHele IKE
lands dotting large river Undoubtedly there are
now wing ow-erade ores that have been passed
by in the downward rush OF our mining companies many
more millions in silver and gold than have ever been ex
We need not in the beginning so into any OF the lower
levels In search Of lUwgade OIes-we might begin their
extraction on the surface IN the o!d eropp.nss
| are vast quantities Of low grade ore, and the
same may be said OF the croppnss OF me , GGoa
ard Curry The great mas Of these stands unGstuiDed
and to-day they appeared at the time o. the
s t Of S% gde ore in the old levels Of The CGoar
that at they working sdd levels ore tba
would not weld $50 IeF ton would not pay lot mining
and was lett behind. There must be IN that mine aud
great breaitns OF ore, that would assay om
In the savage NINE from top to bottom, are also i'm
mense bodes-whOe blocks. rs big block OF houses
| ton. On the I6O0 level of the savage Wheie me
Sutro Tunnel reached ana eur through the C9mstoSH
there Is . great breadth IRON SS TO 80
per James is OF The opinion tina when the business {"
| hat WI
the main tunnel and could be rushed 9rousn 10 liis
and concentrating works at the Town oi Suo vi vi INC
Along the line OF the north branch the sutro Tunnel
IN the Gould and Curry, Best ana Becher CohSolHaltu
Virginia. G. lfornia 0phr and Mexican, are great BLOCKS
OF low grade that could be readily mined ana run ou
through the tunnel The south branch Is no" Orhg RAP
idly extended, and Will soon reach point wnere ~
viii tap the really immense deposs OF lo|sTaGe ore
the Yellow Jacket Crown Point BelcheT, heDtuoh. I'M
peral Alpha. Bullion and other mines IN that direction
Superiutendents Patton, OF the Bonanza mines; lay Or
of The Yellow Jacket; Jones' oil me crown rg; init w.
of DC Belcher; Curtis OF the Justice; Boyle OF the
OF the Hale and NOrcross, aud Kelly Of the Savage
Mine all that there Is no lack OF low ore On
all parts of the lode to give employ ment TO thousands OF
| miners Tor many years to come
| POSITIVE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
During comparatively recent visit to the sntro tunnel
and Virginia City received esonay from the principal
managers OF the Comscck mines, assurances
regard ng the existence of deposits
OF the mines and OF the facilities and
! economies which the sutrO Tunnel would afford for
their treatment and which IN all re-
spects identical with the statements contained IN the
paper reproduced above. For present purposes IL
only necessary for say that although the Sutro
| Tunnel will render the wOrk' Of the Comsock LODE
! feasible to u de tn 5000 10 4OOO teet
! deeper than It otherwise could be workeu,
! and although It is hardly within me
range of mining problb ites, judging from analogous
conditions sewhere but that discoveries OF g"ai am
valuable magnitude will yet be made UPON The Comstoex
lode even IL sJeh possibilities should iai ana no. aI,
other ton OF high grade milling ore be developer III
these famous mines. what is there already ana whch
can hear no practical result except through the agency
OF the sutrO Tunnel Will coupled Win me ,,
of the company amply suffice 10 make the enterprise
ono OF great value. No Other conclusion can ne he
gently reached The company are possessed or means
ADEQUATE all their requirements ana tue same en-
md rnernrise that nave cOudueed thelr opera