Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-08-20
THE TUNNELS.
What They are Doing for Prospect
Mountain

We have two enterprises quietly going
forward that are Of the highest importance
to the future Of Eureka District. We al
lude to the Prospect Mountain and Eu'
reka Tunnels. Both are piercing the very
heart Of the grand old mountain which
many miners nave believed for years mus
ultimately prove the backbone OF Eureka
District. They enter the mountain from
opposite sides, nearly on a direct line.
The Prospect tunnel started first, and has
the greatest distance to run to reach the
| point under the crest Of the mountain. Its
length at this writing is something over
LOO feet. Its total length when COM
pleted will be about 5000 feet. 1t will
! tap the main mineral zone approximately
1,400 feet below the surface. The face is
now nearing q mineral formation, and
there can scarcely be a question that it will
develop ore bodies in the near future. The
Eureka tunnel has attained a lengths of
l 1920 feet. Its face is almost under the
apex of the mountain. 1t started a little
higher, and had not as great a distance to
run as the tunnel on the other side. 1t
will develop the mountain to a depth Of
LOO feet. II these two tunnels we're on
the same level it would not be long until
they would have a hole clear through
Prospect Mountain. Their headers must
be within about 1900 feet Of each other
now. The Eureka has already cut a num-
Der Of very promising veins. 1t Is a char
acteristic Of Prospect Mountain that her
ores are Of q much higher grade than those
found in the mines of Ruby Hill. The
developments made in the Eureka tunnel
maintain this difference. Some assays
have been obtained running between $500
and 81 100 to the ton. The average will
range above $500. The fact that these
splendid prospects have been found at this
depth is one Of the most encouraging cir
cumstances connected with our whole dis
trict at this time. We can well imagine
how both Of these great tunnel enterprises
might be continued through the mountain
without developing a pound OF ore. Our
district is of a limestone formation, and
the ore occurs in bodies and chimneys.
Tunnels, therefore, become in o marked
degree q work OF chance in contradistinc-
ton to adits driven for the development
Of well defined veins or lodges. Prospect
Mountain has thousands of acres Of prom
ising mineral bearing territory. Crop
ings blossom out all over it. A great
many handsome bonanzas have been dis
covered and worked right at the surface.
The veins and feeders cut in the tunnels
will unquestionably lead to ore in paying
quantities. The tunnel would be playing
in almost phenomenal luck to run squarely
into a huge bonanza on their direct course.
Millions Of tons OF good ore may be above
below them or on their sides, and that
very close in either direction. And still
they may cut immense bodies in a direct
line. but we shall look for the grandest re-
suit when they begin to crosscut and fol-
low up the numerous gratifying streaks
and feeders already disclosed at great
Then is when we shall expect
Prospect Mountain to loom into promi-
hence as the richest and most extensive
reproducing subdivision OF our marve-
lous district.