Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-09-25

A Visit te the New Field by a Rem.
resentafive of the Sentinel.
A representative Of the SENTINEL visited
the new Stafford District some days ago.
A press Of other matter has prevented
earlier reference to what was seen and the
conclusion formed. The camp and its To-
cation has been hitherto described fully in
these columns and need not be repeated
here, further than to add once again that
there is no other such eligible location on
all the Pacific Coast for cheap and success
full mining. The splendid water power of
the Humboldt River, capable Of driving
thousands Of stamps, may be utilized at a
tri1ing expense. The mines are situated
within two miles of the river, all the way
down grade. Ores that will yield So to
the ton can be worked at q profit. For
~tunately there are no such inferior ores in
the camp. Higher grade ores largely pre-
dominate; this is one feature of the new
district that must inspire everyone with
confidence in its great value. Assays from
the grass roots running $500 and 5000 are
of common occurrence. In many instances
the groupings above the surface go from
500 to $500 to the ton. The writer took a
half dozen pieces of rock from the Conten-
ton mine, not two feet below ground,
which gave a most fiattering return. We
forwarded these samples TO Harry Rosener,
San Francisco. Yesterday we received a
telegram from him stating that the average
was 1858 in silver, certainly rich enough
for top rock. The mineral belt stretches
away for a dozen miles. 1t seems to be
about l 900 feet wide, and is as we'll defined
and as easily followed as Main street, Eure-
ka. A dozen mines were being vigorously
worked at the time of our visit, and all
held out the brightest promises. We may
say deliberately and candidly that Stafford
District presents a better showing on top,
Of rich mineral and bold outcrop, than any
other locality in the State Of Nevada. This
much cannot be gainsaid. Whether the
mines go down is a question to be deter
mined by future development. We believe
they do. The evidences in support Of this
conclusion are abundant and can hardly
mislead the experienced eye. 1t is in &C.
cord with our observations in the mining
districts Of this State that the size OF the
outcrop is generally a fair index of the
dimensions Of the ore bodies when depth is
attained. In this particular Stafford has
the call over any mining section on the
coast, not excepting the famous Comstock.
The more prominent mines visited were
the Onondaga, Contention, Illinois and
Bulls Head. The latter has a shaft 80 feet
deep and going down as fast as three men
could sink it. The Illinois was being in
d~ustriously worked by Tom Jewell and his
partners. A shaft had just been started
on the Contention. Many other claims
had made a start, but we cannot go into
details, A general opinion of the district ia
all we thought of giving. That we were more
than favorably impressed with its outlook
is already indicated in the foregoing. The
chief development had been made on the
Onondaga. Here is disclosed an immense
mass of good ore. Its extent is not yet
ascertained, but it is certainly very great.
A tunnel pehetrates the body for a dis
lance of so feet and the end is not yet. We
believe the Onondaga will prove a great
mine, n if it does there will be many
other valuable properties in the district.
The contemplated town and all else de-
ponds upon the mines. 1t will take a
little time to settle definitely the perma-
nency OF the mines, though at the present
writing the weight of opinion is in their
favor. Deputy County Surveyor Merry
was as busy as a nailor making surveys
for the mines. He had surveyed and
marked the boundaries Of the following
claims: Mob Hill, Lodi, st. Julien, Wat
kins, Seminole, Oversight, Wallace. Belle
Of the Hill. Nest Egg. Mary Ann, Star, |
Cumberland, Albert, Griffin, Eureka, On
ondaga, Good Luck, Kentuck, Emma, G.
& c., Comet, Illinois, Franlin, Bulls
Head, Zanola, Flower Pot, Belcher, Con- |
~tention. State Of Maine. Pocahontas, Onei-
da, Grand View and Hunters Find.