The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-09
SILVER REEF LETTER.

SILVER REEF, April 4. 1881.
ED. RRcoRD:-The more endeavor to
fathom the mysterious laws by which the
sandstone of this district becomes so rich
in silver, the more l am bewildered; or,
in other words, the deeper 1 dip the less
l know. 1t may be well to know, how
ever, that so far there has been nearly
81, 900, 900 extracted from the mines,
which proves conclusively that sandstone
after all can be used for other purposes
than grindstones. Metamorphosed trees,
ten inches in diameter, and varying from
IL to "a feet in length, have been dis
covered in the mines 300 feet beneath
the surface. These trees, wherever
found, are generally rich in precious
metal, assaying upwards of $500 in silver
to the ton. The metamorphosing may
have been the result of the chemical
action of the earth; if not, the trees in
question were held in solutions prepared
by the laws of nature. AS yet, however,
l cannot state with truth the precise
mode of occurrence, as it will require
time and research to work out the
problem, and difficult one it is Still
it can be accomplished as science on it's
onward march will bring to light that
which now seems a mystery to us. Let
us await that time patiently and keep on
developing the mines, whose production
in bygone days has, in a degree, main
tanned our credit in the Atlantic States.
At present the Leeds, Stormont and Bar
bee & Walker properties are not much of
a source OF revenue to the general gov
eminent, and little less to the sharehold.
ers interested. This is owing to their
closing down, with a view toward the
reduction of the miners wages. Many of
the miners have taken their departure for
Arizona and other places, declaring that
"a per day for laborious and perilous work
is not an extravagant demand. But the
'powers that be" thinks differently, and
are of the opinion that the author of the
proverb, ga dollar saved is q dollar
gained, was correct. Penny-wise policy
may benefit the men whose means will
not justify the ends; but in this instance,
when mines have been closed with i'm
mense quantities of ore in sight, it is not
by any means the sign of wisdom on the
part OF the respective officers of the COM
panies. Such, instead of helping the
mining industry of the district, bring the
mines into disrepute. They shake the
confidence of capitalists in mines as
safe means of investment and should be
frowned upon. The Christy is the only
mining company now operating in the
district. They substantially assert that
they will not "close down" and that they
can afford to pay their worl men 81 per
day. So they can. The ore reserves in
the California and Maggie mines alone
are sufficient to supply their mill for nine
months to come. The work of asserting
these ores have never been resorted to.
Should they deem it proper to do so,
however, their bullion shipment would
not fall short of $50, 900 per month. As
their mill consists of five stamps this
would be production of $4,000 for a
single stamp, or at the rate of $500, 600
annually for the five stamps. Their bull
lion shipments for last month amounted
little less than S29,OOO Expenses, too,
are almost nominal when compared with
other companies. Thus it is that the
Christy company can afford to pay 81 per
day for miners while they 1.-THE company
are receiving twenty per cent. on their
investments,