Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-01-12
uYpR.uLIc PUMPING nACHIN.
ERY.

The success Of the hydraulic pump at
the Chollar.N orcross-S Savage shalt bids
fair to make IN epoch in mining ON the
Comstoek. It will, In all probability.
rsvolutionizs the methods OF draining
the lowor levels.
The fact that the hydraulic pump was
made to operate with the assistance Of
an engine on the surface. was in itself q
great victory for those who had the
work in hand. but the operating Of the
pump by the natural pressure OF water
brought from . receiving tank placed
on the side Of Mount Davidson. 10 an
achievement Of sill greater importance.
This 10 the key which 10 to unlock the
treasure boxes Of the Comstock. In
other words. II is BY this means that the
draining Of deep mines 10 made not
only practicable. but comparatively insI.
pensive. Given q cheap and reliable
method Of handling the water OF the
mines. aud the work Of prospecting for
bonanzss may be carried on at the
pleasure OF the managers Of the prop
srty.
There are reasons for believing that q
system Of hydraulic pumping similar TO
that in operation at the Chollar.N orcross.
Savage shat. will ultimately be adopted
at all Of tho principal shafts on the lode.
The primary and most important con.
sidsra,ion in favor Of the new system ID
tina. OF economy. The first cost Of the
hydraulic machinery may be as great OF
even greater than that OF the steam
rugged apparatus. but the saving in run
ming expenses is necessarily immense.
The cost OF wood for the engines OF the
usual machinery is one OF the largest
In the current expense OF the mines. By
the adoption Of tho hydraulic system the
greater part OF this may be saved.
The men who manage the most prom
insnt north. end mines are also credited
with holding the control Of the Virginia
aud Gold Hill Water Company. This
being the case. they have in their own
hands . power for operating their ma
chinsry which is available. cheap. and
practically i~nsxhaustible.
There Ia another advantage In the by
draulio system which Is not to DO disrs-
gardsd. 1, 10 that OF convsniepcs: The
usual ponderous pump-rod il dispensed
with, and in its place are two stationary
pipes. that take up but little room, are
not liable to mishaps. and that by virtue
OF their being immovsble will not en-
danger the lives Of the men who are
compelled to work in the shaft near
them.
1t 10 known that q great deal Of the
timber land owned by the managers Of
the north-end mines has been stripped
Of its wood. and that the supply is be-
coming meager. This being the case, q
substitute for furnishing motive power
must DO found. and there can DO but
little doubt that II will be sought in the
application OF hydraulics. 1t may bs
suggested that the present supply oil
water would not be sufficient for oil
the pumps. say they were put in at the
Union shaft. the Best L Beleher and
Gould l. Curry shaft. the Chollar-Nor'
cross.Savaec shaft (now iu). the yellow
Jacket shaft. and possibly the Formar
shaft. In that event 1t would well repay
the companies to bring in another ditch
As before remarked. the wood supply II
showing signs Of weakening. while th'
supply OF water in the mountain lakes II
i~nsxhaustiblo. When once set to run
ming there Is no cost OF transportation
on II, while with wood for the enginei
now in use. the freight 10 q very srea'
item.
The time for this revolution in pump.
ing machinery may not DO "a near at
hand as indicated above, but that there
are reasons for believing that II will come
about sooner or later. must DO apparent
to every one who will give the subject
careful consideration.