Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-05-25

lFEOHi lAc hlloiist Sltl1CAsl
While the mines of Pima county have
not been given the prominence in
speculative circles that those of Tomb
stone reached so suddenly, their devel-
opment has been marked by steady
and quiet progress partaking more of
the character of legitimate industry,
until the magnitude of their wonderful
resources can no longer remain an open
secret This is particularly the case in
the great veins of ore now exposed to
view in the misnamed Total Wreck mine,
located in the Empire mining district,
thirty five miles from Tucson, and seven
miles from Pantano, station on the
Southern Pacific railroad, with which
the town of Total Wreck is connected by
a magnificent wagonroad constructed by
the present owners of the mine of that
name.
The present developments of the
TOTAL WRECK MINE
Are the direct result of the steady pur-
pose and untiring energy of the gentle
men who acquired title when the pros
pect was considered quite an indifferent
one to ordinary eyes, but which has
given the most substantial proofs of the
good Judgment of its owners, and it is
to-day one of the greatest bonanzas of
the world, and is about to take its prop
er place at or near the head of the list
of profitable bullion producers.
The system with which the mine has
been opened is most admirable, and an
inspection of its inner recesses of min
eralized rock; its galleries of glittering
ore and numerous wines that sink into
dark and mysterious depths, with rich
silver bearing ore on all sides, is enough
to inspire the visitor with q sensation of
awe, aud he wonderfully puts his hands
involuntarily in his pockets, half expect
ing that some of the treasures about him
will find its way therein, ready milled
and coined.
The Citizen has often found pleasure
in detailing the developments of this
wonderful mine, and yet each succeed
ing month add new marvels and brings
to light additional evidences of the
abundance of wealth therein stored,
awaiting intelligent effort and enter
prise to bring it forth into the light of
day.
DESCRIPTION OF ITS DEVELOPMENTS.
1t was the good fortune of member
of the editorial staff of the Citizen to
visit this promising mine, recently, and
through the courtesy of the superintcnd
ent he waspermitted to make thorough
examination of the mine, and was given
every possible facility of acquiring in
formation as to its actual value.
He found that the most fowery ac-
counts of the property were in no wise
exaggerations, and was very much sur
prised at the vast amount of high grade
ore in sight. The mine is now opened
to depth of 325 feet, by an incline
shaft following the dip of the ledge,
which is about thirty-five degrees to
the south. The main shaft is we'll and
thoroughly timbered. 1t is double
compartment, the larger of which is sup
piled with tramway for the ore cars,
which are used instead of q cage; the
incline being so slight The other COM
partment provides stairway for descent
into the mine, at once easy and safe.
The footwall is the floor of this incline,
and only so much of the ore was remov-
ed from the ledge as was necessary to
make and timber it, and although the
vein is cut from eight to ten feet in
width, large body of rich ore still re-
mains on the hanging wall, which in one
place has been cross cut sixteen feet
and in another place twenty-one feet
Stations will be placed at every fifty
feet of the incline shaft, at present they
are one hundred feet apart, and at each
station drifts have been run on the ledge
to determine the extent of the ore body
and to prepare for extracting it. The
first, or l05-foot level, has go feet of
drifts, more than one-half of which is
ore; 2l2-foot level has $50 feet of drifts
all in ore; the 325-foot level the drift
was run from winze southeast of the
shaft and has not yet reached the shaft.
1t is 80 feet in length and is yet 20 feet
from the shaft. A tunnel has been run
into the hill, cutting the shaft at the 2l2-
foot level, and has length of 249 feet.
Wines have been sunk between the
levels, which show immense bodies of
ore.
ORE IN SIGHT.
A computation of the amount of ore in
sight, with liberal allowances for all
waste, gives a result of 36,73l tons in
the mine. The average assays from
laily tests during the week of develop
nent was S72 per ton. Allowing that
the working test will be $50 per ton, it
gives the magnificent sum of 81, 203, $50,
rs the actual value of the orenow visible.
THE HOSTING WORKS.
At the mouth of the main shaft, on
the apex of the hill, are located the
hoisting works, but recently completed.
The building is substantial structure
24x75 feet in size. Double reels are
driven by double engines of thirty horse
power aggregate capacity. The machin-
cry is all of the best manufacture and
most approved patterns. The ore car,
after reaching the mouth of the incline,
will run on tramway short distance
to q covered ore chute and be emptied.
The ore will descend a distance of sew
enty feet to the ore house in close prox-
unity to the mill.
THE TWENTY-STAMP MILL
Now in course of construction, is to be
a model affair. 1t is being pushed to
completion under the direction of VIM.
Armstrong, formerly of Virginia City, as
rapidly as is consistent with good work
manship ana is a structure of perma-
nency. 1t will be capable of working
sixty tons of ore every twenty-four
hours, and its busy, ceaseless clatter
will probably begin about September lst.
WATER WORKS.
A plentiful supply of good water has
been obtained by sinking well, about
a mile and half south east of the mine.
Although water has been struck, the
excavation will be pushed still down
ward until depth Of l72 feet is attain
ed, which carries it below the cienega.
Drifts will then be made to give ample
capacity for the storage of the water.
A large steam pump will force the water
into two large tanks with an aggregate
capacity of 100000 gallons, erected on