Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-01-17

Brief History of n Promising Min.
eral RegiOn.

$500
Taylor District is situated on the west
ern slope of the ~Schelbourne range OF
mountains in White Pine County, Nevada,
and is 112 miles east of Eureka, IL miles
east of Ward, 100 miles south Of Toana, on
the G. P. R. r., and $50 miles west OF
Frisco, Utah, the present terminus OF the
Utah Southern Railroad, and is connected
with all Of the above-named places by
good wagon roads. The mines are located
on a bench Of the mountain, at an altitude
OF about 1000 feet above the level Of the
eral level of Steptoe Valley, which lies i'm
mediately at the base of the mountain.
The ascent from the valley to the mines is
by regular and easy grade, which renders
the latter Of easy access at all seasons OF
the year.
FIRST DISCOVERY.
The district was first discovered in July,
1872, by John Plat and John Taylor, who
worked the mines in a small way (princi-
pally ''~chloriding" for rich ore, which was
shipped to San Francisco for a period of
three years. At the end of that period lin
AC'cJ iduO VII IuyiOI hOlu thCi SbpiiS
interest, which at that time constituted
the whole district, to a San Francisco COM
pany. This San Francisco company, as is
too often the case, commenced operations
with a 'tgreat flourish of trumpets," and
was profuse with promises of what it would
do for the mining industry of the State in
the way of developing mines, erecting
mills, etc., but owing to gross incompe-
tency in the management The ore bodies
were soon lost, and when no moro ore
sould be found operations were suspended,
and in 1878 the district was entirely aban-
doned, and remained so until the Summer
Of 1880.
THE MONITOR NINE.
In July, 1880, the Monitor mine, cover
ing u portion Of the ground originally
located by Plat q Taylor, and which has,
since proven so productive, was located by
Robert Briggs, W.. G.. Lyons and W.. N.
McGill, all practical miners of many years
experience. In January following these
gentlemen, with their own individual
labor, commenced the actual development
of their mine, and by the following May
had sufficient ore on the dumps and in
sight in the mine to warrant them in
erecting a 10-stamp mill. With but a
small capital, not exceeding $4,000, but
with plenty Of energy and confidence, the
erection of a mill on Steptoe Greek, eight
miles distant from the mine, was COM
menced. The character of the mill de-
upon was of ten stamps, with
pan amalgamation, propelled by water
power, and the company assumed the
Of the Monitor Mill & Mining Com
pany, unincorporated. The erection of
the mill, constructing bitches, laying pipe,
cost Of machinery, etc, involved al ex-
pense of nearly $40, 600, and it was late in
September before it was finally completed
and the stamps ready to drop. A six
weeks run, attended with the usual draw
backs and necessary stoppages incident to
new machinery, was all that could be
consummated before the cold weather of
Winter froze up the water, when the mill
had to be shut down until the following
In the month Of March the mill
was again started up and, with the excep-
ton of short %stoppages for necessary re-
pairs, has run continuously. Up to the
of closing down, Dec. 20, it has
produced silver bullion to the value of
1921 ,746 81, Of which $500 has been
net profit.
THE MINE.
The Monitor mine is a full location,
l 500 feet in length and 600 feet in width,
and has title secured by United States
1t is a parallel or ''blanket" vein.
The ore, as it occurs on the surface, covers
an area of 1000 feet in length north and
south by 400 feet in width east and west,
crops out boldly and prominently, in
many places rising 10 and Is feet above
the surface. This surface ore is of a hard
brown quality, very much resembling
u1arfzitp narrvinU ahInri1a ~ ci1var md
a greater portion of it, which can be esti-
by thousands of tons, contains
to the value of $40 per ton, battery
samples. The general formation Of the
country is limestone everything a base of
granite, and this immense outcrop of
quartz is lined on the west and east sides
by dykes of porphry some 20 or 80 feet in
width. I~nterspersed through this mass OF
grade quartz are immense chambers
of high grade ore, much softer than the
rock Il of an average value of
$40 per ton by battery samples from mill.
Upon this character OF ore the mill was
run for the three months, until closed
down. The greatest depth yet attained in
any of these chambers Of rich ore is so
feet, the owners preferring to go on the
safe plan Of following on the ore, rather
than go to the expensive and hazardous
of sinking deep shafts and running
levels. The ore is Of a free milling char
acter, carrying chloride Of silver with a
very light per cent of copper and a small
trace of oxide Of anthony, and, by ordi-
dry battery crushing and pan ANAL
gamating process, works to SO per cent Of
assay value. yielding bullion from $50 to
$50 fine. The capacity of the mill is 10
tons per "a hoursj cost of mining The ore
with labor at 81 per day is IS per ton;
cost of carriage from mine to mill, 50 62h;
cost Of milling, 50. The company has at
the mill a substantial office, boarding
house, Westinghouse, clearinghouse, ma
chine shop, barn, etc., and the same at
the mine.
Adjoining the Monitor mine on the east
and lying parallel thereto is located the
Gore mine, being a fraction of a claim
Three. quarters OF this claim is owned by
the Monitor Company, and it has all the
characteristics Of tha Monitor mine.
in the district, and partially adjoining the
Monitor and Gore mines, is located the
Sunrise, Self-Cocker and Neptune. mines,
owned by J. s. Corothers and M. B. Cara
han, all Of which are fine properties, but at
present not working for the want of mill
ing facilities. The Purser, the north ex-
tension of the Monitor, owned by Hixson
& Peck, is showing fine bodies OF ore.
Many other mines in the district which are
being ~prospected in a small way are show
ing finely especially the June, owned by
yerzan & Murphy, and the Queen Bee,
owned by Briggs d Hip.
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T~usearOra's Rich Ores.
-. ~. MI A--a ~