Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-07-12
TUNNEL
a serious Question Involving In
Future of the Property.

Future Of b Property.
HAMILTON. July 8. 1884.
ED. SENTINEL: There is some specula-
ton in regard to the affairs of the Eber-
hardt Tunnel d Mining Company. White
Pine. 1t is intimated. perhaps not cor.
rectly, that the company, having spent 30
much money on their property, nave not,
now, that irmness Of faith which has
characterized their management up to the
present. 1t is thought in Hamilton that
Supt. Drake, always prudent and economi-
cal, has been trying to make the last ap-
preparation, some $40, 900 or $5e, 900, 60 as
far as possible in the purchase Of supplies
and pushing the work Of exploration. 1t
Is feared by some that when these funds
are expended, the Eberhardt Company,
which have been bold and confident in
the future Of their mine, will be less ready
b they have ever been to put up the re-
quired assessment. This ia all given,
however, as intimated, Es mere speculation
On the part Of some OF the Hamilton peo-
pie, who are much interested in the matter,
but who have no authority for what they
"eJ ooys 4ASI ShuuOb bRC6h vi AuIOtIld-
ton, but can only surmise, for Capt.
Drake keeps his W counsel and discusses
the affairs OF his company with no out
slider. In fact, he Is not a gossip in any
sense OF the word.
Contrary to the notion Of some Of the
Hamilton folks, as suggested above, there
are Others who say the Tunnel has Q body
OF ore on hand, n that o continuation OF
work may depend on what 1t will show mp
with the developments that are now being
made 70 test IL. Now, while everybody
knows that the Tunnel can furnish an i'm
mense quantity Of low grade ore. one that
will not pay 1t under the present expense Of
working, there Is, also, good reason to ex-
pect that the company, by the systematic
prospecting it has followed, would yet find
q regular bonanza mine, such as surface
findings give the brightest promises Of.
1t would seem unfortunate. from every
point of view, that the company should give
up now, and / do not believe they will.
A more cheerful and logical view OF the
situation is that even IL the company are
forced to retrench In expenses, they will
nevertheless keep on exploring and make
an effort to utilize their low grade ores.
The Eberhardt have always been q liberal
corporation and have never refused to pay
the full prices for everything. They have
always cheerfully employed miners at 81
per day, and their men have never failed
TO get the full price of their labor on regu-
lar pay days. Your correspondent has
never been anything but q friend of
labor, and never other than an advocate of
the highest price for 1.-The sweat OF the
brow" that can possibly be paid. Hence
he can suggest right here, in this come
ton, q serious question for both labor and
capital TO consider, one that il is necessary
and wholesome TO look ct without the
prejudice Of theory, but in cold-blood. 1t
is said that IL the Eberhsrdt Company
could now employ miners at, say. So per
day, they could go on and make their i'm
mense quantity Of low grade ore pay.
Now, then, would it be better for these
miners 10 place themselves against such q
reduction in wages and incur the immi-
nent risk OF putting an end to one OF the
best companies land one OF the best
friends to the miner that has ever op-
Grated in the State; or would it be better
to recognize the requirements of the stu
alton and acquiesce in the logic OF part
OF a loaf rather than nonef" I am not
saying it has quite come to this yet, but !
only propose the probable outcome. and
butu h5k Nuht 40 W Dc uOuc bUOub Ar
Thore is some talk TO this effect: That
the Eberhsrdt Company are considering
the proposition Of erecting Q small mill
with all the modern improvements 70 re-
place their old mill, which, with all its
old-time awkward and expensive appa-
ratus, Is nearly worn out and useless. The
company have q mill site in Shermsntown
Canyon and an abundance Of water for
running the mill there. The Tunnel can
be run through the mountain easily and
the ore can be dumped right out OF its
mouth into the mill. This project in
wolves q comparatively small outlay; but
in considering it the cost of labor enters
materially into the calculation for the
future. The dependence Of the company
will be its low grade ore. and the question
recurs, can it be utilized with the price of
labor at its old-time standard? Yours,
X.