The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1889-02-28

themselves with the performance OF
the annual assessment work, are
awakening to the importance Of exert
ing themselves with view Of opening
up and advertising their respective
properties.
The immense deposits of ore un.
earthed in Old Battle Mountain
district, which lies within ten miles
Of this town, merit more than passing
notice. Here, in the opinion Of ex
pert miners and others whose knowl-
edge Of the district and its resources
gives weight to the same, is one Of the
most extensive and promising mineral
fields on the Pacific Slope. To the
experienced observer the unbroken
contours Of the mountains and the
general eyenness Of their ssIl-ronnded
surface,, a. viewed from = distance,
are strongly suggestivs Of the presence
of mineral. 'Cioser inspection verities
this impression. The mountains are
scanned with huge mineral veins As
says, without number, from scores of
locations, attest the presence of the
precious metals in paying quantities.
The district embraces an area equal in
extent to nearly 100 square miles. 1t
includes the village Of Galena. . se-
questered nook in the heart Of the
mountains, and one Of the prettiest
mining hamlets in Nevada.
Old Battle Mountain. like other
campo, has had its ups and downs, aud
witnessed the vicissitudes Of BONANZA
Y BoRAscA. To-day it contains but a
handful Of prospsctors; but they are u
the kind who have literally held their
ground, confident Of ultimate success,
while other brethern of the PICK and
shsvel, cognizsnt Of the wealth its
hills contsined, but less steadfast,
have wandered off to ''xresnsr fields
and pasture asw." The hopes Of the
stayers seem ON the eve Of realization.
Reports Of the actual merits of the
camp have gone abroad, aud inquiries
concerning properties there are being
made from various quarters. The
prevailing formations are quartzite
aud porphyry (clsybite). Syenitic
rock 10 also met with. The outcreps
Of the lodes are unusually masaive and
indicative ofstrong ore bodies benesth
In great many instances the acci-
dents of tho ground will permit Of tun-
neling.
Although there are an unusual
number of."coyote holes" to be seen,
dubbed mines by custom, the develop
ments is the district have passed far
beyond the mere prospective era and
leave but little coujectrus ~ to the
wealth and permansnce Of the ledges
exposed.
Owing to the low grade Of the ore
In the major number of the mines,
its shipment is precludsd. keduc.
tion W. rks will have to be erected in
the immediate neighborhood of the
,nines, oT at Battle Mountain, which
affords excellent opportunities ana ad-
vAntageous sites which may be had 70.
the asking 1t is conceded by those
familiar with the situation that cor.
porste action 10 essential to the
Thorough development Of the mines
and successful treatment of the ores.
Water abounds, and good wagon roads
reaching the uttermost rscesses Of the
district have already been constructed,
thus solving the problem Of accessi.
bility and local transportation.
While chloride ores are found near,
the surface deeper excavations reveal
ealsna, carbonates, sulphides, mah-
ganese and other base combinations
which will necessitate the smelting
process. Working tests made at Salt
Lake and elsewhere demonstrate this
fact, and the further important one,
that the fuxes requisite for complete
treatment abound in unlimited guam
titles. Charcoal may be had at cost
Of twenty-five cents per bushel, and
coke, in carload lots, may be laid
down in Battle Mountain At from S12
to $l5 per ton Many hundreds of
tons Of ore have been extracted and
now lie on the dumps awaiting only
the means necessary for conversion
into bullion Of the claims which are
attracting attention, the Manganese
Gold and Silver mine. near the center
of the district. il worthy of mention m