Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26
GoLD-LINED TOWERS.
wealth In the Old Chimneys Where the
BONANZA Ores Were Refined

from tine san Francisco Examiner.
For nearly q quarter Of century two tall
towers have stood at the foot OF HYDE street
near Leavenwortb, almost on the EDGE of tle
beach. One rises TO the height of 40 feet and
the other reaches more than 30 feet in the mir
They are both very broad and thick. ana they
have brick enough in them to construct several
buildings.
They are relics Of the flush old DAVIS Of the
Comstock mining era, when Flood, o'Brieu,
Fair anu Others banded together and erected
the famous Selby smelling and refining works.
There from the bonanza days OF 1865 TO as late
as 1855 the great chimneys belched forth fire
ana smoke. They never stopped. wreaths OF
hame and volumes of SCOT circled in the air
over the domes at night time while huuiress
OF men toled In and about the works, cutting
ana shoveiing ore and Stag, molding barr Of
bullion and refoing il to pure silver. gold. lead
and copper.
In 1885 the Selby Company concluded 10
move its works. II was known that the old
underground fiue that connected the furnaces
with the chlmneys. as well rs considerable of
the ground all about. was permeated with gold
and silver settings and solid metal ON the
advice OF skilled European experts the COM
pany dug up the ruins, we'll rs a large
amount Of soil. 10 the depth Of Eve OF six feet
and transferred il by tons to the new works al
Port Costa There the stuff was run through
the works and, it il said, realized not less than
$500. 600.
selby Co. did not dream that in the towers
which were outstanding and In the million tons
OF Stag and mlneral-permeateds soil much wealth
remained They accordingly abandoned the
place. The ground was sold ana nothing was
thought about 1t for a long time.
Some time ago w. u. Cluff, tho well known
merchant and politician az this city, acquired
the ground on which the old works and the
| xar aafa =, r4alA IL.
| consists of i've fifty-vara lots, or two and a
quarter acres Meantime he had several ex-
perts make examination Of the brick towers aud
the surroundings. They reported that the
metal and black dust Of the towers was q
veritable mine of wealth. and that the grimy
matter that filed the interstices and in one
form or another permeated the brick reeked
with valuable minerals. Also that the gray
Stag which had been carted away from the
blazing furnaces in primitive days contained
large quantities OF gold and silver and should
be worked over. Promptly theroupon Mr..
Cuff secured the silver and gold-lined towers
and the debris. He is said 20 have paid ssO Oto
for the chimneys alone. His object is 20 work
them up and get the money out OF them
II do not think will have any trouble in
getting the gold, silver and other mineral out, "
he said yesterday. 1T was on the advice Of an
English expert that Selby q Co. took lot Of
the debris to Port Costa. aud am informed
they got over $500. 900 out of that Several
skilled mining men have come TO me lately and
offered TO buy me out or work the chimneys,
Stag and soil on a percentage. 1 have not
closed with anybody and do not think shall.
There Is an immense amount of Stag there. In
some places IL Is 200 feet deep. Ii all contains
gold, silver and lead. with some copper.
have had the ground assayed about there, too.
and il all shows up well. In some places it is
very rich"
Mr.. Cuffs intention is to tear down the great
towers, which have so long been landmarks in
the history OF the city. aud can be seen from
miles out at sea and in other directions and
wrest from them their gold and silver lining.