The Helena independent., 1892-01-13
GOLD-LINED TOWERS,
Wealth In tho Old Chin,nsys Who're thu
HOnAnsK Ores We're Refined.

Wealth In tho Old Chinneys Where tho
HOnAnSR Ores We're Refined.
For nearly a quarter OF century two
tall towers have stood AZ tho foot OF Hyde
street, near Loavenworth, almost OH the
sdgs Of thu beach, says the San Francisco
Examiner. Ono rises to 4 height of ITO
feot md the othor rsaches more than fifty
feet IN the air. hey are both vsry broad
md thick, and they havs brick enough in
them 70 construct several buildings.
They hrS relics OF the flush old days OF
the Comstock mining era. when Flood,
O'Brien, Fair, and others banded together
and erscted the famous Sslby Smelling and
Refining works. There from tho bonanza
days OF 1868 to az late az 1885, the great
chtmneys belched forth fro and smoke.
volumes Of SCOT circlod in the mir over tho
domes at night time, while hundreds of
inep toilsd In and about the works, eating
aud shovoling ore and Stag, moulding pars
OF bullion and refining it to pure silver,
geld, lead and copper.
move its works. II was Known that the old
underground auo that connected the fur
naces with the chimneys, 10 we'll as con-
siderable OF the ground all about wns per-
meated with gold ana silver settlings and
solid metal. On the advice Of skilled
European expert the company dug up the
ruins, az we'll . 2 large amount OF soil, TO
tho depth Of i've Or six feet, and transferred
" ~ tons TO the new works At Port Costa.
There the stuff wKsrrln through the works.
and. y y said, realized not less than $500,
\ Holby q CO. did not dream that III I'll.
towers which were left standing and in the
million tons of slAa and mineral psrmeated
soil much wealth remained. Yhoy accord-
ingly abandoned the place. The ground
was sold and nothing was thought about II
for 9 long time.
Some time ago w. B. Cluf, the we'll
known merchant and politician Of this city,
works and the present slag pile and Chin
neys remain. Il consists OF five ffty-vara
lots, or two and = quarter acres.. Mean
time he had several experts make examina-
tion of the brick towers and the surround
ings. They reported that the metal and
black dust OF the towers was veritable
mine OF wealth, and that the Rrimy matter
that filled the interstices and in one form
or another psrmoRted the brick rocked with
valuable minerals. Also that the gray Stag
which had been carted away from the blaz-,
ing furnaces in primitive days contained
large quantities OF gold and silver and
should be worked over; Promptly, there
lined towers and the debris. He is snid to
have paid $4,000 for the chimneys alone.
His object il to work them up and get the
money out OF them.
II do not think will hAve any trouble in
getting tie gold, silver and other mineral
OUT hs said yesterday. ''It was on the
advice Of an English expert that Selby &
Go. took q lot 81 the debris to Port Costa,
and am informed they got over $500, 900
out Of that. Several skilled mining men
have como to me lately ana offered to buy
mo out or work the chimneys, Stag and soil
on Q percentage. ! have not closed with
anybody, and do not think shall. There
is an immense amount OF Stag there. In
come places it is 200 feet deep. 1t all con-
tains gold, silver and lead, with some cop
per. | have had the ground assayed about
there, too, and it all shows up we'll. In
some places it is voly rich.''
Mr.. Cuffs intention is to tear down the
great towers which have SO long been land
marks in the history OF the city, and can be-
seen from miles out at sea and in other di-
rections. and wrest from them their gold
and silver lining.