Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1894-01-13

The poor showing lately made by the
mines which were formerly the lead.
ing producers Of the country leads to the
conclusion that unless they are to be de-
veloped further down below the water
level, Ruby Hill has seen its best days.
The popular impression Of years gone by
was that they were the only mines that
would ever prove important in Eureka
District. Prospect Mountain was re-
garded with but little favor, but the Dis-
mond mine has proved within the past
four years that, with the aid Of more cap
ital aud motive power, il may become
capable Of supporting q larger popula-
ton in the district than was ever thought
Of. Prof. Clarence King. the distin-
guished ~geologist, who is practical in bis
views on mining, holds that If conditions
exist below the water level (caves and
assures in the country rock) similar to
those in the already explored limestone,
there can be no reason why the expendi-
ture Of ample capital should not be re-
warded by the development Of ore bod.
les equally as if not more valuable than
those that were already mined above the.
water level; probably carrying less lead,
but a larger proportion Of gold. Up to
| the present date over one-iftb OF the
bulk of the ore mined in Eureka Dis
| trict was lead; Of the gold and silver
products the former furnished in value
over 80 per cent. The promise Of an in
crease in the production Of gold may be-
come an incentive towards further explora.
ton and development below the water
level. The nature Of the ore might be
different to that we are used to here.
If it should prove as Prof. King thought,
the increase Of gold would be found in
arssnical pyrites, and q change of treat
ment would be required; this would con
sist in milling in place of smelling oper-
ations, and the cost would be considers
bly, lessened. 1t does not appear prob
able, under the present conditions, that
smelling and refining operations will be
resumed in Eureka; our ores are SO valu.
able for huxing purposes, that ID pays
better under the present rates Of trans
portion to ship them to Salt Lake than
to reduce them at home. While the
price of silver and lead remain down in
the low figures. there is little probable
ity that either the Richmond or Eu-
reka Con. Companies will expend any
more money for development either
above or below the water level. We
must therefore look TO Prospect Noun
tain and other localities in the district
for the realization OF our hopes in tie
immediate future. ALI possible obsta-
cles to mining should be removed and
all new drawbacks avoided. More at
tention should be paid to the smaller
mines. II more prospecting and the
opening of more virgin ground would
become necessary the result would be
found in richer returns than the miners
are now realizing.
The agitation Of the silver question is
doing ZONE good to the cause by the
information furnished to the people and
the friends that are coming to see it in
its true light. The financial clouds that
are gathering over the European ma.
tions are also making friends for the
white metal, and better days are COM
ing no doubt, but in the meantime we
must do all in our power to remove
the obstacles in the way of mining and
be careful about how we may infict
fresh burdens on the industry, or by the
time silver is returned to its former
legitimate function and value our min.
ing camps may have sunk too far out
of sight to welcome the change.