The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-21
tormity in the value of the Mercur ore
which averages about $12 per ton.
ORE AT GREAT DEPTH


| which averages about $12 per ton.
ORE AT GREAT DEPTH.
Several shafts have been sunk in the
| Rand, encountering the auriferous con-
| glomerates at depths of 500 and 1000
! feet, and in 1894 a bore-hole proved the
ore at depth OF $500 feet. The per-
sisteney of the deposits at Mercur has
already been demonstrated to almost
an equal extent as the distance from
| the highest workings on the vein to
the lowest point in main incline of the
Golden Gate mine is upwards of 1000
feet.
The production of all the mines in the
| Witwatersrand in 1887, was $4,000
| ounces, or about $40O 900. while this year
! II will reach upwards of 100000 ounces
| aggregating $4,000, 600. The method
! Of reduction is to crush the con-
! glomerates in stamp mills, and then TO
subject the pulp to the cyanide pro-
cess. as at the Mercur mill. There are
at the Rand now in constant opera
! ton about sixty mills similar to the
/ Mercur mill, and each yielding about
1 the same monthly product as the Mer-
cur mill. There are many other points
Of similarity between the NIercur de-
posts and those of South Africa, in
both the shales overlie the ore and the
limestone under it The Mercur depos-
y
than in the Rand.
THE COST.
The average cost of mining and treat
ing the conglomerate of the Rand is
IS per ton, while the Mercur ore is
mined and treated at a cost not exceed
ing IS per ton, and Sunshine ore does
not cost more than s.. In both the
latter cases the cost can be materially
reduced with perfection OF methods.
1t will be seen from the foregoing
that the conditions at Mercur and the
Rand in South Africa, appear to be
identical, and If the Mercur deposits
extend over even half the same area.
they are capable Of yielding much lar
ger net returns than the marvellous
Johannesburg mines.
ENORMOUS OUTPUT.
DR.. Hatch, a well known authority
on Transvaal mining, estimates that
in the next four years the Rand out
put will be trebled In other words,
that by the year 1900, the yield of
that district will have reached the
enormous sum of $4,000 900 per an
mum, and that this immense production
can be maintained for a period of at
least twenty-five years.
We have four cyanide mills now
producing gold at Mercur, and with
which IS nearly ready for operation,
there will be five yielding about the
same amount Of gold as was produced
in the entire Rand district in 1887.
THE GOLDEN GATE.
If the Golden Gate company erects
mill commensurate with the wealth
of ore already developed in that great
property, the above output will at once
be doubled. Many other properties in
the MerCur district are opening up val
liable ore bodies and will doubtless
become large producers during the
present year. With such wondrous
mines at our very doors, it behooves
our citizeLs to be up and doing. Let
every one who can spare a little from
his business or savings, set some idle
man at work prospecting. It is a good
time for the grub stake;" fill the Mer-
our country with prospectors, but in
grub stalking, prospecting and all min
Ing ventures we should use every pre-
caution and care that a prudent bust
ness man would use in his ordinary
business affairs. 1t is only in the ex-
ercise of thoughtful care, intelligent
discrimination and prudence in the Sc
lection Of men and means, that pros
pecting and mining can be brought UP
TO the standard Of a legitimate bust
ness.
GOOD SUGGESTION
The exchange, should at once become
an important factor in the great min
ing movement that is sure to take place
in Utah, the coming season. We should I
change our listing rules so as to con-
firm TO that which is to be adopted in
the New York and Chicago boards
dividing the stock to be listed into
three classes. We should list all regu- /
lar dividend payers in class a, stocks !
of producing and occasional dividend
paying mines in class B and stocks of |
companies owning prospects and seek |
ing caDital for development in class c; |
the fees for examining and listing I
should be placed as low as is con-
sistent with the support of the ex-
change.
am of the opinion that the COM
mission allowed to brokers are too low |
and should be increased until the vol ,
ume Of business would justify a return I
to the present rates.
The listing committee should be re- I
so that a working quorum
could be obtained at any time at short
notice.
We should take such measures as
NAV be necessary to increase the men,
bership to the utmost limit and to Sc
cure the cooperation and support Of
the strong mining companies, so that
we may encourage and help build up
the weak ones.
OF THE EXCHANGE
The operations of the exchange
should not be confined to the develop
ment of mines of the precious metals.
We should encourage every industry
and aid in the expansion of our already
important coal interests. Some Utah
coal is exported to the Pacific coast.
and I would suggest that if the quality
Of our coal is such that it will bear
the heavy cost Of transportation to that
distant market, it ought to be good
enough for our own people; and it is
a sad commentary on the local patriot
ism of our people to be compelled to
state that two-thirds of the coal con-
sumed in Utah is imported from other
.tatas l,nlr.