Arizona silver belt., 1897-12-09
OLD DOMINION COPPER co.
Developing Great Mine--Thc Deep,
 est Copper Shaft in Arizona.

OevcIopinH Srcat Minc-- nc Oecp.
 est Copper Shaft in Arizona. On Monday last we descended the inino shaft of the Old Dominion Cop per Mining & Smelting company, which was recently completed to a depth of $50 feet--20 feet below the twelfth level. What trepidation we felt at going down into the bowels of the earth to such depth was al.ayed by the fact that we iiad as guides Su- perintendent s. A. Parnall and Mine Foreman John Crossman.
 The Old Dominion shaft is more than 300 feet deeper than any other shaft on copper mine in Arizona, and 1t is also one of the best con- structed shafts to be found anywhere in the territory, timbered in the best possible manner, and it's walls almost as true as the faces of die. The shaft has three compartments, two four feet by four feet, three inches each, in which the cages run, and the third compartment, containing the column pipes, six feet by four feet, three inches.
 The mine has not been exploited be- low the seventh level although some development has been done on the eighth level) and it is calculated it will require two years to open the ground between the seventh and twelfth levels. The shaft force is now engaged cutting out the twelfth level station. The tenth station was con- pleted some time ago. Stations are 13 feet high at the shaft, extend back 80 feet, and are 159 feet in the clear be- tween posts. From the tenth station double drift, sufficiently wide for two car tracks, will be carried on q curve to the south until it strikes vein matter, which possibly will be within 100 feet. This is, however, uncertain, because the foot wall diorite encoun- tered in the shaft above the tenth sta tion seems to have sleeper inclina- ton than in the higher levels of the mine. The sane policy will be pur sued on the twelfth level as fast as circumstances will permit.
 On the eighth level two large winzes are being sunk, one about zoo feet easterly, the other about the same dis tance westerly from the shaft. These winzes will furnish connections with the lower levels for the purpose of ad- ditioual means of ingress and egress, air-ways, handling the materials of the mine and exploitation. They will proceed vertically to an intersection with the foot-fall, in the horizontal plane somewhere between the ninth and tenth levels. The eastern winSe is now being formed and active sink ing win commence shortly. The west ern winZe is now down about 10 feet. Small auxiliary engines will handle the material from these winzes when depth of GO feet Is reached. The eleventh station will probably be pros ecuted after these winzes are through to the twelfth level.
 The water Is being handled without any difficulty. The pumps are being overhauled. A compound Worthing- ton will be operated from the tenth level, and n very large Knowles sink ing pump will be installed at the twelfth levsl, where for the present No. Cameron handles the water that IS not delivered into the tenth level. The Knowles pump will come into play when the v.in matter is tapped and an increased flow of water is ex- pec.ed. No. 9 Cameron sinking pumps will be so installed as to take up the work of the pumps regularly in service in ca;se of minor delays and accidents. We did not go into the upper levels, but understand that the general condition of the mine is satis- factory to the management. 4 force of 70 men is employed, with whom Mir. Parnall expresses himself well satisfied.
 The only important improvement recently made on the surface is the new carpenter, machine and black smith shop, which is all but completed and ready for the machinery. The dimensions of the building are 3Ox1o0 feet. When the machinery is in stalled it will be one of the most com plete shops of the kind in the terri tory. In fact, all the work done in and about the mine is of substantial character, and every dollar expended counts for the practical betterment of the property.
 The plans of the company depend largely upon the completion of the railroad to Globe from Geronimo. When that is an accomplished fact the company will be prepared to go ahead with the enlargement and improve. ment of their plant which they have had under consideration for some time. a
 Tuesday forenoon two-room frame house, one of five situated on the hill above the old Carrie smelter site, aud helongiug to J. c. Oldield, took fire