The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-03-06
A FLOODED MINE.
Efforts to Reopen q Once Famous
Property.
It u Estimated That It WIN Take Two
Years to Pump Out the Water which
Has Accumulated for Twenty
Eight Years

century the Allison Ranch mine
famous as one of the former big produc
ing properties of Grass Valley, il to be
reopened and worked to its fullest ca
pacity. There is ample capital behind
the enterprise, for the mine is now the
property of John w. MAckay and James
l.. Flood.
The Allison Ranch has a unique his
tory among California mines. AS far
back as the early sixties it was consid.
cred one of the banner gold properties
of the state. In the height of IT'S pros
pcrity it was purchased by j. B. Haggiu
and A. E. Davis. Davis was known as
mining partner of James G. Fair, and
the rumor was current at the time that
the property had fallen into the hands
Of the big Four" who were then be-
ginning to loom up as formidable cap
italists. Subsequent developments
showed that Fair was not interested in
the deal.
The mine proved a good buy for its
new owners. In 1866 it led all Nevada
county mines in the matter of divi-
dends. Two years later it had paid over
$3.G0o,00O in dividends. One day a
miners pick tapped vein of water in
one of the levels. The fluid gushed
through the aperture with the force
of geyser. driving the workmen be-
fore it. Almost in an instant proper
~ valued at millions was threatened
with absolute ruin. Haggin and Davis
made some Intellectual efforts to stay the
food, but the water flowed faster than
the pumps could lift it out, and after a
few weeks of this discouraging work
Allison Ranch was left to it's fate.
That was 2S years ago. During all
this time the mine has been waste of
water. Tunnels and machinery were
long since abandoned. Now and then
III expert was asked to inspect the prop
erty and the report was always un-
favorable. There were those who be-
lieved that the bottom of the mine had
fallen out. Haggin and Davis spent a
fortune in their efforts to stop the big
leak and then gave it up.
Eight years ago the property passed
into tie hands of John W. Mackey and
James L. Flood for r."re song.
Since that time there has been no ces-
sation Of the water flow until ct the
present time the water is actually run
ming out of the mouth of the tunnel as
If from some enormous monster.
Mackay and Flood made the purchase
with the idea. that some day possibly
tho laoL NJ tba hof<o,,, rzo,II ovhoprf
itself. Now they are determined to
pump the mine out in any event. An
enormous pump with lifting capacity
of 1.0So,OOo gallons day will be put
to work. It is estimated that even with
this machine two years will be required
10 clean the mine of water. After that
development will be begun
Owing to the slipshod manner of do
ing business in the early days no accu-
rate record or survey of the under
ground workings was kept, with the re-
suit that beyond the fact that the low
est level is at the foot of 750-foot in
cline, neither Mackay nor Flood have
ony definite knowledge of the interior
arrangement of their property. AS soon
as the pumping is completed definite
underground survey will be the first
work undertaken. AS well as can be re-
r1embered the ledge is a big one and
regular in it's formation After this a
big stamp mill will be erected.
The projectors of the enterprise be-
lieve they have one of the best gold
properties on the coast somewhere
down among those countless gallons of
water. At any rate they will spend n
fortune to find out. Steam will be
utilized as the pumping power at first,
although it is probable an electric pow
er plant will be erected this coming
summer.
James L. Flood, his private secretary.
Walsh, and Richard v. Dey, who repre-
sents Mackay on this coast, lately made
personal inspection of the property.
They are enthusiastic over the pros
poets. They believe that the Allison
Ranch is destined for new and long
lease of prosperous ife.-San Francis
,c Chrop;olo