The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-09
QUARTZ and DRIFT MINING.
Some Of the Noted Mines in Nevada
County.
History of the Celebrated Providence
and Home Drifting
Process.
Especial Correspondence of Record Union.)

| Especial Correspondence of Record-UniOn.)
NEVADA CITY, April "details of
mining levels, wines, shafts and cross
cuts, are doubtless uninteresting to
those not engaged in mining enter
prises, So u little deviation in descrip
tion of the Providence mine, near this
city, may be advisable
In 1851 some residents here located a
quartz claim on the north side of Deer
Creek, mile below the town The
owners erected an eight mill
with which they crushed several thou
sand tons of rock that yielded rich re-
turns. Tie ledge was one of the larg
est in the township. Along in the fif-
ties T. F. Dingley located the south eX-
tension of the property, which is On
the south side of Deer Creek, and put
up a small mill. In 1861 he enlarged
the mill by an addition of six stamps
With this plant the mine was worked
with varying success for many years.
1t was not a very productive property.
In 1870 Hon. A. Walrath, r. c. Wal
rath and John V. Hunter, purchased
the property, and came here from San
Francisco to work it. The purchase
price was 100000 After investing lib
orally in development work, and not re-
ceiving very ffattering results, the
friends % the parties, who were leading
residents of this place, concluded it
was a shame to sit still and permit en-
terprisins and whole souled men to
throw away their fortunes in trying to
develop a worthless mine A commit
tee was accordingly appointed to wait
upon the owners and break the unwel-
come subject to them. Due formality
was observed at the meeting, and in
the kindest words the committee per-
formed their unwelcome mission.
The owrers inquired if any of the
friends had any bills against the com
pany, and If so to present them. The
committee replied they had none, and
knew of no outstanding Indebtedness,
and this was just the reason the citi-
Zens, or the friends, had interfered.
They dis,iked to see good men fool
away their money. The owners then
said, Gentlemen, if We have met all
our obligations with our own money,
we believe it our right to be the judges
Of our own course of conduct, and we
will be obliged if we are permitted to
attend to our own business
They Lersevered and developed a
mine thai was for years the mainstay
in the support of the town They have
mint receipts for $5000,000 which they
extracted from the mine. Some years
ago the original owners sold large in
terest tho ugh they still retain a good
share, and have for a long time re-
ceived regular dividends upon the same
1t is one of many instances of what
Il yt-e.n n fQ1
complish in mining.
The Pr evidence has a forty stamp
mill with sixteen Frue concentrators,
and a canvas plant adjacent, which
catches the shines escaping over the
concentrators.
The mill, hoist, and pump, are run by
water power under 400 feet pressure.
There are two veins in the mine-one
called the back or contact vein, the
other the Merrifield vein, or the extern
sion Of it. The shaft is down l $50
feet-the lowest workings being on the
1,SO0 foot level. On this level drifts
have been run south S75 feet. On the
800 foot level drifts have been run on
the front vein ,410 feet, from which
800 feet have been stopped, where four
chutes OF ore were worked. The $50
foot level has been drifted upon ], $50
feet TIE drain tunnel on the 100 foot
level has been extended 1900 feet, CIV
ing on that level 400 backs.
The back, or contact vein, lies about
$50 feet to the west The front vein
averages from two to twelve feet in
width-the back ledge being from two
to sixteen. Between these two veins
there have been three cross cuts run
One on the 600 foot level, one on the
200, ard one on the 1,SO0, through
which the back ledge is worked. On
this vein it is all virgin ground from
a point TOO feet south of the shaft AS
the ledge is large, and the rock rich,
there is Il bushel of money to be taken
from it.
1t is the intention of the manage
ment to sink a new shaft 1900 feet
south of the present workings, which
is nearly in the middle of the claim.
All indications point to an immense
ore deposit there, as there are the crop
pings of five distinct lodges to be seen
on the surface. The company has let
a contract for the erection of a 100
horsepower Ingersoll duplex air COM
pIessor, and arrangements are being
made with party to put up a smelter
for the reduction OF sulphurets on the
premises. William Mckinley is the
efficient Manager and Superintendent.
The mine is a wonderful producer, and
has before it a lease of life that will
outlast all the present owners
THE HOME NINE
This mine is situated on Deer Creek
just west of the Providence and across
the creek from the Champion 1t is
owned principally by San Franciscans.
1t has been worked continuously for
the past four years, or rather pros
pect work has been done during that
time. Judging from recent develop
mentS the mine will soon be placed on
paying basis. A rich strike was
made yesterday in the south croSs-cut !
on the 320foot level, cutting a three |
foot vein, well nlineralized with sui |
phuretS and galena, and showing free |
gold, the ledge being the downward |
There are times when the