The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-15
AIR DRILLS ARE POUNDING.
First Power Plant on Palmer Mount
ain Driving the Zig Tunnel.

Special Dispatch 10 the post-IntsIi sencsr.
LOOMS. Wash. July 1.-THE nac5in
cry OF the new afr compressor plant q the
Palmer Mountain Geld Mining and Tun-
mel Company Is row in position and run
ring on day shifts and by the 4rst OF the
week. when the machinery is iiFnbere6 up
and few details arranged. will run con-
tnuoussy. giving employment 20 about
thirty men. 1t rs expected that the drills
VIII gain about eight feet Roadway every
twerty-four hours. an unusual advsn.N se
over the hand work when only abou;
forty feet Per month was made.
The breast of the tunnel is already 800
feet from the portal and within the next
ninety days the drills viii undoubtedly
cut some Of ehe smaller ie5ges.
The boilers were first nred up Monday.
July 5. and the hills reSounded with the
many tir1es repeated -everbe ratlons OF the
steam whistle. answered by mum rous dis
charges OF giant. as the inhabitants OF
LOOMS Joined with the mill men IN cele-
pration our national gala and the COM
pletion OF the frst power drilling plant IN
the Palmer mountain district and also
okanogan county. Hundreds OF people
inspected the plant and watched the work
ings of the machinery and several visiting
mining men conversant with mining ma
ehinery expressed the opinion that this
was the most complete and satisfactory
compressor plant that had come to their
notice.
The machinery ard plant consist OF
nve-dr.N acknowledgement cold air.
piston inlet compressor. with latest i'm
proved automatic unloading devices. run
under steam pressure or ninety pounds.
The power is generated by sixty horse
power Atlas boiler. the water being
pumped from tank under the engine
room OF so gallons capacity. which in turn
receives It's supply from a $500 gallon tank
attached 20 the engine room. This tank
Is fed in part by the drainage from the
tunnel. and also by hydraulic ram.
which receives its power from the pen
stock OF the Black Bear mill In Loomis.
the water being forced TO height of 2S9
feet
There are two drills with s14-inch cylin-
ders. both working in the breast, where
they will bore about fifteen five-foot holes
10 each blast. which Will be charged with
something like fifty pounds Of Ia inch 60
per cent. giant.
Three more drills can be operated by
this plant. which will be added whenever
a ledge is cut. TO drift upon IL and 10 pros
pect. The company intends 10 keep two
drills constantly at work on the main tun-
mel until the $3.50 feet Is completed that
will cut the Black Bear and Helena Belle
lodges at a depth of 1,l5o feet. and con-
fact that the lodges OF Palmer mountain
are not only permanent but rich. The
Palmer Mountain company has the money
assured 70 complete this great undertake
Ing not being obliged to depend upon the
sale OF stock. which is convincing OF the
confidence the promoters have III their
project.
A large party OF prominent Spokane
gentlemen came In yesterday. after
atrEf frt ha 10
ton, where they have visited all the prom
inent mining camps and they were I'M
bounded In their enthusiasm over the .-ich
showing Speaking of the Reco, on Meyers
creek. recently bonded for a large figure
TO British Columbia parties. they reported
that nearly all the ore that was being
taken out-ffteen men working-was be-
ing sacked. and that they had nearly ore
enough out to pay the bond While here
the party visited the Triune property. the
Bull Frog group an the Palmer mountain
tunnel