The San Francisco call., 1897-10-18

veins of the mother lode do not
pinch out as they go down, but that their
values are permanent with depth.
This realization has brought about an
era of deep-mining in this State, and from
now on the increase In production will be
! brought about as much or more by going
| down in old mines than By the discovery
| and development OF new mines as extern
| sive as this latter operation Is becoming.
The Shaft in the Kennedy mine is now
down about 300 feet, or nearly half
mile OF vertical depth, and sinking is
steadily going ahead. The Kennedy is
now the deepest gold mine in America,
though there are much deeper shafts in
copper and other mines.
The deepest gold mines of the world are
in the Bendigo district of Victoria, Aus
tralia where operations have gone to 5000
feet below the surface and are still profit
able. There is no question that this
depth will be equaled or surpassed in the
mother lode in the com parativelv near
future The deepest workings have given
no Indication that the quartz veins will
run out or lose their average richness at
any depth to which mining on them can
be economically carried, and it seems
| a certainty that California is destined to
exhibit the deepest profitable mines in the
world and the boldest mining operations
Those interested in California mining
were long time learning this lesson,
which was not learned until within the
past two or three years. A very few years
ago the mother lode region was dotted
with fifty and more "played out" old
mines, which mad been abandoned after
having yielded millions. In all of them
i&L,a -l~,F - Lorl - ~
where the ore shoots seemed to have end
ed ana the values Of the ores had grown so
small that they did not cover the cost of
mining and milling operations, which
were so much more expensive than now.
So. old mines which had been famous
were abandoned to ill with water and to
rust and decay. 1t was the general theory
that the ore pinched out in the mother
! lode veins at a few hundred or 1900 or 1900
feet
But the old Champion and Providence
mines were resuscitated as gamble and
people were surprised to see them become
rich again at little depth below the old
workings. There were similar experiences
| with other mines. The Rawhide kept
holding out as great depth was reached.
A striking object lesson came along year
or so ago when in the old Kennedy a rich
ore body was encountered at between
2lO0 ana 2200 feet This was an i'm portant
thing and it drew the attention of mining
journals and mining men in London and
elsewhere, though it attracted little popu-
lar attention at home. These things gave
new confidence in California mines and
prompted mining men to take a new in
| terest in old mines and to see what there
was in them.
One of the most recent and liking
demonstrations of the new truth was the
experience of the Gwin mine few months
ago. This old mine had yielded several
millions to its former owners, and had
lain idle and full of water for several
years. Senator VOORHEES, and some asso-
ciates secured bond on the mine at a
comparatively low figure and went to
sinking new shaft not far from the old
one, which had reached depth of 1900
feet. They struck large body of pay ore,
ana last summer ran into a streak OF
wonderfully rich ore, of which no definite
| figures have been given out. The Gwin.
instead o. being a played-out mine has
resumed its former prestige and promises
| great record.
The new shaft is being continued and
the old one is being pumped out At the
Providence mine large preparations for
sinking to great depths are Just being
made. plant capable of operating a
shaft 1000 feet deeper than the present
workings or ID over 5000 feet is being in
stalled. Sinking to greater depth is now
rapidly going on in every one of the
deep" mines of the State.
But the new tendency TO deep on the
mother-lode veins is also shown In a good
many mines of moderate depth. There
is faith that the large investments neces-
sary for extensive development down
ward will be rewarded and the ventures
are being made, as they would not be
with the old fear that there was nothing
to go after. At a large number OF mines
present depths OF 500 or 1000 feet are being
extended with the expectation OF doubling
the depth as fast as possible.
This recent demonstration of the perma-
nent value of California gold mines has
come With the new and general gold
mining fever, and has greatly helped the
disposition of capitalists here and abroad
| to invest in California mines. 1t has also !
| added to the market value of mother lode
mines of any stage of development.
An important factor in this general re- |
suscitation OF old mines and the rea iiness |
to spend fortunes In deep development |
has been the great lessening of the cost of
mining operations by the cheapening of
processes, m materials, ETC., which has come
with the application of inventive genius
and scientific skill TO the industry and the
disposition 10 make gold mining legiti.
mate business and not a gamble.
The development operations now going
on in sinking and tunreling to great
depths on the mother lode represent the
investment of millions of dollars As from
one to three years is required for such &C.
velopment work before the point of pro-
duction Is reached, the effect on the total
production will not be largely felt for
bot