The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-29
butte News.
An OLD SPANISH MINE
Found BY Utah Prospsotors Near
Park City.
STORY OF THE DISCOVERY
EKtsnsively Worked by the epaniards
Hundreds OF Year, Ago-Ths Tun-
mel Walled Up An Old
AraOtra Found.

the news was pretty well circulated
throughout the Northwest that an old
Spanish mine. worked q century ago.
had been discovered by Utah prospec-
tors about Is miles from Park City.
that state. The mine had been ex-
tensively worked by means Of an in
cline tunnel Of more than a quarter of
a mile In length. shafts. drifts and
other means. The ruins OF an old
arastra are near the mine on the edge
Of q little lake. The Salt Lake Her.
aid Of recent date contains an inter-
esting account OF the discovery Of the
old workings by william Bird and son
Of Salt Lake city. The story Is as
follows:
"a few weeks ago the Herald made
mention of the fact that William Bird
and william Bird, jr.. of this city had
discovered in Summit county. ~ or 10
miles above Kamas. what was believed
to be an old Spanish mine. and the
article caused considerable interest In
mining circles In this city n else
where.
"Since that time. Mr.. Bird and his
son have been hard at work In the ex-
p~loration Of the old workings of this
seemingly ancient wealth-producer.
which, they state. was found by them
by following the instructions contained
in a map and drawing. which was FUR
nished them by parties living out or
the state in the West and South. II be-
ing stated hat this Is the old Joseph
inc mine, the location OF which was re-
corded In Santa Fe. N. NJ. and that II
was extensively worked by Spaniards
over 100 years ago: and the extensive
workings In the old mine would seem
TO bear out the latter assertion, as the
Junior Bird states that after the find
ing OF the mouth of the tunnel, which
was walled up with rock, II was found
that an incline tunnel, dipping at an
angle of 30 degrees. had been run into
the mountain for over a quarter OF a
mile. and presumably much further.
but tina Ii had been followed to where
II was partially choked up with debris,
which denied further exploration until
leaned out. Further on, on the strike
Of the ledge for a quarter OF a mile
or more. there is an old shaft which
has been explored for a depth of 300
feet. where continued descent was
again stopped by rocks and soil, al
though there are crevices in the bottom
. through which smoke arises when a
fire is built in the tunnel. which leads
TO the belief that the shaft was con-
structed for the purpose of making air
connections for the mine. and as there
is no dump at the top of the shaft, II
Is fair to presume that 1t was made
by uprising. the dirt being X out
through the tunnel.
eat the mouth of the tunnel there is
an immense dump. which has been
carefully examined by experts, who
have made tests as to its metallic val
ues, their verdict being that the dump
is worth all of 500. 900.
Another interesting feature con-
nected with this important discovery Is
the AndinU nf an nld araStra near the
shore of a little lake about half a mile
from the mine. the lake and the mine
being connected with an ancient trail
which. a portion OF the a is cut
through solid rock. and one mining
man who has examined the mine and
the mill at the lake expresses the opin-
ion hat the lake bottom itself would
pay to work for the tailings which II
must contain. as the mine was pre-
sumably worked for years. and the
primitive process OF milling must have
resulted in rich tailings.
while large ore bodies have not been
uncovered as yet in the mine. plenty OF
rock has been taken out which shows
assay values of from $40 To 500 to the
ton in gold. besides some silver. the
richest quartz showing gold plentifully
in its native state. The Herald being in
formed that the first time the ore was
panned by an old miner II was estimat-
ed that the mineral went 10 cents to
the pan in the yellow metal.
1.-THE Messrs. Bird will leave for the
mine this morning with the
of continuing exploration. while a num-
Der Of men will be employed in the
cleaning out of the old workings so
that mining can begin In earnest where
the former operators left of.
9Th Birds have located Is OF 20
claims at the re~discovery Of what they
confidently believe to be the old Jose
phene. besides which they have plated
n beautiful TOWNSHIP at the old mine.
which will be entitled Hoyt's Peak. and
as there are two fine springs of water
on the TOWNSHIP. which Ii located on one
of Uncle Sans timber reserves. II Is
the expectation that a thrifty and pro-
gressive mining camp will soon spring
up there. and especially 80 as the coun-
try is overrun by prospectors, who
have made hundreds OF locations since
the discovery of this ancient mine was