The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-25

n lev weeks ago Inc Herald maze
mention of the fact that William Bird
and William Bird, jr., of this city had
discovered in Summit county. II or Is
miles above Kamas, what was believed
to be an old Spanish mine, and the
article aroused considerable interest in
mining circles in this city and else
where.
Since that time, Mr. Bird and his
son nave been hard at work in the eX-
ploration OF the old workings of this
seemingly ancient wealth-producer,
which, they state, was found by them
by following the instructions contained
IN map and drawing which was fur
nished them by parties living out Of
the state in the west and south, it be-
ing stated that this is the old Joseph
enc mine, the location of which is re-
corded in Santa Fe, n. NJ, and that it
was extensively worked by Spaniards
over a hundred years ago; and the eX-
tensive workings in the old mine would
seem to bear out the latter assertion,
as the junior Bird states that after the
hnding of the mouth of the tunnel,
which was
WALLED UP WITH ROCK.
dipping at an angle of 80 degrees, had
been run into the mountain for over
quarter of a mile, and presumably
much further but that it had been fol-
lowed to where it was partially choked
up with debris, which denied further
exploration until cleaned out. Fur
Their on, on the strike of the ledge for
quarter of a mile or more, there is
an old shaft which has been eX-
plored for a depth of 800 feet, where
continued descent was again stopped
by rocks and soil, although there are
oreviceS in the bottom through which
smoke arises when a fire is built i'm the
tunnel, which leads to the belief that
the shaft was constructed for the4pu
pose of making air connections for the
mine, and as there is no dump at the
top of the shaft, it is fair to presume
that it was made by upraising, the dirt
being taken out through the tunnel.
At 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 100000
Another interesting feature connect
ed with this important discovery is the
finding of
AN OLD ARASTRA
near the shore of a little lake about
half a mile from the mine, the lake and
cient trail which, portion of the way,
is cut through solid rock, and one min
ing man who has examined the mine
and the mill at the lake expresses the
opinion that the lake bottom itself
would pay to work for the tailings
which it must contain, as the mine was
presumably 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 plenti-
fully in its native state, The Herald
being informed that the first time the
ore was panned by an old miner it was
estimated that the mineral went 10
cents to the pan in the yellow metal.
The Messrs. Bird will leave for the
mine this morning with the intention
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 off.
The Birds have located 10 or 20
claims at the re-discovery of what they
confidently believe to be the old Jo-
sephene, besides which they have
plated
a BEAUTIFUL TOWNSHIP
at the old mine, which will be entitled
Hoyts Peak, and as there are two
fine springs of water on the townsite,
which is located on one of Uncle Sans
timber reserves, it is the expectation
that a thrifty and progressive mining
camp will soon spring up there, and
especially so as the country is over
run by prospectors, who have made
hundreds of locations since the discoV-
cry of this ancient mine was chron-
icled in these columns. Indeed, the new
camp is assuming so much Importance
that a four-horse stage line is being
put on to run from Park City, which is
about % miles from the Josephine, and
if this is really the old Spanish mine
known a century ago by that name
and the Birds claim it to be such ac-
cording to the map which had been
handed down from father to son for
two or three generations, the directions
il contained being too explicit and clear
TO allow of any mistake in the matter.
this promises to make one more addi-
tion TO the list of Utah's wealth centers.
A company is being formed for the
working of the Josephene, which will
be STYLED the Josephene Gold Mining
company, the Incorporation papers of
which will be filed within the next few
days.