The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-31

Camp Floyd mining district, of which
Mercur is the geographical as well as
business center. has long since passed
the experimental stage and is now
recognized as the great gold camp of
the state and among the foremost on
the Pacific slope In the geological
structure and ore formation. it so far
remains entirely distinct from all other
discoveries made on this continent. and
it is the prevailing belief that the ex-
pioration and development so far made
have but touched the vast auriferors
deposits that underlie the formation
here at greater depth. During the six
years since the gold values were first
discovered in the carboniferous lime
stone in these foothills of the Oquirrh
mountains, the work of mining has
been mainly confined to the early sur
face discoveries coexistent with the
former silver workings, and millions in
golden wealth have been realized and
millions remain in sight, but if, as pre-
dicted by the best geological author
tiles. there remains untouched mineral
Strata underneath those now worked
the future of this great mineralized
zone can but family be oomprehended.
not to exceed twenty men engaged at
mining in the entire district; today
there are from 800, to 1000 employed
in that industry. During that brief pc
Rod a few scattered cabins have grown
into a prosperous city, with millions
of dollars invested in machinery and
buildings. business houses, churches,
school houses and residences and pub
lie improvements. If half the predic-
ton of the future reaches fruition,
what may not be the result here in
another brief lapse of time?
Although 10 the spectator whose only
knowledge of mining is that it gives
a good field for gambling in stocks the
history of Mercur has not been en-
tirely satisfactory, to the genuine in
weston the progress made has been all
that could be hoped for. Many dis
coveries have been. made that serve
still more to insure the permanence of
the camp Il is true that there are not
as many mills erected as was hoped
for. but on the other hand there have
been large bodies of ore opened up
in different parts of the district; the
characteristics of the ore have been
more thoroughly studied; improve
ments in treatment have been put in
operation and more scientific methods
of developing the ground have been
adopted In the early history of the
camp, owners were impatient to get
mills running to keep up the supply;
stopping out the ores handy was re-
sorted to. and in many cases but little
If any effort TO provide for the future
was attempted. To the practical miner
the result was obvious. The time came
when a great deal of dead work was
required and the expenses increased
so much that not only was it impossi-
BILE TO pay dividends, but the returns
were insufficient to meet the current
outlay and in some cases heavy OBJ
legations were contracted, having a
depressing effect on stocks and caus-
ing doubts to arise in the minds of
many in regard to the value of the
properties
Experience has shown that it is only
by handling large quantities of ore
that the most profitable results can
be reached. and instead of spending
money or the erection of small plants
owners have shown a preference to
spend their means in development,
with the intention of erecting large
mills at some future time.
The older mills have been increased
in capacity and the output has almost
doubled during the past year. AS the
tonnage has increased the cost of
handling has decreased. and this. added
to the greater recovery made, has made
It possible to handle lower grade ores
at a profit. Experiments in the treat
ment of the base ores have also been
conducted by the different companies
and valuable discoveries made. which
in the future will be used TO good adj
vantage. 1t would be impossible in
the limits of this article to give more
than a brief review of the principal
changes during the past year.
MERCUR.
The Mercur has kept ahead of the
procession in the number of improve
1nents made In every part of the mine
a great deal of exploration work has
been done and drifts have been run in
all the ore bodies for a long distance.
It was thought that a plant for the
handling of the base ore would be in
stalled, but development showed up so
much oxidized ore that the project was
postponed for the present. 1t is more
than likely that by the time il will be
necessary TO install roasters there will
be many improvements in the method
of handling this class of ore An cleo
trio motor of 1o0-horse-power has been
installed at the mine. which furnishes
sufficient power to run the hoist as
we'll as the air drills in the different
parts of the mine. The change from
400 to 600 tons per day was easily eff
fected, and it is safe to say it would
be but little trouble TO put the mine in
shape to furnish twice this amount.
At the nil the improvements have
been such that it is practically new
600-ton plant. In May the company
commenced the treatment of the old
tailings run out in the early days of
cyaniding, and good profit is being
realized therefrom. Early in the year
the mill VIII again be enlarged and il
is the intention to keep on charging
until the capacity reaches 1000 tons
per day.
GOLDEN GATE.
During the year there have been nu-
merous changes and improvements in
this property. The policy of Mr. De
Lamar makes it hard to state positive
facts about the operation of this bo-
nanza. The capacity of the mill has
been increased from 500 to 900 tons per
day. The estimated recovery is about
So per ton and il is probable that the
present rate Of production is $135, 900
per month.
Experience has shown that the power
for the@operation of mine and mill is
too distant, and with his characteristic
energy and enterprise Captain De La
mar has commenced the work of put
ting in a special plant for his own
use This will be completed in a short
time and the heretofore syexatious de-
lays will be unknown
During the. year the holdings of this
property have been increased by the