Gilpin observer., 1900-05-03
THE NEwAousE TUNNEL.


ever made In the Idaho Springs dis
trict has been made during the last few
days in the NewhOuse tunnel Sew
eral days ago the fOotwalls and vein
We're encountered ana the vein has now
been penetrated over so feet, the hang
ing wall having been reached last
night. Over 20 feet of the mineral
streak is pay, a considerable quantity
of which is smelter grade and the bal
ance a milling product. The vein en-
countered is claimed to be the Gem
extension and was one of the objective
points for which the tunnel was de-
signed
The great depth at which the ore
was found makes the strike of vast
Importance and is one of the greatest
depth attained by any property in Col
orado. The value of the smelling ore
is from $50 to $50 per ton, and carries
gold. silver and high lead values.
From 50 to 30 per cent. of the output
is a milling ore carrying values of
about SIS per ton. The magnitude of
the strike can be appreciated when it
is known that in running the tunnel -
or 13 feet about 100 tons of ore was
broken down, all of which has been
marketed to-day.
The tunnel will continue pushing
ahead as fast as possible and con-
tract has been made with Mr.. Rem
shaw, who is operating the Gem prop
critics. to commence drifting in both
directions on the ore body as soon as
the breast of the tunnel is far enough
ahead so as not to interfere with the
work. The strike has caused the
greatest excitement here and its i'm
portance cannot be overestimated
from mining standpoint.
Another report says:
There is no doubt about the bonanza
character of the vein just cut by the
NewhOuse tunnel. Smelling ore
streaks are found throughout the min
cral body. Between the smelling
streaks are bodies of mill ore. An es-
innate places the pay ore at 30 TO 40
feet in width. Last week the foot wall
was struck and to-day the hanging
wall was passed. Measurements show
about so feet between walls. The
Newton mill to-day was treating the
concentrating ore taken out in cross
cutting, in addition to over 100 tons of
this mineral. about IL tons of smelling
ore was also marketed. This ranges
in several classes of net values of $50
TO $50 per ton. The mill ore Will run
$40 30 $15 per ton. 1t will concentrate
four to one.
1t being lead, copper and iron and
free from zinc, the system of treating
with jigs, screens and Whitley tables
makes saving of every particle of
value in which the gold and silver are
found. w. Il. Renshaw owns Il num-
Der of claims on the line of the tunnel.
and in addition is working several
others under lease and bond. The shaft
IN tho (nanl Evfanginn SllnI fnt
300 feet and drifts extended on both
sides. From this ground there has
been production up to this time of
$1,OOO,0OO. The Main Trunk claim
lies on the west. and 1t is in this part
of the group where the larger bodies
of ore have been cut. Mr.. Renshaw
worked the Gem claim under lease and
bond until last summer, when Fred
Walsen Joined him in the purchase of
the property. This property is To-
Gated on Seaton mountain. which was
practically abandoned years ago, after
having produced about 100000 from
surface workings. 1t was the belief
at that time that the ore bodies would
not continue. and as result work
stopped after that part of the mine
was worked out.
About eight years ago. Mr.. Renshaw
took charge of the property. working
but one man and n boy. With the pro
duction of ore he increased his force
of men and carried on developments.
When arrangements We're made last
December for the retimbering of the
shaft and the sinking of it to the New
house tunnel-level, he was working 125
men. He has now placed the shaft in
good condition and proposes sinking it
with three eight-hour shifts. In the
bottom of this shaft there is eight feet
of mineral now disclosed. He has also
found mineral beyond this point on
both sides, and as soon ms the air com
pressor can be installed with cross
cut for the mineral bodies which he
believes will show almost the same
width as Is now found below. Re
fcrrlng to the strike In the tunnel Mr..
Renshaw said to-day:
Il have, made II contract With the
Newhous4. tunnel people so that work
can commence on the vein imncdi.
diately. In fact work was started
there to-day by Mr.. Ifanchett. whose
contract provides for the timbering of
the lode on both sides of the lode and
drifting for 300 feet. Owing 10 the
great width of the ore body. IL will
become II serious problem how best 10
handle the vein above. for II Is al
ready-crumbling. | expect that it will
be necessary to use iron pillars in
stead of the usual wood columns. The
drift VIII be- M first extended on the
hanging wall and then on the foot wall
leaving the ore body between them as
II pillar In our assays and runs had
up TO this time we find the black
oXide'of copper ore to reach value of
$50 per ton. III our upper workings
the average value Of our smelling ore
was but $50 ton. although NJ some of
the functions where spurs would
come into the main vein we have FIRE
uuently mined ore running from $50
tn 500.