The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-10
NEW RICH GOLD FIELD
TONOPAH DISTRICT OF NEVADA
wONDROUs IN WEALTH.
One Claim I'm the Yellow Meta -.edded
Desert Reported to Produce
$4,000 "A Day.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Dec. 9.-The new
most remarkable mining camps of the
West. The entire Pacific slope is awaken
ing to its extraordinary richness. Although
rot yet proved" as to extent and depth.
mining men familiar with the district as
sert that it far exceeds in mineral wealth
all of Alaska combined, and that it bids
fair to surpass the famous Cripple Creek
district in the amount of gold and silver
which it will soon produce.
What is certain, is that under a method
of mining which cannot be long continued
its daily output is at rate that if main
tanned would exceed that of the entire
State of California in the course of twelve
months. Conservative statements by large
smelling concerns, which are treating the
ore, are to the effect that there is a strong
basis for the claim of wonderful richness
made for Tonopah and that the indications
are it will rank among the great mineral
producers of the United States.
The new gold district is located in Nye
county. 300 miles south of Virginia. and
sixty-two miles from Candelaria on The
Carson 81 Colorado Railroad. 1t is in
desert, in a rolling country, and in the
immediate vicinity of mountains. Ingress
and egress are by teams over a long
stretch OF barren land. and the necessities
of life are difficult to obtain and extremely
dear. The discovery was made fourteen
months ago by James Butler of Belmont.
New, and actual exploitation of the min
eral wealth has been in progress for about
six months. Until now. however, only frag-
mentary information regarding the district
has found its way TO the outside world.
The mines are Of silver and gold in the
proportion OF two 10 one. They lie under
cap OF lava OF an average thickness of $50
feet and are in lodges $500 feet in width.
but their length remains to be ascertained.
Iorphory walls.
Thus far the richness of the Tonopoh
mines has been something fabulous. Their
daily output is now $4,000 in value, one
claim alone producing $4,000. So far there
has been no systematic mining. Most of
the claims have been worked under lease
from the TOnOpah Mining Company of %
per cent. royalty.
The ore values run from $3.50 to $500 a
ton in the high grades, averaging little
over 500 a ton Of shipping ore. while the the
ton and average about $50 ton at the
smelter. While the production of the Tono-
pah district is fully $4,000 a day, the diff
ficulty of the transportation of the ore long
distances by team, either to Sodaville or
Candelaria, on the railroad, is so great that
only about $1,000 of the ore can be sent out
each twenty-four hours. Even these ship
ments, with the arrival or other selacious
ores from the Comstock. have been too
much for the present capacity of the Selby
Smelling and Lead Companys works, near
San Francisco, where large quantities lie
awaiting opportunity to treat them. 1t has
accordingly been found necessary to send
ore for smelling TO Everett, Wash, at a
much increased freight expense TO the
miners.
Besides the obstacles to transportation
and smelling, water is scarce. and has to be
taken to the camp and mines distance of
two miles, where IL Is sold at the rate Of 81
a barrel. II Is. however. proposed to over
piping, either from the springs. COMPARE
lively near at hand, or from more abund-
ant source, OF water supply at Rye Patch,
twenty miles away. This work in one or
other form will be undertaken within six
months as without better supply than at
present mining operations will be greatly
hampered.
There are fifteen principal claims close to
the town of Tonopah, the main owner of
which is the Tonopah Mining Company.
The camp has a population of 800 persons
whose number is increasing at the rate OF
twenty-five newcomers daily They consist
chiefly of miners. mining prospectors, rep
resentatives of mining capital, workmen.
saloon keepers and gamblers. Labor is
plentiful. This is evident from the fact
that despite the location of the camp the
dearness OF living and the many hardships
inseparable from residence there. the wages
OF carpenters and other mechanics are only
50 a day, while working miners receive only
81 a day for their labor The claims aver
leases are usually of strips 30 feet wide by
1,500 feet long.
The Tonopah Mining Company's claims
are eight in number, of which four are be-
ing worked. One Of these is the Mizpah.
from which, IL is asserted. $4,000 in ore is
being taken every day. The BurrO claim,
lying alongside on the south. pays $500 a
day 1t is. however. the Valley View, Gi-
rectIy south of the Burro which is attract
ing the most immediate attention, even
more than the Mizpah. with its SAC, 600 daily
production, for the reason that negotiations
are I'm progress for its sale by the TOnopah
Mining Company to syndicate of Phil
adelphia capitalists for 100000. This claim
is reported by mining engineers just in
from the district to contain great quaint
ties OF $50 a ton ore. and considerable high
grade running from $500 10 5000 ton.
The fortunes made at Tonopah within the
last six months have excited the cupidity of
the entire Pacific mining world. Men who
went there with little money have realized
in many instances as much as $3.50 600 while
many others count their gains at from $50,-
600 to 100000 in half year.