Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1902-03-29
AN HONEST OPINION.
N. Hammond, a Mining Engineer Of Rep.
utati0a, Tells What He Saw and
Knows of TOnOpah.

Mr.. M. Hammond a mining engineer
of considerable reputation, and who
recently visited this section and made
Il careful examination of the mines.
has this to say in a recent issue oil
the Spokane Review
Il visited all of the mining camps
of note in Nevada, including the fam.
Gus Tonopah district. The latter is
marvelously rich region. The Miz-
pah mine is marvel of richness.
spent considerable time in examining
it, and in my opinion it has not been
mlsrepresented by the newspapers,
either III extent of its ore bodies or
their values.
"On the Mizpah and three adjoiu-
ing claims are the largest and best
bodies of ore | have ever seen. From
the best calculations | could make
there are not less than 60, 900 tons
of ore now on the dumps. This
ore, according to assays made from
samples taken by myself, will average
over 500 per ton Tn lowest as
Say that | obtained was $50 per ton.
There are four parallel veins that
are over 1000 feet long, nearly all of
which shows a continuous payshoot-
from the grass roots to the greatest
depth yet attained. The main shaft
is $50 feet deep. This vein is about
I feet in width on the surface, but
gradually wideus out to II feet at
the bottom of the shaft. The other
veins vary from 81 to feet in
width.
THE ore carries gold and silver.
the gold predominating, The quartz
carrying the silver in black sulphates.
while the gold lies principally in a red
oxide. These mines are situated at
an elevation of about 5000 feet above
sea level At this time the district
known as Tonopah is the Mecca to-
ward which all eyes are turned.
There are in the district many pros
poets that bid fair to become paving
mines.
From personal observation | am
iNh W VuN tplitldSloil Illdt many Dot-
tlons of Nevada have been little pros
pected. ! consider it great field
for those who follow prospecting as a
profession. 1t is both large and in
wiling. OF course, it has some draw
backs, the chief of which is the scar
city of water While this is ii serious
hlnderance to the prospec tors. it can
be overcome in mining operations on
large scale by sinking artesian
wells, There is little reason to doubt
that all the water necessary for min
ing purposes can be secured in this
manner.
The trains of the Southern Pac-
itic system land the traveller at Reno.
which by the way, is the largest city
in Nevada, and the most prosperous
and promising 1t contains about
I, 900 people and is the natural gate
way to the mineral wealth of the
State, The Wedekind mine, living
within four miles of the city, is one
of the best in the West, and gives
steady employment to a large mum
Der OF men.
Leaving Reno the traveller is
taken by rail to the Mound House
and is then transferred to narrow
gauge running south to Sodaville, 90
miles from Tonopah From there
the journey is made by stage or pri- !
waite conveyance All of the neces-
saries of life and many of the Injuries |
are obtainable at reasonable prices. |
1t is, therefore, not necessary to /
carry in supplies, and large guam.
titles would be an incumbrance rath. .
err than an advantage.