Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1902-06-01

300 miles away. Supplies of all kinds
were at an exorbitant figure. 1t is es-
timated that during the height of pro-
duction the freight charges alone On
ores sent out of the camp for treat
ment amounted to more than $1,000, 000
Notwiths standing the numerous and
costly disadvantages under which the
mines were operated, the profits Ware
dazzling. The lack of water and the
lack of transportation We're the great
est drawbacks. Finally, water was
encountered in the Sulphuret shaft, at
a depth of 500 feet, and there was re-
joicing. The Contention, Grand Cen
trail, West Side, Head Center and En-
pire mines soon after met water at
substantially the same level, and in
large volume, but no fears were enter
tanned as to the ability OF the COM
panies TO control the water when it
should become necessary. 1t was not
a pressing problem, for there were still
vast bodies of high grade ore above the
500-foot level. When sinking below the
water lever was at last undertaken,
however, there was surprise and dis
appointment at finding that the prep
arations which had been made were
inadequate. The Grand Central had
installed a line of direct-acting steam
pumps, capable of raising 100000 gal
Ions in twenty-four hours, but the
pumping of this quantity of water
Il .;.,INl
supply.
CONQUERING THE WATER.
Following this work by the Grand
| Central, a plant of Pinch Cornish
pumps was installed by the Contention
company, at an expense not short of
$150,0O0. The plant was capable OF
raising 100000 gallons of water daily.
| It-<was thought that the problem had
| been conquered, and sinking was re-
sumed. 1t was not long. however, until
! it became evident that the combined ca
pacity of the Grand Central and Con-
| tentiOn plants was not equal to co1-
| trolling the water. Determined to over
come the difficulty, the Grand Central
7 PUMPS,
having a capacity of 1,500, 900 gallons
daily, this additional cost being at least
$200, 900
Once both these great pumping
plants were in operation, it was quick
ly demonstrated that the water could
be controlled. Sinking continued, and
Il depth of 100 feet below the water
level was reached. There was, of
course, still an abundance of ore above
the water level. but proof that the
water was overcome raised the spirits
of all operate With the water under
control, it was recognized that Tomb
stone was a practically ineXhaustible
camp. The Short-Sighted selfishness of
human nature here became a factor in
the situation, however. as it has at the
Comstock, Aspen, Leadville, and other
points where some mine owners have
sought to take advantage of the enter
prise of their neighbors and escape the
expense of pumping. Other mines thar
the Grand Central and Contention
finding that the water was steadily re-
ceding from their ground, proceeded
with the work of sinking, but without
any provision Tor handling the wacel
in the event of accident to the pump.
ing plants of their neighbors
The development of the ore bodies il
the lower levels was satisfactory in III,
extreme. Much of the ore encountered
in CrOSS-cJIttipo- from tho
shaft assayed 500 per ton. Most I'M
portant of all-for there had never beef
doubt of the continuity of the or,
bodies-it was fully demonstrated tina
the great volume of water first en-
countered was not a continuing quan
tlty; that, on the contrary, the diff
Guilty had arisen from sinking into
basin, and that the water in this basi,
once pumped ont, the inflow was no
extraordinary. Indeed, it is surprisin;
that this result had not been antici
pated, for an eXaminatio of the super
, fetal drainage area of the surroundin:
country and Il knowledge OF the Unite,
annual precipitation would have mad
it clear that the volume of under
ground water in motion could not be s
extensive as to constitute a menace t
large mining operations. The fact tina
Tombstone was ideally situated wit
a volume Of water entirely controlIab bic
and yet in such quantities as to b
abundant for every possible use-ya
just becoming d fixture in the publ
= mind when the great disaster of May
1856, occurred. Fire completely dc
stroyed the hosting plant and pun ,
' ing machinery of the Grand Cent? d
. mines. 1t would have been possible t
control the water at this stage wit
: the pumping plant of the Contentio
company, but the pumps We're stoppe
pending efforts to reach a common TN
Outstanding among all the mine own
ers SO as to distribute the expense c
> handling the Wa ter.
SELFISHNESS AND DISASTER.
coli ichn ,1r ,lI,