Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-06-25


expense has been the water. which has
had to be pumped up to a heighth
Of thirty feet, this with the limited
capacity has made it an Improbable
proposition. There is no question but
that with the proper remodeling of the
plant,>it could be made to pay handsome
ly. The location is an admirable one and
has splendid railroad facilities. II IS
hoped that the mill will be taken in
charge by an efficient millman, and re-
modelled as we are sadly deficient in mill
ing capacity at the present time and the
mill is needed.
Practically the first cleanup of the Ward
mill was made last Saturday, and the re-
suits were entirely satisfactory to the
management. The plates are not yet in
the proper condition for making a close
saving, but will be in shape soon. The
yield of the plates was 76 ounces of ANAL
gam, the result Of six days running on
the surfacs quarts being quarried out on
the large opeu-cut. The gold is worth
Sra per ounce, and the saving on the plates
is estimated to be close to 81. 50 per ton.
in addition to which there was a quanti-
ty of concentrates saved on the Wiley
tables. The saving by amalgamation
will be much closer when the plates have
been gotten in soft and workable con-
dition. as everything depends on the con.
dition of the plates in treating ore of the
character as that mined in the surface
workings and carrying the gold in free
state. The conditions at the Ward mill
and mine are almost identicaily the same
as at the great Homestake property in
Dakota. But the ore is of little higher
grade than the Homestake, and when
the plant is completed with the cyanide
section, it is believed as close, if not
a closer saving of values will be made.
The actual work of driving the breast
of the great Newhouse tunnel was started
last Monday morning, and under the
terms of the agreement the work will con-
tipue without cessation until the Saratoga
vein is reached, barring accidents or the
breaking down of the machinery. As
the tunnel is to be driven only single
track, SKI feet, from the present heading
only one drilling shift will be employed
and the other shift will do the mucking
or tramming. This will allow them to
make almost as much headway each
month as when the tunnel was driven
IoxIo feet in the clear. The Central tun-
mel has been able to make from $50 to
$50 feet per month under the same sys-
tenn of working, and there is also much
less risk of accidents under this arrange
ment. When the Newhouse was driving
ahead in the old way, the men were all
given a bonus for every foot of ground
driven during the month overa stipulated
footage. The result was that every man
working ON the tunnel did his level best
to make good showing and also to par
ticipate in the bonus. Some of the men
made as high as tI8o per month, but
there 10 no doubt but that the few acci-
dents that occurred were caused by the
rush.
The best record made in driving the
Newhouse tunnel was made in the month
Of March, 1901, when the bore was driven
at feet in 81 days. Contractor Ksowles
in the Central tunnel made 7I8 feet in the
month of Feb, 1905, driving the tunnel
With one drilling shift and one mucking
shift. All of the projectors of the big
tunnel enterprises are now agreed that it
Is impracticabie to drive the tunnels
double track; taking into considerations
the extra cost Of the large bore. and the
limited amount Of traffic to be had until