Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-06-04
GLORIOUS news!
NEWaoUs- WILL RESUME OPERATIONS
THIS MONTH AND CUT THE
SARATOGA VEIN
IT MEANS PROSPERITY FOR CAMP.
WILL MATERIALLY AFFECT EVERY DOL
LAR INVESTED IN THIS DISTRICT

ahead to intersect the Saratoga mine is
probably the best news that we have been
able to chronicle so far this year. The
immediate effect will be to remove the
feeling of uncertainty regarding the fut-
ure of this district which was broul hit on
partially by the labor troubles OF the past
year. Although the work of driving the
big bore will employ but a limited num-
Der of men. the fact that the big enter
prise is again going ahead will add an
impetus to the mining operations of the
entire district. 1t is possible that the
tunnel may be driven to its final destiua-
ton without stopping, but it is certain
Saratoga shaft an immense tonnage of
ore will be transported through the tun-
mel and this will be encouragement
enough to the mine owners on the other
side of the Saratoga to make efforts to
have the tunnel extended to their prop
critics.
Work will be started within few days,
certainly not later than July Ist, and will
continue until the Saratoga vein is
reached. The distance from the breast
600 feet, and driving the tunnel at the
rate of eight feet per day will complete
the connection within 200 days, which
will be along about Christmas.
Ground was broken for the Newhouse
tunnel in October. 1906, and the great
bore has been driven over $4,000 feet or
nearly three miles. The average size OF
the tunnel is 10 by 10 feet in the clear
The cost has been abou, S2S per foot in
Guiding equipment. From the present
heading the tunnel will driven 5 by 7
feet or single track. as this has been de-
cided the most practicable size for tunnel
driving. for at such time as the traffic in
the tunnel should require double tracks
the tunnel can be enlarged at compare.
lively small cost. Work ceased on the
breast of the big bore March 81. 10 2, and
since that time the company has been
opening up veins of its own.
To unwater the great Saratoga mine
and furnish transportation facilities for
lie large bodies of ore known to be
therein IS the present Office, Of the tunnel
company. and few brief facts about this
great property will b. of interest.
The Siratoga cousi = OF about eighteen
claims and all OF them have been devel-
opel to a more or less extent. Work conf
rnrnced on the property some thirty
years ago a. d since that time there has
been a steady shipment, but operation
has been retarded owing to the vast
quantity Of witer that accumulates in the
levels. A modern pumping plant was
installed and operated for many years
but this method proved expensive and
the owners finally decided to suspend
work until arrangements could be made
with the Newhouse company to cut the
vein and thus drain the mine The main
shaft is down 1000 feet. with levels run
both east and west every hundred feet
When work was suspended the mine
| filled with water to the third level, bnt
leasers have been enabled to work this
level continuously and are doing so at
the present time. 1t is estimated tha,
fully S2.ooo, 600 has been taken from the
property in the past, and an experienced
miner who is in position to know, says
that today, with the mine drained. 900
men can be put to work on pay ore with
ont more development being done for
some time.
In 1891, vein said to be 20 feet in
.,tt H..
from which assays showed an AVERAGE
value Of 81, per ton, ard in speaking
about the f5d the Denver News said:
"rhe success in discovering an immense
deposit of pay ore ar a depth of 900 feet
is regarded as another evidence Of the
permanency OF the mines OF Clear Creek
and Gilpin counties. Many of these
properties are more valuable to-day tn n
they we're quarter of a century ago, and
have been worked almost continuously
Pending the cutting of the vein by the
tunnel, the Saratoga company will con-
tinue to work the third level, hosting
the ore through the shaft, bat no effort
will be made to operate the mine on a
very extensive scale. As soon as the
tunnel reaches the property, aud the
water is out of the mipe, a drift will be
run from the tunnel to connect with the
lower levels, a distance estimated at 100
feet, and then raise made to connect
with the old workings. The Saratoga
shaft is about 2,2oo feet from the line Of
the tunnel