Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1904-06-29
TUNNEL PROJECT FEASIBLE
PRACTICAL AND PROMISING
Committee Submits Very Favorable Report.
Abundance of Water, Excellent Mineral
Prospects, and Is Inviting Enter
prise For Investment.

sunk on the ledge a few years ago,
filled with water within twenty four
hours and has remained filed ever
since.
Another shaft sunk on the ledge in
tn creek bed to a depth of 81 feet,
,Dree or four years ago, also filled
with water within twenty four hours
and stream has been running from
it ever since, even the present period
of extreme drouth having no effect
upon the flow.
Near the boarding house there is a
shaft u feet deep and feet square,
which is practically full of water
which is nsed for domestic purposes.
There is also a never failing spring
on this property, the water of which
is highly charged with mineral, and
possessing, it is claimed great me-
dicinal qualities.
In all the committee visited over a
dozen shafts of different depths, some
located at considerable elevation above
the creek and washes, and did not ind
a single dry one, but water in abund-
auee was found in all.
Mr.. Fogg and Nh. Kendall, who
have spent a great amount of time
there informed the committee that the
same conditions exist for a distance
of several miles in a southerly direc-
ton, where, owing to the limited
time of the committe, it was imlos-
sible to visit.
The water also comes to the surface
in the shape of springs at numerous
places on the plateau, covering an
area of four or five miles square in
extent, several of them being seen by
the committee in making it's recon
Nuisance.
The only conclusion to be deducted
from these conditions is that an
underfow or stream of water exists
beneath the surface and that the
pressure from this stream forces the
water to the surface. The extent of
such stream can only be conjectured
but the indications are that it must
be of considerable magnitude.
The vegetation on this plateau, and
particularly the tree life, furnishes
another indication that moisture in
abundance exists at no very great
depth from the surface.
MINERAL FEATURES.
The Black Hills are formed by an
immense porphyry dyke, the trend of
which is from north to the south. In
places this dyke is capped with lime,
sand stone and lava. The dyke is
highly mineralized throughout, show
ing gold, silver, copper and iron
which outcrcps at numerous places and
it is reasonable to suppose that at
depth large deposits of mineral
may be encountered.
On the northern end of this dyke
are the United Verde Copper Mines,
about four miles in northerly direc-
ton from the proposed tunnel site.
On the eastern slope of the Black
Hills on this same dyke, near the
eastern terminus of the proposed tun-
mel are the Copper Chief and Iron
King mines.
On the western slope, and about ole
mile in a northerly direction from the
PROPOSED tunnelsis the Yaeger Canyon
company's property.
These properties have all been de-
7eloped to considerable depth and
large bodies of copper, gold and
silver ores have been encountered.
The proposed tunnel will cross-cut
this dyke at nearly right angles and
in places at great depth.
On the apex of this dyke, or range,
there has been no Developments to
any considerable depth to prove
whether there is mineral to any exent
in the main body of the hills or not
although out-croppings are found in
many places and good mineral obtain
ed as far as developed.
ENGINEERING FEATURES.
The proposed tunnel will be about
i've miles in length, beginning on the
western slope of the Black Hills,
about one mile in a southerly direc-
ton from the Jaeger Canyon Copper
Mine and at an elevation Of about
5000 feet, thence running easterly to
the eastern slope near the Copper
Chief and Iron King Mines passing
through the eastern end of MiDgus
Mountain. the highest elevation of the
Black Hills range at depth of per-
haps 300 feet.
3There are no difficult engineering
features connected with the proposed
tunnel.
There ara two or three places along
the line where air shafts can be sunk
to the tunnel level at depths perhaps
not to exceed ], 200 feet.
A trolley car line can be built to
the western end of the tunnel by
which all supplies and material can
be delivered. The grade of the tunnel
will be from the east to the west,
draining all water encountered from
the east into Lonesome Valley.
The formation being porphyry it is
not likely any very hard rock will be
encountered.
CONCLUSION.
| From the above observations and
| facts obtained the conclusions OF
/ opinions of your committee is:
First. That a tunnel can be made
through the Black Hills range at g
length not to not to exceed five mile:
and probably less.
Second That said tunnel would
cut the formation nearly at right
angles.
Third. That from the surface in
dicatious there are great probabili
ties of encountering large bodies o
mineral in its construction.
Fourth That there is PRACTICAL,
no doubt that an immense flow o
water would be encountered in it.