Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-01-30
The McCleI.and unnel.

Answering a Dos soo tofft>ponacut IA
regard 10 the enterprise known as the
McClelland tunnel in Clear Geek county.
the Mining Investor says: at is one re-
quring the outlay of very considerable
capital and the expenditure of W II di
rected energy aud time, but in our upin-
ion il IS to be numbered among The most
important of the several enterprises now
being snshed forward in the allied Gilpiu
and Clear Creek districts, which in year
or two are bound to bring this great min
ing region into notable prominence
All of which is cordially endorsed. Here
is crosscut tunnel, ideally located for III
mining aud milling purposes, which has
been driven distance oil 5000 feet. 1t Is
projected 10 strike the celebrated Free
land group OF mines in Freelaud mining
district IN a distance of 5000 fe-t from
the portal. II is equipped With railway
tracks. cars. air and water conduits and
machinery Of the best character When
finished il will drain the mountain to
depth of 600 feet. II will enable the
owners ofthe very extensive mining prop
erty to raise on the vein to the nsain
working shaft at the surface, which has
been sunk about .oco fee, and developed
. by series of leads. This property. al
~avs considered cne Of the best in the
county. can then be made to Weld very
handsome profits because the ores are of
exceptional alue. The necessity for the
long tunnel (which at its terminus will
he only one-third the length of the New
house a, Idaho Springs WAS occasioned
by the great expense OF pumping waller
from the shaft The mineral, although
of exceptional value cannot we'll be pro-
duced at profit when saddled not only
with the cost. bnt with the additional cost
of hauling ii in wagons over steep and
rough roads 20 the nearest shipping and
reducing point, which is Idaho Springs.
Having seen the books Of the company
this manner. and noted the returns.
speak advisedly on the subject. Again,
the former owners erected concentrating
mines 10 reduce the bulk and the cost of
all concentrating devices employed in
this state lost abou, as much value as they
saved If it were not hBdered by a vol
ume of water which would tax the best
pumping machinery TO its utmost capac
iiy. the Freelaud mines might even now
be operated at small profit by the use OF
the laies, improved pumping devices. But
they could not be deepeutd much further
by the shaft system without rucountering
still larger volumes of water, which no
pumps can handle.
Knowing these ;hings, the protector of
McCiellsnd tunnel went eas, and engsg ed
capital for that very iinportan, enterprise.
After it had been driven tbree-fiths Il
the required distance a financial couvul-
sion in the East shut Of the supply of
funds ard the driving ceased. But for
this unfortunate event it would now be
completed. or very nearly so. and the ex
traction Of rich ore under rapid hcadwsy
In the schene as outlined there IS
splendid mllsite. vi h ample grounds
for all purposes Il the mouth OF the iun-
mel Here with large crushing mi Of
say 500 TO LOCO tons capacity, the orr
broken IN the mines might be treated at
sma cost and made profitable owing to
to the cheap facilities provided As fast
as broken il could be slIoyeled into mine
cars, conveyed rapidly TO the mill by
electric motors, dumped into chm es 4
Il, ,x-.I 81 H.
carried through every phase of crushing
nd trea,ment. Clear creek FURNISHES a
never failing supply of water for milling
uses. The Colorado * Southern railway
passes the door of the mill d-sief ed for
the consuinmation of the entrrprise. 1t
would be very low grade of ore in
deed that would not yield profit under
ihe ideal conditions planned In my
Judgment this project ought to be carried
TO completion at the earlies, practicable
date. because it is one in which the ele-
IN .ut of doubt is practically eliminated.
II The ores maintain the average thus far
oS,ained down to the point where the
mines would be iBtersected by ih- ,unnei,
VI Nhi,H tuSic 70 ittiS houpt, IL "ouih bc
the most profitable mining proposition,
rightly handled. in Northern Colorado
Il is by no means gamble but as great a
certainty as can ever be anticipated in the
field of legitimate mining. 1t is hoi ed. +.
therefore. that Mr. McClelland will ii md
ways and means TO put it III operation