Amador ledger., 1904-02-05
AMADOR COUNTY'S
MINING. INDUSTRY
Is Moving Along With Ordinary Ac-
tivity = And the Indications Point
to Much Renewed Activity.

|
man who has never seen a quartz vein
accidentally stumbles on rich lead
which develops into great mine.
When this occurs, and the tenderfoot
gets goodly supply of notoriety and a
good bank account, the public pats
him on the back and says he is great
mining man. On the other hand, in
our opinion, the man or company who
takes hold of doubtful proposition,
with only a few indications to attract
his attention, and makes it q success
| financially, is entitled to all the credit
as miner and business man. The
latter are the conditions at the Gwin,
ty, today. Ten years ago E. f. Thomas
and associates, after satisfying them
selves that the prospect would warrant
the effort, took hold of this property,
then in every sense prospect, and to-
day it is one of the largest and best to
be found along the mother lode.
During this time the main and south
shafts have been sunk to a depth of
1000 and 1000 feet respectively, a new
hoist has been installed, and a model
mill of 100 stamps erected. The mill is
equipped with the quick drop variety
of stamps, and in addition to the gold
saved on the plates there are 40 Frue-
vanners making concentrates which
are shipped to the Selby smelter, San
Francisco. Both the hoist and mill
are run by water power, the former
having head of $50 and the latter
400 feet. After using the water for
these purposes, it is transmitted about
one mile down the gulch, and there
again used to make the compressed air
for the drills and pumps. Peltou water
wheels are used, and as safety
measure, just recently boiler plant of
| three boilers has been completed to
furnish steam motive power in case any
| thing should prevent the use of water.
The hoist at the main shaft is double,
and is made by the Union Iron Works.
San Francisco, having lifting capacity
of tons 1000 feet at the rate of 1900
feet per minute. The gallows frame is
all steel, and measures lis feet in
height from the collar of shaft to roof.
The skips of ore are dumped into two
rock breakers, and the rock is then
automatically loaded into 3-ton cars,
and then trammed by mules into the
mill. At present the ore being treated
is taken from the 1900 and 100 levels,
but this only supplies so of the 100
stamps. However, a drift is being run
for the ledge at the 1900 level, and it is
expected upon it's completion to start
the remaining twenty pounding ore.
However, ore is now no scarce article
in the Gwin, as the chute now being
worked is something like 60 feet in
width, and gives employment to some.
thing like 250 men, At the sou tn shaft,
just now, no ore is being takea out,
though it is being repaired and dou-
BILE reel hoist installed, with the view
of making it also a source of supply for
the mill. The water from the mine is
handled with WOrthingtOn pumps,
operated by compressed air, with a
capacity of $4,000 gallons per "a hours,
and in case of accident or temporary
disability to them, two skips are used
that hoist each 1900 gallons. In addi-
tion to the equipments of the mine
proper, this excellent property is sup
piled with fine changing house, heat
ed by steam, with accommodations for
225 men, has modern assay Office and
commodious boarding house. Taken
as whole the Gwin is one of the
mother lOde's model mines, and is a
lasting monument to the capability, as
mining men of Messrs. Thomas, presi-
dent and manager, and Mcclure, super
intendent, of the Gwin Mine Develop
meut Company.
RIVERSIDE. = This old property,
located on the east side of Butte noun
tain, has history that borders on the
romantic. During years past it has
yielded rich returns for the develop
ment done. At one time, while being
worked by D. A. Nuner, he tells us
that he took out in two days, from
pocket, $1,000 in gold. At present his
brother, ]. o., is extending the old
tunnel on the claim to cut the ledge at
greater depth, in the hopes that the
values will become more permanent and
valuable. He is now in 25O feet, and
has about the same distance yet to 90.
Heretofore very little depth has been
gained on the Riverside, but the pres
| ent tunnel will cut the ledge at depth
of about 800 feet. If the results of his
efforts are satisfactory, Mr.. Nuner will
work the property on a larger scale
| than ever.
DEL MoNTE.-After having for some
time partially. suspended operations,
this promising property has again re-
sumed operations under as favorable
auspices as could be wished. The as
sessment recently levied to push fur
ther development has nicely realized
the desired end. The operations at
present are being personally attended
by Supt. Geo. |. Wright, and he has
great confidence in the results. When
this undertaking was commenced it
was thought that 1000-foot cross-cut
tunnel would reach the ore chute, and
cut it at a sufficient depth to make a
pay property at once. Heretofore $50
feet of this has been driven, and now
the driving of the remaining $50 feet is
certainty. The tunnel penetrates
solid quartzite which is exceedingly
hard to mine, but Mr.. Wright saws the
force is making splendid headway.
Heretofore 81 inch Ingersoll drills were
used, but these were thought too light,
so they have been changed to the 81
pattern.
AMADoR QUEEN No. 2.-This prop
erty is located on the mother lode,
about q miles south of Jackson, and
some two or three years ago was ex-
tensively operated by the owners. 1t
is developed by 300-foot shaft from
the surface, 12O0-foot cross-cut tun-
mel, shaft of 900 feet down from the
tunnel level, and numerous drifts from
300 to 400 feet. While being worked
by the owners the mine paid its way.
| The values were for the most part
pocketty, and after time, instead of
going ahead in search of the large con-