Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1904-09-17
TONOPAH BONANZA.
THE CoMsToCK REvIvING.
T.. &. Howell Describes Plans for
Economical Mining at DeDth.

AOlC3 Nv OOhi blOl vi liC odbtO bull-
mel, the bitter warfare that vas
waged for years against the COM
mencement and completion Of this
great work under certain specific
conditions and contracts entered into
with all the leading mines, involving
the United States government and
the legislative bodies Of the state OF
Nevada, the litigation which was
carried or for years, and the final
completion of this great subway for
mining by its protector, Adolph
Sutro, will always form an important
feature in the worlds history Of min
ing.
In order to insure the execution
and successful completion of this
great undertaking. the congress Of
the United States granted certain
privileges and rights, under the con-
v%iction, that, to secure to the
try the full value of the precious
metals contained in and existing near
the Comstock lode, and to preserve
the mines located thereon from final
abandonment, it would be necessary
to change the form of mining by deep
shafts, for M recognized by the most
enlightened nations, where mining
has been carried on for centuries, as
the only system by which the great
est results can be attained in the
most simple manner, and the greatest
comfort secured to the miner with
the least expense in mining.
That the completion Of the Sutro
tunnel has opened up a new basis for
conducting mining operations profit
ably and economically is recognized
by eminent engineers and mining men.
The great value Of the tunnel consists
in the facilities it affords for the ex-
traction and reduction Of the bodies
Of ordinary and low grade ores which
exist upon the lode, and which are
almost boundless in extent.
The mouth Of the Sutro tunnel, or
starting point, a judiciously
selected in the low hills bordering
Carson river valley, and its course
is westward, int~ersecting the heart
OF the Comstock near by at right
angles and about midway Of its de-
veloped working depths, 1850 feet
vertically below the general surface
Of the principal mining shafts, the
objective point being the main shaft
Of the Savage mine nearly four miles
from the entrance to the tunnel.
Lateral drifts, north and south along
the east side Of the lode, were sub
~sequently made north 400 It. through
the Gould & Curry, Consolidated Cal
itornia and Virginia, and other inter-
yening mines, extending into the
Mexican mine. The south lateral
branch connects with the mines OF
the Gold Hill section, running 1920
feet to the Forman shaft OF the Over
man and Caledonia companies, inter
s%ecting it 1900 feet below the surface,
from which point a southwesterly
2465 feet connects with the Alta mine
shaft.
The main tunnel is eight feet high
and ten wide in the clear, properly
timbered where required, as likewise
the laterals, supplied with a sub
stantial car track throughout, with
all necessary switches, and a capa-
cious double box sub.Grain beneath
the floor Of the tunnel to carry of
all the water possible for the Com.
stock drainage to supply.
The Ward shaft association which
comprises several OF the middle group
Of the Comstock mines, are now run.
ming the west drift from their 1900
foot level, to connect with the south
lateral branch Of the Comstock tun.
mel. This is preliminary to the in.
a%uguration Of active work through
the south lateral tunnel of the Com.
stock tunnel company Of the whole
middle group Of mines.
1t is known that large bodies o.
fair grade exist at and above the
tunnel level, which can be made avail