The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23


the Montana Tonopah, the second in
the camp to ship ore and the first to
pay a dividend. The Montana Tono-
pah Mining Company was organized
in August, 1902, with a capital of
100000, divided into one million
shares OF 81 each. Of which 900, 900
were placed in the treasury.
The ground owned by the company
was selected and secured by Charles
z. Knox Of Philadelphia, and
although no veins outcropped on the
surface. his excellent judgment has
been well borne out by the subsequent
remarkable developments, and to-day
with the full knowledge of the district
no better claims could have been pur-
chased.
At that time the many hostile critics
OF Tonopah declared that it was but a
'one-mine camp" and that il was
doubtful II the ore bodies would "go
down" These statements added to the
prevailing prejudice against the State
OF Nevada, and the fact that the
Tonopah Mining Company had been
operating only few months made the
task OF oisposing Of the treasury stock
one or great difficulty. Yet with the
confidence which so often brings sue
cess II was undertaken and success
fully accomplished by Mr.. Charles z.
Knox, who received the hearty support
Of the late Mr.. w. W. Morris Of Pony,
Mont, who not only subscribed for
large block OF the stock, but remained
an ardent believer in the success Of the
mine UP TO the day Of his deeply re-
gretted death.
The property owned by the company
comprises thirteen full mining claims
and three fractional claims, all pat
ented, and covering an area of about
$50 acres on the western slope and base
OF Mount Oddie, and giving a length Of
over 1000 feet across the trend of the
mineral-bearing system which ema-
mates from that mountain.
With ample funds in the treasury
me company commenced work on
August %, 1902, by breaking ground
for the existing double compartment
shaft the site for which was selected
by y. r. Bedgett, TO whom great cred
IL is due for his excellent Judgment
IN this difficult matter. From that
day Mr.. Badgett personally Euperin-
tended the development of the mine
until October, 1904, when he resigned
10 accept the less arduous position OF
second vice president of the com paay.
The sinking Of this shaft inaa u
rated the system Of blind sinking
which has required as much courage
by mine operators and has made Ton
opah the famous camp it is to-day Ia
q period Of 107 days the shaft was
sunk and tilnbered q depth of 3T2 feet
through the everything Gaping TO the
lode bearing porphyry and, penetrat-
Ing this four feet, the first ore body
was encountered. This success slim
ulated interest in the development OF
the mine, which is watched with ca
gerness not only locally, but wherever
Tonopah is known.
The shaft has now reached a depth
OF 765 feet with cross-cuts north and
south from four levels and six DaraI-
lei veins have been discovered and
explored by drifts, wines and raises,
the total amount of underground
workings exceeding 10000 feet or
nearly two miles.
The principal work IN the mine has
been done on what are known as the
south" and Macdonald" veins, which
are admitted TO be two of the master
veins Of the Tonopah district
Both have produced and are still
producing q splendid grade OF shipping
ore as well as considerable tonnage
OF the most wonderful specimen ore yet
found In this wonderful camp. This
high grade ore is found in recurring
shoots, some OF which are Of great
length and width and one in the Mac
donald vein now being worked Is so
rich IN ruby silver that the miners have
named the drift ruby alley"
These veins have the general charac-
ter1Stics Of the Tonopah veins, an east
and west course dipping to the north
ana varying IN width from three feet
10 thirty-six feet, the latter the width
OF the great Macdonald vein. The ore
Is a white quartz. carrying gold and
silver. In the oxidized ores the silver
occurs as chloride, in the sulphide
he eff &c
stephsnite with occasional patches of
copper pyrites. The permanence and
values Of these veins have been proved
TO the depth OF 700 feet and their con-
tnuity has been demonstrated by their
discovery IN the Midway and Golden
opened UP the south" vein at a point
$50 feet west Of the Montana shaft. and
the latter having cut the Macdonald"
vein over 400 feet west of the bound
airy line. On the east, in the North
Star mine, 621 feet from the Montana
shaft, the south vein has been cut and
these developments demonstrate the
continuity Of the veins through the en-
tire length Of the Montana ground. In
addition to the veins already mentioned
two new veins known as the "A. B. K.'
and Martha" have recently been
opened up on the 600 and 800 foot levels /
and the Importance Of this discovery /
can hardly be overestimated. The |
Martha" is four feet wide Of shipping /
grade, and the "A. B. k has not yet |
been opened up to any great extent
The present shipments amount to
about 90 tons per day, which could
easily be increased TO $50 tons If the
Tonopah Railroad could supply cars for
this quantity. The mine enjoys the dis
tinction Of having shipped out the
richest ore from the Tonopah district !
Its first shipment Of twenty-six tons I
netted $87S7 IS. and shipment In jan /
uary Of this year, forty-eight tons, /
81. 900.
The company has also the record Of |
having paid the first dividend in Tono- I
pah. This was on December 20. 1908, |
when five cents per share was distrib- /
uted among its stockholders. Since /
May, 1903, the company has not only |
been self-sustaining and has paid the |
above mentioned dividend, but the sum |
81 $4,000 was paid for the Triangle |
traction and $4,000 was expended on |
the construction of railroad tracks TO /
The mine. This would be a remarkable /
record for a mine in the most favored 1
sountry, but Il is phenomenal when |