Gilpin observer., 1905-12-28

along the pitch of the vein, from which
shaft several levels lad been run out
short distances and considerable stoping
done. The East Pewabic shaft was
down to depth of 400 feet and connect
ed at the second level with the main Pc
wablc. The Richardson shaft was also
down to about this depth and connected
by levels and cross-cu The Iron mine
had been sunk to depth of about 500
feet. All of these shafts were full Of
water within depth OF about 100 feet
from the surface. One can readily see
condition Of affairs which confronted
this company when they took hold OF
this property and the many obstacles to
be surmounted before these shafts were
to be gotten into shape for producing
ore. The first thing to be done was to
fix up one Of these shafts 30 that the
water could be hoisted as soon as pos
sible. From accounts Of previous own
ers and leasers it was decided to make
this the main Pewabic shaft The build
ing up and retimbering of this shaft was
no easy task. At the same time shaft
house OF size 20 by 10 feet consisting
Of two compartments was built suitable
for hoisting and handling large tom
mage of ore. This shaft house was COM
pleted, the shaft retimbered and unwat.
cred within about six months time after
the requirement Of the property. Work
was then Immediately begun cleaning
out levels, laying track, driving these
levels and stoping. Large quantities Of
fairly low grade and smaller amounts of
higher grade ore was removed, and as
the mine was opened up more, the ore
was removed in greater quantities. This
ore was at first shipped to the various
suits. About this time the management
decided that sufficient ore could be ex-
tracted to supply mill Of its own. This
was deemed advisable insomuch as a
disagreement among the mill men and
owners caused the price OF milling to
advance.
AS a consequence the New York mill
in Black Hawk was taken under very
favorable terms for a certain period Of
time. This mill contains 80 slow drop
and 20 fast drop stamps, with daily ca
pacity OF 15O tons. The company has
managed to keep this mill supplied al
most entirely with its own ore greater
portion OF the time since it's requirement.
1t has been found to be well adapted
for the successful tsatement Of the ores
Of the company. The Gilpin County
Tramway furnishes direct counections
between it and the mines in Russell
Gulch. The situation Of the mill and
the size and location of its ore bins pre-
cludes the possibility Of handling with
facility any great quantity Of ore, and in
somuch as the company is contemplat-
ing greatly increased output Of ore
from it's mines, this difficulty will be
overcome as soon as practicable by
building more End larger bins capable Of
handling a possible fifteen or twenty
cars of ore per day.
1t had alvays been the intention OF
the management from the outset to get
into shape two shafts from which to pro-
duce ore. Hence after things had begun
to work smoothly in the Pewabic mine,
attention was turned toward the Iron
shaft. This shaft as has been said was
already sunk to depth Of 800 feet, but
300 of which was water, even after drain.
ing the Pewabic. A few months ago,
opportunity was gwen for commencing
| the installation Of plant for the OPEN
ing up and developing this mine. AS
soon as lumber vCd materials could be
secured, a shaft house was erected and
the upper part of the shaft gotten into
shape A hoist was installed capable OF
handling a large tonnage, and for the
past two weeks, the water has been COM
ing out from the Iron shaft at the rate
sible to say when the water will all be
removed as there are some slopes full,
but as soon as this shaft is unwatered
the operation Of sinking and drifting will
be at once begun and the output OF ore
considerably increased. From accounts
Of previous owners, the Iron vein con-
sists Of large body Of fairly low grade
ore. This can be successfully treated
by the company's own mill.
Within the past few months the com.
pany sank its Pewabic shaft lift Of be-
tween so and 70 feet and opened up a
nice body OF pretty fair ore. This ore
they have been shipping lately at the