davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23
Continued From Page -,

has just commenced and will be carried
on with the activity and energy charac-
teristic Of all Mr.. McKane's undertakings.
Adjoining the Red Rock Consolidated
Mining Company's claims on the south is
the property Of the Ohio Tonopah Mining
Company, comprising six claims, on which
q shaft has been sunk to a depth Of 7S5
feet, and drifts and crosscuts amounting
TO over 1900 feet have been driven Al
though there have lately been persistent
rumors of an important discovery of ore
the local management denies the state
meat. The property is largely owned by
Cleveland. Ohio. capitalists and was closed
down for a long time for lack of funds.
Plttsburg capitalists are now interested
IN the company. The ground is well To-
Gated and IL seems probable that some
veins viii be discovered.
West OF the McKane Mining Company
IS a group Of seven claims, owned by the
West Tonopah Mining Company, which
was organized last year and. commenced
operations in September. The company's
shaft is located $500 feet west of the Nc
Kane Companys shaft. and is now down
nearly 800 feet. the intention being to
sink to a depth OF 500 feet and crosscut
10 a vein which outcropped on the surface
and carried milling values. and close to
which float quartz was. found averaging
So per ton.
COMPANIES ARE NUMEROUS.
Owing to the wonderful developments
IN the Tonopah Extension mine, the re-
cent discovery in the Golden Anchor
and the quiet determination with which
John McKane is expanding vast sums
OF money in the exploration OF his
other properties, the whole of the west
ern part OF the camp contiguous to his
companies claims is experiencing an
activity which almost amounts to the
premonitory symptoms Of boom
Some recently formed corporations
are now selling treasury stock and pre-
pairing to commence operations, others
are from one year to two years old and
are not now working, and have not
done SUFFICIENT work to properly ex-
plore their claims at depth. Among the
former may be named the Monarch
Pittsburg Extension, Tonopah Gold
Standard, Tonopah Common. Red Rock
Extension, Tonopah Wall Street. Pitts
burg Extension and. Manhattan Tono-
pah. Among the latter are the Cash
Boy, Little Tonopah Development Com
pany. Tonopah Great Western, Tonopah
Golden Gate. Tonopah West.
While It is exceedingly hazardous to
venture any predictions as to the fu-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23
DESERT TEEMING
WITH FINE GOLD
rIy Conditions Prove Unfavorable
for Bringing 1t to Light.
Railroads and Various Improvements
Now Aid to Bring Development

sistent lodges Of quartz outcrop over an
area several mules in extent In one in
stance on the original GOldreed prop
erty. such a ledge, cropping to the height
of eight feet above the surface, carries
an oreschute from four to six feet thick
Assays from this return values or from
500 to several thousand dollars per ton.
Good paintings were found over wide
area and the moderate amount Of devel-
opment thus far done discloSeS the fact
that these values are extensive. High
grade ore chutcS have been found In q
number Of places. On the original prop
erty a shaft has been sunk to depth OF
100 feet: at this depth the values found
carry out the promise or the surface In
dications Numerous companies have
been formed and development work Il
permanent nature Is being carrieS osz.-
The country rock IN which the lodges
occur is an andesite seemingly like that
in which the lodges OF Golddeld and
Tonopah are found. The values, Ike the
Goldfield District, are essentially In gold
With the discovery OF an abundant sup
ply OF water for domestic purposes,
Kawich. the leading town Of the district.
is rapidly springing into prominence. and
people are going in in large numbers
One OF the attractive features OF
Kawich Is the prospect OF working It's
ores in local smelters with the lead-silver
ores of the nmestone-quartzits areas "a
the east.
Among the lead camps In these areas
that are attracting the most attention at
the present time Is Reveille. thirty miles
distant from Kawtch. where development
work has been In progress for the past
year and near which there Is an abundant
supply OF wood. water and nux for smelt-
ing purposes. In view OF the prospect OF
using the lead ores In local furnaces to
treat the silicious ores, shipments have
been discontinued and efforts are being
concentrated on developing the ore bodies
The formations In the Reveille District
are limestone and quartzite, the ore bod
les occurring on the contact between
them as a replacement OF the limestone.
The districts aforementioned have
come moro particularly to the writer's
personal knowledge In addition to these
there are a great many others with
which he Is less familiar; among these
might be mentioned Silver Peak, Ida,
Lone Mountain, Tule Canyon and Silver
Bow.
Those interested IN q more extensive
treatment OF the formations Of this dis
trict are referred to the report of the
United States Geological Survey, compiled
by ]. E. Spur.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23

that Il Is possible to develop water at
many points within what has heretofore
been regarded as q desert region. Water
has been obtained by sinking whenever
a determined effort has been made TO Sc
cure it. Cheaper power is within reach
and is now being developed in the water
falls of the White Mountain Range. a
pole line being in process Of construction
to Goldfield and Tonopah for the trans
mission Of electricity.
1t seems probable that cheaper fuel will
be developed in the not far distant
future. At Coaldale. about thirty miles
northwest Of Tonopah, q bed of coal Is
now being developed, some of the Sc
lected product having been marketed
here.
Regarding the railroads. the Southern
Pacific Company has awakened to the
necessity of broadening the narrow gauge
road from Mound House to Sodaville, and
the Tonopah Railroad Company Is doing
the same from Sodaville to Tonopah in
order to handle the vast amount of
freight being shipped. The Tonopah road
is at the present time constructing a
broad gauge line from Tonopah to Gold
field and is expected to have the same
completed during the summer. The San
Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Rail-
road, which crosses this newly developed
area at Las Vegas, has just been COM
pleted and this gives another outlet and
competitive transportation from the dis
trict south of Goldfeld, the distance be-
ing 100 miles from Goldfield to Las Vegas,
passing through the rich Bullfrog dis
trict.
While the advent OF the railroads has
rendered possible the operation of a
great many properties that could not
stand the charges of ca long wagon-haul
for their ores, still the railroads have
fixed such a tariff upon the ores as to
render prohibitive the working of a
great many lower grade properties A
larger tonnage and a cheaper freight rate
are things which naturally should come
with the further development of the dis
trict
With these conditions already so large
ly developed and in sight, who can say
but that within a very few years eNvada
will not only redevelop a mining and
milling industry quite as extensive and
far more general than the one supported
by the famous Comstock, but in connec-
ton Herewith a smelling industry COM
mensurate with her extensive deposits of
low-grade silver-lead and high-grade sill
cious gold ores.
DISCOVERY OF ToNoPAH.
AS to the different camps, Tonopah was
discovered by ]. L. Butler in May, 1900,
and located in August of the same year
by himself and wife, and to this pioneer
and his faithful wife must be given the
credit, not alone for the discovery of
Tonopah. but for attracting the attention
OF the mining world to the wonderful
districts now being discovered and de-
veloped. Briefly, the geological condi-
tons as they exist in Tonopah are as
follows: The ore-bearing rock in the
ictr or &c hof,
two varieties. The names given are the
early andesite, or lode porphyry. and the
later andesite, or Gaping. 1t is not only
interesting but important to know that
no commercial minerals have been dis
covered up to date in the later andesite,
or Gaping. At only one point in the
Tonopah District has the lode porphyry
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23

pah at a handsome prodt, aud when one
considers the vast extent OF the veina
ranging IN width from six to over
eighty feet. their treat length and the
depth to which they have been ex-
plored. together with the Indications
that they continue to q Still greater
depth. the amount OF ore In the camp
to-day Is simply inmeasurable
Add to these known facts the nm
known possibilities % the unexplorsd
mineral bearing area, and Il must be
admitted that to thu legitimate mining
investor. Tonopah offers greater tn
ducements than any other mining dis-
trtct to-day.
Some very interesting figures are sup
piled regarding the TOnopah mines The
dividends that have been paid by several
are as follows: Nevada Alpine, In the
Lone Mountain district. $4,000; Montana
Tonopah. $4,000; Tonopah Mining Compa-
ny. $3.50 900; Tonopah Extension Company,
$50, 900.
The output OF ronopah mines and tho
Tonopah mill to April %, 1905, amounted
to $,17S.67S. The returns from 12,Sl3 tons
are not available. The several mines are
credited with output. as follows: Tono-
pah Mining Company, shipped by leasers,
100000; Tonopah Mining Company. ship
ped by company, 81, go, $40; Gold Hill.
leasers, $4,000; Salt Lake Company,
$1,000; Tonopah Fraction, $1,000: North
Star, $36, 900; Jim Butler SIS, 900: Belmont
$50 600; Midway. SIS, SAT: Montana. $500. 2Sa.
Toncpah ore on the dumps is reported
as follows: Tonopah Mining Company.
Is .SS2 tons. worth s564. 500; Montana Tono-
pah. $1,000 tons. worth s750, 600: Tonopah
Extension, 5000 tons, worth $4,000: Mid
way, $500 tons. worth 500. 900; Tonopah
Belmont. 1000 IONS. worth $4,000; Jim Ba-
ker 1000 tons, worth 500 900 Tvha fotaI
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23

AS previously mentioned. the Tono-
pah Mining Company will install cleo
tricity for this purpose and the Nevada
Power Company Is now constructing
plant at Bishop Creek. California, ITO
miles distant. where electricity will be
generated and transmitted to Tonopah
and Goldfield. and II Is believed that
this power will be available in Septem-
Der and will be much cheaper than
power derived from wood. coal or crude
oil as fuel.
The practice Of blind sinking
which has been SO largely followed
with such wonderful success In this
camp. may be briefly described as sink
ing through the surface ground to dis
cover the continuation of a known vein
on its course and extension.
This practice was brought about by
the geological conditions OF the district,
a flow of lava having covered to vary
ing depths the formation In which the
ore occurs.
All of the Tonopah mines have fol-
lowed this course except the Tonopah
Mining Company. where the veins out
cropped on the surface.
The Tonopah district has been care
fully investigated by ]. z. Spur OF the
United States Geological Survey. who
expressed the opinion that the mine
ralization will be extensive in an east
west belt, and that although much OF
the exploration work from various
causes had not resulted IN any great
discoveries, Increased attention to the
geology of the district will partly rem
edy this.
1.-The Tonopah veins are similar IN
nature, composition and origin to those
found in some OF the richest mining
districts, such as the Comstock of Ne
vada, and the Pachuca district OF
Mexico.
'Irdeed. 1t Is probable that all Of these
districts and many others lie within
a single Photographic and metallic
graphic province characterized by SINH
lar rocks and similar veins formed at
similar periods. In the Tonopah dis
trict the rich ores occur In the veins
in the shape of irregular shoots or
masses (bonanzas), comparable in
size and richness to the bonanzas of
the districts mentioned
THE geological conditions also indi-
cato that such bonanzas were formed
down to considerable depths. These
are the striking advantages OF the dis
trict. which have justified considerable
expenditure of money In exploration"
1t may be safely stated that ere long
SIS ore will be treated in or near Tono-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23

outcropped or appeared at the surface
and this outcrop covers only an area OF
about fifty acres. AZ this point the orig
inal discovery was made. Had 1t not
been for this outcrop of earlier andesite
there would have been no Tonopah to-
day. All the other mines in Tonopah
were compelled to sink through the later
andesite, or Gaping, for a distance
varying from 200 to 1000 feet before en-
countering the lode porphyry. and wher-
ever the lode porphyry has been encoun-
tered and thoroughly prospected veins
have been discovered and are being
worked to-day.
The first mining company to strike out
boldly and demonstrate this fact was
the Montana-Tonopah Mining Company.
Under the management OF Charles Il.
Knox and the SUPPLEMENTARY of George
Badgett the above company started its
present working shaft in the later ande-
site, and at depth of $40 feet encoun-
tered the lode porphyry and were imme-
diately rewarded for their efforts. they
having fortunately dropped on to the
apex of what is known as the south vein,
and which is producing many thousands
of dollars. Further development to the
north disclosed what is known as the
Macdonald ledge, which is one of the
most important discoveries in the dis
trict. Two other veins known as the
Martha and ABK have been discovered
and are now being developed.
PROGRESS OF MINES.
The North Star Company. lying east of
the Montana Tonopah. found 1t necessary
to go to depth of about 800 feet before
encountering the lode porphyry. They,
also, were rewarded for their work by
the discovery of a valuable vein. un-
doubtedly the extension of one of the
Montana veins.
The Midway mine, adjoining the Mon
tana on the west, sunk about 200 feet
before reaching the lode porphyry, and
the owners were also successful In open
ing UP two valuable veins, without doubt
the western extension of the Montana
veins.
The Tonopah- Extension encountered
lode porphyry at depth of about 25C
feet when they dropped on to the apex
of what Is known as their north vein,
and further development brought to light
a second vein. All the ores being ship
ped from this wonderful mine are being
extracted from the north vein.
The Golden Anchor Mining Company
encountered the lode porphyry at about
GOO feet. The shaft is now down to the
soo-foot level and in crosscut at that
line ore was found and the vein is now
being actively developed
The Pittsburgh has reached a depth OF
1000 feet and prosecuting for their ore
bodies will begin as soon as the 11OO-foot
level is reached.
The Ohfo-Tonopah Is down to the depth
of 500 feet and active and systematic
development work is being prosecuted.
The Mcnamara encountered the lode
porphyry at about $50 feet. since which
time developments have disclosed a vein
which is now being worked The shaft
has reached depth of 500 feet.
The Red Rock. Home and other new
and important shafts are being sunk, and
these mines will. no doubt, be heard
from In the near future. The above
named mines lie to the north and west
of the Tonopah Mining Company's prop
critics. which were the original dis
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23

Company, the Montana, Belmont, Tono-
pah Extension. Midway and lin Butler,
and their output may be said to repre-
sent a value of $4,000 per mouth, but
the future Of the camp, its permanent
stability to the investor and its lasting
prosperity must depend upon the
economical and profitable reduction Of
the vsst quantities Of lower grade ore
already extracted and exposed in the
mines. the tonnage Of which is in
creasing monthly.
THE TONoPAH MILL.
The large tonnage of ore left on the
dumps by the leasers OF the early days,
most of which was too low grade to
bear the expense of shipping, presented
difficulty which the Tonopah Mining
Company seemed indisposed to cope
with, and prompted the wealthiest
leasers to take steps to solve them
selves. With this object in view. num-
Der Of processes were investigated and
eventually II was decided to build a
mill. embracing what is known as the
Boss" process, which had worked sue
cessfully at Pachuca. Mexico, on ore
OF similar character. The result is
what may best be described as the
finest and most modern plant OF its kind
In America to-day.
To build this the Tonopah Mining,
Milling and Developing Company was
formed with a capital of 100000, the
whole of which was subscribed for by
Tonopah men. The mill was construct
ed for twenty stamps. OF which only
ten have been installed. Many new
features are included In its construc-
ton.
The process used is the continuous
pan amalgamation. The ore Is first
crushed and after passing through
coarse screen is ground before being
crushed ntwo Huntington mills: from
these 1t passes to revolving pans. where
1t Is treated with warm solution OF
bluestone and salt, tho gold and silver
being collected by quicksilver. Since
commencing operations. the mill has
treated $3.50 tons. which have yielded
gold and silver to the value Of $263.602.
or an average value of $40 per ton. The
charge for treatment is $12 per ton and
the average amount recovered has been
SO per cent of the assay values. But
although successful on the oxide ores.
the process has not proved equally so
on the heavy sulphfde ores and both
the Tonopah Mining Company and the
Montana Tonopah Company have for
some time been conducting expert
ments to discover other modes.
The latter company has tested and
rejected pan amalgamation, concentra-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23

resumed shortly.
The Tonopah Silver and Gold Com
pany owns. close to this property,
eight claims which. on the surface,
show a strong, well-defined ledge car
rying values as high as SIS per ton.
The company is now commencing to de-
velop the property.
On the northeast side Of Mount Oddie.
is the property of the Mizpah Extension
Mining Company. which has developed
The mine. which is largely owned In
Philadelphia, has been closed down for
some time, but 1t Is said, will resume
operations this summer.
On the east side of Mount Oddie and
adjoining the eastern boundary of the
Belmont. is the property OF the Halifax
Mining Company, controlled by Keith
and Kearns of Salt Lake. A shaft has
been sunk 500 feet and an immense
flow of water, amounting to about 5o,-
900 gallons per day. was encountered.
It Is said that the shaft will be sunk
to the 1900 foot level
The Rescue Company owns ono claim
adjoining the Belmont Company
ground on the east. The shaft is now
400 feet deep, but the property Is not
being operated and it is not known
when work will be commenced.
Adjoining the Gold Hill mine of the
John Butler Company on the south is
the property of the Tonopah and Cali
fornia Gold Mining Company, where a
main shaft has been sunk to a depth OF
$50 feet, with about 500 feet OF drifts
and crosscuts from different levels.
The company is stated to have ore of
shipping grade, but no shipments have
yet been made.
Adjoining this il the property of the
Tonopah Ophir King. comprising seven
claims, the control OF which Is owned
by John McKane and his associates, but
no development work has yet been COM
menced.
South and southwest OF the town
the mineralized area is cut on by two
mountains named Brougher and Butler
between which IL a narrow valley
where are located tho claims Of the
New York Tonopah Gold Mining Com
pany. on which shaft has been sunk
to a depth of 700 feet, and crosscuts
have been run, but no ore has been
found. The Tonopah Fraction Exten-
sion adjoins this. but has not yet
found any ore.
South of Mount Butler are the claims
of the New England Tonopah Mining
Company, where two shafts are being
sunk. but no ore has been found.
From the foregoing, 1t will be noted
that the regular shipping mines In the
camp to-day are tho XARapah Mining
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23

ton, concentration and ama1gamation,
hypo sulphide and the Boss continuous
process. The company's assayer, f. NJ
Field. has concluded experiments of dry
crushing to 40 or SO mesh, chloriding
roast with per cent salt cyaniding.
The loss in roasting amounts to per
cent Of the silver and IA per cent Of
the gold. The net saving OF silver will
be 80 per cent and that gold S5.7 per
cent, assuming that the percentage Of
loss in the roasting is total; but as a
matter of fact, considerable amount
of the metal will betrecoveredS in the
dust fues and fume arresters. It Is
believed that If this process will stand
commercial test the cost Of treatment
will not exceed So per ton. In the
meantime the Tonopah Mining Com
pany has decided to erect 100-stamp
mill.
AT present the cost of marketing
Tonopah ore of the value of less than
$50 per ton is as follows: Freight, 50 IS
per ton: treatment, 81 90; smelter de-
duction. per cent, and moisture (aver-
age), per cent. There is no doubt that
the erection'of smelter within reason
able distance of the camp would great
ly reduce these costs.
Large bodies Of copper ore, carrying
a heavy percentage of iron. are being
developed there by the Guggenheim
Exploration Company, doubtless with a
view Of determining what amount of
ore would be available for huxes. And
the question of fuel then arises.
COAL FOUND AT COALDALE.
About thirty-six miles west OF Tono-
pah, on the line OF the railway. and
not more than two miles from 1t, have
been discovered three parallel veins OF
coal, which have been explored to a
depth OF $50 feet The coal is of good
cooking quality. and is also suitable for
domestic purposes.
A company entitled the Nevada Coal
Company, in which the directors of the
Tonopah Mining Company are heavily
interested, has acquired control of over
1000 acres. which are being prospected
by diamond drill. Should good COM
mercial coal be found at depth, 1t will
prove of immense value. as Utah and
Wyoming coal Is largely used by many
of the mines in Tonopah at a cost OF
SIS per ton.
Tonopah is 81 camp, miners rece.v-
ing that amount of pay for eight hours
work. These wages will stand. but the
cost of mining can and will be de-
creased by the more general use of ma
chine drills and cheaper power for the
hosting machinery.