The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-04
Tunnel PROJECT
FOR ALTA CAMP
Movement on to Tap the Mines of the
District at Depth Through
Long Avenue.
DUGWAY DISTRICT STRIKE
ST. GEORGE COPPER co. CUTS
ORE IN THE CONTACT.

A tunnel project for the camp OF Alta
is being discussed by parties interested
In the district which, Il it materiaIizes,
will mean even more to that region than
does the great HOnerine tunnel at Stock
ton. It viii put an everlasting end to
the danger which always meuaces trans
portatton during the stormy winter Pc
Rod. besides affOrding drainage at great
depth, and will make mining all the
more certain and profitable The subject
Is one that has received some little at
bSnuon for a year or two past but It
has only been since the experiences Of
the past few weeks that the necessity
for such an undertaking has been en-
phastzed in manner sufficiently strong
TO stir things up.
''The development OF the great bodies
of sulphide ore in the deep workings Of
the Columbus Consolidated has removed
all doubt from the minds of mining en-
g1neers as to the permanency Of the
mines" said one Of the camps operators
yesterday. THE work has shown that be-
meath the oKidiZed ore zone Of the dis
Ir1ct the assures and contacts can be
depended upon TO produce for probably
1900 feet below the bottom of the can
yon. None Of the companies operating in
the camp could be expected to undertake
the enterprise single-handed, and it
would rot be Just to expect IL.
THE idea has been advanced since the
disastrous snOWslides Of last month
slides that resulted in several deaths and
the Continental company's aerial tram,
is to form a big company and construct
q tunnel from somewhere near the pres
ent lower terminal Of the Continental
tram 10 camp. It could be driven on a
line that would make all of the mines
Of the district come within easy reach
and allow them to work at depths which
under present conditions, could hardly be
thought Of. While it would require q tun-
mel approximately five miles long to
reach such properties as the City Rocks.
Continental and others at and near the
head OF Little Cottonwood canyon, the
work could be rapidly done. AS the
course of the tunnel would preferably be
on line beneath the bottom Of the can
yOn, q half-dOzen or more shafts might
be sunk 10 tunnel level and the work
carried on from numerous faces at the
same time
Tho different operating companies in
the camp could take stock in the en-
terprise to the extent Of their ability
and the rest Of the money could be
raised on the outside. as the tunnel
would become a common highway and
be made to earn big money on royalties
The launching Of such an enterprise
would instantly make every mine in the
camp more valuable and. I believe. prop
erly handled, the enterprise could be
rounded out inside o. onty-fOur months
From the mouth Of such a tunnel broad
gauge trains could be operated through
out the entire year. and within five years
Alta would be producing sulphide lead
cOpper-SilVer 0Te1 in greater quantity
than any camp in tr= state
Just VINO will take the initiative in
this movement IL IS Vet too early TO say,
but believe the scheme will have been
launched within SIX months"