Gilpin observer., 1906-06-14
EIGHT GRADUATES TO SINK OLD TOWN BAA HILL STRIKE 1.-THE 7AAA COL
10 Go to a Depth Of 2aoo feet and Connect
With NeWhouse Tunnel.
CONNECTION THROUGH THE HOT TIME TUNNEL

About the first OF August, SO Manager
Geo. X. Kimball, Of the Old town mine
in Russell Gulch announces, the shaft Of
this celebrated property will be sunk to
the level OF the Hot Time tunnel, which
is beiog driven from the Newhouse.
Preparations are already under way with
the object in view Of carrying out this
work, and it is an absolute certainty
that machine drills will be in operation
in the shaft by the fore part of August.
When once started, sinking will continue
without cessation until the 800 feet OF
shaft has been completed. The object
in deferring the sinking until the August
month is to avoid the heavy flow OF wa
ter which would greatly hinder opera
tions, should the work be commenced in
June or July.
The shaft Of the Old Town is now
1900 feet deep and when the 800 addi
tional feet is sunk, the total depth will
be 1900 feet. In sinking the 800 feet the
same plan will be adopted as was follow
ed once before when the shaft was sunk
from 600 feet to its present depth. No
levels will be run until sinking is com
pleted. In increasing the depth from
600 to 500 feet, the shaft was sunk 800
feet in one "lift," which is something out
Of the ordinary, the usual custom being
to run levels at least every 100 or 200
feet. This departure from the usual Gus
tom has demonstrated that there is great
economy in conducting development
work in this manner. To begin the work
very little change in machinery and
equipment will be necessary, but before
completion it is the intention of the com
pany to install heavier plant The plant
now consists OF 100 h. p. steam hoist, a
steam compressor and 100 h. p. cleo
trio compressor. added to this are the
elecric pumps.
In the fifteenth level OF the mine a
large supp was excavated for the recep-
ton OF water from the workings. This
is pumped from the sump to the surface,
and 10 the work now contemplated an
epdeavor will be made to collect all wa
ter from above to this point and prevent
it from going into the shaft, which would
greatly retard sinking. Mr.. Kimball an
ticipates that he can prosecute the sink
ing at the rate Of 100 feet per month,
unless serious difficulty is encountered
in opening up water courses. It's posi-
BILE the Hot Time tunnel may drain the
entire upper workings as within the past
month the flow Of water through the
tunnel has been much larger than at any
previous time.
Sinking OF the Old Town shaft to the
2,30O depth is to secure connection
through the Hot Time tunnel with the
Newhouse. Driving Of the Hot Time
tunnel has been under way for the past
several months and up until June 1st
was over 99S feet in length. The Old
Town shaft is about 1900 feet from the
Newhouse. To connect with the New
house, Mr.. Kimball figures that it will
require about two years.
While the sinking Of the shaft is being
puohcd, III tuc ltNtl5 Ol tut
mine will be continued as heretofore.
There are now forty sets OF leasers in
the property employing upwards of 140
men. The output Of the Old Town has
averaged 1000 tons per month for the
last three years and with the additional
ore bodies that are being opened up this
will be materially increased.
The Old Town is one of the very
largest mining enterprises in Gilpin
county. 1t has always ranked among
the first as heavy and continuous divi.
dend.payer. The ore bodies are not only
large but unusually rich. A lease on this
mine has placed not few OF the lessees
residing in Russell Gulch in very COM
Portable circumstances financially. With
the sinking OF the shaft and the carry.
ing on Of other work in contemplation
1t will necessitate the employment OF a
much larger force Of men than is new at
work, which will materially benefit Rus
sell Gulch and Gilpn county in general.