The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1907-06-03
TUSCARORA BEING
REVIVED
(From Goodwin 3 Niaekiy.l

(From Goodwin 8 Waekiy.l
Within the coming year probably the
evolution Of mining from the old TO
the new methods will nowhere have a
more astounding illustration than at
Tuscarora, fifty miles nothwes. of Ell.o,
Nevada.
The district wis founl and the first
work done in the seventies. The work
then was upon great vein of silver
and gold. the Srcase; valns being in
silver. The ore very greatly rcsemblcd
that of the Comstocx and the proper
tions of gold and silver were not unlike
those of the Comstncx.
To work the ore with the best ap-
pliances Of those days it had to be
crushed dry; then roasted, then worked
in the old fashioned pans. Wood was
scarce and costly, while coal cost $50
per ton.
The cheapest that ore could be re-
duced was $18 per ton, but more of it
cost over $50 per ton to mine and mill.
When water was encountered most of
the mines were forced to close down;
the expense of pumping added to the
other expenses making mining prohib-
tory. As result there is but one shaft
in the district as deep as 700 feet;
there are two or three others from $50
feet to 600 feet; all the rest are less
than 800 feeet deep.
1t will be seen from the above that
only ore containing $35 or more per
ton could be worked at a profit. As a
result thousands of tons remain in the
stones which can now be worked so
proftably that the amount even to
the depths now reached, that awaits
reduction may be equal to that already
taken out, while all below awaits ex-
ploration.
Some years ago. after the. great lode
was being worked, one venturesome
company sank shaft in great por-
phyry dixie half mile from the silver
gold lode and found under the capping
gold silver lode. From this immens0
products have been realized, though
when found the cyanide process for re-
dncing gold ore was unknown.
At first the companies were formed
on single claims, 900 feet by 1900.
Many of the companies were poor and
much of the mining was most reckless.
The idea was to get out the rich ore,
make catchy showing and then un-
load the stock. In this way more
money was made and lost on the San
Francisco stock board from the Tus-
carora mines than at Tuscarora. But
it was bad mining.
Between these two great lodes are
some eighteen other lodes and most of
them paid down to the water level.
In all some $50, 100000 has been
extracted and known dividends to the
amount Of $13,O00,00O have been paid.
But practically the district has only
been scratched.
The ore bodies are found in the por-
phyry dikes and some in true tissue
veins and geologists agree that both
will be found to go to great depths and
that there is no reason why the values
should not continue or increase to the
deep.
waa. may be expected may be
Judged from statements in a letter
from Mr.. w. l. Plumb, (brothcr of the
late senator from Kansas), who has
been in Tuscarora from the first and
who is perfectly reliable man. He
says he helped saw out and ship
piece of horn silver ore from the Com
monwealth mine five and half feet
long, four feet wide and ten inches
thick that sold in San Francisco for
$4,000.
In another place in the same mine
out of space 10S feet square and
forty-two feet deep $90O,OOO0 was
taken. In another place in the same
mine a little chamber thirty feet long
and four feet wide yielded 100000.
The rock ran $1,000 in gold and $4,000
in silver per ton.
The Grand Prize was purchased,
hoist put upon it and twenty stamp
mill bought at a cost Of some 100000.
The first months run OF the mill re-
paid the whole cost of the mine, hoiss
and mill.
The history Of the camp condensed
is this: A company would find rich
ore at the surface, build mill, work
the rich ore, on the strength of it run
ming the stock up to great figure,
absorb the proceeds and unload the
stock and then, the water reached,
close down. The new owners would
have no ore, no money to purchase and
operate pumps-the mine would re-
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