The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-29
ONTARIO WATER
GOING OUT FAST
At Present Clip Mines Will Be
Reclaimed by the End
of the Week.

During Monday night five-inch drill
hole was punched through from the side
drift in the main channel on the 1,500-foot
or drain tunnel level of the Ontario mine
at Park City. and General Manager Ern-
est Bamberger. who went up yesterday
morning, telephoned down during the
noon hour the water had lowered just
eight and one-half feet from the level 1t
registered eleven hours before. At noon,
when the measurement was taken, the
water stood just sixty-two feet below the
1,400-fOot level. which means that there
is only thirty-eight feet more to drain in
order to free the mine OF water down to
the drain tunnel level. Another five-ineh
hole was started in the afternoon. This
means that the reclamation of the prop
erty is now. to all intents and purposes.
an established fact, and that the dawn
of a new era of prosperity for Park City
is at hand
For several days past the drainage of
the shaft has been going on at such
slow pace that Manager Bamberger was
beginning to fear that the water would
get the best of him through the clog
ging up of the numerous small diamond
drill holes. 1t was then decided to set
up a Burlegh machine and try the ex-
pertinent of driving through five-inch
hole Special bits were prepared and the
work was commenced. 1t went at pace
that seemed pretty slow, but as the shaft
was draining a little all the time and
nedQWdy WITH Ine drill mole was DelDS
made, anxiety grew less and less until
late Monday night, when the word came
down that the big hole was through and
the water was rushing out at lively clip.
If the water continues to flow now as it
is expected to do, the shaft will be cleared
to the drain tunnel level by Saturday
night or Sunday and, for the first time
in more than three years 1t will be possi-'
BILE to say that all danger is past and
that the mines of the camp are free to
work deeper again.
1t has been a nerve-wrecking task to
reopen the drain tunnel Of the Ontario
and Daily companies, and ii has cost
fortune to do il. There Is no question but
that every mine in the district that is OPP
Grating at depth has been benefited, and
there is no question but had the mine re-
main closed a number of mines would
have had to either install expensive pump
ing machinery or have spent million dol
lars on their own account in the driving
of just such a tunnel from possibly some
point on the Provo river, southeast of
Park City. For all that, not a single COM
pany in the camp has offered TO bear a
penny's worth of the expense of opening
up this long drainage avenue.
The next thing in order will be the ex-
ploration of the different levels of the
Ontario mine and the drain tunnel level
itself through from the No. Ontario shaft
to the westerly end lines of the DAILY
mine, where work was suspended when
the tunnel caved. 1t is not believed that
three years inundation of this level. be-
cause much Of the distance is in hard
rock and not in the lodges. In the DAILY
mine the main ledge and what was ap-
parently a separate fissure, were cut in
running the tunnel west to the Daly-West
lines and good ore was exposed in both.
More than thirty feet was required to get
through the main ledge. which was very
wet. 1t was being allowed to drain off
while the tunnel was being punished. and
il was the intention of the management
to begin mining in it as soon as the tun-
mel driving had been turned over to the
Daly-WeSt company. That this work will
be taken up as soon as possible goes with
out saying. while it is just as certain that
the tunnel Level will be extended into
Daly-West ground as soon as it is safe
to go ahead with the work.
When the necessary cleaning up and re-
pairs have been made in the Ontario and
the drain tunnel level has been made per-
manently safe and secure. mining and
milling will undoubtedly be resumed by
the Ontario company and a great many
men will be employed. The caving of the
drain tunnel and the flooding of the mines
has caused a dark cloud TO hang over
Park City and its magnificent mines for
over three years. The sunshine is now
streaming through the rift that has al
ready been made and within another
week or two. the entire district will have
been warmed into a new life and every
body will have reason to shout for joy.