The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1908-09-07
THE OLD CAMP OF BULLION
Will C. Higgins Writes Interest
ingly in Mining Review of Its
Bright Copper Prospects

Palisade Railroad in the valley below.
The scene is an inspiring one, and all
the more so because of the fact that the
camp Of the company is within easy
distance from railroad facilities; that II
is but six or seven miles to a station,
where ore can be loaded on the Jars for
shipment. and where one can start on
an all-rail journey to any portion OF the
United States.
The extensive holdings of the Delmas
Copper Company are located in the Lee
canyon OF the Diamond range Of noun
tains, Railroad district, Elko County.
Nevada. almost on the dividing line
between Elko and Eureka Counties. As
a matter of fact. the company owns a
group of valuable claims almost within
the environments of the famous old
camp of ~Bullionville, Elko County, now
designated on the map as Bullion"
Bullion was almost as noted as q pro.
life producer in the early days Of mining
in Nevada as were Virginia City, Eu-
reka. Hamilton, Typo and Phoebe, and
its output figured up into the millions.
To look at the old camp Of Bullion al
the present time one can hardly realiz-
that, 80 years ago. it boosted of q popu.
lation of from 5000 to 5000. or tina,
about 2 500 men were on the payrolls OF
the various companies operating there.
At that time w blast furnaces were in
active and successful operation. and the
silver-lead ores treated came from such
famous old mines as the Big Elk, Blue
| stone, Red Bird and several more noted
producers. Now. however. there are
only about $50 to 200 men in this old
camp, but the number is being added to
daily. for the era of regeneration. of re.
Mobilization, has arrived for Bullion.
aud from a silver-lead producing section
it is being transformed into a copper
mining district. for Bullion has been
added to the copper zone. and will soon
be a heavy shipper of ores going heavily
in this metal.
The extensive mining for silver-lead
ores was practically discontinued %
years ago, when, just before water level
was reached in mine development and
operation, the ore, in its character.
changed to a si~lver-copper product. AT
this time copper was practically value
less. and its Transformation into bullion
was too costly to treat at a profit.
Now, however, a considerable amount
of systematic work is being done in
Railroad district, and several companies
are engaged in heavy development. 10.
cluded in this number is the Bunker
Hill Company, owning the Big Elk and
other old time producers in that locality.
Leasers are also doing considerable
work on the Big Elk. and in the lower
or working tunnel on this property.
which is in a distance of 900 feet. and
the face of which has a vertical depth OF
700 feet, they are taking out ore for
shipment from an ore body 16 feet in
width which averages in the neighbor-
hood of % ounces silver and 8 per cent
in p D to the ton. The company,
although a portion of its ground is in
the hands of l~easers, is mining on
more gigantic scale. and. at the bottom
of the hill, ON the Bullion side of the
mountain. has started a main working
tunnel, which is now in the mountain 9
distance of 1900 feet. This tunnel will
tap the Big Elk ledge at a point nearly
1900 feet from its mouth. and at a yer
teal depth of from 1900 to 1900 feet.
John Watson, Of Bullionville. repre-
senting Boston people owning a grouI
Of about 80 claims, is also driving a tun
mel to cut a series of veins and assures
This is a fine tunnel, and, in order t.
expedite operations. Mr.. Watson i
now equipping the property with al
compressor and drills.
DeLmas Secures Valuable Holdings
1t was not until copper began to CLAIM
, its own in the metal markets and il
manufacturing circles a few years ag'
that the old camp of Bullion agair
/ came into the limelight as a district o
wonderful possibilities, and. among thu
first to get in on the ground floor il
this first resurrection was ID. P. Delmas
the well known mining man Of Sal
r Lake City. who located seven claims OIL
the granite-lime contact on Diamon'
mountain, where a little surface wor
revealed the presence of large bodies o
pay ore carrying silver and copper
Since then three more claims have bee
added to the group under bond an
option, and the Delmas Copper Con
e pany has been formed for the develop
ment and operation Of what appears I
be almost a mountain of miners
wealth.
9 Operation and Development
d Work in the development Of tn
Delmas group. 30 far, has been chief
a confined to the south slope Of the mour
tain, and consists. principally. in til
{ the driving of five tunnels on the mai
contact, one above the other, all of Ii
workings being in a body of ore rangin
from 40 to so feet in width. On I'll
Mouth elona IF tho mountain this vai