Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-07
L0CKHART VISITS
OLD EUREKA MINE
UNITED STATES MINING ON
LARGE SCALE
Company Has Opened Immense Slopes
and Is Mining Low Grade Ores
Left by the Former
Owners

GOLDFIELD, New, Nov 6.-Thomas
G. Lockhart, president of the Florence
Goldfield Mining company, has returned
from a trip of inspection to property
in the neighborhood of Eureka and
gives a graphic and interesting account
of operations now being carried on at
the famous old camp, which are unique
in character in this country. On Ruby
hill, mile from the town, a number
OF mines which were heavy producers
In the early days have been purchased
by the United States Smelling and Re-
hning company and consolidated under
one management and system of devel-
opment A territory several acres in
extent Is now being opened from one
double compartment shaft and $50
tons of ore are shipped daily to the
company's smelters near Salt Lake
Mr.. Lockhart compares this territory
to plum pudding from which the raj
sins have been extracted, and the pud-
ding is now being treated
The methods employed in taking out
this ore have no parallel in this coun-
try and the operations are proving
profitable even beyond expectations.
The ore averages In value only about
$40 per ton. the values being distrib-
uted at an approximate ratio of $5 i'm
gold $3.50 silver and $3.50 lead. 1t is
a character of ore ideal for huxing
and heretofore the company was COM
PEELED to purchase ,huxing ores I'm large
quantity with which to treat the sill
cious product of Nevada and Utah
mines. There is also Just the requisite
proportion of iron in the ore to render
II desirable for smelling purposes. Tho
entire cost Of production, including
mining, machinery, timbering, office
expense, and allowing for depreciation
.,F MIA M uf
ton. loaded on cars at the mine. whence |
IL is shipped over the Eureka e. Pail |
sade railway to the Southern Pacific |
and by the latter route to Salt Lake.
In extracting this ore a vast cham
ber several acres in extent is opened |
for depth of ten or twelve feet from
the ceiling and every pound of mate
rial between walls is taken out and
the ground above supported by forest
Of heavy timbers SxS and 10X10 Oregon /
pine. When one level is worked out
sticks of powder are inserted i'm holes
bored in the timber supports and
throughout the entire area are fired
simultaneously. with the result that
the entire mass above drops upon
solid floor which has been covered L
throughout with heavy planking. Thus
after each level is exhausted and shot Z
down there is an additional layer of
plank to support the ground above and
AduktT TO lnb miners lIOIn GIVING Is It
In starting to open an !
other level from various points 2x6
spiles are driven ahead, flush against {
the planking forming the floor of the /
level above.
At present the work is but a little
below depth OF 100 feet and the depth :
of the earth above the ceiling is not .
over thirty feet. AS the great hole \
grows deeper there win be no necessity In
for preventing the surrounding earth
from caving. as the shaft and machin
cry plant are sufficiently removed to 4
obviate all danger from this source. :
I'm the boom days of Eureka none but =
The richest ore was mined from this "a
territory and there remains n vast II
lmount OF excellent mill ore. including N
much of better grade than the average
oeing mined. Eureka is credited with
! production variously estimated at !.
rom stS0,000,0O0 to $170,000,00O and =, "
'anks second In the state in point of "
production to the Comstock.
The deepest workings at this point E
we're between 400 and 500 feet, but lit r
lie development was carried on even at n
80 feet for the reason that an over
flow OF water was opened,
10 great that the miners were driven
rom the workings and were unable TO "
ecover their tools. The equipment in m
tailed by the present operators, how f
yer. will be enabled to cope with the
vater without difficulty. This includes q,
our boilers with a combined capacity
f l400 horse power, an engine of $50 Al
orse power, pumping plant of large Al
apacity, compressor and drilling ma BE
hinery. The sIips used are of nearly 81
ouble the customary capacity, as are Esee
he mine cars that are moved under Ca
round by heavy draft horses. 90
Four miles from Eureka the old ca
Vindfall mine, now being operated by Or
Iayes e. Monnette of Mohawk lease u
lne and associates, is making re- =
production. Vast quantities p
( good milling ore were left by tho ~
lrly operators and are exposed in the q
100 feet of underground workings. Ire
he mill is treating about 200 tons Ire
ally and the process of treatment is Lii
ost simple, involving merely crush LII
* and cyaniding. Three men on a 10
lift can run the mill. which is making ma
recovery of more than % per cent
ith treatment cost per ton less than
lat of any reduction plant in the state.
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