Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-12

Of mining men prominent among whom
were the present owners, George
Hearst (deceased) J. b. Haggin and
Lloyd Lewis. Mrs. Hearst now owns
more shares than any other stock
holder.
This not an advertising article for
the Homestake for you could not buy a
share If you wished.
The present company incorporated
In 1877 and began crushing ore July H..
1878, with a mill of eighty stamps. Now
there are 1000 stamps. each one ton in
weight, dropping all the time. Yes, all
the time, for there are no nights nor
Sundays in the mine. The men work
eight hours and there are three shifts.
Since the incorporation the company
has been under the direct management
OF but two men. Mr.. Samuel McAIasters
from 1878 to 1884, and from then to the
present time Mr.. Thomas j. Grier. The
tiomestake has been a continuous divi-
dend payer with but two interruptions
since December 1878.
The first years run when they were
using the eighty stamps gave bullion
returns Of 6,992.42 and seven divi-
bends Of 5000 each were declared
that year
Last year with about two months
lost time Con account of a lockout that
was made to prevent strike) the val
lie of the bullion was $4,49S., 5112 and
ss2.S0o0 was paid in dividends
The average gold value recovered
from each ton of ore milled during the
first five years was about s675. Last
year the average value was 1858 per
ton OF ore, and 1,2S7,3S1 tons were
milled.
Dame Rumor says there is one very
rich vein known only to few of their
trusty men-kept closed except when
there is special need or they see that
they are running behind when they
bring out a few tons Of that ore which
brings up the average yield for the
month
The Homestake mine is the largest
gold mine in the world. as to the num-
Der OF tons mined and the extent Of
underground workings.
ihere are seventeen underground
railroads each 100 feet lower than the
one above it. Each of these subways
are crossed and recrossed and known to
the miners. just as our blocks and
streets are known to us.
Forty-six engines run by compressed
air, each able to pull thirty cars Of ore.
one ton to the car. are used on these
underground tracks. To fill fourteen
OF these cars per day is considered
one mans work.
The Homestake has the largest air
COMPRISING engine in the world It's
wheel is thirty feet in diameter and the
piston rod twelve feet long and twelve
inches in diameter. 1t seems wonder
full how these immense pieces of ma
chinery can be brought half across the
continent from the east and the west
to meet one mile above the sea level
and be put to such practical use
AT o'clock we watched the miners
who came out by way of the Ellison
hoist. There are five hoists. At the
Ellison they were running two elevat-
ors-with double decks. sixteen men on
each deck-so it did not take them long
to pull several hundred men up. If some
did come from LOO feet below. They
were a jolly but dirty-looking crowd,
but the company have done everything
possible for their comfort and when
they go thru the dryer. as they call 1t.
take baths and come out in other
clothes. there is not a nicer. cleaner lot
Va AicII " Dc seen On tklc SlIeetS VI
any city than in Lead. Their cleanup
days at the assay building are the
LIST, nth. and s1st Of each month. At
this building the door is locked. You
ring the bell and a man opens the door.
with gun in his hand. If your pass
Is properly signed and you keep your
hands where they belong while you
look. the gun will not be used on you.
This is where they burn the broom and
the mems clothing to see that no gold
escapes. The week we visited them the
result ofsthe clean up was four gold
bricks weighing from $50 to 200 pounds
and valued at $4,000 each.
There are 5000 well paid persons
employed by this company. and there
are so many different nationalities
represented that the people from the
valleys below speak OF going up to
Europe" instead of saying Lead.
Mrs. Hearst supports free kinder
garten and a free public library. The
educational advantages are good and
the people refined and high class as in
any town Of that size.
MRS w F. PAINTER