The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-07-31
PLAN TO HANDLE ORES Of UPPER
NINE NILE AND THE SUNSET DISTRICT
PROPOSITION NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD RUN THREE
MILES pouBLE TRACK MINING TuNNEL-coMPARATWE
RAILROAD.

a mining man of the Coeur d'Alenes.
well versed in all the requirements of
our great industry and who devotes
much time to study of the hard prob
lems has plan for deep development
of the Nine Mile and at least portion
of the Sunset country. If carried out
1T would greatly simplify the transport
tatlon question and afford the lowest
possible tunnel level for a large num-
ber of producing mines. The plan Is
practical and In lesser may 1t is to
some extent illustrated by the Inter-
state company handling the product Of
mines on both sides Of divide through
its Nine Mile tunnel
Double Track Mining Tunnel.
Briefly, the proposed plan is this:
That the Northern Pacific railroad.
which of course desires to retain pres
ent freight of the district and to be in
line to secure as much more as pos
sible of that which is sure to come in
the near future, construct double
track mining tunnel from the lowest
practical site on west Nine Mile cross
cutting the country in northeasterly
direction, say, for distance of three
miles. That would place 1t within
easy connection with the Rex, the
Tamarack Custer, the Interstate, the
Sunset, the Nipsic. and large num-
Der Of lesser developed properties
which give promise with deeper de-
velopment. 1t might be found practi-
cal for extensions to reach many of
the Sunset properties.
5000 Feet Depth.
Such tunnel would tap the Senator
Clark property at 5000 feet depth. 1t
would open practically every ledge in
the Sunset district with which it could
be connected and every one in the
upper Nine Mile section at the lowest
possible level from any direction.
AS to the comparative cost of rum
ming such tunnel and that Of build
ing surface railroad line over the
divide or through the divide by rail-
road tunnel these figures were sug-
gested
Cost Compared.
To build the railroad, according TO
the best estimates, would cost the
Northern Pacific not less than $350000.
It's operation, especially in the winter
months, with the heavy snowfall and
heavy grades to contend with, would
always be difficult and expensive.
A double track mining tunnel, three
miles in length. II is claimed. can be
run for sum between $150.000 and
5000, 900, and the operation Of an cleo
, trio car system in it has no handicap
whatever at any time.
The great difference in cost of con-
struction and operation comes from
the difference in distance. The UNDER
ground work is on an even and light
grade and on an air line generally. The
surface railroad must climb steadily,
curving circling and switchbacking Ia
gain height The underground work
may come within a third Of the dist
ance necessary for a railroad.
Some Long Tunnels Already Here.
To drive a mining tunnel three miles
long Is not such big undertaking
. compared with what single mining
companies are doing and have done VI
y the Coeur d'Alenes. The Morning mine
= is worked through two-mile tunnel
j. The Hercules is driving one nearly a.
long. The Kellogg tunnel Of the Bunk
Il er Hill mine, originally about tw'
=. miles long. is probably now nearly a
:. long as this proposed railroad work
u Some Of the Beneficial Results.
The proposition has been placed be
g fore the railroad company and is un
8 der consideration by it's officials. !
! carried out the plan would great.
- simplify the transportation question
would secure a vast tonnage to tn
~ Northern Pacific Railroad compan
u and accomplish some of the bigges
z mining development ever brough
II about in the Coeur d'Alenes.