The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-01-15

The third installment Of series o
articles running in the Chicago Min
Ing and Engineering World under tn
heading THE Passing of the Com
stock Lode" is wonderfully interestin.
to those who are connected with tn,
mining industry of the west. Thi!
not only deals with mining operations
on the famous lode, but also with thu
stock manipulations on the San Fran.
cisco exchange:
The Big Bonanza.
In July, 1869, G. A. Luckhardt wrote
concerning the Comstock Lode Cray
mond's Report 1870 page 800 and
called attention to a portion of the
lode that had, at that time, compare
lively limited development. He wrote
in part as follows, after describing the
south Ophir ore body:
"The ground south Of this ore body,
for over 1900 feet, including south
portions Of the California ground, Gem
trail No. 2, Kinney, White & Murphy,
Sides, and Best & Belcher, has been
lying idle for years. 1t was explored
to various depths, from 100 to 500 feet
below the surface, but never with any
system and nothing can be said Of its
value. 1t is very probable that much
ore exists there, but it has not been
laid open to view. A shaft now 300
feet deep, Is being sunk with the OBJ
ject of thoroughly investigating the
ground for ore"
This reference to this particular
block Of ground was remarkable, to
say the least, for it was in this ground
that the greatest ore body ever found
on the Comstock Lode. and probably
the most valuable in the world, was
discovered three years later 1t was
the discovery of this famous ore body,
known as the big Bonanza" that re-
vved the dropping Comstock.
Inside History.
Inside history Of this remarkable and
timely development is interesting
When James q. Fair was superintend-
ent OF the Savage mine, he caused
somewhat circuitous crosscut and
drift to be run west and north from
the main Savage workings, and on the
lOO0-foot level 1 that mine extending
It through the Gould & Curry, and
Best & Belcher mines and into the
ground Of the Con. Virginia. Here
promising Indications were found
which quickly led to good ore. 1t was
evident that very valuable discovery
had been made. though very few We're
aware Of il, and the secret was care
fully guarded. Work was discontin-
ued and the timbers withdrawn, as far
as possible, and the ground allowed to |
cave. Previous to this. Mssrs. Mackay,
Fair. Flood and O'Brien had formed |
their famous partnership and had
been very successful in their stock
market manipulations. which were
greatly facilitated by their coalition. |
Two of the members We're among the
foremost practical operators on the
Comstock, the other two were propri-
ctors of popular saloon within
stones throw of the stock exchange in
San Francisco, and in close touch with l
the market at all times "a better ar
rangement for the purpose could
scarcely have been made. These four
men having inside information" on
the existence Of ore in the superficial
ly developed block of ground lying be-
tween the Ophr and the Best e. Bel
cher mines, began quietly to buy up
the stock Of the moribund Con. Vir-
ginia and California mines. This was
finally accomplished in 1871 During I
the time necessary to secure the stock {
and while the title to the ground |
comprising the consolidation, which
was very important matter in the
event Of developing valuable mine. I
no work was done on the ground at s
all. {
Secret Drift Confirmed. d
No sooner had the title been con- !
flrmed, however, early in the spring |
of 1872, than activity was the order
of the day. A large shaft was begun
at once and the work urged forward
Will all pOSSlDie Speeu, uHueF the Ni- | l.
rection Of Mr.. Fair, who was consid- 1t
cred one of the ablest miners on the n
lode. At the same time drift was t
being run north from the Bonner shaft b
on the 1167-foot level of the Gould & S
Curry mine. This was continued L
through the Best & Belcher into the ID
Con. Virginia. The fact that both Of p
these costly workings were in progress d
at the same time. and were being s
driven with all possible haste, certain il
y tends to confirm. the story of the s.
secret drift which was run nearly o
hree years before. The foreman un- fl
Ter whose personal direction that work Ell
vas done still lives in Virginia City, b.
md no doubt has never forgotten the o.
circumstances. The drift from the q
Sould a. Curry was run 1877 feet and W
vas being sunk as rapidly as money "
md skill could do it, for 1t had be- 81
ONE an absolute necessity to have in
mother connection with the surface. n,
s the foul heated air in the long drift pl
lad about reached the limit of human hi
ndurance. The shaft reached the 70
avel OF the drift. and connection was to
made with it in October. 1873. A la