The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1914-04-18
PlocHE MINES &
SHELTERS CORPORATION.

Il In June, 1913, the word came t.
start operations-to put into effect
the policy and direction of opera
tions which had been determined
upon, This policy was to lease a
portion of the company's property
retaining Unbiased a certain area
above the level of the water, and all
the territory below water. The main
operation is to be the opening up of
the so called Black ledge
THE Black ledge" is the unoxidized
| portion of the Raymond & Ely vein
that which, lying near to, at and be-
low water level, has remained in it's
original form-a zinc-lead sulphide.
carrying silver and gold, The old
timers, when they mined this famous
assure vein, dealt with the oxidized
zone. In this zone the ore is one
from which the then Objectionable
zinc had been leached, an ore which.
by differentiation, was higher m the
precious metals than is the original
ore. So they mined the vein, and it's
gratifying wealth caused them to con-
tinue mining right down to the water
level. But they left certain ores
above the water, some because they
were too low grade to be handled in
those days when freight was so bur-
densome, others because they were
too heavy in zinc. 1t is this black
zinc ore that gives name and fame to
the Black ledge and it is this self
same Objectionable metal that has
now become a great value to the
n1n Of oil
quite free from undesirable minerals
and occurring in good stopping width,
this zinc ore can be mined and mar
keted at good profit It's extent is
not known, but conditions are right
for quantity, and the object now in
view is the development of this ore.
To accomplish this development il
was decided to repair and then sink
shaft No. l. This shaft is located
near the conveyance Of the Yuba
like and the r. & E. assure. and will
always be handy route through
which to develop and mine the ores
which may exist in the assure and in
the dixie below the water level.
Water level is at about 1920 feet
below the collar of the No. / shaft
twelfth level of the Lightner (Ray-
mond Ely shaft.
In July, 1918, the work of repairing
shaft No. l was commenced, which
has the unfortunate effect of very
rapidly deteriorating the shaft tim
bers, and so almost half of the sets
had to be replaced. Several cars of
lumber, and some two months, was
spent in this work
Meanwhile the little Shay engine
now twenty-three years old-was
completely overhauled. The track
from the San Pedro depot to the
mine was repaired; a new spur, at a
higher level, was graded, to make it
possible to bring coal above the level
of the boilers, thus facilitating the
feeding o fthe fuel to the power plant.
Now as to the water in the mine.
Just what quantity will be encoun-
tered below the water level is not
known. From all records, and the
stories of those days in 1873, and
again in 1891, when the BLACK ledge"
winze was sunk and unwatered, there
will be fairly large flow with which
to contend, The equipment decided
upon was two stage lift from the
twelfth level; sinker raising the
water from the bottom of the shaft
to the twelfth level station pump To
operate this it has been necessary to
add to the power plant at shaft No.
such boilers as, with those already at
the shaft, aggregate about 500 h. p.
Coal bins were eXcavated, and a new
boiler house built. A 4inch steam
line runs down the shaft to the $50
foot level where the intermediate
station is located This sta
ton is twenty-seven feet by twe:ve
feet, not including another space pre-
pared to make room for the water
tank
A fve.inch water column will car
ry the flow to the surface, whence it
will run through waste pipe down
the main street of the town.
Besides the steam pipe and water
column, there is three-inch air line
down the shaft, which will supply the
sinking pump and the drills.
A new double drum steam hoist has
been installed, and the hoist house
to make room for it. Al
balance operates in the lad
der way, thus economizing the power
in hoisting. A new ca
BILE, 1000 feet long, has been placed
In the working compartment.
All has been built in a way that will
insure the long life of the plant, and
its economical operation. Conve-
niences, such as change room and
shower baths, telephones in the mine
with the foreman's office,
cement floors in front of the boilers, |
etc., have been installed to further
the efficiency of the establishment.
In October the twelfth level station
was cut and of such dimension as
would provide ample room for the
pump. its condenser, an 5000 gallon
tanE and snaco for chan oinu mrs NJ