The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-10-21
AVERAGE OF 81 FEET PER MONTH MADE
GERT|E CROSSCUT TWELVE MONTHS
RECORD THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ExcELLEp FOR A coRRE.
sPoNDiNe PERoD-ToTAL EXPENDITURE $4,000 - Elk.
PEcT TO CUT THE VEIN WITHIN HUNDRED FEET

1t was just one year last Monday
October Is, since the Gertie crosscu
was started and on that date the dis.
tance driven was 1920. 1t will thus bt
seen that the tunnel has gone forward
at the rate of 81 feet per month
which is a record that has never beer
equaled during corresponding per-
iod. This is the statement of A. A
Booth, mining engineer who planned
the tunnel and has directed every de-
tail of the work. This tunnel has been
driven with maximum force of II
men working two shifts, and at least
six holidays were observed during the
year. There is reason for this
splendid record, and it is not found
in an especially favorable formation,
which is Burke quartzite. There are
several circumstances which combined
to make the record possible.
Men and Equipment.
In the first place only picked men
have been employed, and in order to
make an incentive to crowding the
work a bonus has been paid the men
who break the ground, which has
amounted to from $25 to $40 per man
per month throughout the year. The
entire plant, including compressor and
blacksmith equipment, was selected tc
get the highest efficiency, and with thc
same idea special cars were made hav-
ing capacity of 35 cubic feet as COM
pared to the ordinary standard car
which has a capacity of 20 to % cubic
feet. The success of the Gertie plant
has been proven not only by the tre-
mendous amount of work accomplished
in a specified time, but it has also re-
ceiVed the highest approval from prac
tical and successful mining men by
having its plant duplicated by at least
two other companies engaged in sim
liar development work. In addition tc
men and machinery there is another
factor that has played an important
part in making the great record at the
Gertie, and that is the foreman, August
Anderson. He has been on the job
from the day the tunnel started and
has directed the work in a manner to
get the very best results.
Large Tunnel.
The Gertie tunnel is 6xS feet, whicf
means that much muck has been
handled expeditionsly A horse
handles four of the large cars above
mo hi
they that the carman can dump tn.
four in half a minute. The air pipe
for ventilation is Is inches in diam
eter and the air power line is inches
showing that the Gertie has been
equipped with the view to permanent
mining operations. The tunnel is
lighted by electricity. No expense has
been spared in equipping the property
nor in advancing the development with
the view to accomplishing the best re-
suits. The tunnel today represents ar
expenditure Of in round figures $4,000
and there is a cash balance on hand of
$4,000. l.. W. Hutton has been the
main financial support of the enter
prise and his holdings represent about
third of the stock of the Gertie com.
pany. In company with Mr.. Booth he
Is expected in few days for one Of
his periodical inspections of the prop
erty.
Soon Cut the Vein.
In conversation with Mr.. Booth
Tuesday evening he expressed the
opinion that the Gertie vein would be
cut within the next 100 feet. The point
of intersection will be 1000 feet below
the upper tunnel and a total depth of
14O0 feet from the surface. The Gertie
joins the Hecla on the east, and the
great ore bodies of that property are
expected to be encountered in the
Gertie. The strong probability of
striking ore In this crosscut has made
Gertie stock favorire issue witt
spectators ard the close proximity to
the vein has caused operations to he
watched With jptense interest