Weekly journal-miner., 1916-03-22
TUNNEL PROJECT FOR
 BRADSHAWS ASSURED
(From Saturdays Daily.) (By William P De Wolff


 mountains are soon to be furthered by tunnel project of similar magni- tude to the extensive development, drainage and transportation tunnel enterprises of the Cripple Creek dis trict of Colorado Plans to that end are well advanced, and recent advices are to the effect that they will soon reach the constructive stage. Pre- l;mi1ary surveys have been made, to, geographical and geological reports have been submitted and the neces- ssry capital has been subscribed.
 The Bradshaw mountains are rich ir gold, silver, copper, lead, tungsten and zinc ores. The mines of that sec tion have for many years added gen orally 70 the mineral wealth of Yava- pal county and have prominent place in the mining history of Arizona. The proposed tunnel is to be utilized as a means for opening those mines at a depth considerably in excess of their present lowest levels. Dr. r. A. Wheeler of Chicago, is the dominat ing factor of the tunnel enterprise. Associated with him are capitalists of that and other cities of the Middle West. Dr. Wheeler was very sue cessful mine and lease operator in Goldfeld some years ago, and a num- Der of the men who are associated with him in the tunnel project shared in his mining successes at Goldheld and elsewhere in Nevadl.
 For some time past, until recently. engineers and others in the employ of the men behind the tunnel enter prise had been making an extensive but unostentatious examination of the typographical, geographical and min eralogical characteristics of the Brad shaw mountains. These reports were from time to time forwarded to head quarters in Chicago. and were. about three weeks ago, supplemented by the personal report of Dr. Wheeler The latter came here for the purpose of checking the reports of his subordin- ates. Upon his return to Chicago the financial end of the enterprise was definitely arranged.
 Before leaving Prescott Dr. Wheel CT outlined his plans to me and stat ed they would be in operation by ear ly Summer. In this country of short Winters and abbreviated Springs, the statement is construed so mean that actual construction work will start not later than May lst. By that time the last vestige of snow has dis appeared from the timbercd slopes of the Bradshaws and they are again accessible for a ten-month period. In speaking of the tunnel project Dr. Wheeler expressed himself as being thoroughly satisfied with the orc yielding possibilities of that section. and voiced the opinion that at great CT depth, larger and more generally n;ineralizcd ore bodies than those at present under development would be encountered.
 As outlined, the Wheeler tunnel will penetrate the Bradshaws for an approximate length of 12OOO feet and to a maximum depth of 800 feet. Its course will be from cast to west, starting at a site about one mile be- low the camp of Crown King and terminating on the Wild Flower group of claims on the opposite slope. It is the purpose to utilize the bore for transportation, for exploration and for drainage. That IS to say, the tunnel will conform in general usage tC. the Roosevelt and the other ser vice tunnels of the Cripple Creek dis trict.
 Through medium of the latter the mines of the Cripple Creek district are being drained and explored at great depth and the ore bodies on their lower levels developed. In ad- dition the tunnels are utilized for transportation purposes at an expense much less than that entailcd by nov ing men and ore by means of hoist ing machinery. Orc bodies of value have been cut in these tunnels at depths considerably in excess of the lowest level of the mining estates through which they pas. and they have in general assisted materially in cheapening the mining cost and in increasing the ore output of that greatest Of gold producing camps.
 The Wheeler tunnel relatively speaking, will do for the Bradshaw mountains what the tunnels at Grip pie Greek are doing for that district. It is by all odds the most useful and important mining project ever plan ned for the development of a mineral