The Alaska daily empire., 1916-04-13
RECORD IS BROKEN ON GOLD BELT
 PROPERTY

Another world'o record was broken In tho Juneau mining district the other day when diamond drlllers working for the Alaska Gold Belt Company reached a depth of i,575 feet In a horlzonal hole. The Worldo record, as far as can be ascertalned from the records Of the companies handling mining machinery here, ls 1900 feet for a horizontal hole. There arc plenty of holes longer than that, where tho hole 10 perpendicular, but the conditions In hole of that kind are entirely different
 The work of diamond drilling on the Gold-Pclt property was started by the Lynch brothers about the middle of January, under the direc- ton of A. B. Dodd. The work has continued without interruption since that time.
 TO Pierce Main Body
 The drilling has been done in an enort to pierce the main ore body of tho Gold-Belt property, this vein being known locally as the Gould and Curry vein. The Gold-Belt Is situated south of the Gould and Cur ry property.
 The foot wall of the vein was cut yesterday and the drillers are now working in ore. The hole will be continued for another 100 feet If possible, but 1t is expected that work must then stop on account of the difficulties in drilling In Q hole Of that depth. The drill hole taps the orc body at Q distance of 2,5O0 feet below the surface.
 When seen today Mr. Dodd, super intendent of the property said: Some idea of the work of drilling at this depth may be gained when 1t realized that we are turning a single rod of steel longer than from the Postoflce to the Juneau General Hospital. This rod is perfectly smooth on the outside and rests on on the bottom of the hole the entire way, causing an immense amount of friction which must be overcome. The rod is kept greased heavily at all times, and could not be turned otherwise.
 Using High Pressure
 we are using 125 pounds Of mir, or enough to run six air drills, to operate the drilling machine. We will be forced to stop before we run another hundred feet. but believe we will have what we want before that time.
 Several years ago the Treadwell company drilled @ horizontal hole for 1900 feet and was forced to quit. For years this stood as a record for Alaska, but we have beaten that fi- gure some. The mon working the drills operate. or drill for about six hours. and it then takes them about the same length of time to change their bit. The drilling rod Is jointed | in 8 foot lengths and every inch of 1t has to be pulled from the hole to reach the bit. After the bit is changed. the rod has to be connected l and all put back again.
 Freezing Is Prevented
 Extra care must be exercised to keep the drill from freezing in the hole. Water is forced through the center of the rod to the bit and keeps the slime washed back but if the water leaks through the joints, or for some reason becomes blocked and does not reach the bit 1t will freeze in 30 seconds.
 'When a bit freezes. it becomes SO hot that 1t fuses with the rock and then has to be either extracted with the fishing tools or has to be drilled out. We have had two or three fishing jobs since we started work and in one case had to drill out a steel bit which VIC could not fish out. Fortunately we were able to get 1t out shortly before we had drilled to the diamonds and were able to save them. which saved us about $500, as that is the value of the diamonds in the bit Of diamond drill"