Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1916-04-06
TREASURES Of BELMONT ENR|CH|NG
FORTUNATE POSSESSORS Of SHARES

maiically jerked out Of his hands and
the brakes are set.
However, the splendid system of
Belmont direction gives the timid |
mine visitor as much confidence as the
mechanical devices used TO prevent |
accident. With the aforesaid thirty |
miles OF workings it might be feared |
that the ground would cave. This is
rendered practically a physical impos-
sibility by the system Of filling used. |
Whenever small stope is worked II
is stuffed and if it is large opening,
like the great Belmont vein, square
sets Of massive timbers are put in.
The economical method of ore extrac-
tion and treatment that is practiced
permit of the removal of even the
low grade ore from these slopes. AT
ter the miners and muckers have com
pleted their task on one portion Of a
vein. there is nothing to return to 1t
/ for, and waste from other portions
OF the mine are used to fill in these
| slopes.
Utilizing Waste Rock
The development work that Is be.
ing constantly carried forward in the
property does not provide enough
waste material to fill the spaces from
which ore is taken and the Belmont is
now using the waste from the Mizpah
| Extension. II is four years since any
waste has been hoisted from this
shaft, which gives person little
idea, when viewing the dumps. oil
what a vast volume of rock was NOV
ed in creating the thirty miles of work
ings.
One Is not greatly impressed will
the Belmont vein, from which s,
many millions have been taken, be
: cause OF the milling, which gives tn
visitor but occasional glances at tn
, ledge. The Favorite, Shaft, Rhyolit
!, and Occidental, as well as the smalle
!, veins. show to better advantage, b,
cause OF the lack of square-settin
and what the miners call "gobbing
the "gob" being the waste that is p,
in for the double purpose of holdir
the ground and saving the cost
hoisting. Considerable new work h;
been started on the Favorite, whit
has for long time been in shape f
IL extending the slopes This vein
IL well named Probably the richie
III ore in the mine, that is in any lar
ne quantity, is found here. The writ
ne broke off chunks of ruby so pure tn
ne when the acetylene flame was turn,
III on it, it melted like block tin.
MS idea of the extent of the vein syste
su' may be gained from knowledge tn
"o ore is now being extracted from abe
lty sixty openings.
There is in the Belmont more ii
en- Der than would build good siz
lty town. Inasmuch as above the 10
Sc level it is dry mine, there would
sai great danger from fire if it were n
hs for the precautions taken. Spec
Sc firemen are employed to patrol t
eN- workings. There are telephones
IL convenient distances, while on all {
-er levels where timbers are used the
ne are water lines, with hydrants at Fl
hu quent intervals. In the static
lct there are reels of hose and other fl
NY flghting implements, including CT
lei mical extinguishers. The men a
an thoroughly familiar with the pro,
III dure should fire occur. In additi
there Is trained corps of first g
Ide and mine rescue men, equipped wi
nat air helmets and surgical appliances
len Mule Power Used
'as In a number of the workings {
ON muckers still shove the cars, but
vas the principal drift this work is do
aft by mules which seem to enjoy ex
ion tence SO far from sunlight.
en- The Belmont has the undeserv
hot reputation of being hot mine. The
od are few places where the heat is
,ar- tense, except on the 1900 level a
vas in some of the out of the way rails
IRA The various level are so well conn
vas ted. as well as connections establ
ing ed with adjoining property. that th'
ZEN is usually good circulation of C,
we'd air. In places in the mine where
nay natural circulation has not been p
18th vided there are fans. Each is run
de. an individual motor. This Is fou
to be more satisfactory than pumpi
of air from the surface or drawing
les from the depths. An underground I
tier chine shop and timber framing ro