The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1917-06-30
COMSTOCK AT
DEEP LEVELS

A little v e a year ago, it will be
recalled, a disastrous fire occurred
on the 400 level of the Belcher
mine of the Belcher-Crown Point
Belcher Mines company in Geld
Hill. and as e result the workings
were so filled with gases and foul
air hat 1t was necessary to aban-
don them for the time being.
The management. however, has
kept in close touch with the condi-
tions, and gradual improvement has
been taking place for some months
past, until a few weeks ago II was
discovered that it was now posi-
BILE to get through the Jacket shaft
pairs were almost immediately re-
gun and similar work is now being
carried on at the Jacket incline.
Investigations have been contin-
ued further to the deeper levels. and
as far down as the 400 of the Jack
CT, MH1CH level was lOuilu " Dt CON-
cred with about two feet of water.
This is due to the fact that the
Jacket incline has always filled up
with water below the 400 level, and
it has been necessary to either pump
1t out or run 1t by gravity to the
Sutro tunnel.
During the period of enforced
idleness the draining off of the wa
ter by the latter method has natur-
ally become blocked, with the result
that the large quantity of water
flowing from the jacket shaft and
incline eventually filled the incline
and covered the station. The water
is now being successfully drained
off. AS might be expected, there
are some on the 400 level in
the main drift. and much timbering
will have to be done.
Local Mine Superintendent Miller
recently made a partial inspection of
the level, and ventila ION cans are
being utilized in such a way that
the mine should soon be practically
free of foul air.
1t is also interesting to recall
that at the time of the fire last
year. the company was working in
an orebody on the 1900 level that
was increasing in size as develop
ment progressed, and values were
likewise improving. The manage
ment hopes that this ore can again
be reached. and should this be at
tanned, work will no doubt be on
tinued to the 1900, and very likely
to the 1900 levels. Mncl depends
upon future developments and ON
ditions found by further investiga-
ton of the effects of the fire.
In the meantime the company has
carried on operations through the
surface tunnel, which has been pro-
productive of some good results, and
work will probably be resumed in
the upper levels before long. The
big milling plant of the company is
also undergoing extensive construc-
tive alterations, and a plant will he
installed that should give much
] Dcttt1 lCSulto III tltdIlH6 lHt olC6
than has heretofore been possible.
In fact the mill equipment will be
strictly modern in every detail and
equal in efficiency to any in the
state.
This outline of the present work
and plans of the Jacket company.
which is under the control of the
E. b. Sturges interests, will be
most welcome news. not only to this
city, but to everyone interested in
the Comstock.
The Sturgis people have for many
years been at work on the .!acFet
property and have demonstrated the
great possibilities that exist there.
Misfortunes have fallen to their lot
several times, just as they appeared
to be at a point to reap the justly
earned returns and reward of their
industry and energy.
The present indications certainly
indicate that their confidence III the
property is mistaken, and that an
other effort will be made to reach
the points which have been the OBJ
~jective of their well-laid plans, but
which were checked by the cOnfla-
grafton of May, 1916. That a full
measure of success may finally
crown their efforts and unparalleled
determination is the earnest wish of
the Chronicle and all whose faith in
the COmStOck'S future continues I'M