davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04

way a mile and a half long was
built from the mine down the
Drinkwater trail on a steep hillside
to a loading station, where ore was
transported in enormous wagons,
said to be the largest ever used in
Nevada, to the mill eight miles
away.
The cars on the old tramway, the
ruins of which can still be seen.
were dropped down the steep hill
side by gravity and were pulled back
by mules. Some of the old wagons
are still lying out on the desert
slowly going to ruin and they are
mute relics that tell an interesting
story of the early days of Nevada
mining.
While the Blair interests we"e
developing the Drinkwater and
working their crude mill to capacity
other properties in the district were
located, notable among them being
the Mary mine, located by John
Chiatovich, a pioneer stockman and
rancher of the Fish Lake valley and
prominent character in the early
days of Esmeralda county. Chiato-
vich built 10-stamp mill at the
Mary mine in the early '90s. He
also opened a general store in 81
yer Peak which is still maintaine
by his estate.
The Mohawk mine, adjoining the
CONTINUED on Page Eight
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04
SILVER PEAK DISTRICT PRODUCED
MILLIONS MINES ARE ABANDONED

After passing through the ups and
downs of mining camp for nearly
three score of years. during which
time millions of dollars in gold and
silver have been taken out of its
mines, the old town of Silver Peak
is again almost deserted and the
mining district which bears the
same name in Esmeralda has pro-
badly seen the last of the big min
ing ventures that have been charac-
teristic of it's growth and develop
ment.
For two years the last company
to operate in the district has been
dismantling the big 120-stamp mill
that was built in 1907 and now the
railroad that connected the camp
of Blair and Silver Peak with the
outside world is being torn up and
the telegraph wires are being taken
down.
In a few more days Silver Peak
will settle down to the quiet and
uneventful life of desert mining
camp isolated from the rest of the
world, resuming the condition in
which it was found back in the
early '70s when the John l.. Blair
interests of New Jersey first became
interested in the district
The history of Silver Peak and
the Silver Peak and Red Mountain
mining districts dates back to
1859, to the days following the first
rush to the Comstock, and it claims
the distinction of being the first
mining district to be opened up in
that section of southern Nevada, in
Esmeralda county.
Silver Peak got its name from the
discovery of silver near a peak that
looks down upon the Clayton valley.
This discovery was made in 1859
bu little work was done until 1850
and 81 when operatins were start
ed in the old Vanderbilt mine.
In the meantime gold was found
on the Drinkwater ledge on what is
known as Mineral ridge. A min"
known later as the Drinkwater
mine, was opened up. The mine
was worked until 1869, when it
was acquired by the John l.. Blair
interests of New Jersey and 40
stamp mill was erected at the town
of Silver Peak. A ground tram
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04
REVIEW Of mining OPERATIONS IN G0LDF|ELD DISTRICT

cause of some delay in reaching the
objective of development work on
the 19OO-foot level, but raise from
this level and a new winze from
the main workings on the 1750-foot
level have demonstrated the dip of
the vein and have exposed ore of
commercial grade. In his annual
report on the property Manager
Darcy states that the raise above
the 1900 level penetrated the foot
wall of the main vein at a height
Of 40 feet. The cross-cut on the
1900 level will now be advanced to
explore the vein. A winZe sunk
from the 175O-foot level, following
the incline of the foot-wall, has ex-
posed seams of high-grade gold
copper ore and all the results OBJ
tanned in this work are regarded as
ReOrganized Kewanas
Development work is progressing
in the northern part of the proper
ty, at a depth of $40 feet, in ter
ritory that is believed to hold most
important possibilities for the de-
velopment of valuable orebodies
Expert authorities regard this ter
ritory as the most promising unde-
veloped area in the district for find
ing bodies of high-grade ore, owing
to the relation of the shale contact
zone at this point to the main vein
or orechannel of the district. The
west crOss-cut from the main north
drift is believed to be nearing the
western segment of the faulted ore
channel, as particles of quartz are
appearing in the latte here.
Grandma Consolidated
At depth of about ITO feet the
main shaft of the Grandma company
is in quartz of excellent appearance,
apparently marking the upper stra
tum of the shale contact zone The
quartz has all characteristics of
that found in association with the
contact ore deposits of the district,
including metals in sulphide form
and the usual dark metallic stain
of the shale contact ore. Some
water is coming in, but not in sutfi-
Continued on Page EighO
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04
BUIlFROG DISTRICT SHOWS
GROWING INDICATIONS
OF PROSPERITY

state more than year ago, the peo-
pie of the district feel proud of their
showing, which augurs we'll for the
district and shows plainly the con-
fidence the home people have in the
future of the mineral resources of
Bullfrog.
''The mineral production of Bull
frog has been principally gold and
for some time past gold producers
have suffered on account of the high
cost of production and owing to
the fact that the metal itself has
not advanced in price in compari-
son with other minerals.
But gold will be one metal that
will not drop in price after the war
is over and l have found many fl
nanciers in my recent travels who
express the opinion that gold will
go to a premium before a great
while. Gold coins have already al
most entirely disappeared and the
scarcity of any metal is almost GER
tain to enhance its value.
''If l am correctly informed near
ly all wars have resulted in plac-
Continued on Page Eight
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04
GRANDMA SHAFT IN
0RE-bEAR|NG
CHANNEL
FORMATION OF GOOD APPEAR
ANCE Is EXPOSED IN
SINKING

At depth of about 770 feet the
main shaft of the Grandma Consoli-
dated Mines company is showing
quartz that is similar in appearance
to the deep-level ore of the district,
dark in color and carrying con-
siderable quantity of metal in the
form of sulphides. 1t is plain that
the shale contact zone is now be-
ing penetrated and sinking will
continue to reach the shale, where
extensive lateral work is planned by
Superintendent J. X Turner.
Water has been coming into the
shaft in greater volume than at any
point above this depth, but not in
sufficient quantity to interfere with
sinking, although progress has been
rather slow during the past fort
night. 1t is not believed that any
large volume of water will be en-
countered here in sinking to the
shale, but preparations are being
made to install pumps in case this
is found necessary to handle the wa
ter.
Conditions revealed by the shaft
in sinking the last few rounds are
characteristic of the upper part OF
the quartz zone marking the con-
tact of the latte and shale. At first
many boulders and small particles
of quartz were found and later the
shaft entered solid quartz, with Oc-
casional seams of broken material
re-cemented with pulverized quartz
and latte These conditions have
been found to exist elsewhere in
the shale contact zone, which con-
tains many fractures and fault fis-
sures that apparently have formed
the avenues of enrichment through
the circulation of mineralized solu-
tions.
In sinking this shaft a silicified
zone was passed through at a point
between the $50 and 30O-foot lev
els. but as it was desired to continue
sinking to the shale contact zone
without interruption. this zone was
not explored. 1t is believed that this
quartz zone is the main Grandma
vein, which crops at the surface
some distance west of the shaft, dip
ping to the east, and which is trac-
ed to the south into the adjoining
territory of the Spearhead Gold
Mining company. This vein may
be prospected from the shaft at
some future time.
At present all the companys eff
forts are bent toward reaching the
shale and prospecting the contact
zone, as it is believed this terri
tory holds most important possibili-
ties for finding valuable orebodies-
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04
ATLANTA COMPANY REPORT
SHOWS PROPERTY IN
GOOD CONDITION

A report covering the operations
of the Atlanta Mines company dur
ing the fiscal year ending April 1
and supplemented by statement
showing the results of work up to
the end of April, has just been pre-
pared ~ A. H. Howe, secretary and
treasurer of the company, including
a report on mine Developments by
General Manager Darcy. The re-
port says:
At the annual meeting of this
company, held at the general office
of the company in Phoenix, Ariz., on
April 2, 1918, the existing board of
directors was reelected to serve dur
ing the ensuing year and until the
election of their successors. lemely:
George Wingfield. Charles E, Knox,
Clyde A. Heller, A. H. Howe, F. c.
Favier. Benjamin ]. Henley and w.
E. Zoebel.
The general mine developments
are set forth in report made by
Mr.. A. 1. Darcy, the company's
general manager. as follows:
During the first few months of
the year 1917, your mine was being
prepared for stopping operations and
you were informed in the last report,
dated April 16, 1917, that approx
mately 1000 tons of ore had been
broken and was being stored in the
mine until such time as the flotation
plant of the Goldfield Consolidated
Mines company could treat the ore.
During the latter part of April a
test run was made on this ore at
the flotation plant os the Goldfield
Consolidated Mines company, but un-
fortunately this test run showed
that the ore was not adapted to
the process in vogue at the Consoi-
idated mill, due to the large per-
centage of pyrite in the ore, which
was not separated from the copper
minerals and caused the production
of a bulky concentrate of value
little greater than the crude ore.
1t was then decided to ship to the
smelters what ore was broken in the
mine, and to continue development
of the mine.
Shipments to the smelters were
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04

Conditions in the Bullfrog dis
trict are better than at any time
for a number of years past and the
prosperity of this region is indicated
by the liberal subscriptions to the
Liberty loan. Several mines are be-
ing operated on a broad scale, par
ticularly at Pioneer, and others will
resume work in the near future.
Plans of these companies cOntem-
plate opening the mines at depths
far greater than has been under
taken in the past.
Present conditions and prospects
for the future in the Bullfrog dis
trict are outlined in a letter re-
ceived here from w. j. Tobin,
president and manager of the May
flower and Pioneer Consolidated
companies, which is as follows:
'In the Bullfrog district the sub
scriptions to date for the third
Liberty loan have reached total
of $4,000, which is well ever the
top" for Bullfrog, the quota for the
district being $12, 800, and in view
of the fact that the electric power
was taken out of this part of the
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04

Following the recent visit here of
Herman Zadig, president of the
Silver Pick Consolidated Mining
company, who announced the COM
pany's intention to continue sinking
its shaft from the 1100-foot level.
the work of sinking was resumed
at this point and 1t is stated by
Manager Dyer that a depth of 1928
feet has now been attained and the
shaft is in quartz resembling pay
ore and containing much metal.
Specimens of this material In the
possession of Manager Dyer show
all the characteristics Of the high
grade ore found at other points in
the district on deep levels and ap-
parently contain some copper. Much
interest attaches to the work of op-
ening up the mine at greater depth,
as many mining authorities OF
good standing have expressed the
belief that an ore-bearing zone of
value would be found below the
1100-foot level.
Development work at this depth
has stimulated the belief that the
formation penetrated by the shaft
is an iron Gaping of a mineral zone
lying below and some have express
ed the conviction that valuable de-
posits of copper ore will be found
under this Gaping. The change in
formation now showing in the shaft
is regarded as supporting this belief
and further sinking will be watched
with the greatest interest.
1t is the plan of the company to
sink at least 800 feet below the
present bottom of the shaft, but in
the event of opening an ore-chan-
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04

started in May and continued
through the months of June and
July. During this time 1921 tons
of crude ore were shipped to the
smelters which had a gross value
of $16.23 per ton in gold, silver and
copper, but owing to the freight,
smelling and sampling charges and
smelling deductions this ore gave a
net return of only $S426.96 to
your company, or at the rate of
$4.63 per ton net.
"In order to avoid the losses due
to shipping ore to the smelters, 1t
was then decided to further develop
the mine with a view of exposing a
sufficient tonnage Of ore to justi-
fly the installation of mill for the
treatment of same.
at was considered that the best
chance of exposing this tonnage of
ore would be at a depth below the
175O-foot level, and in consequence
a two-compartment shaft was start
ed and sunk to depth Of $50 feet
below the 1750-foot level, or to the
19OO-foot level, and prosecuting
has now advanced a distance of 40
feet from the shaft, and 1t is ex-
pected that the vein will be encoun-
tered within SO feet of the face of
the cross-cut.
"The present work was started
in August, 1917, and some of our
stockholders have been inclined to
criticise the slow progress that has
been made in this work, but it is to
be remembered that the work re-
ouired the cutting of large sta
ton on the 175O-foot level to re-
ceive hoisting machinery, the in
stallation of a lead-covered cable
for conducting the electric power
into this rtion of the mine, which
required approximately 60 days for
delivery. and after reaching a depth
of 90 feet a large flow of water
was encountered, which required
the installation of pumping ma
chinery that consumed another 60
days for delivery; these delays, to-
gether with the difficulties incident
to operations where extremely hard
Continued on Page Eight
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04
KEWANAS OPENING
GROUND WEST
Of FAULT
CROSS-CUT is BELIEVED TO BE
NEARING CONTACT
ZONE

In local mining circles interest
is still centered largely on the oper-
ations now progressing in the north
ern part of the Kewanas property,
at a depth of $40 feet, where a
cross-cut is being driven to the west
to explore the territory at this side
of the block fault that has cut off
the main ore-channel. While there
are no deep workings near by in
this direction to afford an indication
of the extent of displacement caus-
ed by the fault, it is apparent that
the throw IS not extensive and that
the contact quartz channel must be
picked up within a short distance
from the present face of the cross
cut
The main north DRIFT, from
which this cross-cut is being extend
ed at a point about 500 feet north
of the central working station. fol-
lowed for some distance the line of
the fault that cuts the vein or ore
channel at right angles, where the
vein rests on the shale and has as
sunfed a very flat dip to the east.
The drift at this point shows shale
at the east and latte at the west,
indicating that the eastern ground
has been forced upward by the fault
action.
Developments east of this fault,
in the shale contact zone, have been
of a highly encouraging character,
although this territory has not yet
been thoroughly prospected. A
cross-cut was driven east from the
drift about 800 feet, advancing
through the shale, and exposed ore
of good grade in the contact zone,
while raises from this cross-cut also
made an excellent showing upon
entering the contact ore-channel.
At one point a raise exposed about
five feet of high-grade shipping ore,
some of which was stopped for ship
ment
At the time this DEVELOPMENT
work was done mining conditions
were unfavorable. owing to the lack
of air, but connection has been
made since then with the workings
at this depth of the adjoining Jumbo
Junior property and the work has
been greatly facilitated by better
ventilation. Satisfactory progress
is reported in the present work and
good results are confidently expect
ed in the near future.
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04

has been rendered necessary by war
conditions, which have imposed
what practically amounts to an en-
barge on the shipping to smelters
of concentrate carrying copper.
Earlier in the war the company de-
livered to smelters, under contracts
made prior to that time, a large
tonnage of flotation concentrate, but
congestion of such products at all
custom smelters prevented the re-
newal of these contracts and vast
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04

quantities of such products are said
to have accumulated at the smelt-
ers. The Aurora mine is reported to
be making a better production and
it's mill is treating 500 tons of ore
daily. The product, zine precipitate.
is treated in the Goldfield plant and
shipped direct to the mint in the
form of gold bullion.
Atlanta Mines Co. b
Flattening of the main vein be-
low a depth of 1850 feet was the
The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04

Vast quantities of medium and
low-grade ore remain in the mines
of the Goldfield district to be treat
ed at some time in the future when
normal conditions return and when
flotation and other concentrating
processes can be applied at reason
able operating cost. Under present
conditions, with the cost of labor
and of all mining supplies and
equipment beyond the reach of any
but producers of high-grade ore, 1t
is impossible to inaugurate any new
enterprises in the line of reduction
plants and therefore the production
of the district must continue to be
materially curtailed until a more
favorable time arrives.
In the face of high operating
costs and a reduced rate of labor
capacity, however, mines of the
Goldfield district are being develop
ed at a number of points in most
thorough and comprehensive man
ner and there is every reason to be-
ieve that results of the greatest i'm
portance will be obtained from this
work in the near future. For the
first time in the history of the camp
deyelopment work is being carried
on at great depth and on a scale
calculated to prove the possibilities
of the deep-seated formations, far
below the more or less extensively
leached zones that have supplied
the bulk of the districts production
in the past. In the opinion OF the
best mining authorities this work is
destined to produce results of the
first Importance and to greatly pro-
long the productive life of the dis
trict.
Goldfield Consolidated
While operations and bullion pro-
duction have to some extent been
curtailed the company's mill is treat
ing a large tonnage of mill failing
and of low-grade ores from the
oxidized zones. A reduction in the
volume of ore handled from the
deeper levels and containing cop
per and other refractory elements
The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1918-12-12
Mrs. Hager Entertains.

Mrs. ]. 0. Hager gave an elaborate
five-course dinner to number of
her friends at the Hager home in
East Heppner on Tuesday evening.
Following the dinner, cards and
dancing were INDUCED in. At cards,
the high score went to Mr.. and Mrs.
Bert Stone and they were awarded
beautiful cut glass bowl as prize.
The guests present to enjoy the hos
pitality of Mr.. and Mrs. Hager were
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. F. Vaughn, Mr.. and
Mrs. Clifford Simms, Mr.. and Mrs.
Bert Stone, DR.. and Mrs. McMurdo
and Mr.. and Mrs. l.. +. Bisbee.
The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1918-12-12
AR,CROSS REMINDER

Remember the Red Cross Christ
mas Roll Call. Next Monday you
will be asked to renew your Red
Cross Membership for the year 1919.
There are to be no further drives
for donations to this worthy organf-
zation. The plan is henceforth to
support the order and finance its
activities from one dollar annual
membership dues. When we con-
slider that the work for 1919 will be
greater than ever, we realize the
size of the task. We can do it by
universal membership.
The organization of the county is
nearing completion. DR.. R. J.
Vaughan is County Campaign Man
ager.' During the first days of the
week December 1928 his lieutenants
and workers will call on every adult
person.
We want to cover the field in one
day. We can do it, if you will help
us.
Tell your neighbors to be ready
Monday the 18th.
Give your membership gladly
expeditiously.
Cooperate with the worker,
Have your dollar ready so there
will be no follow up.
Put your influence behind the
move.
c.. e. WOODSON. Chairman
The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1918-12-12
Aged Woman Dies at Lexington.

Death claimed Mrs. James Arm
strong, an aged lady at Lexington on
Wednesday morning, December 18th.
Mrs. Armstrong was the mother of
Mrs. e. r. Beach and has made her
home with her daughter in Lexing-
ton for number of years. For a
long time she has been an invalid
and her death was the result of the
infrmities of old age. Private funer-
al services were held at the Beach
residence this morning at 1890 and
interment was in the Lexington
cemetery. Mrs. Armstrong was ~
years Of age.
The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1918-12-12
JUNIOR 4-MINUTE MEN.

School children in Oregon par
ticularly high school children, are
nightly enthused over the Red
Cross Christmas Roll Call which is
TO be the Red Cross membership
drive the week before Christmas.
Under the committee of Public
Information, there has been created
the Junior 4Minute Men, and it is
damned in every high school in the
state to hold contests for these 4
Minute Men who have been honored
by having the committee draw up a
special bulletin for them.
In this manner the message of
the Red Cross Christmas Roll Call
will go to every family in the state.
In some states the Junior 4-Minute
Men will speak in the theatres for
the week before Christmas which
will be devoted entirely to the Red
Cross by the 4-Minute Men every
where, junior and otherwise.
The Junior 4-Minute Men will
make popular the battle cry of the
Roll Call where's your button
The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1918-12-12
FARM BUREAU NOTES
(By f. R. Brown.)
Alpine Holds Rabbit Meeting.

Last Wednesday evening the peo-
pie of the Alpine and Strawberry
communities held meeting and de-
clared war on the rabbits. The
feeling against these soft footed
pests was pretty high and all that
prevented a lynching was the fact
that none of the defendants had the
nerve to appear at their trial. Many
of those present favored mob law in
dealing with the bunch of wheat
thieves but the law abiding element
prevailed so a systematic poisoning
campaign was all that was planned.
C. D. Morey was elected chairman
of the campaign and appointed
Chas. Melville, Ralph Finlay, ]. w.
Sibley, and Ralph Corrigall as his
assistants. Pens will be built in
carefully chosen places and when
favorable time arrives poisoned
alfalfa will be kept out for the
rabbits.
County Agricultural Agent Brown
was present and after outlining the
plans for the work Of poisoning the
rabbits suggested that it was the
purpose of the Farm Bureau to take
up other problems in the same way.
There is no question as to the
results where the farmers themselves
Join forces and work together An
informal discussion brought out the
fact that several were interested In
better seed wheat and more and
better stock on the farm.