The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-05-04
WASHOE-PlUMAS
MINES ARE RICH
COPPER BELT IN NORTH Is
PROVING HIGHLY PRO-
DUCTIVE
(By j. F. O'Brien)

Wy
COPPERFIELD, New, April 25.-
Because it is only in the lest three
years that the Engels, Walk n
Nixon-Nevada and other mines along
the Washoe-Plumas copper belt have
amounted to much and become gen
orally known, it has been assumed
that these mines and the belt itself
are new discoveries. This is not so
The original discoveries were made
many years ago, but the geological
formation and ore occurrences are
different from those of other copper
sections and it was not until 1915
that they we're understood and the
big orebodies opened at depth.
Over 40 years ago the late Gen
eral John Bidwell-one of the most
prominent pioneers of California, by
whose widow the city of Chico was
recently given a large tract of val.
liable land for park purposes-to.
gether with George Peters and 9TH
ers. mined and shipped h~igh-grade
copper ore from ground which Is
now owned by the Engels Copper
company. This ore was hauled by
wagon to Oroville, the then nearest
railroad point; from there it went
by rail to San Francisco and thence
by sailing vessel around the Horn
to Swansea, Wales, where it was
smelted. None but very rich ore
would stand that expense.
In May, 1915, there was talk OF
shutting down the Engels property
and 1t was not believed that enough
ore could be got to keep supplied
the 25O-ton mill which they then
had. John Rinemiller, who is still
superintendent, had taken charge
and he solved the problem of find.
ing the big orebodies, since which
time the mill capacity has been mul.
tiplied five times and more, and
another 750-ton unit will probably
be started at the lower mine be-
fore the summer is over.
Above the No. 4 tunnel of the
upper mine there are 100000 tons OF
ore broken down in the slopes ready
to be drawn. In the No. 6 tunnel
level below the limits Of the ore
have not vet been fully defined. but
1t is certain they are larger than in
the upper levels. No. 6 tunnel is
23S feet vertically below No. 4 and
as the orebodies have been proved
continuous between the two levels
by mean of shafts and raises an
immense additional tonnage of high.
grade ore is already proved.
Great as the upper Engels mine is
proving, 1t is believed that the com
pany's Superior mine-which Is over
two miles down the mountain, and
1900 feet lower in elevation-wI,l
eclipse 1t as a dividend-payer when
it has reached the same stage of de.
velopment.
The Nixon-Nevada and Washoe
Copper companies, on the southern
end of the Washoe-Plumas belt, are
prosecuting development steadily In
both old and new workings. The
new No. 9 Cameron station pump
which was ordered months ago but
the delivery of which was delayed
by war activities, has at last arriv'
ed and been installed With the
No. 9 sinking pump at the bottom
of the shaft, 600 gallons of water
per minute can be Handkerchief
is far in excess of requirements.
The main cross-cut is now GU
over 100 feeG from the bottom. OF
tie shaft. 1t is making considerable
water and g~ood-looking quart;
stringers wera exposed during the
week. The Wine from the NORTH
drift on the No ! vein is down Sc
feet.
Delay is being experienced in get
ting the new engine for the Washot
Copper. but the tunnel which vii
deelop the big dyke and a number
of veins with high-grade ore has al
ready been started.
Experts Selling Bonds