The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1919-06-07
TONOPAH COnPAAY's Work


Until a growth of grass is estab-
lished, repeated clearing of the
ground is necessary each year. Dis
tribution of supplies at the mine is
made with pack animals or OK teams
dragging a form Of sled. Wheel We
hicles cannot be used On account of
excessive mud during the eight
months rainy season.
1t is necessary to maintain a ma
tive labor village with houses such
as labor is accustomed to in Near
aqua, which are built and repaired
as required. A staff house, modelled
after the type used in tropical coun-
tries, has been constructed for the
white employees. A few houses are
also maintained for the use of mar
ried white employees. All houses are
located on high ground SC as to fur
nish proper drainage, and as the
mine and camp location is quite
hilly the usual tropical ailments are
thus minimized.
A hospital with necessary 1tock of
drugs are a part of the camp equip
ment. A doctor is always available
for the white staff and the native
population.
AS there are no towns of i'm
portance in this section, it devolves
upon the company to see that ade-
quate police protection is provided.
The use of i~ntoxicants, gambling and
other forms Of vice are prohibited,
and every effort is exercised to main
tain this prohibition.
A we'll equipped office accommo-
dates thes accounting, engineering
and experimenting departments. A
fully equipped machine shop, saw
mill, carpenter shop, assay office,
substation for distribution of power
to mine and mill, ice plant and
wireless station are natntained.
These accessories C noitatnh.-..caint
These accessories contain the latest
machinery and devices, and r in
the best of condition, and fully ca
pable of handling any repair or con
struction work. The main tunnel
of the mine is connected with the
mill by a direct trolley locomotive
system capable of handling a much
larger tonnage than is being mined
at the present time.
Due to the isolated position of
the property, Q very large stock OF
provisions and other living neces-
stiles are carried in a company store.
The stock is retailed to the IA
ployes and others at a reasonable
profit. For the same reason as
above stated, it is necessary to carry
a large stock of mill and mine sup
plies which are stored in a we'll ar
ranged warehouse. AS delivery con
ditions at the source of supply i'm
prove, these stock mays be reduced.
A high pressure water system, with
ample storage, furnishes fire pro-
lection to all buildings, as well as a
domestic water supply. The prin-
cipal operating points in camp and
the power plant are connected by a
metallic circuit telephone system.
Power Plant
The hy~dro-electric plant is stu
ated on the Pts Pts river at a dis
lance of four and one-half miles
from the mine and mill. The loca-
tion is known as Big Falls Gel
Salto Grande''). A horse shoe bend,
including the falls proper, allows a
short conveyance of water from the
river to the generating plant. Start
ing with a simple rock filled crib
overflow diversion dam, the water
is delivered to a 7x7-foot timberel
tunnel 1880 feet long. On leav-
ing the tunnel the water enters a
42-inch stave penstock, 800 feet
long, and is conveyed to 700 Fl. P.
-. MOl gan Iii luIOiHCs "a
bine is direct connected to a West
inghouse generator of 500 X. V. A.
capacity. The water tunnel has
necessary head gate and pressure
box arrangement. This unit is ca
pable of delivering 700 HI. p. A du-
plicate Of this unit, except the sub
stitution of a Pelton-Francis tur-
bine wheel, is being installed and
should be in operation by July l
next.
Electric current, generated at
1900 volts, is transmitted to the
substation at the mine, and trans
formed to 440 volts for general mo-
tor use.
Besides the large power plant at
Rio Falls a small nlant at Tunky