The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-09-13

That a work of great magnitude,
unquestionably the most momentous
of any that has been inaugurated in
Nevada in recent years. is now going
on at American Flat, within two and
a half miles of Virginia City, and
within fifteen or sixteen of Carson,
is perhaps but little known to any ex-
cept those who have visited the point
where the developments are proceed
ing or to those who live within
its limits
The enterprise. as has been men,
toned in but a few papers of the
state and attracted only passing no
tice. is in tue iIanus or the United
Comstock company, corporation
which a few months ago took over
number of mining properties on the
south end of the world-renowned
Comstock lode, and after the usual
preliminaries had been gone through
with began the work of outlining and
building the plant which was neces-
sary to properly handle and reduce
the ores which were to come from
the mines that had been acquired.
1t was no novice work to do this, for
the physical conditions to be en-
countered and overcome. and the re-
turns that were figured on as result
ant of the outlay made 1t necessary
that everything essential to success
should be so planned and constructed
as to avoid and eliminate all waste.
In other words, the scheme was to
work as near an automation as
could be made possible. and this Is
now being done.
With the plans laid and the work
we'll under way, and managed by
good and competent heads, 1t is Eow
possible to gain an appreciatiye CON
cept of what is being accomplished
and what 1t means, not only to the
section nearest the scene % aeHgit9
but to the state of Nevada as we'll.
For when the enterprise is carried to
the point where production follows 1t
means that a vast amount OF bullion
will be added to the states output.
AS is known to those who have
familiarized themselves with the pur-
poses of the enterprises, one OF its
main features was to run tunnel
10000 feet, beginning practically at
the lowest point on American Flat
and continuing north through several
mines into the Imperial workings. 720
feet below the surface. OF the 10000
feet three units, approximating soon
feet have been completed, though not
yet connected up. The longest unit,
1900 feet, is now passing through
the old Knickerbocker mine and maxi
ing at the rate of ten feet lay In
this latter piece OF work evidence of
economical mining is shown in The
way 1t is being run. The old fash
toned mine car and light mine raj
are taboo; instead railroad Erack,ge
Is used and fve-ton cars propelled by
motor carry off the muck. II
might be mentioned here that when
operations are In full swing fifty Of
these cars will be used and divided
into trains of ten cas- each ~ ,aning
that on one trip enough ore Or ma
terial will be handled to equal the
contents of a standard railroad ore
car. These cars have an approx
mate value of $500 each. II will be
thus seen that this part of the equip
ment alone represents an expendi-
ture to the company of $4,000.
Where few months ago the sur
face of American Flat was given over
to a scraggy growth Of sagebrush
and cedar, It is now being excavated
at various points to give place to the
reinforced concrete foundations that
will be employed In the construction
of the 1900 ton reduction plant
which the company plans and which
will be up to date in every particu-
lar and comprise every facility that
makes for the economical handling
and reduction of ores. The plans
also provide for practical extension
Of the plant In the event that ore
production exceeds present calcula-
ions.
A large two-story bunk house. capa-
Die of accommodating $50 men and
club rooms and other es-
,entials, Is now well under way and
will be ready for occupancy before
The winter sets In. Forty cottages
Tor the use of men with families are
also planned and will be started as
soon as the lumber begins to arrive.
possibly during the coming month.
At the present time the company is
about $50 men, the forces