Year: 1864

Deep Mining.


Previous to the year lS49 the American
people, as a class, probably knew less Of
the metals in their native state, and OF
mining, than any other of the enlightened
nations. We have said previous to l849
that eyentful year marked an era in the
history of mining-still it was not until
several years later that we may be said TO
have any progress in the science of min
ing. For many years the people of Penn
sylvania had worked IN coal and iron; in
the northwest considerable lead mining
had been carried on, and in some of the
southwestern States gold had baen washed
and some quartz mining done. AL this
mining if we can call it mining was con-
Quoted in the most uncultivated manner.
The laborers were either foreigners or
slaves, and the minerals Of easy access.
Although, now the Pennsylnians are do
ing some good mining, it is only of late
wears that they can claim the reputation,
which is coeval with their prosperity.


The Americans are determined to learn
the science without study, and by the hard
and expensive course of experience. Al
though we have been mining for gold for
many years, and understand tunnelling,
shafting and drifting, and as far as me-
chanical and physical power will 60 un-
aided by science have succeeded most re-
markabiy well in its extraction from the
accompanying drift or its rocky matrix.


But whence it came, the theory or
causes of its disposition, the chemical
composition of the ore or its chemical
affinities. is sealed book, and he who has
proposed the opening of it, is usually as
sisted with sneers. Little does the un-
educated miner know of mineral veins, OF
what rocks contain them, and what can
not; and as little does he care for the man
that knows. Successful labor will still
snecr, but unsuccessful eagerly seeks the
aid of science, unfortunately often to be
deceived by empiricism. A successful
miner is usually considered lucky one.
no consideration of care, skill cr full
knowledge of his business, are taken into
account. More than this mere luck, or
persevering toll, is required In mining IN
| its true sense, such as is required in the
silver mines of this Territory. The miner
or at least the superintendent should
know the nature of the metals and its
compositions, and the chemical and physl-
cal forces that created the vein Oh which
he works, and the geology OF the clrcum,
iacent rocks. Knowing this, he need
not work blindly from his first prospects
he can decide upon what manner he must
work his mine. A miner understanding
his business, knows that a certain class Of
ore belongs only to veins that reach to an
unknown depth, he knows what should
constitute a proper casing, what should
be proper course, and i'll what kind OF
rock he can safely spend his time and
money, and what are the proper, most
effectual and economical methods OF OPEN
ing and working his mine. To be caPa-
BILE miner requires something more than
mere laboring qualifications, also more
than scientific ones, combination of the
two are almost absolutely essential.


1t is very plainly seen that but little
regard to what may be termed enlightened
mining has yet been practiced in this Sec
ton.


The base rock is of that class known to
be most prolific of mineral veins, and the
veins themselves generally contain those
ores known only to deep mines. When
the superintendent of mine has demon
strated this, he has no more excuse for
triAinc with surface workings, with crook
ed inclines or wandering tunnels. 1t is
his duty to carefully select the place for
the shaft or tunnel, capable of working his
mine, and knowing that by continuing his
work the lode will be certainly reached.
The depth1of veins, where metal in paying
quantities is usually expected in the mines
in other parts of the world than here, IS
far greater than is generally comprehended
among the miners of the Reese River sec
ton. and in fact much greater than is re-
ouired in these mines. A lode that re-
munerates us explorers from the beginning
is the exception and not the rule. The
richest portion of metaliferous veins lies
below the water line, the reasons for
which mineralogists have most satistacto-
rily given.


The deductions of science would be a
sufficient guarantee for seeking deep IN
the earth for sulphurets Of metal even had
we not the examples before us Of the sue
cesssul results, depending upon like min
ing elsewhere. The history of mining
tells US of the great success of mining
companies after years of sinking and hun,
dreds of thousands of dollars expended
before single one was returned.


Even in our own Territory, III the mines
of Virginia, three and four hundred feet
is the depth usually obtained before the
nav is reached it is the same in Colorado
Territory, while in England it is not unu'
sual to sink over a thousand feet in seek:
ing the part of the mine that is considered s
valuable. Our miners here have far
Greater inducements to persevere than are
Here a deep shaft on mine is as certain
70 reward the protector, as that the opera
tion is carried on.-Reese Rirer RereiHe.