Volume 08 (1864) (474 pages)

8 he Mining and Scientific Press. IIL. If the work of prospecting has been carried far enough to develope the dip of the vein and its thickness, it is very important, where the latter varies, to examiue the walls for signsof ahrasion, such as strice, or grooves, which may indicate a sliding or grindiug of one face upon the other—or where these are quite ahsent, to observe the suceession of the thick and thin parts—if these aresocon nected, that if slid back, the projections of one side would tally with the hollows of the other mutually, the symptoms of thinning out may be disregarded, especially deposits of clay and broken hedrock, above the narrow parts. A thinning ont on reaching a new bedrock will very probably be fatal. (To be concluded In our next.) [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.] Letter form Lower Oalifonia, : La Paz, Dec. 19, 1863. Eps. Mixtro ann Screntiric Press :—The mining interesta of this Peninsula never looked so promising as at the present moment. Many of the more proininent and wealthy companies are developing their mines with an energy beyond all praise. The most universal confidence is entertained that these mines are not only immensely rich, but that they are practically inexhaustible. Having taken a trip on the fourth of this month to the mining district of San Antonio, I have thought that a few brief items might prove of inter est to your readers. The principal mines of this district are those of the Mexican Mining Company, and the Triunfo Gold aud Silver Mining Compauy, each of them owning and working a large number of mines well known by name here, but which it would be useless to specify separately in my letter, as they are merged in the general incorporation of thosc conipanies. I give the precedence to the Mexican company, as being the older of the two companies, but not by any menns the richer; at least in my opinion. The Mexican mine is owned by ten or twelve parties, resident here or on the Mexican side. As far ns we are aware none of tlie stock has ever been’ offered for sale, the owners deeming it impossible to make a better investment of their money. lt is about two years and a lialf since the mines of this company were opened. Sixty or eighty thousand dollars were expended in putting the mines in proper working condition, under the efficient superintendence of Mr. Florse, although 2 Mexican, one of the best practical metallurgists in tle country. The company have no reduction works or machinery of any kind. The ore is slipped to Freiburg, such of it as yields $100 per ton and upwards; the balanee is laid aside for future use, until mills shall bnvo been erected in the neighborhood, or until the company erect works of their own, Wheu the company lave a suitable quantity of ore ready for shipment, the Government assayer makes a careful average assay of the pile. Ou the’ presentation of this certificate, together with the bill of lading, the Ma zatlan shippers are always ready to mgke advances in some cases as high as filty per cent of the assay, in order to secure return freights and commission. The records of the Mexican company show that for the last year and a half the returns of the Freiburg houses overrun the government assays one and a half per cent. on an average! To Califoruians this must seem a somewhat startling fact. It isin a measure explained, when we come to consider that at the German reduction works they save the base as well as the precious metals, and that a careful return is made to the consignor. If anything still remains unexplained, it may be placed to the credit of the superior method aud ability—perhaps even to superior houesty of the Europeans. The few gentlemen, owners in this preat mine, have nlready divided upwards of three hundred thousand dollars. 1am told that this company have receutly received large returns from Europe, and that } from the site of the Triunfo Company’s works. they have now, at La Paz, six to eight huudred tons ready for shipment. In the immediate vicinity adjoining each other in some cases, are the mines of the Triunfo G. & S. M. Co., of your city. Conceding the mines to be of equal richness, and they are richer beyond a question, the Triunfo mines are still ns superior as American skill and energy is superior to the best of Mexican enterprise. Judge McElroy, the superintendent hasnot his superior as a miner on this coast, and every thing considered, I do not think his equal could be found for the sole management of an enterprise of such magnitude as the works of this company, even in their undeveloped state have already proved to be. No better evidence of this could be adduced than the extraordinary progress of the company’s works. ‘The actual permanent opening of these mines was not commenced until the middle of Febuary 1863, less than a year since. During this time the following mines have been opened sufficiently lor the extraction of very rich orcs. The Carmen, Santa Fe, Valenceina, Mendocena and Esperanza. A splendid tunnel has also beeu run, and designed to strike a number of the companies tniues which run parallel, at, a depth of two or three hundred feet from the surface. he first of these mines, the Carmen has already been reached ata distance of three huudred and thirty feet from the mouth ol the taunel. ‘The tunnel contiuuing, I should imagine, a hundred, or a hundred and twenty feet beyond, connccting with a shalt from above. Considerable breasting has been done on the Carmeu, and some immeusely rich ore extracted. Atthe spot where the vein was cni, I measured seven feet of metal, and if I ain any judge, it would he difficult to find anything to surpass it in average richness. ‘he mill aud reduction works are adinirably located, a gentle grade descending to the spot, Irom all the mines. ‘Che mill was furnished by Messrs. Goddard & Co. of your city, and when completed, will consist of five batteries of five stamps each; as yetonly two batteries have b.en forwarded from San Francisco. At the time of iny visit the work was progressing with the greatest rapidity. ‘The batterics were up, as also the engine, line shafting, head pillow blocks,!maiu shaft, cte. 1 should judge that the engine will be fully completed in about a week. ‘The foundation is laid and all the works put together in the most thorough and substantial manner. ‘Lhe foundation of the fnrvace is laid, and all the bricks and other material are on the ground. At the site of the mill there is already a pile of ore ; I should judge about fifty tons, or more. I was inlormed that the assays of,this pile, nade to asecrtain its average value, exceeded twelve hundred dollars per ton. If this be so, it is a most extraordinary yield, and from all that I learn I see no reason to douht it. After a most cnreful exanination of these mines, I am fnlly satisfied taat the Triunfo Company will prove the Gould & Curry of the Peninsula, and every indication goes to prove that in the Triunfo Valley will be located its Virginia City. The Triunfo company I am told are about to purchase, or have purchased two leagues of the chainers portion of the Valley, ,securing all contesting titles to the same. This will prove most fortunate for the prospects of the Valley, and without a douht, it will speedily become a place of mnch importance, as there are uumerous mines, as rich probahly as any on the Pacific coast, within view At some future time I may give a more extended notice of the mines of this ueighborhood hut my letter is already probably somewhat too long, so fur the present, adios. ¥. Mr. S. P. McCarry, the well known and successful canvas-er forthe Sonora Flag, has become connected with the Daily Evening Journal,as business agent. McCarty is an active man and has an exs‘ensive acquaintance throughout the State. STOCK REMARKS. More than the nsual amount of business has been transacted in the Stock Boards since our last issue, notwithstanding the joyous influences of the holiday season. Gould & Curry is rapidly tending npward ; $5,000 is offered, while holders are scarcely willing to sell at $5,025. The reports of the President and Seeretary have been published, from which it appears that the affairs of the company are in a highly prosperous condition. We shall allude to this report, at length, in our next issue. Ophir, since the refusal of the injunction asked against the Burning Moscow, lias declined somewhat and cannot now be quoted nt over $1,490. The De ecmher dividends have also shared somewhat in the depression. A large number of sales have been made during the past five days, commencing at $40 and gradually declining to $25 on Thursday. The Lady Bryan is still ou the decline, notwithstanding a large number of substantial buyers, of good judgement, are in the market. It opened on Monday at $50, and gradually declined to $38 on ‘Thursday. Burning Moscow still continues the chief attraction, aud has encountered another week of remarknble fluctuation. The refusal of Judge North to grant the injunction asked by the Ophir, gave it au upward tendency at the commencement of the week, whieh carried it to $190; it las siuce declined to about its normal condition and may uow he quoted at $13734 to $140. The Desert has declined in sympathy with the Lady Bryan, of which it is an exteusion. It was quoted on Thursday at $12, since which it has not been heard from. < Sierra Nevada, Burnside, Imperial aud Chollar nro inactive. Uncle Sam, Overman nnd North American continue to attract sonte attentiou; Blatic is firm at improved rates. Wide West is enquired for at $47 @ $51, buyer 30 days, Utali has met with sales at from $21 @ $30. We refer to our report of sales, and to the bids in the San Frracisco Stoek Board. Tue Heyry axp Barnarn Consotinarep Goup, Sitver anp Correr Mixine Co., was organized on the 10th of November, with a capital of $1,940,000. J. M. Blood, President, Geo. W. Gildersleeve, Secretary, and S. P. faylor, Treasurer. Office, 322 Clay street, in this eity. ‘This company is located in the Weaver District, Arazona Territory. One hundred pounds of ore of this company’s ledges, the Lord Byron, lias just been sent up to this city. ‘The ledge is very rich, shows free copper, and is eight feot thiek. Sacramento Jaon Works.—Parties from the interior will find it a great advantage, in many cases, to order their machinery frcm Sacramento. All such will find Messrs. Goss, Lomhard & Co., of the Sacrainento Iron Works abundantly able to filll their orders promptly, and in the most satisfactory manner. ‘They enjoy already a highly prosperous husiness and advertise in the Press. Stocks 1x Vircinia Ciry appear to he “ at rest” during the holiday scason. We have reccived no reports since December 28. The Esmeralda Stock Board has not been in session for some months. We hear it has adjourned sine die. Derrrep.—An article on the State Library; nine communications from Svnora, ‘Tuolumne County, and several other contributions, which will appear next week. Bur.1ox.—The weight of bullion shipped by Well, Fargo & Co., from Virginia City during the week . ending Dec. 26, was over thrce aud a half tons, or 7,174 ths., worth $473,205.

8 he Mining and Scientific Press. IIL. If the work of prospecting has been carried far enough to develope the dip of the vein and its thickness, it is very important, where the latter varies, to examiue the walls for signsof ahrasion, such as strice, or grooves, which may indicate a sliding or grindiug of one face upon the other—or where these are quite ahsent, to observe the suceession of the thick and thin parts—if these aresocon nected, that if slid back, the projections of one side would tally with the hollows of the other mutually, the symptoms of thinning out may be disregarded, especially deposits of clay and broken hedrock, above the narrow parts. A thinning ont on reaching a new bedrock will very probably be fatal. (To be concluded In our next.) [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.] Letter form Lower Oalifonia, : La Paz, Dec. 19, 1863. Eps. Mixtro ann Screntiric Press :—The mining interesta of this Peninsula never looked so promising as at the present moment. Many of the more proininent and wealthy companies are developing their mines with an energy beyond all praise. The most universal confidence is entertained that these mines are not only immensely rich, but that they are practically inexhaustible. Having taken a trip on the fourth of this month to the mining district of San Antonio, I have thought that a few brief items might prove of inter est to your readers. The principal mines of this district are those of the Mexican Mining Company, and the Triunfo Gold aud Silver Mining Compauy, each of them owning and working a large number of mines well known by name here, but which it would be useless to specify separately in my letter, as they are merged in the general incorporation of thosc conipanies. I give the precedence to the Mexican company, as being the older of the two companies, but not by any menns the richer; at least in my opinion. The Mexican mine is owned by ten or twelve parties, resident here or on the Mexican side. As far ns we are aware none of tlie stock has ever been’ offered for sale, the owners deeming it impossible to make a better investment of their money. lt is about two years and a lialf since the mines of this company were opened. Sixty or eighty thousand dollars were expended in putting the mines in proper working condition, under the efficient superintendence of Mr. Florse, although 2 Mexican, one of the best practical metallurgists in tle country. The company have no reduction works or machinery of any kind. The ore is slipped to Freiburg, such of it as yields $100 per ton and upwards; the balanee is laid aside for future use, until mills shall bnvo been erected in the neighborhood, or until the company erect works of their own, Wheu the company lave a suitable quantity of ore ready for shipment, the Government assayer makes a careful average assay of the pile. Ou the’ presentation of this certificate, together with the bill of lading, the Ma zatlan shippers are always ready to mgke advances in some cases as high as filty per cent of the assay, in order to secure return freights and commission. The records of the Mexican company show that for the last year and a half the returns of the Freiburg houses overrun the government assays one and a half per cent. on an average! To Califoruians this must seem a somewhat startling fact. It isin a measure explained, when we come to consider that at the German reduction works they save the base as well as the precious metals, and that a careful return is made to the consignor. If anything still remains unexplained, it may be placed to the credit of the superior method aud ability—perhaps even to superior houesty of the Europeans. The few gentlemen, owners in this preat mine, have nlready divided upwards of three hundred thousand dollars. 1am told that this company have receutly received large returns from Europe, and that } from the site of the Triunfo Company’s works. they have now, at La Paz, six to eight huudred tons ready for shipment. In the immediate vicinity adjoining each other in some cases, are the mines of the Triunfo G. & S. M. Co., of your city. Conceding the mines to be of equal richness, and they are richer beyond a question, the Triunfo mines are still ns superior as American skill and energy is superior to the best of Mexican enterprise. Judge McElroy, the superintendent hasnot his superior as a miner on this coast, and every thing considered, I do not think his equal could be found for the sole management of an enterprise of such magnitude as the works of this company, even in their undeveloped state have already proved to be. No better evidence of this could be adduced than the extraordinary progress of the company’s works. ‘The actual permanent opening of these mines was not commenced until the middle of Febuary 1863, less than a year since. During this time the following mines have been opened sufficiently lor the extraction of very rich orcs. The Carmen, Santa Fe, Valenceina, Mendocena and Esperanza. A splendid tunnel has also beeu run, and designed to strike a number of the companies tniues which run parallel, at, a depth of two or three hundred feet from the surface. he first of these mines, the Carmen has already been reached ata distance of three huudred and thirty feet from the mouth ol the taunel. ‘The tunnel contiuuing, I should imagine, a hundred, or a hundred and twenty feet beyond, connccting with a shalt from above. Considerable breasting has been done on the Carmeu, and some immeusely rich ore extracted. Atthe spot where the vein was cni, I measured seven feet of metal, and if I ain any judge, it would he difficult to find anything to surpass it in average richness. ‘he mill aud reduction works are adinirably located, a gentle grade descending to

the spot, Irom all the mines. ‘Che mill was furnished by Messrs. Goddard & Co. of your city, and when completed, will consist of five batteries of five stamps each; as yetonly two batteries have b.en forwarded from San Francisco. At the time of iny visit the work was progressing with the greatest rapidity. ‘The batterics were up, as also the engine, line shafting, head pillow blocks,!maiu shaft, cte. 1 should judge that the engine will be fully completed in about a week. ‘The foundation is laid and all the works put together in the most thorough and substantial manner. ‘Lhe foundation of the fnrvace is laid, and all the bricks and other material are on the ground. At the site of the mill there is already a pile of ore ; I should judge about fifty tons, or more. I was inlormed that the assays of,this pile, nade to asecrtain its average value, exceeded twelve hundred dollars per ton. If this be so, it is a most extraordinary yield, and from all that I learn I see no reason to douht it. After a most cnreful exanination of these mines, I am fnlly satisfied taat the Triunfo Company will prove the Gould & Curry of the Peninsula, and every indication goes to prove that in the Triunfo Valley will be located its Virginia City. The Triunfo company I am told are about to purchase, or have purchased two leagues of the chainers portion of the Valley, ,securing all contesting titles to the same. This will prove most fortunate for the prospects of the Valley, and without a douht, it will speedily become a place of mnch importance, as there are uumerous mines, as rich probahly as any on the Pacific coast, within view At some future time I may give a more extended notice of the mines of this ueighborhood hut my letter is already probably somewhat too long, so fur the present, adios. ¥. Mr. S. P. McCarry, the well known and successful canvas-er forthe Sonora Flag, has become connected with the Daily Evening Journal,as business agent. McCarty is an active man and has an exs‘ensive acquaintance throughout the State. STOCK REMARKS.. More than the nsual amount of business has been transacted in the Stock Boards since our last issue, notwithstanding the joyous influences of the holiday season. Gould & Curry is rapidly tending npward ; $5,000 is offered, while holders are scarcely willing to sell at $5,025. The reports of the President and Seeretary have been published, from which it appears that the affairs of the company are in a highly prosperous condition. We shall allude to this report, at length, in our next issue. Ophir, since the refusal of the injunction asked against the Burning Moscow, lias declined somewhat and cannot now be quoted nt over $1,490. The De ecmher dividends have also shared somewhat in the depression. A large number of sales have been made during the past five days, commencing at $40 and gradually declining to $25 on Thursday. The Lady Bryan is still ou the decline, notwithstanding a large number of substantial buyers, of good judgement, are in the market. It opened on Monday at $50, and gradually declined to $38 on ‘Thursday. Burning Moscow still continues the chief attraction, aud has encountered another week of remarknble fluctuation. The refusal of Judge North to grant the injunction asked by the Ophir, gave it au upward tendency at the commencement of the week, whieh carried it to $190; it las siuce declined to about its normal condition and may uow he quoted at $13734 to $140. The Desert has declined in sympathy with the Lady Bryan, of which it is an exteusion. It was quoted on Thursday at $12, since which it has not been heard from. < Sierra Nevada, Burnside, Imperial aud Chollar nro inactive. Uncle Sam, Overman nnd North American continue to attract sonte attentiou; Blatic is firm at improved rates. Wide West is enquired for at $47 @ $51, buyer 30 days, Utali has met with sales at from $21 @ $30. We refer to our report of sales, and to the bids in the San Frracisco Stoek Board. Tue Heyry axp Barnarn Consotinarep Goup, Sitver anp Correr Mixine Co., was organized on the 10th of November, with a capital of $1,940,000. J. M. Blood, President, Geo. W. Gildersleeve, Secretary, and S. P. faylor, Treasurer. Office, 322 Clay street, in this eity. ‘This company is located in the Weaver District, Arazona Territory. One hundred pounds of ore of this company’s ledges, the Lord Byron, lias just been sent up to this city. ‘The ledge is very rich, shows free copper, and is eight feot thiek. Sacramento Jaon Works.—Parties from the interior will find it a great advantage, in many cases, to order their machinery frcm Sacramento. All such will find Messrs. Goss, Lomhard & Co., of the Sacrainento Iron Works abundantly able to filll their orders promptly, and in the most satisfactory manner. ‘They enjoy already a highly prosperous husiness and advertise in the Press. Stocks 1x Vircinia Ciry appear to he “ at rest” during the holiday scason. We have reccived no reports since December 28. The Esmeralda Stock Board has not been in session for some months. We hear it has adjourned sine die. Derrrep.—An article on the State Library; nine communications from Svnora, ‘Tuolumne County, and several other contributions, which will appear next week. Bur.1ox.—The weight of bullion shipped by Well, Fargo & Co., from Virginia City during the week . ending Dec. 26, was over thrce aud a half tons, or 7,174 ths., worth $473,205.