Volume 35 (1877) (426 pages)

182 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS {September 22, 1877. Bedrock Flumes. A Chance for Cutting a Profitable One in Idaho. We take the following from the Idaho HVorld, published in Idabo City: Several years ago the question of practicability of constructing a bedrock flume in Moore creek was considered in a business light, and a survey made to ascertain the amount of fall to the creek, commencing at a point about six miles below Idaho City, and running to a point about two miles above towu. The grade was ascertained to be light, but sufficient to run with a large body of water success” fully. Onr delegate in Congress, Hon. 8. A. Merritt, was requested to procure the passage of a bill through Congress, granting a right of way and privilege of using timher, stone, etc., in constructing the work. For-some reason or otber unkuowu to us now, the right of way was not granted; and not loug after, some of tbe leadiug spirits iu the enterprise left the Territory, transferring their means to other fields, and directing their husiuess talents and energies in other chaunels, So the enterprise slumbered, and the Vast Amount of Wealth In gold and silver that onght to be taken out, still lies at rest in the bed of the creek. There isan exteut of six miles in Moore creek and one mile iu Elk, from its junction with Moore, that may be treatel as ground that can be profitably worked through a bedrock flume on alarge suale. These seven miles will average more thau 600 feet in width and 12 feet in depth of tailings; top dirt that was stripped off of bottou gravel iu early days, and occasioually new ground. ‘The lowest possihle estimate of tbe amount of gold contained in tbis seven miles of creek will exceed Eleven Million Dollars, Besides what is contained in the thousands of acres of low bars aud flats that skirt tbe creek, aud canuot now be worked for want of fall or dump. In addition to this amount of gold, it is estimated safely that One Hundred Tons of Quicksilver Lie so iutermixed with the tailings that a company workiug the creek would bave tbe advantage of at least a hundred thousand dollars worth of this article so indispensable in the working of mines. These estimates are made so low that there can be no possibility of results falling below estimates; while the prohabilities are in favor of obtaiuing double the amount of gold stated in the estimate. We ask for a thorough iuvestigatiou of this matter hy those interested iu the prosperity of the conutry, aud if any one zan show the estimates to be unreliable or overdrawn we will be pleased to have them do it. Besides the bullion obtained directly from tbe working of the creek bed, the advantages resultiug from it indirectly as an artery of drainage, and as affording dump and outlet, are incalculable; and such a work would yield an annual revenue to the owners asa receptacle for tailings aud second washiugs, after the creek bed shall have been worked out, as long as there is gold in the hills that rise from the creek, After the expiration of Merritt’s term iu Congress a bill was drawn up and placed in the hands of Hon. John Hailey, who was then the delegate, hut for some reason he failed to procure its passage. The bill provided for a right of way up the creek, together with the privilege of using timber, etc., iu constructing the flume. The franchise asked for could uot deprive any one of their rights, neither could it have any other than a beneticial effect upon the interests of any. Withont the flume they can never work a foot of their ground while time lasts, while for the privilege of dumpiug into the flume they could afford to pay areasonable percentage of ihe gold yield and be greatly benefited in the end. The company that was incorporated several years ago and made the survey of Moore creek, also enbraced in their enterprise Grauite creek and Grimes’ creek, each of which are equally as rich, it is considered, 2s Moore creek; but it seems to us that the enterprise is too vast for one, and that three distinct companies would be more certain of success, There is not sufficient local capital that ean be enlisted in this enterprise to warrant the uudertaking, but surely our citizens ought to be able to enlist foreign capital sufficient to carry tbe work into successfnl operation. When engaged in, it will pay a company largely, and afford profitable employment for at least 500 men for 12, 15 or 20 years, A New York compauy has recently bought placer mines in Chile, and are preparing to work them hy hydraulie process. ‘They are to erect a 400-horse power engine to raise water from Catapilco lake to an elevation of 450 feet (into a reservuir), which is to be used in the pipes. The sluices are to be paved with railroad iron, and all the works are to be first-class and uuder the superinteudeuce of an experieuced California miner. ‘The ground that all this capital is employed to work prospects 50 ceuts per ton. There is no miner among us but who kuows tbe ground we propose to work in Moore creek will pay more than 50 cents per ton, including that which lays ou the bedrock. A great deal of top gravel was wheeled back in early days that would pay three and fonr ‘ bits” to the wheelbarrow load. There are benches left bere . and there along the hed of the creek that will pay that mucb to the pan of gravel; and yet we, for want of capital aud enterprise, are allowing tbis grand field to lie unworked, while there are millions of dollars seeking investmeut, and some of it going to forcign countries to be engaged in less profitable enterprises. After the first three miles are constructed, the work will be self-sustainmg, and from the fourtb mile will be dividend-paying; so that an outlay of $90,000 would he in all probability ample to put in motion an enterprise of more importauce to the country than the developnient of any half dozen quartz mines in it. This enterprise accomplished, will infuse new life into the country, increase its population and revive business. Real estate of all kinds, all over this county and Ada, would enhance in value on account of the increased business and increased demand for farm products. It is an enterprise that the business men and agriculturists of the country are more deeply interested in than even the miners themselves. Shall the matter coutiune to slumber, or will a few men most interested aud most able put their shoulders to the wheel. With four miles of flume laid in either one of these creeks— Moore, Grimes or Granite—three years would uot elapse witbont the other two being in operation also, the beneficial results of which would be great and permauent. Timber for the Mines. . Where the Lumber for the Comstock Mining Operations Comes From. The distance from Carson City to Glenbrook, by way of the Clear Creek pass over the eastern summit of the Sierra, is 14 miles; to the snmmit of the pass but nine miles. A few years ago this range of mountaius, from hase to summit, was covered with a dense growth of pines. Much of this timher, it was believed, would never be available for commercial purposes on account of its seemingly inaccessible location. The great demand of the mines for wood and timber supplies soon, however, swept away the most accessible portions, and set at work the ingenuity of man to devise ways and means for etting at the rest. H. M. Yerrington, of the ac of Yerrington, Bliss & Co., and present Superinteudeut of the Virginia aud Truckee railroad, was the first to solve the problem. The Big Flume. This he did by building a large V-shaped flume from the sumnuit to the valley, which was double-boarded inside with three-inch plank, and large enongh to float a 16 or 20-inch timber with ease. This flume is 14 miles in length and was carried down over rocky, rugged portions of the mountain, perfectly inaccessible to any other method of conveyance. Notbing of the kind had ever before succeeded in this section of the country, as it was not only necessary to crook and curve the fiume badly in many places, hut to give it in others a fearful pitch or fall, which was likely to make it choke, run over, and cause the loss of much lumber aud wood. In order to prevent this, men were stationed at the most dangerous places, and provided with an instrument for lifting and handling the timbers so perfect in its strength and shape that a single man perfected iu its, use could lift the largest log or piece of timher when in motion from the Hume and land it safely on the ground. On the summit this flume has bcen gradually extended, both north aud south, until the beautiful pine forests that covered the mountain peaks have melted away, and nothing is now left to bless the gaze of the eyes save the bright blue skies and heaps of naked granite boulders. This flume, at a day’s run, has often delivered from the summit to Carson City 500,000 feet of lumber and 750 cords of wood. The summit of the mouutains once swept, the longing eyes of the capitalist were soon turned to the grand old forests tbat hung in dense profusion on the borders of Lake Tahoe. But how were tbey to make them available? The Narrow-Gauge Railroad. The eastern summit was 1,500 feet above the level of the lake, and to reach the flat horder next the water, it was necessary to descend a steep aud rugged mountain side 1,000 feet almost perpendicularly. But the avarice of man, when stirred up by visions of wealth almost within its grasp, pauses at no barrier, and in a short space of time it was announced that Yerrington, Bliss & Co. were building a narrow-gauge railroad from the margin of the lake tothe summit. A few days since a representative of the News, leaving the stage at Summit station, accepted au invitation of John A. Johnson, the efficient and courteous superintendent of the road, to enjoy the pleasures of a ride over the road from the summit to Glenbrook. The road is nine and a half miles in length, the steepest part of the abrupt portion of the grade being 165 feet and the least 120 feet to tbe mile. Seated on the pilot or cowcatcher of the engine, we had but fairly started hefore we eutered a tunnelhewn through solid rock a distanco of 500 feet. Emerging froin that, we glided swiftly down the mountain side, dodging quickly and cautiously in our tortuous course around the huge cliffs and piles of granite that blocked our way, until, reaching a cragged potut uf granite aloug which the road ran, the lake like a grand and beautiful vision opened to our view. So delightful and absorbing was the beautiful landscape upon which our eyes rested, that we noted not the route over which we were borne so swiftly, until, casting our eyes downward, we found ourselves on a rocky promontory at the almost extreme end of tbe road. But a few feet more would have reached the end and hurled us over a buge precipice, bundreds of feet, into the lasbing waves of tbe blue lake below. Just asit seemed as if nothing eould save us, and the trestle-work on which the road rested appeared to be giving away beneath us, the locomotive whistle gave a wild shriek, the engine was reversed, a switch was opened at tbe back eud of the train, and we glided gently backward down tbe mountain slope for a quarter of a mile; then auotber switch was opened and we dashed ahead for about tbe same distance; then again reversed and backed down, and so contiuued to do, the track of the road describing the exact figure of the letter M, until the more favorahle grouud of the margin of the lake was reached, a thousand feet directly below the poiut from which we started. The engines used on the road were mauufactured to to order aud are models .of beauty and strength. A single engine hauls up the steep grades, with apparent ease, a train of six or eight cars heavily loaded with lumber or wood, which, on reachiug the Summit, are dumped into the flume aud sent on their way to Carson City. The Mills, On the margiu of the lake at Glenbrook the company have erected two model saw-mills, complete in every modern device and improvemeut for cuttiug logs brought from the opposite side of the lake into lumber and timber ready for shipment. For a time attempts were made to gather in the beautiful pines of Lake valley, at the head of the lake, but the beavy quicksauds stretching back for a long distance prevented a successful accomplishment of the work. To overcome this, probably, the first engine and railroad in the United States for logging purposes was built. When the order was given for the building of this engine, aud astatemeut of its iuteuded use made to the manufacturers, they could hardly be convinced that a locomotive and railroad could be used for such purposes, The judgment of the managers, however, proved correct, and the enterprise is now one of the most successful possible. Tbe road track is made portable, so that as fast as one swath of the great pines is swept away tbe road is moved over and another is commeuced. The Meteor. For a time the company experienced much trouble in gettiug booms of logs conveyed from tbe opposite shores of the lake to Glenbrook quick enough. Sudden changes of weather are liable to oceur, and strong gusts and whirls of wind arise suddenly on the lake, which are liable to wreck and scatter a boom of logs while under transit. To overcome this trouble the company had manufactured in the East, at a cost of $30,000, oue of the most substantial and swift little irou steamers ever set afloat. Light of draft, and gliding through the water at the rate of 22 miles an bour, it is more like a thing of life than a combination of mechanical skill, and bears the name of Afefeor on her prow with an appropriateness seldom equaled. On every side of the lake the mountain gorges are bein; swept by this company of their wealth an beauty. Already huge barges are floating wood, a thousand cords ata trip, to the terminus of the narrow gauge at Glcuhrook, from whence it is shipped to Virginia and Gold Hill to supply ow mills and mines. The energy, enterprise and courage displayed by Yerington, Bliss & Co., in the successful building aud operation of these flumes, railroad-, mills and steamers, is almost wonderful, ud turnishes an exariple of determination and industry seldom if ever equaled.—@old Hill News. A New Tunnel Project. The Salt Lake Tribune says: For some time past, George A. Jackson, a well-known mining superintendent of Bingham, bas been watching the course of all the main producing veins in West Mountain district, and has concluded that they all spruug from one center—the great Bald mountain of the Oquirrh range. From tbis mountain runs a spur in a northeasterly direction, Butterfield canyou being on the south side aud Bingham canyou on the north. It is into this spur, near tbe junction of tbe main range, that all the veins point. Another feature is that the nearer you approach the main range, tbe higber grade the ore becomes in silver, and, in some cases, fine chutes of goldbeariug quartz have been found, assaying up in the thousands, This is the situation as found hy Mr. Jackson, who concluded to at once locate a tunncl cutting the ledges of ore at right angles, commencing in Butterfield canyon, running in a northwesterly direction into Carr Fork canyon, This will certainly cross-cut every ledge known in Bingham canyon, and many fine veins not heretofore discovered. It is certainly destiued to be one of the largest and richest mining enterprises of Utah. Work has already commeuced on the tuurel, and Mr. Jackson, a8 mauager, proposes to push it as fast as he can by hand, and aa soon as macbinery, sucb as compressors and power drills, can be got, will drive it at the rate of 50 feet per week. The chances are that before 1,000 feet have been driven the tunnel will be in pay ore and become :emu erative to the owners. Mr. Jackson is now incorporating the claim, and parties in California bave also examined the claim and propose joining him, Gravel Mining in Tuolumne County. There is little doubt tbat Tuolumne county contains anumber of gravel beds that are destined to be made profitable when worked in a proper manner. For some reason there is not to this time a single gravel claim worked as it sbould he, to get profit where gold is sparsely scattered. There are many things connected with the ‘working of gravel, on a large scale, that has been neglected entirely by our miners; but the time is at band when there is every reasou for believing tbat in this elass of mining our county will not remain bebind those northern couuties, that bave poured out so much treasure from gravel banks, Whben water comes, several claims in different portions of tbe county will be put in active operation, which, with proper appliances, cannot fail to pay handsomely. The gravel here prospects equally with that of other places, where tbis kind of mining has heen very successful. The old way of working must give way to a system tbat reduces the bauks many times faster. Our towsman, Caleb Dorsey, Esq. , . who has prospected in the gravel range beyond Garrote, is preparing to work on the largest scale this winter; be is making new and repairing old ditches, putting in tail races to empty into the Tuolumne river, building extensive flumes, getting new pipes and all of the most approved appliances known, He expects to have every thing ready by the first of November, and expects the outlay to be from $25,000 to $30,000. He will have a pressure of 200 feet, witb a bank of gravel ranging from 75 to 200 feet in depth, that prospects, as we are informed, equal to those claims that have become famous in the northern inines of this State. Last winter, with 84 feet as the highest pressure, but only an average of 60 feet, in prospecting, one run of 25 days cleaned up $1,400; another run of 15 days yielded $1,354. With the pressure now gained, Mr. Dorsey says that a pipe will do more than three times tbe work that could he doue when prospecting in the winter. Tbe elaim is superinteuded by A. Catlin Cook, a practical man iu every sense, who has had large experience in tls class of mining fora number of years. He was formerly and fora lng period a 1esident of this couuty, connected with water ditcbes and flumes. We have known bim long and have implicit confidence in his jndgment, He says tbere is no reason why this gravel bed should not pay largely; he expresses satisfaction with the prospects, and entertains no doubt of making the claim a very profitable oue, There can be no question tbat tbe old county will yet create a sensation when ber gravel beds are properly opened, and our miners cannot do better than tum their attent.on in this direction. Soon as one claim is successfully worked it will be followed by many, mauy more.— Union Democrat. Tue McCrackin Country.—We learu from Mr. George R. Ammon@ manager for Allen & White, the contractors for constructing the new 20-stamp mill on the Sandy, three miles south of Greenwood, that the machiuery for the mill is now at Aubrey, and will soon he landed on tbe site where it is to be erected, Mr. Ammond contracted some time since, with Mr. George W. Curtis, of this town, for tbe lumber, soine 150,000 feet, and is now here for the purpose of contracting for freighting the same to Greenwood. Owing to the continued dry weather no grass has grown in that section this season, consequently work cattle and mules have to be fed entirely on tame bay, grown on ranches iu that vicinity. A new road is now being opened from the sink of Date creek, nine miles below Gilson’s ranch, by one of our most enterprising freighters, Mr. J. M. Bryan, who is taking in barley from Salt river to Greenwood for the use of bis teams, which are employed hauling ore’ to the Greenwood mill for the McCrackin company. Theroad when completed will be free from rock, of easy grade, and water and grass plenty, therefore we apprehend tbat Mr. Ammond will have but little trouble in fiuding freighters, The Signal mill, owned by Leet, Ewing & Co., is nearly finished, and will soon be doing its work on ore from an extension claim of tbe celebrated McCrackin lead. Tbe old Greenwood is still pounding away, and tbe yield is about $40,000 per month, with thousands of tons of rich ore in sight, and the general outlook in tbe Sandy country never was better than at present.—Arizona Miner. Minerat Hiix,.—The lowest workings at Mineral Hill bave only as yet attained a depth of 180 feet, and the enormous returns in former years from that locality all came from surface deposits. All the miners who reside and work in that locality are firm in the belief of tbe existence of a ledge at a greater depth, and have the utmost faith that future operations will prove the correctness of the theory. Its probable pitch is gravely discussed, and heated arguments often ensue as to whetber it dips to the east, or will turn to a westerly inclination as the vein is explored. If Captain Plummer receives the necessary instructions, and he is daily expecting them, the diamond drills will soon be set to work, and the question settled beyond any further dispute. If the miners’ theories are correct, the little town on tbe hill bas a lively future before it—Zureka Sintinel. Nore on tHe Srrixe.—Of the 104 locomotives burned in the roundhouse of the Pennsylvania railroad, at Pittsburg, 50 have been pronounced worthless except for scrap. The remainder will be sent to Altoona for repairs.

182 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS {September 22, 1877. Bedrock Flumes. A Chance for Cutting a Profitable One in Idaho. We take the following from the Idaho HVorld, published in Idabo City: Several years ago the question of practicability of constructing a bedrock flume in Moore creek was considered in a business light, and a survey made to ascertain the amount of fall to the creek, commencing at a point about six miles below Idaho City, and running to a point about two miles above towu. The grade was ascertained to be light, but sufficient to run with a large body of water success” fully. Onr delegate in Congress, Hon. 8. A. Merritt, was requested to procure the passage of a bill through Congress, granting a right of way and privilege of using timher, stone, etc., in constructing the work. For-some reason or otber unkuowu to us now, the right of way was not granted; and not loug after, some of tbe leadiug spirits iu the enterprise left the Territory, transferring their means to other fields, and directing their husiuess talents and energies in other chaunels, So the enterprise slumbered, and the Vast Amount of Wealth In gold and silver that onght to be taken out, still lies at rest in the bed of the creek. There isan exteut of six miles in Moore creek and one mile iu Elk, from its junction with Moore, that may be treatel as ground that can be profitably worked through a bedrock flume on alarge suale. These seven miles will average more thau 600 feet in width and 12 feet in depth of tailings; top dirt that was stripped off of bottou gravel iu early days, and occasioually new ground. ‘The lowest possihle estimate of tbe amount of gold contained in tbis seven miles of creek will exceed Eleven Million Dollars, Besides what is contained in the thousands of acres of low bars aud flats that skirt tbe creek, aud canuot now be worked for want of fall or dump. In addition to this amount of gold, it is estimated safely that One Hundred Tons of Quicksilver Lie so iutermixed with the tailings that a company workiug the creek would bave tbe advantage of at least a hundred thousand dollars worth of this article so indispensable in the working of mines. These estimates are made so low that there can be no possibility of results falling below estimates; while the prohabilities are in favor of obtaiuing double the amount of gold stated in the estimate. We ask for a thorough iuvestigatiou of this matter hy those interested iu the prosperity of the conutry, aud if any one zan show the estimates to be unreliable or overdrawn we will be pleased to have them do it. Besides the bullion obtained directly from tbe working of the creek bed, the advantages resultiug from it indirectly as an artery of drainage, and as affording dump and outlet, are incalculable; and such a work would yield an annual revenue to the owners asa receptacle for tailings aud second washiugs, after the creek bed shall have been worked out, as long as there is gold in the hills that rise from the creek, After the expiration of Merritt’s term iu Congress a bill was drawn up and placed in the hands of Hon. John Hailey, who was then the delegate, hut for some reason he failed to procure its passage. The bill provided for a right of way up the creek, together with the privilege of using timber, etc., iu constructing the flume. The franchise asked for could uot deprive any one of their rights, neither could it have any other than a beneticial effect upon the interests of any. Withont the flume they can never work a foot of their ground while time lasts, while for the privilege of dumpiug into the flume they could afford to pay areasonable percentage of ihe gold yield and be greatly benefited in the end. The company that was incorporated several years ago and made the survey of Moore creek, also enbraced in their enterprise Grauite creek and Grimes’ creek, each of which are equally as rich, it is considered, 2s Moore creek; but it seems to us that the enterprise is too vast for one, and that three distinct companies would be more certain of success, There is not sufficient local capital that ean be enlisted in this enterprise to warrant the uudertaking, but surely our citizens ought to be able to enlist foreign capital sufficient to carry tbe work into successfnl operation. When engaged in, it will pay a company largely, and afford profitable employment for at least 500 men for 12, 15 or 20 years, A New York compauy has recently bought placer mines in Chile, and are preparing to work them hy hydraulie process. ‘They are to erect a 400-horse power engine to raise water from Catapilco lake to an elevation of 450 feet (into a reservuir), which is to be used in the pipes. The sluices are to be paved with railroad iron, and all the works are to be first-class and uuder the superinteudeuce of an experieuced California miner. ‘The ground that all this capital is employed to work prospects 50 ceuts per ton. There is no miner among us but who kuows tbe ground we propose to work in Moore creek will pay more than 50 cents per ton, including that which lays ou the bedrock. A great deal of top gravel was wheeled back in early days that would pay three and fonr ‘ bits” to the wheelbarrow load. There are benches left bere . and there along the hed of the creek that will pay that mucb to the pan of gravel; and yet we, for want of capital aud enterprise, are allowing tbis grand field to lie unworked, while there are millions of dollars seeking investmeut, and some of it going to forcign countries to be engaged in less profitable enterprises. After the first three miles are constructed, the work will be self-sustainmg, and from the fourtb mile will be dividend-paying; so that an outlay of $90,000 would he in all probability ample to put in motion an enterprise of more importauce to the country than the developnient of any half dozen quartz mines in it. This enterprise accomplished, will infuse new life into the country, increase its population and revive business. Real estate of all kinds, all over this county and Ada, would enhance in value on account of the increased business and increased demand for farm products. It is an enterprise that the business men and agriculturists of the country are more deeply interested in than even the miners themselves. Shall the matter coutiune to slumber, or will a few men most interested aud most able put their shoulders to the wheel. With four miles of flume laid in either one of these creeks— Moore, Grimes or Granite—three years would uot elapse witbont the other two being in operation also, the beneficial results of which would be great and permauent. Timber for the Mines. . Where the Lumber for the Comstock Mining Operations Comes From. The distance from Carson City to Glenbrook, by way of the Clear Creek pass over the eastern summit of the Sierra, is 14 miles; to the snmmit of the pass but nine miles. A few years ago this range of mountaius, from hase to summit, was covered with a dense growth of pines. Much of this timher, it was believed, would never be available for commercial purposes on account of its seemingly inaccessible location. The great demand of the mines for wood and timber supplies soon, however, swept away the most accessible portions, and set at work the ingenuity of man to devise ways and means for etting at the rest. H. M. Yerrington, of the ac of Yerrington, Bliss & Co., and present Superinteudeut of the Virginia aud Truckee railroad, was the first to solve the problem. The Big Flume. This he did by building a large V-shaped flume from the sumnuit to the valley, which was double-boarded inside with three-inch plank, and large enongh to float a 16 or 20-inch timber with ease. This flume is 14 miles in length and was carried down over rocky, rugged portions of the mountain, perfectly inaccessible to any other method of conveyance. Notbing of the kind had ever before succeeded in this section of the country, as it was not only necessary to crook and curve the fiume badly in many places, hut to give it in others a fearful pitch or fall, which was likely to make it choke, run over, and cause the loss of much lumber aud wood. In order to prevent this, men were stationed at the most dangerous places, and provided with an instrument for lifting and handling the timbers so perfect in its strength and shape that a single man perfected iu its, use could lift the largest log or piece of timher when in motion from the Hume and land it safely on the ground. On the summit this flume has bcen gradually extended, both north aud south, until the beautiful pine forests that covered the mountain peaks have melted away, and nothing is now left to bless the gaze of the eyes save the bright blue skies and heaps of naked granite boulders. This flume, at a day’s run, has often delivered from the summit to Carson City 500,000 feet of lumber and 750 cords of wood. The summit of the mouutains once swept, the longing eyes of the capitalist were soon turned to the grand old forests tbat hung in dense profusion on the borders of Lake Tahoe. But how were tbey to make them available? The Narrow-Gauge Railroad. The eastern summit was 1,500 feet above the level of the lake, and to reach the flat horder next the water, it was necessary to descend a steep aud rugged mountain side 1,000 feet almost perpendicularly. But the avarice of man, when stirred up by visions of wealth almost within its grasp, pauses at no barrier, and in a short space of time it was announced that Yerrington, Bliss & Co. were building a narrow-gauge railroad from the margin of the lake tothe summit. A few days since a representative of the News, leaving the stage at Summit station, accepted au invitation of John A. Johnson, the efficient and courteous superintendent of the road, to enjoy the pleasures of a ride over the road from the summit to Glenbrook. The road is nine and a half miles in length, the steepest part of the abrupt portion of the grade being 165 feet and the least 120 feet to tbe mile. Seated on the pilot or cowcatcher of the engine, we had but fairly started hefore we eutered a tunnelhewn through solid rock a distanco of 500 feet. Emerging froin that, we glided swiftly down the mountain side, dodging quickly and cautiously in our tortuous course around the huge cliffs and piles of granite that blocked our way, until, reaching a cragged potut uf granite aloug which the road ran, the lake like a grand and beautiful vision opened to our view. So delightful and absorbing was the beautiful landscape upon which our eyes rested, that we noted not the route over which we were borne so swiftly, until, casting our eyes downward, we found ourselves on a rocky promontory at the almost extreme end of tbe road. But a few feet more would have reached the end and hurled us over a buge precipice, bundreds of feet, into the lasbing waves of tbe blue lake

below. Just asit seemed as if nothing eould save us, and the trestle-work on which the road rested appeared to be giving away beneath us, the locomotive whistle gave a wild shriek, the engine was reversed, a switch was opened at tbe back eud of the train, and we glided gently backward down tbe mountain slope for a quarter of a mile; then auotber switch was opened and we dashed ahead for about tbe same distance; then again reversed and backed down, and so contiuued to do, the track of the road describing the exact figure of the letter M, until the more favorahle grouud of the margin of the lake was reached, a thousand feet directly below the poiut from which we started. The engines used on the road were mauufactured to to order aud are models .of beauty and strength. A single engine hauls up the steep grades, with apparent ease, a train of six or eight cars heavily loaded with lumber or wood, which, on reachiug the Summit, are dumped into the flume aud sent on their way to Carson City. The Mills, On the margiu of the lake at Glenbrook the company have erected two model saw-mills, complete in every modern device and improvemeut for cuttiug logs brought from the opposite side of the lake into lumber and timber ready for shipment. For a time attempts were made to gather in the beautiful pines of Lake valley, at the head of the lake, but the beavy quicksauds stretching back for a long distance prevented a successful accomplishment of the work. To overcome this, probably, the first engine and railroad in the United States for logging purposes was built. When the order was given for the building of this engine, aud astatemeut of its iuteuded use made to the manufacturers, they could hardly be convinced that a locomotive and railroad could be used for such purposes, The judgment of the managers, however, proved correct, and the enterprise is now one of the most successful possible. Tbe road track is made portable, so that as fast as one swath of the great pines is swept away tbe road is moved over and another is commeuced. The Meteor. For a time the company experienced much trouble in gettiug booms of logs conveyed from tbe opposite shores of the lake to Glenbrook quick enough. Sudden changes of weather are liable to oceur, and strong gusts and whirls of wind arise suddenly on the lake, which are liable to wreck and scatter a boom of logs while under transit. To overcome this trouble the company had manufactured in the East, at a cost of $30,000, oue of the most substantial and swift little irou steamers ever set afloat. Light of draft, and gliding through the water at the rate of 22 miles an bour, it is more like a thing of life than a combination of mechanical skill, and bears the name of Afefeor on her prow with an appropriateness seldom equaled. On every side of the lake the mountain gorges are bein; swept by this company of their wealth an beauty. Already huge barges are floating wood, a thousand cords ata trip, to the terminus of the narrow gauge at Glcuhrook, from whence it is shipped to Virginia and Gold Hill to supply ow mills and mines. The energy, enterprise and courage displayed by Yerington, Bliss & Co., in the successful building aud operation of these flumes, railroad-, mills and steamers, is almost wonderful, ud turnishes an exariple of determination and industry seldom if ever equaled.—@old Hill News. A New Tunnel Project. The Salt Lake Tribune says: For some time past, George A. Jackson, a well-known mining superintendent of Bingham, bas been watching the course of all the main producing veins in West Mountain district, and has concluded that they all spruug from one center—the great Bald mountain of the Oquirrh range. From tbis mountain runs a spur in a northeasterly direction, Butterfield canyou being on the south side aud Bingham canyou on the north. It is into this spur, near tbe junction of tbe main range, that all the veins point. Another feature is that the nearer you approach the main range, tbe higber grade the ore becomes in silver, and, in some cases, fine chutes of goldbeariug quartz have been found, assaying up in the thousands, This is the situation as found hy Mr. Jackson, who concluded to at once locate a tunncl cutting the ledges of ore at right angles, commencing in Butterfield canyon, running in a northwesterly direction into Carr Fork canyon, This will certainly cross-cut every ledge known in Bingham canyon, and many fine veins not heretofore discovered. It is certainly destiued to be one of the largest and richest mining enterprises of Utah. Work has already commeuced on the tuurel, and Mr. Jackson, a8 mauager, proposes to push it as fast as he can by hand, and aa soon as macbinery, sucb as compressors and power drills, can be got, will drive it at the rate of 50 feet per week. The chances are that before 1,000 feet have been driven the tunnel will be in pay ore and become :emu erative to the owners. Mr. Jackson is now incorporating the claim, and parties in California bave also examined the claim and propose joining him, Gravel Mining in Tuolumne County. There is little doubt tbat Tuolumne county contains anumber of gravel beds that are destined to be made profitable when worked in a proper manner. For some reason there is not to this time a single gravel claim worked as it sbould he, to get profit where gold is sparsely scattered. There are many things connected with the ‘working of gravel, on a large scale, that has been neglected entirely by our miners; but the time is at band when there is every reasou for believing tbat in this elass of mining our county will not remain bebind those northern couuties, that bave poured out so much treasure from gravel banks, Whben water comes, several claims in different portions of tbe county will be put in active operation, which, with proper appliances, cannot fail to pay handsomely. The gravel here prospects equally with that of other places, where tbis kind of mining has heen very successful. The old way of working must give way to a system tbat reduces the bauks many times faster. Our towsman, Caleb Dorsey, Esq. , . who has prospected in the gravel range beyond Garrote, is preparing to work on the largest scale this winter; be is making new and repairing old ditches, putting in tail races to empty into the Tuolumne river, building extensive flumes, getting new pipes and all of the most approved appliances known, He expects to have every thing ready by the first of November, and expects the outlay to be from $25,000 to $30,000. He will have a pressure of 200 feet, witb a bank of gravel ranging from 75 to 200 feet in depth, that prospects, as we are informed, equal to those claims that have become famous in the northern inines of this State. Last winter, with 84 feet as the highest pressure, but only an average of 60 feet, in prospecting, one run of 25 days cleaned up $1,400; another run of 15 days yielded $1,354. With the pressure now gained, Mr. Dorsey says that a pipe will do more than three times tbe work that could he doue when prospecting in the winter. Tbe elaim is superinteuded by A. Catlin Cook, a practical man iu every sense, who has had large experience in tls class of mining fora number of years. He was formerly and fora lng period a 1esident of this couuty, connected with water ditcbes and flumes. We have known bim long and have implicit confidence in his jndgment, He says tbere is no reason why this gravel bed should not pay largely; he expresses satisfaction with the prospects, and entertains no doubt of making the claim a very profitable oue, There can be no question tbat tbe old county will yet create a sensation when ber gravel beds are properly opened, and our miners cannot do better than tum their attent.on in this direction. Soon as one claim is successfully worked it will be followed by many, mauy more.— Union Democrat. Tue McCrackin Country.—We learu from Mr. George R. Ammon@ manager for Allen & White, the contractors for constructing the new 20-stamp mill on the Sandy, three miles south of Greenwood, that the machiuery for the mill is now at Aubrey, and will soon he landed on tbe site where it is to be erected, Mr. Ammond contracted some time since, with Mr. George W. Curtis, of this town, for tbe lumber, soine 150,000 feet, and is now here for the purpose of contracting for freighting the same to Greenwood. Owing to the continued dry weather no grass has grown in that section this season, consequently work cattle and mules have to be fed entirely on tame bay, grown on ranches iu that vicinity. A new road is now being opened from the sink of Date creek, nine miles below Gilson’s ranch, by one of our most enterprising freighters, Mr. J. M. Bryan, who is taking in barley from Salt river to Greenwood for the use of bis teams, which are employed hauling ore’ to the Greenwood mill for the McCrackin company. Theroad when completed will be free from rock, of easy grade, and water and grass plenty, therefore we apprehend tbat Mr. Ammond will have but little trouble in fiuding freighters, The Signal mill, owned by Leet, Ewing & Co., is nearly finished, and will soon be doing its work on ore from an extension claim of tbe celebrated McCrackin lead. Tbe old Greenwood is still pounding away, and tbe yield is about $40,000 per month, with thousands of tons of rich ore in sight, and the general outlook in tbe Sandy country never was better than at present.—Arizona Miner. Minerat Hiix,.—The lowest workings at Mineral Hill bave only as yet attained a depth of 180 feet, and the enormous returns in former years from that locality all came from surface deposits. All the miners who reside and work in that locality are firm in the belief of tbe existence of a ledge at a greater depth, and have the utmost faith that future operations will prove the correctness of the theory. Its probable pitch is gravely discussed, and heated arguments often ensue as to whetber it dips to the east, or will turn to a westerly inclination as the vein is explored. If Captain Plummer receives the necessary instructions, and he is daily expecting them, the diamond drills will soon be set to work, and the question settled beyond any further dispute. If the miners’ theories are correct, the little town on tbe hill bas a lively future before it—Zureka Sintinel. Nore on tHe Srrixe.—Of the 104 locomotives burned in the roundhouse of the Pennsylvania railroad, at Pittsburg, 50 have been pronounced worthless except for scrap. The remainder will be sent to Altoona for repairs.