44 



For 1855. 



1 Level, north 40 



1 " south 30 



Total Levels 70 



Fathoms. 



3 Winzes, 5 fathoms each 15 



1 Breast 6 



It should be borne in mind, that during those periods in which improvements 

 are going on, the companies are obliged to retain their men at ruling rates, 

 though no ores are reduced in the interim. This frequently subjects them to 

 heavy expenses, as in the case before us, and also with most of the other mines in 

 the State who 'date their opening in 1852 and 1853. 



The ores of this mine still retain'their peculiar characteristics as in the preced 

 ing year ; the arsenical sulphurets predominating. 



EMPIRE MINE, GRASS VALLEY, NEVADA COUNTY. 



The reductions of this company are situated in the town of Grass Valley. 



The lodes, which constitute this mine, are situated one upon Ophir Hill and 

 another upon the hill known as the Ben Franklin, and about one and a half miles 

 east of the town. 



The company commenced its operation in 1852, and have continued almost 

 uninteruptedly since .that year, or more particularly so from the early part of 

 1853. 



Most of the workings during 1853 were of the superficial character that was 

 so general throughout the State in this department of mining, owing to the then 

 prevailing idea that was promulgated by pretenders, that the lodes would, in all 

 probability, give out at small depths below the surface. 



In the latter part of 1854, the company, like their neighbors of Osborn Hill, 

 commenced their first permanent improvements. This was done by sinking a 

 large whim shaft to the depth of seventeen fathoms, and the driving of a series 

 of adits and levels from the bottom of the shaft. 



The opening consisted in driving what are known as the east and west levels, 

 which are one hundred and twenty feet apart. 



The west level was driven north of the main shaft three hundred and twenty 

 feet, and south of the same one hundred and forty feet ; and the east level cor 

 responding to the former. 



Between the levels and south of the shaft two winzes of one hundred and 

 twenty feet each were driven, and north of the shaft another winze of the same 

 length and which extended east of the east level sixty feet, connecting with 

 another smaller level which had been driven to the length of ninety feet ; a winze, 

 one hundred and eighty feet was also carried to the depth of thirty-five feet 

 between the east and west galleries, and was subsequently carried entirely 

 through to the depth of one hundred and twenty feet. 



The mine was, therefore, divided into six compartments of about one hundred 

 feet square, and all connected directly with the main shaft, affording easy com 

 munication with the surface and the advantage of uninterrupted workings in all 

 parts of the mine. 



