

45 



During 1855, a large proportion of this ore was sloped out and reduced, and 

 at the time I visited the mine the company had commenced opening another 

 level one hundred and seven feet west of the engine shaft, and had made a 

 cross-cut seventy-six feet in length. 



On the Ben Franklin lode an adit had been driven one hundred and seventy 

 feet, at which point the vein was cut, and a level was being driven to the south, 

 which, in December, had attained the length of thirty-five feet. A considerable 

 body of ore had been delivered to the surface, having many of the characteristics 

 of Ophir Hill. 



The character of the ores of this lode are such, that the gold which it contains, 

 is in a free state, owing to the extensive decomposition of the pyritous elements 

 originally contained within it. There are some portions, however, which require 

 calcination, in order to liberate the metal. The depth of seventeen fathoms has 

 not been sufficient to produce a solid wall to the lode, though all the mines which 

 have opened in this vicinity have presented this feature usually at about half that 

 depth. 



From the position of the green-stone, it is highly probable that a few feet below 

 their present workings, this rock will be met, as in the adjacent country. 



The following statistics will give the operations of this mine for 1854 and 1855 : 



Statistics for 1854. 



Number of men employed, thirty-six. 



20 Miners, $5 per day $2,400 



6 Stokers, $4 u 576 



2 Engineers, mine 200 



2 " mill.... 260 



2 Battery Tenders 180 



2 Shaft Stokers 120 



1 Amalgamator 1 30 



1 Carpenter 130 



1 Blacksmith 130 



4 cords Wood per day, $4 50 per cord 432 



Teaming, $25 per day : 600 



Total $5,158 



Sinking Engine Shaft 1,500 



Aggregate expenses for 10 months $51,580 



Dead work . 1,500 



Total expenses $53,080 



Aggregate ore reduced, 5,200 tuns. 



Aggregate value ore reduced. 130,000 



Balance in. favor $76,120 



