CHAPTEE III. 



THE COMSTOCK MIXES. 



Section I. — General jiethod op exploitation — The vein — Mining claims — 

 Shafts — Shaft timbeeing — Dmets — Stopes — Stope tdibeeing — Ore ex- 

 traction — Drift car — Cages — Eccentric safety attachjment — Pumps — 

 Ventilation — Hoisting and pumping engines and gear — Savage works. 



Section II. — Cost and tield of ores — Materials consumed — Tabular state- 



3IENTS OF COSTS OF MINING — StATESIENT SHOWING YIELD OF ORES — CONDITIONS 

 OF THE FUTURE AFFECTING COSTS — VIRGINIA AND TRUCKEE RAILROAD — SUTRO 

 TUNNEL. 



Section III. — Eeview of operations of leading siines — Sierra Nevada — Ophir 

 — Virginia consolidated — Gould AJ^^D curry — Savage — Hale antd nor- 

 CROSS — Chollar-potosi — Imperial and empire — ^Yellow jacket — Kentuck 

 — Crown point — ^Belcher — Outside mines — Occidental — Lady bryan — 

 Tabular statements. 



SECTION I. 



GENEEAL METHOD OF EXPLOITATION. 



It is the object of this chapter to describe the methods by which the 

 mines of the Comstock lode are worked, aud to show the general condition of 

 mining industry in the district of which that lode is the principal feature. 



KoTE. — The writer takes occasion liere to express Ms obligation to many gentle- 

 men, superintendents of mines and mills in tlie vicinity of Virginia City, and officers 

 of mining companies, for much assistance in obtaining the information embraced in 

 this and the following chapter. He is especially indebted to Mr. Louis Janin, Jr., 

 formerly superintendent of the Gould and Curry Mine, Mr. Charles Bonner, super- 

 intendent of the Savage Mine, Mr. Jasees Fair, superintendent of the Hale and Nor- 

 cross Mine, and Mr. Isaac L. Eequa, superintendent of the Chollar-Potosi Mine; 

 also, to Mr. Lowell, Mr. Frajstk Thayer, Captain Eawlings, and Mr. John O. 

 Plater, officers of the Savage Mining Company, and to the Hon, F. A. Tritle. 



His thanks are also due to the officers of WeUs, Fargo & Company's Express, not 

 only in Nevada but elsewhere, for many favors; and to Messrs. J. H. Carmany & 

 C03IPANY, i)roprietors and j)ublishers of the Commercial Herald and Market Eeview, 

 of San Francisco, for much statistical information. 



The following publications have been frequently referred to by the writer during 

 13 



