THE COMSTOOK MINES. 



147 



SECTION II. 



COST AND YIELD OF OEES. 



The general costs of mining on the Comstock lode are very large, owing 

 chiefly to the high price of labor, and, further, to the great cost of such mate- 

 rials as timber, lumber, and fuel, of which the consumption is enormous. 

 Labor is generally paid by the day or month, the contract system not being 

 in great favor. Wages vary from $3 50 to $6 per day, in coin. Common 

 laborers, wood passers, carmen, &c., obtain $3 50 to $4 ; miners, $4 ; head- 

 miners, $6 ; carpenters, smiths, engine drivers, and other mechanics, $5' to 

 $6, and in some cases more. 



Mateeials Consumed. — The cost and consumption of materials may be 

 indicated by the following statements, taken from the reports of the Savage 

 Mining Company, showing the quantity and value of the various materials 

 used at their mine during two years past. Of the chief items, timber, 

 lumber, and fuel, the former costs about $30 per thousand feet, board 

 measure, and the latter httle over $14 per cord. In these items a great 

 reduction may be hoped for in future, as the railroad, now completed and in 

 operation, connecting the mines with the Carson Valley, establishes cheaper 

 transportation from the sources of supply. 



Quantity and Cost of Materials consumed at the Savage Mine during the year ending June 30, 1868. 



Materials. 



Quantity. 



Extracting 

 ores. 



Prospecting 

 and dead 

 work. 



Accessory 

 work. 



Improve- 

 ments. 



Total cost 

 value. 



Timber . 



feet 



2,075,567 



$37, 943 91 



$9,455 04 



$13, 288 02 



$1. 984 29 



$62,671 26 



Lumber . . . 



feet 



544, 599 



6, 974 00 



I. 996 36 



4.949 17 



3,248 82 



17,168 35 



Spiling - - - 



pes 



15.028 



9 38 



455 66 



2, 414 00 



67 00 



2, 946 04 



Shingles . . 



No. 



5,150 



. - . 





■ . . 



38 21 



38 21 



Bricks . . . 



No. 



33, 700 



. 





. 



606 60 



606 60 



Lime ... 



lbs 



10, 796 



. 



. . . 



. . . 



134 44 



134 44 



Candles . . . 



lbs 



38, 500 



4, 817 63 



2. 373 33 



2, 576 30 



72 05 



9, 838 31 



Wood . . . 



cds 



3.456X 



19,491 43 



13, 729 20 



15.655 70 



64 50 



48, 940 S3 



Charcoal . . 



lbs 



10, 228 



1, 184 41 



621 94 



728 74 



937 07 



3,472 16 



Stone coal - - 



lbs 



16, 925 



24 77 



14 00 



240 75 



624 13 



903 65 



Powder . . - 



kgs 



44K 



100 00 



73 75 



48 75 



- 



222 50 



Iron .... 



lbs 



78, 086 



440 90 



151 78 



4, 629 10 



2, 080 96 



7. 302 74 



