166 MININa INDFSTET. 



cially enlianced by the opposing influence of the principal mining companies 

 working the lode designed to be benefited, proved, for a long time, too great 

 to be overcome by the most persistent efforts on the part of the projector of 

 the scheme. 



The enterprise has, therefore, until a late date, remained entirely inactive, 

 so far as actual work in construction is concerned. Latterly, however, means 

 have been provided in California and Nevada for the commencement of the 

 work, and, in effect, the excavation was begun in the month of October, 

 1869 ; since which time it has, up to present writing, continued steadily in 

 progress. 



Concerning the merits of this scheme, judged only by its intrinsic worth 

 as a means of exploitation, and not considering the conflict of interest which 

 might arise between the owners of the tunnel and the owners of the mines, 

 it may be said that if the lode is to be mined at such a depth as the tunnel 

 proposes to reach, there can be no doubt but that it aflTords the most reasona- 

 ble, if not the only profitable, method of doing so. 



The demand for, or usefulness of, the tunnel depends entirely on the 

 value of the lode in depth ; and the question, now pending, as to this value 

 is likely to be answered sooner, more fully, and at less cost by the several deep 

 shafts, which are now being sunk from the surface downward, than it can be 

 by any other means. These shafts vary in depth from 700 feet to 1,400 feet, 

 the average depth of four or five of them being about 1,200 feet ; to sink 

 these four or five shafts to the tunnel-level will require less length of shaft- 

 ing than it is proposed to construct as auxiliary work along the line of the 

 tunnel itself; they are already equipped with the necessary machinery, and 

 at present rate of progress vdll probably reach the tunnel-level at many points 

 before the tunnel can reach the lode at one ; and some of them would need 

 to be sunk to that level, even if the tunnel were constructed, for the purpose 

 of connection, ventilation, and drainage. Should these shafts, with their 

 connected prospecting works, placed as they are at intervals along the length 

 of the lode, fail to develop any valuable bodies of ore in depth, the tunnel 

 would not be likely to do so and there would be no necessity for its exist- 

 ence. On the other hand, should these explorations now in progress prove 

 the existence of ore-bodies in depth, the tunnel would become a great desid- 

 eratum if not an absolute necessity. 



