168 MINING IiroUSTRY. 



ton, were as follows: for mining, $1 92; milling, $3 03; incidentals; $0 77; 

 making a total of $5 72, and leaving a profit of $2 94 per ton. During the 

 year referred to there were no assessments, and the dividends amounted to 

 $45,000. The mine is provided with an excellent mill of 20 stamps; also, 

 hoisting machinery for the deeper works, not required in the present opera- 

 tions. 



Ophie. — South of the mines just named are situated those of the Ophir 

 and the Mexican companies, which, in the earlier days of the development 

 of the lode, were among the most productive. It was on this ground that 

 the first discovery of rich silver deposits was made in 1859, on what is now 

 the claim of the Oj)hir company. From the deposits of ore then discovered 

 the Ophir and the Mexican companies, during the earlier and more prosper- 

 ous years of their operations, extracted several millions of dollars. Since the 

 exhaustion of these ore-bodies, in the upper portion of the ground, nothing 

 of importance has been developed in depth. The Mexican mine has long 

 been inactive, but the Ophir is, at present, vigorously at work in sinking a 

 deep shaft in the eastern country-rock, with the purpose of exploring the 

 lode in depth. The sinking of this shaft was begun in August, 1867, and, 

 since that time, the working force of the company has been almost exclu- 

 sively devoted to its prosecution. It has reached a depth of something over 

 700 feet, and, from near that point, a drift has been run toward the lode. 

 Late in 1869 this drift, at a distance of 750 feet from the shaft, encountered 

 an immense flow of water, which, up to the latest accounts received from the 

 mines, prevented further progress. The drift, up to the point where the 

 water was encountered, had passed through country-rock or unproductive 

 vein matter. The point referred to is in or near the lode, and the old works, 

 on a higher level, are the source of a portion of the water. When this has 

 been exhausted it is to be hoped that some valuable discoveries will follow. 

 Meantime some explorations are now in progress in the old works, which are 

 reported as affording favorable results. 



The new shaft of the Ophir is one of the best on the lode. It has four 

 compartments. The pumping and hoisting machinery is well arranged and 

 liberally provided. The pumps are 12 inches in diameter, and are driven by 

 an engine, the cylinder of which is 18 inches diameter by 52 inches stroke. 



