THE COMSTOCK MINES. 169 



There are three hoisting engines, two of them 10 inches in diameter, geared 

 together and driving one shaft; the otlier, a new one, 18 inches in diametei 

 by 27 inches stroke. The reels, winding flat wire rope, turn freely on the 

 shaft, and are moved by clutches, as already indicated on a foregoing page. 

 There are three large boilers. The whole establishment is constructed with 

 a view to permanent and extensive operations, and is provided with the 

 auxiliaries of smith, carpenter, and general repair shops. 



The Opliir company was incorporated in April, 1860. Its claim is 1,400 

 feet in length. Its shares are 16,800 in number, or 12 for each foot of ground. 

 The mine was very productive up to 1866, inclusive. The total value of the 

 bullion produced, up to January 1, 1870, appears from available data to be 

 $5,240,000, all of which, with the exception of, perhaps, $10,000, was ob- 

 tained prior to 1867. The sum of 22 dividends, the last of which was made 

 in March, 1864, amounted to $1,394,400; equal to $83 per share, or $996 

 per foot. In later years the costly works for prospecting have involved the 

 necessity of large assessments on the stockholders. These have been as 

 follows : 



In 1866, $11 per share $184,800 00 



In 1867, $11 per share 184,800 00 



In 1868, $10 per share , 168,000 00 



In 1869, $8 per share 134,400 00 



Total 40 per share , . . . , , . , . 672,000 00 



Virginia Consolidated. — South of the Ophir and Mexican the vein 



becomes poor, and, for aught that has thus far been developed, continues so 



for a distance of 1,500 or 2,000 feet. This ground, until lately, was divided 



among several companies, some of which performed a considerable amount 



of work, obtaining good ore within 200 feet of the surface. As nothing of 



great value was found below that depth, the work was suspended several 



years ago, and the property remained inactive until a consohdation of interest 



was effected in 1868. Under the new organization mining operations have 



been resumed. A shaft has been sunk in the eastern country-rock to a depth 



of 500 feet, and a drift toward the lode was commenced in February, 1870. 

 22 



