THE COMSTOCK MIIOES. 189 



vigorously again with fair prospects. The lode strikes north 30° east, true, 

 and dips easterly 45° to 55°. The croppings are very large and the vein 

 consists chiefly of quartz. The surface works yielded a large amount of ore 

 of low grade. The underground developments had reached a depth of about 

 200 feet in October, 1869. A shaft, having three compartments, was in prog- 

 ress. The mine is provided with excellent hoisting and pumping works ; 

 and a new 10-stamp mill was built last year close by the shaft. The mill is 

 furnished with four McCone pans and two large settlers. It can crush and 

 amalgamate about 20 tons per day. The rock is said to yield $30 per ton. 

 The assessments of this company amounted to $15,000 in 1866 ; and in 1868 

 to $150,000. Accounts of its production are not in the writer's possession. 



Among other promising mines is the Twin, or, as it is more recently 

 called, the Hope, working on a narrow gold-bearing vein near Silver City. 

 It is said that this vein, although worked on a limited scale, has yielded fair 

 profits to its owners. A new mill, containing stamps that are to be driven by 

 the direct action of steam upon each stamp-stem, is in process of construction. 



Below Silver City, on the road to Carson, is the Spring Valley district, 

 the scene of much exploration several years ago, and containing some ledges 

 to whose prospective value the railroad may add largely. 



Bullion Product of the Comstock. — The .total yield of the Com- 

 stock lode from the date of its discovery in 1859, to December 31, 1869, 

 is probably not less than $100,000,000. In 1859 and 1860, little was ex- 

 ported, and that chiefly in the form of rich ores that were sent to Europe. 

 In 1862 and 1863, the bullion production increased rapidly, reaching its 

 maximum rate in 1864 and 1865. The following statement, prepared chiefly 

 from data furnished by the Commercial Herald and Market Review, of San 

 Francisco, shows the annual production for nine years. As this statement 

 is chiefly based upon the products of prominent mines, whose operations are 

 well known, it is safe to assume that enough more has been obtained from 

 sources not included in this account to swell the total to $100,000,000. 



