TEEATMENT OP THE COMSTOCK OEES. 263 



five months, covering not only the costs of working, but both ordinary and ex- 

 traordinary repairs, amounted to $43,672 79, or $6 48 per ton. The mill, 

 however, was refitted during this time and several new pans were purchased 

 to replace others that were worn out. The current costs of operation appear, 

 from the accounts of these five months referred to, to be about as follows : 



Per ton. 



For labor fl 40 



Quicksilver, lost 95 



Salt 68 



Sulphate of copper 65 



Fuel 1 20 



Castings 12 



5 00 



To this may be added some incidental expenses, not very large under or- 

 dinary circumstances. In the month of October, when the mill worked 

 1,556 tons, the whole expense per ton was $5 60. The tailings worked in 

 this mill are rather richer than the average material of taht sort, and are there- 

 fore treated with a larger quantity of chemical reagents, making for these items 

 a large cost. Wood is also expensive in the neighborhood of this mill, costing 

 not less than ^10 per cord, and often more. Tailings of lower grade, requiring 

 less outlay for chemicals, worked in less time, especially if in mills of greater 

 capacity, may be treated for proportionately less money. In Avery's tailing 

 mills, in Washoe Valley, where wood is obtained at $6 per cord, the cost pe- 

 ton is said to be $3 50. In Janin & Baldwin's mill there are seventeen 

 men employed, comprising one foreman, five amalgamators, (three by day and 

 two by night,) two engineers, one wood-passer, three teamsters, (bringing tail- 

 ings from the reservoir,) and five shovelers, (loading teams and turning the 

 tailings over to dry.) 



