386 MTNING DTDUSTRY. 



are greatly enhanced by the extreme hardness of the rock, requiring a large 

 outlay in steel, powder, and muscle. Steel of 1^ inches diameter is used for 

 drills, and it is not uncommon to dull 30 of them in boring a two-foot hole. 

 Two men are required constantly to sharpen the tools for 44 miners. 



The walls of the vein, although pretty firm, require some heavy timber- 

 ing. When the pay-seam is next the hanging-wall it is stoped out, leaving the 

 underlying portion of the vein in place ; but when it is in the foot-wall the 

 hanging portion of the vein must usually be taken with it, as, if left, it would 

 soon drop from the hanging wall. This sometimes involves the use of heavy 

 timbering. Fortunately, though somewhat distant and sparsely scattered, the 

 supply of timber is sufficient for years to come. Stulls, from one to two feet 

 in diameter and ten to twelve feet long, cost from $3 50 to $5 apiece. 

 These are commonly placed six feet apart and a lagging of smaller stuff placed 

 behind them. 



In June, 1868, there were 44 miners employed, nearly one-half of whom 

 were stoping. Including fillers, landers, rock-pickers, &c., the mining force was 

 70 men. At that time the mine was producing about 12 tons of milling ore 

 per day, to obtain which some 50 tons of rock were mined and raised for assort- 

 ing. Labor was then employed chiefly by the day at an average cost of $4, 

 in coin, for miners. The machinery at the hoisting works at the mouth of the 

 incline consists of an engine, having a cylinder of 12 inches diameter and 

 24 inches stroke, driving a winding wheel by friction-gear and a pump 

 by means of toothed pinion and wheel. The pump is an eight-inch draw- 

 lift, raising water from the bottom of the mine, being extended as the depth 

 of the incline increases, in manner similar to that already described in a fore- 

 going chapter. The mine is very wet and the pump must be constantly em- 

 ployed while mining work is in progress. 



The company own a large and costly mill, which is situated in the neigh- 

 borhood of the mouth of the incline, only a few hundred feet distant, so that 

 the ore, after necessary assortment, is delivered at very little expense. The 

 mill comprises 20 stamps, 8 roasting furnaces, and 8 amalgamating pans, and 

 5 settlers or separators, besides retorting, melting, and assaying departments 

 that are furnished with all the necessary appurtenances of the business. 



The method of treatment to which the ore is subjected does not differ 



