GOLD MINING IN COLORADO. 



557 



As an average, six men may be considered necessary for a mill of the above- 

 named capacity. 



The cost of labor of the class chiefly required in mills is, on the aver- 

 age, $3 50 i^er day. Higher wages are paid to foremen and engineers, 

 according to ability. Estimating the price of all labor at $3 50 per day, it 

 appears from the statements of the various mills, as shown beyond in tabular 

 form, that the cost for labor, per ton of rock, varies from 75 cents to $2, the 

 average being very nearly Si 25, or possibly a little more. 



The cost of iron consumed in the wear of shoes and dies is stated by 

 some mill men at $2 per cord of rock, or from 25 to 30 cents per ton. 

 Taking the cost of repairs, as stated in the following table, and applying it to 

 the capacity of the several mills, the average cost per ton of rock appears to 

 be 35 cents. 



The cost for water, not for power but for use in crushing, is a consider- 

 able item of expense to those mills that are under the necessity of purchas- 

 ing it. Water is delivered by the Consolidated Ditch Company at the price 

 of $1, or sometimes $1 50, per inch. This is the inch of miner's measure- 

 ment, or the quantity of water that will flow through an orifice one inch 

 square in the side of the measuring box, under a certain pressure which, in 

 this region, is understood to be six inches. Three inches of water, by this 

 measurement, are required by the Ophir mill,^ for which $3 are paid per 

 diem, or about 18 cents per ton of rock. 



The loss of quicksilver, in the milling process, which is chiefly 

 mechanical, a portion being swept away and carried off in the tailings, varies 

 between one-twentieth and one-tenth of a pound per ton of rock. Its cost 

 is about $1 per pound, in currency, amounting, therefore, to 5 cents or 10 

 cents per ton. 



Adding together the various items referred to in the foregoing para- 

 graphs, we have the following : For fuel, $1 ; labor, $1 25 ; castings and 

 ordinary repairs, 35 cents; quicksilver, and water (when purchased), 25 



1 According to these data, tlie consumption of water in milling at the Ophir mill 

 is about 400 cubic feet per ton. Many of the mills situated in Nevada Gulch are de- 

 pendent on the Ditch Company for their sujiply, and as this is cut oflf in winter, they 

 are unfortunately obliged to Ue idle several months. 



