olume was not part of the 
 ion at time of its purchase, 
 lains the property of Pro- 
 Seligman ( may, 1930 
 
 Columbia (HnxtJer^xtp 
 
 in tfje(£ttp oflto J>ork 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE SELIGMAN LIBRARY OF ECONOMICS 
 
 PURCHASED BY THE UNIVERSITY 
 I929 
 
T H E 
 
 MINERAL RESOURCES 
 @f the United States, 
 
 And the Importance and Necessity of Inaugurating 
 
 A RATIONAL 
 
 WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE 
 
 Comstock Lode and the Sutro Tunnel, 
 
 I 1 ST NEVADA. 
 
 By ADOLPH SUTRO. 
 
 BALTIMORE: 
 
 JOHN MURPHY & 00. 
 1 868 . 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 j Report 
 ) No. 50. 
 
 40th Congress, 
 2d Session. 
 
 SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 [To accompany bill H. R. No. 11513.] 
 
 June 3, 1868.—Ordered to be printed. 
 
 Mr. D. R. Ashley, from the Committee on Mines and Mining, submitted the 
 
 following 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 The Committee on Mines and Mining, to whom was referred a memorial of the 
 
 Nevada legislature, “ asking aid in the construction of Sutro tunnel," after % 
 
 careful consideration, have prepared the accompanying bill and recommend its 
 
 passage. 
 
 This bill provides for the loan of government credit to assist in the construc¬ 
 tion of a mining and draining tunnel to the Comstock lode, in the State of 
 Nevada, upon which are located the most productive gold and silver mines 
 known to modern times. 
 
 The novelty of the proposed legislation, the principles involved, the import¬ 
 ance of the interests affected, and their intimate relation to the financial ques¬ 
 tions of the day have induced your committee to devote much time to the inves¬ 
 tigation of the subject, the result of which is a thorough conviction on their part 
 that the proposed legislation is wise, judicious, and to the best interests of the 
 country. 
 
 The first question which presents itself to our consideration is, what benefit 
 does the nation at large derive from the production of gold and siver ? 
 
 Gold and silver have, since time immemorial, been the standards of value 
 among all civilized nations. Nature, which has distributed them in limited 
 quantities over different portions of the globe, has made their production so diffi¬ 
 cult and has so surrounded it by obstacles, that it must always remain compara¬ 
 tively limited. 
 
 These are and will always remain the true representatives of value ; we may 
 for a time, compelled by necessity or for the sake of convenience, issue paper 
 representing so much gold and silver, hut the value of that paper money is 
 regulated by the ability of the nation to redeem it at some time at its par value 
 in gold and silver. 
 
 If a sufficient quantity of the latter is at or may be brought to the command 
 of the national treasury, paper will be worth as much as gold and silver; if 
 there is a certain degree of doubt in that ability, paper money will be at a dis¬ 
 count in precisely that proportion as that doubt be great or small. 
 
 A nation, therefore, in order to protect the value of its paper issues, requires 
 the precious metals, or an ability of acquiring them; whether this be accom¬ 
 plished by such a regulation of commerce as will bring the balance of trade in 
 our favor, or, in other words, the influx of gold and silver from other countries, 
 or whether we acquire the same by the production of our mines, does not mate¬ 
 rially affect that result. 
 
 It has been said the increased production and export of agricultural products 
 and other commodities are most beneficial to the nation, for, besides counting as 
 
SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 so much money in our favor, tlieir production leaves a profit to the producers, 
 
 enriching' the nation to that extent. „ , 
 
 ~ The gold and silver dug from the earth, on the contrary, as has often been 
 
 asserted, costs more than its value, and there is consequently a loss in di 
 operation; this has been given as a reason why the pursuit ot mining res 
 
 in no benefit to the country. . . ,. .j ,, i 
 
 Such reasoning, however, is fallacious; for the miner may, maiyiduail} ,^JC 
 the loser in expending one dollar or more in digging another dollar from the 
 earth, but the results of his labors are that he leaves two dollars ror the benefit 
 of the world. The dollar expended by the farmer simply changes from one 
 person to another; the wheat is consumed, and the same dollar only remains 
 which existed before. The product of the miner serves a double purpose. . In 
 the first place it answers as an article of export, if the balance of trade requires 
 it, thus paying for the commodities of other countries, and in that regard equals 
 wheat or any other product. In the second place— and this is its most import¬ 
 ant function—every dollar produced by the miner helps to increase the volume 
 of the precious metals of the world, by that means exercising a most beneficial 
 influence upon the general welfare of the nation, and particularly upon the pay¬ 
 ment of the national debt. 
 
 ?0 explain this operation we quote from the able report of the Nevada 
 lature, as follows : 
 
 Tc 
 
 legis- 
 
 O 
 
 DEPRECIATION IN THE VALUE OF MONEY. 
 
 The world's stock of coiu in the year 1848 was, in round numbers, eighteen hundred mil¬ 
 lions of dollars ; to this has been added to the present time an equal amount, of which the 
 United States have furnished, according to Secretary McCulloch’s late report, eleven hun¬ 
 dred millions. Allowing two thousand millions as the natural increase of taxable property 
 by the growth of the country, we still find that the same has doubled in the United States 
 within the period named. From seven thousand millions it has increased to sixteen thou¬ 
 sand millions. This result is due to an increase in value of all property and commodities, 
 caused by the depreciation in value of the precious metals. Thus the same article that could 
 have been bought 18 years ago for one silver dollar, now requires two ; or, iu other words, 
 two silver dollars at the present time only have the intrinsic value of what one then had. 
 
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TIIE PRECIOUS METALS AND OTHER COMMODITIES. 
 
 It must be borne in mind that there is a vast difference between the production of gold and 
 silver and all other commodities. Most of the latter are articles of consumption; Ihey are 
 useful for a special purpose, in the application of which they are consumed, disappear, and 
 cease to exist. The farmer who produces wheat to the value of $1,000, and the miner who 
 digs out gold to that amount, may derive an equal profit from their different pursuits ; and 
 hence one stands on an equality with the other, so far as individual gain or the interest of 
 a particular locality is concerned ; yet wheat is ground into flour, made into bread and con¬ 
 sumed, while the gold dug out by the miner finds its way into the channels of trade is trans¬ 
 ferred from one nation to another, as the balance of trade may require, and forms a perma¬ 
 nent addition to the stock of the precious metals of the world. 
 
 INCREASE IN QUANTITY OF THE PRECIOUS MET 
 
 Ms 
 
 At the time of the discovery of America in 1492. the stock of the precious metals iu v uronp 
 was estimated at $170,000,000. In the year 1600, it had increased to $050,UOU 000-a 5 
 of nearly four fold. ’ n » UIIJ 
 
 That extraordinary addition to the precious metals iu a little more than 100 years had a 
 corresponding effect. Gold and silver became cheaper in the same ratio as the?Quantity 
 had increased. It required four times the amount to buy any commcxlity-tha is to av all 
 commodities increased m price four Ibid. The same increase in prices can be traced’dis 
 tinctly to the present day, as the stock of the urecious metals ail,, cl , 
 
 making due allowance for all other causes which exercised a beariu- iu rrtdh-emA’ 
 
 ferent naSs? 1?°"’ ^ ^ ° f P°P" lati <>“> Vilifies forluter course be?Sn dif- 
 
 APPRECIATION IN VALUE OF PROPERTY 
 
 P oIi«vOa d .£uhrt„” iVt f lh“”S int0 ‘I 11 ? *«* is dear ami 
 
 precisely .he s.m. pr„p„ rti „ n £ 
 
SUTJRO TUNNEL. 
 
 3 
 
 other words, the percentage added to the stock of the precious metals in circulation, adds the 
 same percentage to the money value of all property in the world. 
 
 Francis Bowen, the best American authority on political economy, expresses this view m 
 the following words: , . . . . 
 
 “The general principle is, that the value ot money falls in precisely the same latioin 
 which its quantity is increased. It the whole money in circulation should be doubled, prices 
 would be doubled; if it was only increased one-fourth, prices would rise one-fourth.” 
 
 The same principle is laid down by .John Stuart Mill, well known as the highest modern 
 authority in England. He says : 
 
 “It is to be remarked that this ratio would be precisely that in which the quantity ol 
 money had been increased. If the whole money in circulation was doubled, prices would 
 be doubled; if it was only increased one-fourth, prices would increase one-fourth.” 
 
 INCREASE OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE WORLD. 
 
 To illustrate the immense bearing this rise in prices exercises all over the world, we wil 
 assume the following figures : 
 
 Taking the taxable property of the whole civilized world at §200,000,000,000, the amount 
 of money in existence at $3,600,000,000, the addition of $900,000,000 would depreciate the 
 precious metals 25 per cent., and, in consequence, it would require $250,000,000,000 to pur¬ 
 chase all the taxable property of the world. The addition of $900,000,000 in money, there¬ 
 fore, would have the effect of producing $50,000,000,000 in the increased value ot property. 
 Every addition of $100,000,000 has its corresponding influence on the increased value of all 
 property ; it adds over $5,000,000,000 to the property of the world. This increase of value may 
 not be perceptible from year to year ; the aggregate result, however, after a number of years, 
 is inevitable. Bowen refers to this as follows : 
 
 “There may be brief and violent fluctuations in the relative value of particular com¬ 
 modities, while the great movement is steadily going on which slowly changes the value 
 of all.” 
 
 IT DOES NOT AFFECT INDIVIDUALS. 
 
 This increase in value, however, does not materially affect individuals ; for when the cost 
 of living increases, the rates of wages do also ; but it acts as a stimulus to enterprise , and 
 thus creates general prosperity . 
 
 Hume long ago remarked that “in every kingdom into which money begins to flow in 
 greater abundance than formerly, everything takes a new face; labor and industry gain life ; 
 the merchant becomes more enterprising; the manufacturer more diligent and skilful; and 
 even the farmer follows his plough with greater alacrity and attention. But when gold 
 and silver are diminishing, the workman has not the same employment from the manufac¬ 
 turer and merchant, though he pays the same price for everything in the market; the farmer 
 cannot dispose of his corn and cattle, though he must pay the same rent to his landlord. 
 The poverty, beggary, and sloth that must ensue are easily foreseen.” 
 
 Even so cautious and conservative a writer as the distinguished English political econo¬ 
 mist, McCulloch, fully admits the truth of this view, though he adds the just qualification 
 that the fall in money must proceed from natural causes. 
 
 William Jacob, in his valuable treatise on the precious metals, remarks: 
 
 “The world is very little really richer or poorer from the portion of metallic wealth that 
 may be distributed over its surface. The whole mass of material w r ealth is neither diminished 
 nor increased by any change in the relative weight of gold and silver to the usual measures 
 of other commodities. The only benefit to the world in general from the increase of those 
 metals is that it acts as a stimulus to industry by that general rise of money prices which it 
 exhibits to the view. It matters little to him who raises a bushel of wheat whether it is 
 exchanged for a pennyweight or an ounce of silver, provided it will procure for him the 
 same quantity of cloth, shoes, liquors, furniture, or other necessaries which may be desira¬ 
 ble to him.” 
 
 IT MATERIALLY AFFECTS A DEBT. 
 
 But icken a debt already exists , being a fixed number of dollars , the decrease of value of 
 each dollar reduces the debt in the same proportion. Tbe immortal and much-lamented Lin¬ 
 coln thoroughly understood this question, when, in his annual message of 1862, he made use 
 of the following language : 
 
 “The immense mineral resources of some of those Territories ought to be developed as 
 rapidly as possible. Every step in that direction would have a tendency to improve the 
 resources of the government and diminish the burdens of the people. It is worthy of your 
 *serious consideration whether some extraordinary measures to promote that end cannot be 
 adopted .” 
 
 That wise and good man had carefully studied the effect which was then strongly felt in 
 Europe, and which is alluded to by Alison, the English historian, as follows : 
 
4 
 
 SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 “ It will belong- to a succeeding historian to narrate Giflilpnce of 
 
 country (England) made duriug the five years which followed un e -i r . 
 
 the gold discoveries in America and Australia. The annual supply o go r . 
 
 the use of the world was, by these discoveries, suddenly increased ironi an , aT -r land 
 millions to thirty-five million pounds sterling. Most oi all did Gieat Bri am 
 experience the wonderful effects of this great addition to the circulating medium o le g • 
 Prices rapidly rose, wages advanced in a similar proportion, exports and lmpoits enoiiiious } 
 increased, while crime and misery rapidly diminished. Wheat rose from 4o to oo si 1 mg's, 
 but the wages of labor of every kind advanced in nearly as great a propoition , hey weie 
 found to be about 30 per cent, higher than they had been five years before. In Ireland, the 
 change was still greater, and probably unequalled in so short a time in the annals or history. 
 The effect of the immense addition to the currency of the world, to the industry of all nations, 
 and in an especial manner of the British Isles, has been prodigious. It has raised our expoi ts 
 from £58,000,000 in 1851 to £97,000,000 in 1854, £95,000,000 in 1855, and £115,000,000 
 in 1856; and augmented our imports from £157,000,000 in the former to £172,000,000 m 
 the latter year.” 
 
 PROSPERITY OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Thus, the influence of the increased metallic currency saved Great Britain from bank¬ 
 ruptcy ; and while its mysterious agency was working these wonders in Europe, it exer¬ 
 cised a similar bearing in this country. Some years before the rebellion, this country had 
 commenced to prosper ; and when that deplorable event began, our resources were just 
 expanding under the beneficial influence of the increased metallic wealth. Had it not been 
 for the constant and continuous flow from California, which increased the resources many 
 fold, when they were most needed, the difficulties of providing the requisite means to carry 
 on the war would have been so great that the disruption of the Union might have been the 
 result. It has been the wonder and marvel of all Europe how the United States carried on 
 that gigantic war for four years, kept one million of men in the field, contracted during that 
 brief space of time a national debt of nearly $3,000,000,000, and came out in a more flour¬ 
 ishing and prosperous condition than when engaged in it. The explanation of this wonderful 
 phenomenon is simple —the magic agency of gold wrought it. 
 
 1 HE JSA1 lONAJL DEBT. 
 
 The issuance of a depreciated paper currency during the war has had the effect, as con¬ 
 fidence became restored, and as its metallic value increased, of enriching the population at 
 large who held that currency, enabling them to pay off their private debts, while the gov- 
 einment, issuing at one time as much as three paper dollars, which only had the value of 
 one metallic dollar, became proportionally more in debt. The result, therefore, has been, 
 that the individual debts of the American people have, to a large extent, been transferred to 
 the government, increasing the same to an enormous extent, and amounting to-dav to 
 $2,01)0,000,000. That debt is a burden on $16,000,000,000 of taxable property ; if tve increase 
 the latter, we virtually reduce the former. 
 
 INCREASE OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 to?JMV°“ m S at P r ® sen Jj> n circulation throughout the world, amounts 
 H Voo?*’ nno’ non' P ro P°sedtunnel to the Comstock lode will, within thirty years 
 add $900,000,000 to the same, or 25 per cent. It will consequently add 25 iter cent to the 
 taxable property of the United States, equal to $4,000,000,000, which, at the rate of taxation 
 wopei cent., will give an annual increase to the resources of this government of $40 000 000 
 for each of the first thirty years, and $80,000,000 for each year thereafter $40,000,000 
 
 INCREASE OF REVENUE. 
 
 J h b : a; * b » pt r Ms ' 
 
 the oue hundred and twentieth part to the $16 000 000 000 of , \ s f ence - Xt therefore adds 
 States, equal to an annual increase of $133 333T TW1 r* pr , oper U' in tlle United 
 five, the above elated result, a, will b! ,t’» l^Vhe taMe’t m * t *"« t0 "»• 
 
 Increase of taxable property. 
 
 1st year. i^ioo ono QQ q , , Increase oj revenue. 
 
 IZ .266,6 3 6 3 6; 3 6 3 66 at f WO = ^,666 
 
 6th year.;;;;;; SoSoSoo “ “ s,’ooo,’obo 
 
 12th year.j 600 OOo’oOO “ 16,000,000 
 
 oSit year . 2 ; 0 0 ;SS a 32,000,000 
 
 ".■.■.• “ ttss 
 
SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 5 
 
 PAYMENT OF THE NATIONAL DEBT. 
 
 If this annual increase in revenue he set apart for the purpose, it will pay off the whole national 
 debt in forty-six years. 
 
 When Francis Bowen wrote his “Principles of Political Economy,” we had no national 
 debt. In referring to that of Great Britain, he says : 
 
 “As the depreciation goes on, taxation may be extended pari passu without throwing any 
 additional burden upon the community ; and a sinking fund formed out of the surplus thus 
 obtained would pay off the national debt in less than one generation. Our national debt, it 
 is true, is but small, and what little there is, will quickly be extinguished. But the debts of 
 the individual States are large, amounting in the aggregate to over $200,000,000, a large 
 portion of which is owned in Europe. It is, therefore, satisfactory to remember that as the 
 monetary revolution will operate exclusively to the benefit of the indebted party, our own 
 land will derive as much benefit from it, in proportion to our means, as any other country on 
 earth.” 
 
 SIR ROBERT PEEL. 
 
 The effect of the increase of bullion on taxable property and a national debt has been 
 long recognized by the financiers and statesmen of Great Britain, and was enunciated in the 
 following language, held by Sir Robert Peel, in 1844 : 
 
 “ There is no contract, public or private, no engagement, national or individual, which is 
 not affected by it. The enterprises of commerce, the profits of trade, the arrangements made 
 in all domestic relations of society, the wages of labor, pecuniary transactions of the highest 
 amount and the lowest, the payment of the national debt, the provision for the national 
 expenditure, the command which the coin of the smallest denomination has over the necessi¬ 
 ties of life, are all affected by it.” 
 
 M. CHEVALIER. 
 
 M. Chevalier, the well-known French writer on political economy, in his treatise on 
 “The Probable Fall in the Value of Gold,” published in 1859, says: “Owing to the 
 discovery of the new gold mines, a time will arrive when a change will come over the British 
 treasury as if some genii, an enemy of its creditors, had spirited away their dividend warrants, 
 and substituted others of only half their value. Not that the number of pounds sterliog, due 
 to them as principal, and of which the interest is counted to them every six months, will be 
 diminished—not that the quantity of gold contained in the pound sterling will be lessened ; 
 but the British treasury will henceforth draw from the tax-payers each pound sterling, with 
 as little difficulty to them as it previously took to pay a half sovereign.” 
 
 That the increase of the stock of the precious metals quietly but surely works 
 a revolution in the value of all property in the world appears convincing, and 
 is shown conclusively by the foregoing extract. 
 
 If, then, by their production, we can increase the value of the taxable property 
 in the country, thereby enabling us to relieve the burdens of the people by 
 , reducing taxation, and still collect the same amount of revenue, we would be 
 unwise indeed were we to neglect and allow to go to ruin an interest which 
 can, with a little fostering care and appropriate legislation, be made to spread its 
 blessings throughout our country. 
 
 That some legislation is required to stimulate our mining interests the investiga¬ 
 tions of your committee have clearly established for the production of the precious 
 metals is decreasing, while the vast extent and value of our mineral regions is 
 being demonstrated more conclusively from year to year. 
 
 The views expressed in the introductory to a book on our mineral resources, 
 lately published by Adolph Sutro, are worthy of our serious consideration. 
 Mr. Sutro says : 
 
 The development of the mineral resources of this country forms a subject of such grave 
 importance, one involving considerations of a politico-economical nature of such significant 
 consequences, that it well behooves the American statesman, the patriot who has the future 
 of this great republic at heart, to devote some time to the earnest examination of those ques¬ 
 tions which have a vital bearing upon the future welfare of this country. 
 
 In the vast regions stretching from the Mississippi river to the broad Pacific ocean, from 
 the confines of Mexico to the icy regions of the north, there lie buried in the bowels of the 
 earth incalculable treasures of the precious metals, which but await the industrious applica¬ 
 tion of the hardy miner and the fostering care of a provident government to pour out a 
 stream of gold and silver, which will so much increase the national wealth, augment the 
 resources of the nation, and spread welfare and prosperity throughout the extent of this vast 
 
6 
 
 SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 laud, that the burdens of taxation \v 
 into insignificance. 
 
 an 
 
 ■ill gradually disappear, and make the national debt sink 
 
 M w?c=5hite that mighty interest,' which can be made to create ;so ““7 
 d find that it is neglected and declining from year to year, we must ainve at the him co 
 elusion that there is something radically wrong m our presen system of 
 an immediate, practical, and effectual remedy should be applied to reseuo fr° m ste^y deeline 
 and eventual abandonment a source of wealth which must be considered the most fruitful and 
 
 important one this nation possesses. , xl . , 
 
 If the facts presented in the following pages are carefully examined, three prominent co 
 
 elusions will be arrived at: , , T . 
 
 1st. That the main wealth of the mineral regions is contained m quartz lodes, the punci- 
 pal treasures of which are found at great depths beneath the surface. , 
 
 2d. That the present mode of mining downwards from the surface is detrimental to the 
 
 prosperity of the mining interests. . . . 
 
 3d. That a system cf deep tunnelling should be inaugurated, which will maKe mining 
 profitable by giving a natural outlet to the flow of water, by ventilating the mines, by 
 cooling the atmosphere, and by facilitating the extraction of ore. 
 
 Mining requires capital, which the western regions do not possess; the eastern States 
 have an abundance, hut not for investment in mining enterprises, which are looked upon 
 with suspicion, and are almost considered disreputable. 
 
 Some years ago many persons were found quite willing to embark in mining ventures, and 
 considerable sums were invested ; but the experiences made have been disastrous and ruin¬ 
 ous to those concerned, in almost every instance. This result has been charged to various 
 causes, but the true one must be sought in the unwise, extravagant and wasteful manner in 
 which the work on the mines has been performed. 
 
 The construction of deep tunnels, which by all authorities are admitted to be absolutely 
 necessary to make mining operations successful, requires time, and the outlay of large 
 amounts of capital, and consequently implicit confidence in the permanency of the mines. 
 
 It is the lack of confidence in the permanency of the mines, (their downward extent to great 
 depth not having practically been demonstrated in the United States) which prevents the 
 execution of such works. 
 
 The Comstock lode,'the most productive of all mineral lodes in the world, producing as 
 much silver as the whole republic of Mexico, presents the most extraordinary example, 
 illustrating the ruinous and wasteful manner of our present system of mining. We have a 
 lode here which has produced within the last six years over §75,000,000, and the whole of 
 that enormous sum has been swallowed up by the expenses of producing it! The mines 
 upon this lode have now reached such a depth that, after a few years, they must inevitably 
 be abandoned, provided a deep tunnel be not constructed. 
 
 Great mineral lodes, true fissure veins, according to experiences made in older countries, 
 extend downward indefinitely; we have the testimony of some of the first scientific men 
 living, that the Comstock lode bears the strongest evidences of being a true fissure vein. 
 
 Here then we have a remarkable state of affairs ; a lode yielding §1(3,000,000 per annum, 
 almost the whole amount being absorbed by the expenses of producing it, while the construc¬ 
 tion of a deep tunnel, for which extraordinary facilities exist, would leave a large portion of 
 that amount as a profit; the downward continuance of the lode is theoretically, at the same 
 time conclusively, proven, and still we find that capitalists cannot be found to undertake the 
 construction of a deep tunnel, because the ores at great depth are not actually visible * 
 rn -!r that tunne * com P}eted to-day, a glorious reality, pouring out a silver stream of 40 or 
 o0 millions per annum, these same capitalists , who first want to eye the riches way down 
 m the earth before they consent to invest, would be eager to enter into similar undertakino-s 
 in all parts of the mining regions and tunnelling would become the order of the day The 
 nation would bt enriched beyond all expectation, and the benefits to the government and the veo- 
 pie would be incalculable. * 
 
 That it is both the duty and the interest of the government to aid in the construction of one such 
 
 S5 “JS’osi:;, h* -"*>"" ,w »—"•« « -f — 
 
 rT h b ° P « seu t5 s t«if iu ti, e co US „ .io„ 
 
 of the proposed tunnel to the Con,stock lode, ll„ g o«„men, ,n„, ils 
 
 to that work, for almost no risk is involved, the security offered being a hundredfold 
 
 a simple 
 
 investigation of the subject will prove this conclusively 
 
 Some 30 years ago, a similar question arose in Saxony, when Baron von Herder i • e 
 
 ot the mining department, as an introductory to a book on the Heulei, then chief 
 
 men in the following words :* 
 
 “ To the friends of their country do I dedicate the plan , 
 which is of the highest importance to the mining interests 
 
 neighborhood of Freiberg,^n order to^afn the Vaterfi^m them^ E1 ^ e ’ " ear Meissen, to the 
 greater depth than heret ofore, and by means thereof to secure thTirexist^nceforclntur^rto 
 
 subject, addressed his country- 
 of a mining work, the execution of 
 
 The Deep Meissen Tunnel, by Sigmund August Wolfgan; 
 
 Baron von Herder. Leipzig, 1838. 
 
SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 7 
 
 come ; a plan which as to magnitude, time, and cost, is large and gigantic, but which appears 
 in its effects and results so benevolent and full of blessings, that the question as to cost should 
 not form an obstacle to its execution. 
 
 “ {t is true that the resources of the mining treasury of the Freiberg district are too limited 
 to bear these expenses; but the execution of a work which in times to come will be classed in 
 the list of those great national monuments which have for their object the lasting welfare of a 
 country, and which will secure the same for the latest generations and times , cannot be left to 
 the mercy of a single mining district, but should be looked upon as a work creating happiness 
 and glory, and worthy of the participation and promotion of the entire nation. 
 
 “With unlimited confidence do I therefore present to the friends of their country the fol¬ 
 lowing explanation and statement of this project. 
 
 “ May they extend to it a wise and sympathizing examination and magnanimous considera¬ 
 tion, and may they be assured ofthefervant thanks , which posterity will grant them.'’’ 
 
 The mines of Saxony produced, and now produce but a mite of what our mines do ; the 
 national debt of that country is but small, and the burdens of taxation are not of an onerous 
 character. 
 
 Hoio much stronger then should the argument be in the case at issue! A country containing 
 more mines and richer mines than all the balance of the zoorld combined; a country having a 
 national debt amounting to over $2,500,000,000, and a people crying out and groaning under 
 unequalled burdens of taxation ! 
 
 Wisdom and foresight point out but one course : let the mineral resources of the country 
 go to ruin, and the national debt, the burdens of taxation, and general suffering will be 
 increased from year to year. 
 
 Let our immense mineral resources be developed, an increase in the value of all property, 
 a relief of the burdens of taxation, unparalleled advancement of commerce, industry, and 
 traffic, a bright future, speedy resumption of specie payments, and general welfare and pros¬ 
 perity, will be the results. 
 
 Those who rule the destinies of this country have the solution of this question in their 
 hands; -wisdom, foresight, liberality, and true patriotism will grasp the issue, and promptly 
 secure those results which will immensely benefit our present generation, and extend its 
 blessings to posterity. 
 
 Your committee considers the execution of one great wining work, such as 
 the proposed tunnel to the Comstock lode, as conducive to the most beneficial 
 results; it would practically demonstrate the continuance of mineral lodes in 
 depth, thereby establishing confidence in the execution of similar works in all 
 the mining districts. 
 
 Writers on mining agree on the importance of general drain tunnels, and the 
 best proof of their utility is shown by the fact that in those mining districts 
 where a general and extensive system of drainage by tunnels has been adopted, 
 the mines have been kept in a flourishing condition during hundreds of years, 
 while in those places where no tunnels have been made, mining operations have 
 proved unprofitable, and the mines have been abandoned. 
 
 We find in all mining codes provisions for the construction of tunnels; they 
 were, in olden times, called the “keys of the mountains,” and under the laws of 
 Spain, Belgium, Prussia, Austria, Hungary, Saxony, Hanover, and other coun¬ 
 tries, compulsory payments, towards the support of drain tunnels, were exacted 
 from the mine owners, in order to keep up the mining districts. 
 
 Gamboa., the great expounder of Spanish mining law, in speaking of the 
 neglect of the justices to enforce the construction of tunnels, says : 
 
 By indulging in this neglect of their duty they do injustice to the public, to individuals, 
 and to the rights of the sovereign, who has made it a law, that the working of the mines 
 shall be assisted by means of tunnels, as being works of great importance, and necessary for 
 giving a permanent character to this valuable description of property. 
 
 General drain tunnels are important in many regards ; they not only provide 
 the cheapest and safest means of drainage, ventilation, extraction and discovery 
 of ore, but they accomplish the great and very important result of consolidating 
 the different interests in a mining district , by establishing one general base of 
 operations. 
 
 As mines are worked now, the proprietors, or companies, on a mineral lode— 
 no matter how limited the extent of their claims—each, independently of their 
 neighbors, erect a steam-engine, pump the water from their mine, hoist the ore, 
 and transport it to the reduction works; they boast of independent organiza- 
 
8 
 
 SUTKO TUNNEL 
 
 In large cities we End it necess 
 gas and water-works ; main sewers 
 
 and dig 
 
 lions, presidents, boards of trustees, superintendents, «««^ 
 
 up at an enormous expense, which makes mining unpi j 1 * ° 
 
 lllU11K " ' find it necessary to establish a joint system of drainage, 
 
 constructed, into which small branches 
 
 enter * from""e very building ; supposing each house-owner were to provide his 
 rrsirn elvoine)o'e, independent of his neighbors, establish his own gas man <- y> 
 canal of his own from a distant spring iu order to get a supply o 
 water, the world would pronounce such proceeding very unwise and foolish. 
 
 And still we find a similar state of affairs in our great mineral districts ; a 
 contiguous row of mines on the same lode, each worked independently and 
 entirely regardless of its neighbors, while one general tunnel, or adit, or drain 
 would allow the water to run oft’ by its natural flow to the lowest lex el, fiom 
 all the mines, through one common outlet, thereby abolishing at once all ^pump¬ 
 ing machinery, giving one common railroad for the transportation of all the oie, 
 and creating innumerable advantages. Only one general mining administration 
 would be required, operations could be carried on jointly and systematically, 
 the extraction of ore largely increased, the health of the miners secured by 
 good ventilation, and large sums of money would be saved, thereby making it 
 possible to extract immense bodies of low-grade ores. 
 
 In short, instead of an unwise, shortsighted, ruinous, and stupid manner of 
 proceeding, we would inaugurate a rational system of mining, a system which 
 would make it profitable, attract the capital which is absolutely necessary for 
 the development of this branch of industry, increase the production of the 
 precious metals beyond all expectations, populate the vast extent of our mineral 
 regions, procure traffic for our trans-continental railways, stimulate the commerce 
 anddndustry of the whole nation, firmly establish our credit by proving the 
 extent of our mineral wealth, and, above all, relieve the burdens of taxation by 
 increasing the value of all property. * 
 
 Such are some of the advantages which, in our opinion, would be derived 
 from the adoption of a general system of tunnelling in our great mining district; 
 and it must appear remarkable that such tunnels, their advantages 
 self-evident, have not already been constructed in numerous places. 
 
 lliere are many causes, however, which prevent their construction, and we 
 must look for these in the manner in which mining property is owned and acquired. 
 
 The men who undergo all sorts of privations, hardships and dangers in the 
 bazaidous puisuit of prospectors, do so not for the purpose, after discovering a 
 
 being so 
 
 legitimate 
 
 promising mine, of working it, establishing a home and deriving 
 income therefrom, but the great stimulus for their exertions is the prospect of 
 rapidly realizing a fortune by selling the property thus discovered and acquired 
 to some capitalists in the large cities of the eastern States. 
 
 Few lodes show much valuable ore at the surface; if such a one is discovered 
 the croppings of which give large assays, it generally causes much excitement 
 among the miners, who, either ignorant of geology, or too apt to believe what 
 they wish imagine that the whole body of the lode, for its width, length, and 
 to any depth, will prove of the same character. They go to work with a good 
 , ’ SIuk bkaf \ 3 dnd inclines, but soon discover the fact, which is well known to 
 al. experienced at mining, that lodes are not continuously ore bearing, but only 
 contain bunches or chimneys of good ore, while great masses of ban’en * 
 or country rock, which intervene both horizontally and perpendicular]v 
 
 obstacle P to 0 fi aCted ^ ^ WWch ex P ensive amf often nroves { 
 
 obstacle to financial success. 
 
 Other difficulties interfere with the miner. 
 
 eii quartz 
 neces- 
 
 often proves a serious 
 
 If be is really fortunate enough 
 surface, there may be no mill in the 
 
 character as to defy reduction to advantage! ^ ^ “ reWli “' 3 » 
 
 to discover a valuable body of ore near the 
 district to reduce it ; or if th 
 
 ere 
 
SUTKO TUNNEL. 
 
 9 
 
 He soon arrives at a depth where a steam pump is required, his means become 
 exhausted, and the accumulating difficulties compel him either to lose all the 
 fruits of his labors by abandoning the property, or to dispose of it to other 
 parties who have a sufficiency of means. 
 
 Self-interest and a desire to acquire the much coveted fortune, notwithstand¬ 
 ing his own failure, induce him to pursue the latter course. lie starts off for 
 New York or Boston, well provided with specimens, certificates of assay, tran¬ 
 script of record and general recommendations; he there exhibits his vouchers 
 and proofs and proposes to dispose of the property to a joint stock company. 
 The plausible reason given for selling so valuable a mine for so small a sum is 
 that the means are wanting for the erection of steam pumps, hoisting and reduc¬ 
 tion works, by the aid of which the ore and bullion to be realized would only be 
 limited by the number of men employed and the crushing capacity of the mill. 
 
 The miner, who now becomes an unscrupulous speculator, well recollects how 
 easily he was deceived himself in regard to the continuous character of the ore 
 contained in mineral lodes, and knows that persons who never have seen a 
 mine could easily be led into the same error. 
 
 The most adventurous and enterprising, those who wrnnt to make fortunes 
 without much work, greedily swallow the miner’s stories, and are but too eager 
 to enter into the scheme; they have not the remotest idea of following mining 
 as a regular pursuit to be carried on legitimately and regularly, but they 
 simply want to enter into a sort of outside speculation, to speedily make a 
 fortune and then sell to somebod_y else. 
 
 On the strength of these representations a company is formed of men of 
 means totally ignorant of the subject, a superintendent is sent to the mine no 
 better informed, a pumping engine and mill contracted for, and not until they 
 are erected and in complete running condition, work on the mine itself is com¬ 
 menced in order, as is supposed, to shovel or dig out the quantity of ore 
 required for the daily supply of the mill. 
 
 Now comes the disappointment. Notwithstanding the good assays, notwith¬ 
 standing the substantial pumping engine, notwithstanding the mill constructed 
 after the most approved plans, notwithstanding the well organized company 
 with a full staff of officers, the whole affair proves a failure. 
 
 Everything is there but a sufficient quantity of good ore, and nothing is left 
 but to go deeper on the mine in order to try and find it; and while this tedious 
 and expensive process is going on the mill lies idle, the officers receive their 
 salaries, and the pumping engine is kept going at a lively rate. Instead of 
 remittances of silver bricks, more assessments are called for, and the unfortunate 
 stockholder, after paying up for a year or more, becomes disgusted with his enter¬ 
 prise and abandons the whole affair as a bad job. 
 
 Here we have the whole secret how the lack of confidence in mining enter¬ 
 prises has been brought about. The persons who made these investments did 
 so on the strength of false representations made to them, that an immense 
 fortune could rapidly be realized simply by the erection of a pumping and hoist¬ 
 ing engine and a mill; and being disappointed in their calculations, they could 
 not be induced to enter into any other enterprise connected with mining under 
 any consideration whatever. 
 
 Had these persons been told that, in order to properly open a mine, several 
 hundred thousand dollars and several years of time would be required, they 
 certainly would not have entered into the operation ; this class of men are not 
 willing to wait years for returns, and since a rational system of mining requires 
 patience and the outlay of much capital, these are not the ones to engage in it. 
 
 If a mine really proves valuable and rich ore is at once extracted from the 
 same, it often falls into the hands of joint stock companies, whose object is not 
 to work the mine fairly and legitimately, but who manage to make large fortunes, 
 by shrouding the doings at the mine iu mystery by only opening one gallery at 
 
10 
 
 SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 a time, and thus contrive to make its value appear either extravagau ) 11 o ; 
 or of hardly any value whatever. , 
 
 In the one case the price of shares is brought to the highest gaies ?y 
 employing as many men as will tind room in the mine, taking out unuoua y 
 large quantities of ore aud making large dividends ; in the other case the mine 
 is declared exhausted, all supplies of ore are withheld, assessments are leviei ’ 
 lawsuits against the mine are commenced, and thus the price of shares is undid) 
 depressed. In the former case the managers, who form a ring which controls 
 much capital, want to sell out at a large profit; in the latter case they want to 
 buy in again and start out for a repetition of the operation. 
 
 There is no doubt but that mining has, in these various ways, been brought 
 into disrepute, and the public, gulled and swindled, not caring to investigate the 
 true causes of their losses, declare mining ruinous and unprofitable in the high¬ 
 est degree. No capital can any longer be found for the opening of mines, no 
 matter how promising, and the result is a general depression in mining opera¬ 
 tions. 
 
 The sooner the ownership of our mines passes from the hands of these spec¬ 
 ulators into those of men who are willing to enter into mining as a legitimate 
 pursuit to be followed for years, and as a permanent investment, the better it 
 will be for the general interests of the country. 
 
 In order to arrive at this result it is necessary to restore confidence in mining 
 operations, which can only be accomplished by demonstrating that mining can 
 be made a most lucrative, permanent and satisfactory occupation, that mineral 
 lodes extend downward to any depth, and that nearly all the present difficulties 
 may be overcome, provided ail the smaller interests in a district are consolidated 
 under one rational system. 
 
 Deep drains aud working tunnels have, by experience in Europe, been found 
 to accomplish these results. They are necessary for the development of our 
 immense mineral resources. But how are they to be constructed, requiring, as 
 they do, millions of dollars and years of time, while no confidence .exists in 
 mining operations '{ 
 
 \oui committee consider the successful construction of one such work as the 
 means of restoring confidence in that important branch of industry, of indu¬ 
 cing piivate capital thereafter to enter freely into like operations in other dis¬ 
 tricts, thereby adding much to the wealth, population, commerce, and resources 
 of the country, and building up, on a permanent basis, the vast empire stretch¬ 
 ing from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, whose only resources are its 
 mineral wealth, and which will form the future great market for the agricultural 
 products of the western and the manufactures of the eastern States. ° 
 
 By far the most important and productive mining district in the United States 
 is that which contains the Comstock lode, in the State of Nevada. The miners 
 on that lode are laboring under the difficulties already indicated, and, for the 
 want of a deep drain tunnel, are fast approaching abandonment. Extraordinary 
 inducements present themselves for the execution* of such a work at this place 
 lour committee have patiently and carefully investigated all the questions 
 having any bearing upon the subject, and, without reporting at len-thVe par 
 ticulars of the documents, evidences, and general information which have'been 
 examined, beg leave to submit the following general statement of f- m i 
 conclusions which have induced them to perfect the tS and 
 
 earnestly recommend its passage. 
 
 accompanying bill, and 
 
 SUMMARY OF FACTS AND CONCLUSIONS 
 
 i 7 im> "»—*« 
 
 is regulated by tire ability of tire 
 
sutro Tunnel. 
 
 11 
 
 its par value in gold and silver. If there is a certain degree of doubt in that 
 ability, it will be at a discount in precisely that proportion as that doubt be 
 great or small. 
 
 2. A given quantity of the precious metals exists throughout the world ; if 
 that quantity is increased, their value depreciates in precisely the proportion 
 (all things being equal) in which that increase takes place. 
 
 3. The decrease in value of the precious metals manifests itself by the in¬ 
 crease in value of all commodities, or, in other words, more of the precious metals 
 are required to obtain any given commodity. 
 
 4. By the increase in quantity of the precious metals and the consequent 
 increase of taxable property, the same amount of revenue may be collected at 
 a less rate of taxation. 
 
 5. Where a large public debt exists, being a given number of dollars, the 
 reduction of value of each dollar reduces the debt in the same proportion ; the 
 burdens of the people in paying the interest, and eventually the debt itself, are 
 lessened in the same degree. 
 
 6. The public debt of the United States being large, and the mines of the 
 precious metals almost unlimited, their development becomes a question of high 
 importance to the couutrv. 
 
 7. Notwithstanding the discovery of new mines, and the increase in extent 
 of our mineral resources, the production of the precious metals is decreasing 
 from year to year. 
 
 8. The spirit of speculation, the eagerness of making rapid fortunes, and the 
 misrepresentations resorted to to induce persons to purchase mining claims, 
 together with the failure of nearly all such enterprises, have, among capitalists, 
 completely destroyed confidence in mining operations. 
 
 9. The greatest part of treasure is furnished by mines, the value of which 
 consists in an abundance of pay ore, not in its richness. The best paying and 
 most productive gold mines are those which yield from one to two ounces of 
 gold, or from two to three pounds of silver, in every two thousand pounds of 
 ore. The large masses of material 'which have to be handled to obtain the 
 precious metals make our present system of working and managing each mine 
 separately unprofitable. 
 
 10. General drain and working tunnels, by the aid of which all the mines of 
 a mining district may be opened jointly and economically, are required ; their 
 construction is prevented by the lack of confidence already indicated, and on 
 account of general ignorance of the continuance of mineral lodes in depth. 
 
 11. That true lodes are continuous in depth is practically proven by the 
 works on European mines, which have been carried to a depth of over 2,500 
 feet; no authenticated instance is recorded of a true fissure vein having been 
 found to terminate in depth. 
 
 12. Theoretically, the continuance of mineral lodes in depth is proven by the 
 well-established theory, generally accepted by scientific men, that true veins 
 have been formed by fissures in the earth, filled by sublimation from the great 
 laboratory below. 
 
 13. That general drain tunnels are the means of increasing the yield of bul¬ 
 lion and keeping up the mining districts, is shown by the flourishing state in 
 which the mines of Germany have been kept during centuries, while nearly all 
 the mining districts where no tunnels have been constructed have gone to 
 decay. 
 
 14. The governments of Europe recognizing the importance of drain tunnels, 
 and appreciating the magnitude and difficulty of such works, have for centuries 
 extended liberal aid and encouragement to their construction. 
 
 15. The example of other countries, however, is not required to demonstrate 
 the advantages of these tunnels ; ordinary judgment teaches that natural drain¬ 
 age substituted for the never-ceasing labor of pumping, one general system of ex- 
 
12 
 
 SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 traction and transportation instead of numerous indepenc on oigar -.t • ' 
 
 a consolidation of all efforts instead of a division of foices, mus pi 
 effective, economical, and fruitful of beneficial results. . , 
 
 16. The construction of an extensive tunnel of this kind in one o oui 1 n f 
 ant mining districts, brought into successful operation, would l ° nnu i 0 war s 
 re-establishing confidence in this important branch of industry; it wou cl piacu 
 cally demonstrate the continuance of mineral lodes in depth, pi’ove t iat^ mining 
 operations can be made profitable and lastiug, and that they offei a fine e 
 
 for the investment of capital. . 
 
 17. It is highly probable that the result would be the construction through 
 private enterprise of many such tunnels in the different mining districts, the 
 opening up of many mines which otherwise could not be opened and maae 
 profitable, a consequent increase in the production of the precious metals, and 
 the placing of our mining operations on a permanent and solid basis. 
 
 IS. The most valuable and productive mines in the United States are situated 
 on the Comstock lode, in the State of Nevada; they have produced within 
 the last six years over $80,000,000 of gold and silver bullion, and their present 
 annual yield exceeds $16,000,000. 
 
 19. Notwithstanding this large yield, but little profit is derived from them ; 
 the mines are entered by numerous shafts, upon which 47 steam-engines are 
 kept in motion with fire-wood, costing $16 in gold per cord, the only fuel to be 
 obtained in the neighborhood. 
 
 20. These shafts have reached a depth of from 800 to 900 feet, and the con¬ 
 stantly increasing expenses of working the mines, as greater depth is attained, 
 make their abandonment inevitable, provided a deep tunnel be not constructed. 
 
 21. The largest part of the taxable property in the State of Nevada is located 
 within this district, which now presents a scene of life, industry, and happiness. 
 The abandonment of the mines would bring ruin and desolation upon its inhab¬ 
 itants, and make it relapse into an uninhabited wilderness. 
 
 22. These mines are favorably located on the side, of a mountain, 2,000 feet 
 above the adjoining valley; a horizontal tunnel driven in from the foot-hills 
 will drain them to that depth, will allow them to be worked 1,000 feet or more 
 below the tunnel level, and will make mining operations thereon profitable for 
 one hundred years to come. 
 
 23. The facilities for opening the mines by numerous galleries after the com¬ 
 pletion of the tunnel will be so great that the present production of $16,000,000 
 may be made to exceed $50,000,000, or even reach $100,000,000 per annum. 
 These results can only be reached after the completion of the tunnel to its inter¬ 
 section with the Comstock lode, and will give such a stimulus and self-activity 
 to the enterprise, as will concentrate all the energy, ingenuity, and skill which 
 can be brought to bear, in order to rapidly complete the work. 
 
 24. The future yield of these mines, by aid of the tunnel, is estimated by the 
 
 Nevada legislature at $1,000,000,000 ; the tunnel will traverse at rMit angles 
 for four miles the country to the eastward of the Comstock lode, where numer¬ 
 ous parallel lodes are known to exist which may yield an amount equal to that 
 of the Comstock lode. 1 
 
 25. The length of this tunnel will be about seven miles. It is a work diffi¬ 
 
 cult and expensive, but entirely feasible. By means of a shaft, with the mod¬ 
 ern improvements in rock-drilling machinery and blasting material, it may be 
 accomplished in three or four years. J 
 
 26. Exclusive privileges have been granted by the State of Nevada and 
 
 by Congress to Adolph Sutro and his associates, and contracts have been 
 entered into by the different mining companies from which an annual income 
 will be derived exceeding $2,000,000. come 
 
 27. Notwithstanding the most'brilliant prospects, the efforts to obtain the 
 necessary funds for the construction of this tunnel have been unsuccessful 
 
SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 13 
 
 The lack of confidence indicated above; the magnitude and difficulty of the 
 enterprise ; and the fact that all the money invested would be lost should it be 
 insufficient to complete the work, have prevented its success through private 
 means. 
 
 28. The favorable location of these mines for deep drainage by tunnelling ; 
 their great yield heretofore ; the probability of their increased yield hereafter ; 
 and the security which can be given, make this a peculiarly fit occasion for the 
 extension of government aid in order to demonstrate the continuance of min¬ 
 eral lodes in depth, and to inaugurate a rational system of mining. 
 
 29. The total cost of the tunnel cannot be accurately given. From an exam¬ 
 ination of the cost of numerous tunnels constructed in the United States, England, 
 France, and Germany, it appears probable that its cost will be about $ 8 , 000,000. 
 
 30. The issue of bonds to the amount of $5,000,000 by the government during 
 the progress of the work, at the rate of $15,000 for every hundred feet completed 
 and accepted, would secure the speedy construction of this important work. 
 
 31. To secure the payment of these bonds a mortgage should be made to the 
 government on the tunnel and everything appertaining thereto, and the total 
 revenue , after its completion to the Comstock lode, set apart for their redemption. 
 
 32. It is probable that none of these bonds need be paid by the govern¬ 
 ment ; for it seems that the work may be completed in four years, that the 
 revenue of the tunnel company will suffice to take up the entire amount issued 
 in two or three years after its completion, while under the bill reported they are 
 made payable in twenty years. 
 
 33. The security offered to the government appears satisfactory and ample, 
 for, independently of the millions of treasure which will be extracted hereafter, 
 the large bodies of low-grade ores now visible in these mines, which must remain 
 until the completion of the tunnel renders their extraction profitable, will give 
 an income sufficient for the payment of the bonds. 
 
 34. By demonstrating to the world that our mineral lodes are continuous in 
 depth, we absolutely prove that we possess an incalculable stoek of treasure; 
 that our wealth is almost unlimited ; that our capacity for paying the national 
 debt is beyond doubt; that we have the gold and silver to redeem our paper 
 currency, and that repudiation is out of the question ; all of which will improve our 
 credit abroad, induce capitalists to take our promises to pay at their par value, 
 and at a lower rate of interest , thereby directly relieving the people from the 
 burdens of taxation. 
 
 35. If we take into consideration the magnitude of this undertaking, the large 
 yield of bullion which will be directly secured thereby, the great influence by 
 its successful completion upon all our mining districts, the stimulus it will give 
 to mining generally, the positive proof it will furnish of our immense mineral 
 wealth, and consider the importance of attaining these results, in view of our large 
 national debt, ordinary wisdom and foresight should command that the aid 
 asked for the construction of this important work, or a much larger sum if it 
 were necessary, should be granted, even, were no security whatever offered for 
 its repayment. 
 
 DELOS R. ASHLEY. 
 MORTON C. HUNTER. 
 JAMES M. ASIILEYh 
 ORANGE FERRIS. 
 
 JOHN F. DRIGGS. 
 RUFUS MALLORY. 
 
 Washington, D. O., May 6, 1868. 
 

 
 
 «• 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40 tii Congress, 
 2d Session. 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, f Mis. Doc. 
 
 } No. 15G. 
 
 SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 [To accompany bill IT. R. No. 1153.] 
 
 PAPE RS 
 
 SUBMITTED BY 
 
 MR. D. R. ASHLEY, 
 
 (From the Committee on Mines and Mining,) 
 
 CONSISTING ON 
 
 Letters from the Secretaries of the Treasury and the Interior, relative to the 
 
 Sutro tunnel. 
 
 July ], 1863.—Ordered to be printed. 
 
 Treasury Department, 
 
 June 16, 1868. 
 
 Sir : I have received your letter of the 12th instant, relative to the bill now 
 before Congress asking aid for the construction of the Sutro tunnel, and in reply 
 return herewith a copy of a communication upon that subject addressed to the 
 chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining of the House of Representa¬ 
 tives. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Hon. George W. Julian, 
 
 Rouse of Representatives. 
 
 HUGH McCULLOCH, 
 Secretary of the Treasury. 
 
 Treasury Department, 
 
 June 16, 1S6S. 
 
 Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6tli 
 instant, enclosing House bill No. 1153, proposing “to aid in the construction of 
 the Sutro tunnel, in the State of Nevada,” and the accompanying report of the 
 Committee on Mines and Mining. 
 
 The mines of this country are one of the great elements of national wealth, 
 and their successful development is of the greatest importance; the production 
 of gold and silver being particularly desirable in view of our present financial 
 condition. 
 
 I have no doubt that if the proposed tunnel should successfully prove the 
 indefinite downward extent of our mineral lodes, it would largely increase the 
 value of our mineral lands, stimulate mining, and result in vast benefit to the 
 country. 
 
9 
 
 SUTEO TUNNEL. 
 
 It is generally conceded by scientific men that hy actua ! 
 
 eral veins is unlimited, but tins can positively be nTlf i e rtake such a 
 
 experiment; and if private enterprise cannot be induced tc» “ n “ r ^^“ ent 
 work, it is well worthy of the consideration of Congress whether t g 
 may not consistently determine the question. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Mc0ULLOCH> 
 
 Sen-etary of the Freasur y. 
 
 Hon. D. R. Ashley, 
 
 Chairman Committee on Mines and Mining, 
 
 House of Representatives. 
 
 Department of the Interior, 
 
 Washington, B. C„ June 22, 1868. 
 
 Sir : I have received your letter of the 6th instant, enclosing a onl and 
 report from the Committee on Mines and Mining of the House of Representa¬ 
 tives, for my consideration, and any suggestions I might see proper to make on 
 the subject. 
 
 Your letter, with the accompanying papers, was referred to the Commissioner 
 of the General Land Office, and I have the honor to enclose herewith his report 
 on the subject. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 0. H. BROWNING, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Hon. I). R. Ashley, 
 
 House of Representatives. 
 
 Department of the Interior, 
 
 General Land Office, 
 
 June 16, 1S6S. 
 
 Sir: Herewith I have the honor to return the letter of Hon. D. R. Ashley, 
 of Nevada, enclosing report of the Committee on Mines and Mining, with accom¬ 
 panying bill in aid of the construction of the “Sulro tunnel,” in Nevada; and 
 pursuant to the reference by the department for the purpose of obtaining the 
 views of this office, the following is submitted : 
 
 The Comstock lode, in Storey county, Nevada, has thus far proved to be the 
 most productive silver vein ever discovered, yielding, in the short space of six 
 years, an amount of the precious metals equal in value to that furnished by 
 many celebrated mines in periods of more than a century. J 
 
 The working shafts on this lode already extend from 300 to nearly 1.000 
 met below the surface, and the expense of raising the ore is increasing with 
 sue . raptdtty as to present the alternative of the early abandonment of this most 
 pud,source of stiver, or tiro construction of an adit-level to drain the mines 
 
 con- 
 
 ■aor- 
 
 at a greatly increased depth; a result proposed to be accomplished by thin 
 “on of the “ feutro tunnel.” That the Comstock lode will derive extr 
 dinary benefit from a work of this kind, laid at a level of o nnS 1 * +1 
 
 the surface, constructed for the double nu-nose of A-,;, \ fc . et beneath 
 
 veins, and with capacity sufficient to remnv! , i F’ °‘ *» « 
 
 connected with the main adit by drifts extended in eithm-T of mmes 
 
 tatiou justified by the experience of H V. , direction, is an expec- 
 
 geological indications of the lode itself and bv t!^ 18 m C0Untries > by tbe 
 the progress of its development 7 th ® resolt8 tlius attained in 
 
SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 o 
 
 O 
 
 Among geologists and intelligent miners there appears to be little or no differ¬ 
 ence of opinion, at the present day, of the lode retaining its metalliferous char¬ 
 acter to any depth to which mining can be profitably carried. Such has been 
 the case elsewhere in veins of similar formation, both in the Old World and in the 
 New, and it may be safely asserted that the result of all mining experience rec¬ 
 ommends the construction of this work, and that the neglect of securing deep 
 drainage by similar means has been the fruitful source of failure and disaster 
 wherever practiced. But an adit of the proper capacity, securing a thorough 
 development of this extraordinary vein, and dispensing with the necessity of 
 any similar improvement in the future, with the present prices of labor and 
 materials, will cost, according to tbe estimates of Mr. Sutro himself, about 
 $8,000,000, and even this estimate, large as it may appear, may prove to be too 
 low. 
 
 The yields of the precious metals from this lode since the commencement of 
 mining operations in 1862, may be set down at $85,000,000, of which about 
 $60,000,000 represents silver and $25,000,000 gold. The annual supply for 
 the last few years has been about $^.6,000,000, or $11,500,000 silver and 
 $4,500,000 gold, being one-fifth of the silver product of the world. It is not 
 an inconsiderate or improbable assumption that the completion of the Sutro 
 tunnel would increase the amount of silver to $25,000,000 or $30,000,000 annu¬ 
 ally, rendering the United States the chief silver-producing country of the globe, 
 and giving us very important advantages in this respect in reference to the trade 
 of the east, the United States being now a leading competitor for that trade, in 
 which silver is much preferred to gold. 
 
 But the increase of silver is not the only benefit the construction of this 
 work will accomplish. As a pioneer enterprise of its kind, establishing the 
 value of deep drainage, the continuity of mineral lodes in depth, and the practi¬ 
 cability of similar undertakings in other localities, its tendency will be to impart 
 an impetus to our mining system and give it the proper direction, at a time 
 when rock mining is comparatively in its infancy. 
 
 But the amount of money and the length of time required to perfect an 
 improvement of such magnitude are so great that private capital, always cautious 
 and sensitive, can scarcely be relied upon to carry it to completion for many 
 years to come. Its advantages are so manifold, and so susceptible of demon¬ 
 stration, that it may, without doubt, be ultimately completed even without gov¬ 
 ernment aid; yet the question to be considered is whether it should be suffered 
 to take this deferred course, or whether its importance is sufficiently national to 
 justify the assistance now contemplated by the committee. 
 
 Much has been said and written about the fall in the value of gold, conse¬ 
 quent upon the great increase in its production during the last 20 years, but it 
 is probable that during the next 20 years at least we are much more likely to 
 witness a condition of things quite Ihe contrary of this. It is believed a care¬ 
 ful investigation into the causes of the various changes experienced during that 
 period, in Europe and America, would establish the fact, that the extraordinary 
 supplies of that metal have been absorbed in the expansion of commerce through¬ 
 out the world; in the construction during that period of nearly 100,000 miles of 
 railroad ; also numerous tunnels, bridges, aqueducts, with other similar works 
 requiring tbe highest engineering skill; in settling up new States and coun¬ 
 tries, building new towns and cities, in organizing new branches of trade, based 
 upon new discoveries and inventions in the arts and sciences, enlarging the 
 field of the world’s industry to an extent never before witnessed in any century, 
 and to repair the enormous drain of silver caused by tbe eastern trade, and to 
 furnish the increased quantities of the metal required in manufactures. 
 
 Since 1S48 there have been transferred from the workshops and from agri¬ 
 cultural pursuits in Europe and America to the mines of the Pacific coast 
 more than 200,000 miners, with a population numbering 1,000,000 of souls; to 
 
4 
 
 SUTEO TUNNEL. 
 
 ecious 
 and 
 
 Australia, more than 125,000 miners and a 
 
 has been required on an average in the cons n o-ivin°- employment 
 
 an annual laboring force of more thani half a mi 10 incide ntally in 
 
 at the present time to upwards ot 1,000,. 1 , , , ,, management 
 
 the new branches of business arising out of and connected with the man g 
 
 of these improvements to a much greater num ei. advance 
 
 Snch a state of things necessarily creates a demand foUaboi wit “ a , 
 in the price of wages, an improvement in the cond,, ton 
 
 throughout the world, an increased consumption . ■, demand and 
 
 of life, enhancing their prices by the double influence o mci ■ ^ labor- 
 
 increased expense of production arising from the advance l 1 ra ose sec . 
 
 e r’ S wa-es These changes would be necessarily most apparent m those sec 
 
 tions where the amount of labor required bears the highest ratio to the pop^ j 
 as in new countries recently settled, and least of all m ie ok ci ' 
 
 Europe, where labor is most abundant and the extra demand more easily sup¬ 
 plied ; yet to some extent they would be felt in every civilized countiy, c 
 will not be difficult to account for whatever increase has been witnessed m 
 the prices by the causes suggested, without supposing any appreciable dec me 
 to have taken place in the value of gold. That the latter circumstance ias.no 
 taken place, would appear evident from the fact that the mines of the piccn 
 metals in northern Hungary, in Saxony, in the Harz and Ural mountains, a 
 in northern Italy, yielding ores of so low a grade that they could not be operate 
 at all in the United States, except at a constant loss to their proprietors, and at 
 no time during the last fifty years returning a profit of more than ten per cent, 
 upon the capital invested, are nevertheless continued to the present day without 
 any material decline in the profits returned, a result altogether impossible upon 
 the theory of any considerable depreciation in the value of gold. 
 
 It is true that improved processes of treating the ores, and improvements in 
 the management of the mines, have contributed much to reduce the expenses of 
 mining in those localities ; hut these advantages are perhaps more than neutral¬ 
 ized by the moderate increase of miners’ wages, and other expenses attendant 
 to mining, comparatively light it is true in the section of country under consid¬ 
 eration, but nevertheless producing an appreciable effect. At all events it 
 appears morally certain that gold and silver mining in many of these places, on 
 account of the exceedingly small profits returned, would become utterly imprac¬ 
 ticable in connection with a sensible falling oft’ in the value of gold ; and as the 
 changes that have occurred iu the prices of articles are easily enough accounted 
 for by the extraordinary activity displayed in every branch of industry during 
 the last twenty years, supplemented in our own country by a depreciated paper 
 currency, it is useless to seek for hypothetical causes in the domain of mere 
 speculation. 
 
 The internal commerce of the United States, amounting in value now to 
 between five and six thousand millions of dollars, has much more than doubled 
 since 1848. 
 
 Similar results have been witnessed in all European countries where trans¬ 
 portation has been facilitated by the construction of railroads, the value and 
 amount of the inland trade increasing regularly with the facilities furnished for 
 conducting it, while the opening of new markets on our Pacific coast, in Aus¬ 
 tralia, and New Zealand, has enlarged the external commerce of every civilized 
 
 I his vast expansion in the interior and foreign commerce of the world and 
 die wonderful advances m material progress made since 1S4S, required a con 
 stantly increasing volume of the precious metals, and would have been impossi- 
 ble without it. I he exchanges required in large commercial transactions may be 
 facilitated by clearing-house arrangements, bills of exchange, checks, and drafts 
 but the infinitely more numerous transactions of every-day life incident to the 
 
SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 payment of laborers’ wages, railroad freights, passenger fares, express carriage, 
 telegrams, table expenses, the purchase of household furniture, wearing apparel 
 and the like, derive but little benefit from these inventions, andare almost entirely 
 dependent upon the amount of currency in circulation, and when they become 
 greatly enlarged, require a corresponding increase in the volume of currency. 
 This is precisely what has taken place in nearly every prosperous nation during 
 the last twenty years, England, France, the German States, and Russia, hav¬ 
 ing each increased the amount of gold currency in circulation, the same result 
 being witnessed in the United States prior to 1861, and would be to-day but 
 for the anomalous condition of things brought about by the late civil war. 
 
 The amount of gold and silver existing in Europe and America, in 1S4S, in the 
 form of coin and manufactured articles, according to the best authorities, was not 
 far from six thousand millions of dollars, and the amount remaining at the present 
 day in the same form cannot vary much from eight thousand millions; one 
 thousand millions of dollars during the 20 years having been transferred to 
 eastern Asia, and three hundred millions applied to repair the losses from abrasion, 
 from shipwrecks, and other casualties, from consumption in the manufacture of 
 gold leaf, gold lace, gilding, and dentists’ foil; the increase of the two metals in 
 Europe and America, after deducting all losses, being therefore, on an average, 
 about l^Q per cent, per annum upon the stock remaining in 1848; gold having 
 increased at the rate of 6 per cent, and silver decreased at the rate of 4, 1 .-. When 
 this result, harmonizing, as it does, with the most careful investigations of 
 statisticians in this country and in Europe, is compared with the extraordinary 
 demand for gold since 184S, the idea of its depreciation in value appears, to say 
 the least, exceedingly improbable. 
 
 If we assume the mass of gold and silver in use at the present day, in Europe 
 and America, in coin and manufactured articles, as amounting to the value of 
 $8,000,000,000, and estimate the annual supply of these metals from all countries 
 during the next ten years as equal to the annual average for the last 20 years, 
 and their disappearance by exportation to the east, by wear and tear, consump¬ 
 tion in the arts and other causes, as also equal to the average loss since 184S, 
 we would receive for the use of the nations of Europe and America an average 
 annual increase of only 1 T 3 0 5 0 per cent, upon the stock now on hand, any decline 
 in the annual produce, as now appears very likely to happen, reducing this per 
 centage still more, while the annual increase of the population may be estimated 
 at lj per cent. 
 
 We have been led into these extended remarks from an apprehension that 
 error of opinion exists in reference to the effects produced by the extensive gold 
 discoveries since 1S48, and that we are in danger of losing sight of the urgent 
 necessity that exists of adopting measures to stimulate the development of our 
 mining system so as to prevent too great a falling off in the yearly product of 
 our mines, retarding the completion of our still unfinished enterprises, enhancing 
 the value of gold, and rendering a return to specie payment not only more 
 difficult but more remote in realization. 
 
 From our own districts, from Australia, from Russian Siberia, and from British 
 Columbia, the invariable complaint now is that the shallow placers from which 
 such fabulous quantities of gold have been obtained are rapidly becoming 
 exhausted, and that in the future the supplies of this metal must be obtained 
 mainly from rock mining, a branch of industry requiring for its successful pros- 
 ecutiou large capital, high scientific skill, improved machinery, and thousands 
 of trained operators, skilled in the various processes pertaining to the business 
 by years of experience ; and while we are certainly making encouraging progress 
 in this direction, especially in California and Nevada, there is nevertheless reason 
 to fear that unless early precautions are taken to place this branch of the busi¬ 
 ness in a more advanced condition, our supplies of the precious metals will 
 decline from year to year for a considerable time to come. 
 
 The same difficulties are encountered in Australia, and in a measure in Siberia, 
 
6 
 
 SIJTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 ulations ; they are realities fraug it w^i_^ ^ about V,000,000 a year; 
 
 obtained from vein mining in Cal ^ mj e axn0 unt thus obtained 
 
 in Nevada probably from $5, 000,000 ^ 6 ^0°j0'°° 0 andt be annual supply 
 
 in other Territories will probably faUshoit of ^1U,UUU^ , $25,000,000, 
 
 in the United States from this source may notie*chhe ei be 
 
 while the amount of both metals obtained from nnnin, 
 
 could be erfy i„l .0 #100,000,000, 
 or even to a still greater amoirat, and that with“ a ™^ fe ,'Iidy to this result, 
 
 will ultimately exercise a powerful influeuce over our mug^ £ 
 
 In tie meat time much assistance might be rendered in U“ ‘ rinLle 
 
 improvements in working the mines or in treating the o, e. and if the P*P 
 established in the case of the Pacihc railroad is to be adopted as the policy o 
 the Government in reference to works of a direct naliona influence there wo Id 
 seem to he no good reason why the recommendations of the Committee on Mines 
 and Mining should not meet with favorable response from the legisktave depai t- 
 ment. No branch of industry at the present day has more duect beann 0 upon 
 our national finances than that pertaining to the mines ot the piecious meta . 
 At no previous period in our history probably would a sudden decline t 
 productiveness have reacted so unfavorably upon our general prosperity. 
 
 As the “ Sutro tunnel” seems to he a work indispensable to the proper 
 development and continued working of the Comstock lode, its success may lea 
 to similar undertakings in other districts. Thus, instead of repeating the errors 
 and suffering the consequent failures and disappointments found in the mining 
 systems of Mexico and South America, our miners may be led to adopt the wiser 
 policy of European governments, where extensive tunnels for draining and ope¬ 
 rating mines have been in use for centuries. 
 
 , The Austrian government has but recently completed the adit-level of .Joseph 
 II, commenced in 1782, leading from the valley of the river Gran to the mining- 
 district at Schemnitz, a distance of 10 miles, cutting the veins at a depth of 1,400 
 feet. It is 10 feet wide and 12 high, used both as a railway and canal, and was 
 constructed partly to explore for new veins and partly to drain mines already in 
 operation. The Schemnitz mines, in the northern part of Hungary, furnish 
 gold, silver, iron, lead, copper, and sulphur—gold to the value of about $75,000, 
 silver $700,000—the annual value of all the metals not exceeding $1,500,000. 
 Yet to develop mines not more productive than these the government commenced 
 and completed that extensive work. 
 
 The celebrated silver mines at Freiberg, in operation since the commence¬ 
 ment of the 13th century, are at present drained by an adit beginning on a 
 tributary of the river Elbe, extending something over eight miles so as to com¬ 
 municate with all the mines in the upper part of the district, being over eight 
 feet wide and nearly 10 feet high, securing a drainage at a depth of 1,G00 feet. 
 But, as the ore of these mines continues to increase in richness with the depth, 
 it has been proposed by eminent engineers, and the government of Saxony, it 
 is said, has in contemplation the construction of an adit-level of the extraor¬ 
 dinary length of 22 miles, opening in the river Elbe, and cutting the veins of 
 the Freiberg district at the average depth of 2,000 feet. Should tjiis bold con¬ 
 ception ever be carried into practical effect it will constitute one of the grandest 
 enterprises of the present age, and the most extensive mining tunnel in the 
 world. 
 
 i he ! leibeig mmes, to which so much taleut, energy, aud such vast expendi- 
 
SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 7 
 
 tures of money are being; devoted in contriving works to operate and improve 
 tliem, yield a silver product of the annual value of about $1,000,000, and 
 in a period of nearly 350 years have produced an aggregate value not exceed¬ 
 ing $120,000,000. 
 
 The Harz mines, in the district of Olausthal, in the former kingdom of Hano¬ 
 ver, are drained by a tunnel penetrating the mountains for a distance of six and 
 a half miles, 900 feet beneath the town of Olausthal, commenced in 1777 and 
 completed about the beginning of the present century. The first tunnel in the 
 Harz for draining mines was commenced in 1525, and before the end of that 
 century three more were constructed; and in 1799 another was completed of a 
 length, including galleries, of nearly 11 miles. 
 
 In 1851 the Ernst August tunnel was commenced in the neighborhood of 
 G-ittelde to drain the deep mines of the Olausthal district, estimated to require 
 22 years in its completion, but by the improved appliances now used in tunnel¬ 
 ling was finished in 1SG4, in 12 years and 11 months. This is said to be 
 the largest tunnel in the Harz, and furnishes the deepest natural drainage to the 
 mines that can ever be obtained. The water in this tunnel has sufficient depth 
 to allow the use of long flat-boats for the transportation of the ore. 
 
 The mines of the Harz are chiefly argentiferous galena, with copper pyrites, 
 iron pyrites, and gray copper ore, producing annually a supply of silver worth 
 $600,000, lead $575,000, copper $90,000, iron $125,000, or an aggregate value 
 of $1,400,000. 
 
 It will thus be seen that the combined yearly product of Schemnitz, Freiberg, 
 and the upper Harz, for the profitable working of which the best engineering 
 talent of Europe has been taxed for a period of three centuries to provide means 
 of drainage and ventilation, and the governments of Austria, Saxony, and 
 Hanover have lavishly expended so much money, is not much over $4,000,000, 
 or about one-fourth of the value of the gold and silver annually furnished by the 
 Comstock lode, for the proper drainage and development of which the Sutro 
 tunnel is required. 
 
 In all the localities above referred to, where deep drainage has been effected, 
 the result appears to have fully realized the expectations of the projectors, so 
 much so at Freiberg that, as has been already stated, it is contemplated to drive 
 an adit far surpassing any similar work yet undertaken, and reaching a lower 
 level than any hitherto attained in that locality, and both in Freiberg and in 
 the Harz the ores appear not merely to have maintained their quality, but even 
 to have increased in richness with the depth of the mine. 
 
 The great Sampson vein, on the Harz, has been worked to the depth of 
 2,580 feet, being the deepest mine now inoperation on the globe. At the depth 
 of 2,160 feet one of the finest accumulations of ore ever met with was reached, 
 and although the works have been carried down since 420 feet further this 
 superior quality of the ore is still maintained. 
 
 Geologists appear to agree in the opiuion that the Comstock lode is a true 
 fissure vein, and that the ore will continue of equal richness to any depth which 
 it is practicable to work the mines. 
 
 In view, therefore, of what other governments have done for mines not having a 
 tithe of its productiveness, and of the fact that as a nation we are at this moment 
 deeply interested in the development of all our resources, and pre-eminently so 
 as to those of the precious metals, it is believed that if the policy of a loan of the 
 public credit, as adopted by Congress in regard to the continental railway, should 
 be extended to the enterprise now under consideration, the results that would 
 follow would be of great value to this republic. 
 
 I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, 
 
 JOS. S. WILSON, 
 
 Commissioner. 
 
 Hon. O. H. Browning, 
 
 Secretary of the Interior. 
 

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THE 
 
 MINERAL RESOURCES 
 ©f the United States, 
 
 And the Impoetance and Necessity of Inaugurating 
 
 A RATIONAL SYSTEM OF MINING, 
 
 WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE 
 
 Comstock Lode and the Sutro Tunnel, 
 
 I 1ST NEVADA. 
 
 By ADOLPH SUTRO. 
 
 BALTIMORE: . . . JOHN MURPHY & CO. 
 1 8 68 . 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 The development of the mineral resources of this country forms a subject of 
 such grave importance, one involving considerations of a politico-economical 
 nature of such significant consequences, that it well behooves the American 
 Statesman, the Patriot who has the future of this great Republic at heart to 
 devote some time to the earnest examination-of those questions which have a 
 vital bearing upon the future welfare of this country. 
 
 In the vast regions stretching from the Mississippi River to the broad Pacific 
 Ocean, from the confines of Mexico to the icy regions of the North, there lie 
 buried in the bowels of the earth incalculable treasures of the precious metals, 
 which but await the industrious application of the hardy miner, and the foster¬ 
 ing care of a providential government to pour out a stream of gold and silver, 
 which will so much increase the national wealth, augment the resources of the 
 nation, and spread welfare and prosperity throughout the extent of this vast 
 land, that the burdens of taxation will gradually disappear , and make the 
 national debt sink into insignificance. 
 
 If we contemplate that mighty interest, which can be made to create so many 
 blessings, and find that it is neglected and declining from year to year, we must 
 arrive at the firm conclusion, that there is something radically wrong in our 
 present system of mining, and that an immediate, practical, and effectual remedy 
 should be applied to rescue from steady decline and eventual abandonment a 
 source of wealth which must be considered the most fruitful and important one 
 this nation possesses. 
 
 If the facts presented in the following pages are carefully examined, three 
 prominent conclusions will be arrived at: 
 
IV 
 
 1st. That the main wealth of the mineral regions is contained in quartz lodes, 
 the principal treasures of which are found at great depths beneath the surface. 
 
 2d. That the present mode of mining downwards from the surface, is detri¬ 
 mental to the prosperity of the mining interests. 
 
 3d. That a system of deep tunneling should be inaugurated, which will make 
 mining profitable by giving a natural outlet to the flow of water, by ventilating 
 the mines, by cooling the atmosphere, and by facilitating the extraction of ore. 
 
 Mining requires capital , which the western regions do not possess ; the Eastern 
 States have an abundance, but not for investment in mining enterprises, which 
 are looked upon with suspicion, and are almost considered disreputable. 
 
 Some years ago many persons were found quite willing to embark in mining 
 ventures, and considerable sums were invested; but the experiences made have 
 been disastrous and ruinous to those concerned, in almost every instance. This 
 result has been charged to various causes, but the true one must be sought in 
 the unwise, extravagant and wasteful manner in which the work on the mines 
 has been performed. 
 
 The construction of deep tunnels, which by all authorities are admitted to be 
 absolutely necessary to make mining operations successful, require time, and the 
 outlay of large amounts of capital, and consequently implicit confidence in the 
 permanency of the mines. 
 
 It is the lack of confidence in the permanency of the mines, (their downward 
 extent to great depth not having practically been demonstrated in the United 
 States,) which prevents the execution of such works. 
 
 The Comstock Lode, the most productive of all mineral lodes in the world, 
 producing as much silver as the whole Republic of Mexico, presents the most 
 extraordinary example, illustrating the ruinous and wasteful manner of our 
 present system of mining. We have a lode here which has produced within 
 the last six years, over seventy-five millions of dollars, and the whole of that 
 enormous sum has been swallowed up by the expenses of producing it! The 
 mines upon this lode have now reached such a depth, that, after a few years, 
 they must inevitably be abandoned , provided a deep tunnel be not constructed. 
 
V 
 
 Great mineral lodes, true fissure veins, according to experiences made m 
 older countries extend downward indefinitely; we Have the testimony ol some 
 of the first scientific men living, that the Comstock lode bears the stiongest 
 evidences of being; a true fissure vein. 
 
 Here then we have a remarkable state of affairs ; a lode yielding sixteen mil¬ 
 lions of dollars per annum, almost the whole amount being absorbed by the 
 expenses of producing it, while the construction ot a deep tunnel, tor which 
 extraordinary facilities exist, would leave one-half of that amount as a profit; 
 the downward continuance of the lode is theoretically, at the same time conclu- 
 sivelv, proven, and still we find that capitalists cannot be found to undertake 
 the construction of a deep tunnel, because the ores at great depth are not actu¬ 
 ally visible. 
 
 Were that tunnel completed to-day, a glorious reality, pouring out a silver 
 stream of forty or fifty millions per annum, these same capitalists , who first 
 want to eye the riches way down in the earth before they consent to invest, 
 would be eager to enter into similar undertakings in all parts of the mining 
 regions, and tunneling would become the order of the day. The nation xcoulcl 
 he enriched beyond all expectation, and the benefits to the Government and the 
 people would be incalculable. 
 
 That it is both the duty and the interest of the Government to aid in the con¬ 
 struction of one such tunnel to serve as an index work, and thereby establish the 
 continuance of mineral lodes in depth, cannot admit oj any doubt. 
 
 The most favorable opportunity for such a demonstration presents itself in 
 the construction of the proposed tunnel to the Comstock Lode ; the Government 
 may consistently extend its credit to that work, for almost no risk is involved, 
 the security offered being a hundredfold; a simple investigation of the subject 
 will prove this conclusively. 
 
 Some thirty years ago, a similar question arose in Saxony, when Baron von 
 Herder, then chief of the mining department, as an introductory to a book on 
 the subject, addressed his countrymen in the following words:* 
 
 * The deep Meissen Tunnel, by .Sigmund August Wolfgang, Baron von Herder. Leipzig, 1838. 
 
VI 
 
 “TO THE FRIENDS OF THEIR COUNTRY 
 
 “Do I dedicate the plan of a mining work, the execution of which is of the 
 “ highest importance to the mining interests of Saxony. 
 
 “It is the plan to drive a deep tunnel from the level of the Elbe near Meissen 
 “ to the neighborhood of Freiberg, in order to drain the water from the mines of 
 “ that district to a much greater depth than heretofore, and by means thereof to 
 “ secure their existence for centuries to come : a plan which as to magnitude, time 
 “ and cost, is large and gigantic, but which appears in its effects and results so 
 “ benevolent and full of blessings, that the question as to cost should not form an 
 “ obstacle to its execution. 
 
 “It is true that the resources of the mining treasury of the Freiberg district are 
 “ too limited, to bear these expenses ; but the execution of a work which in times to 
 “ come will be classed in the list of those great national monuments, which have for 
 “ their object the lasting welfare of a country , and which will secure the same for 
 “ the latest generations and times, cannot be left to the mercy of a single mining 
 “ district, but should be looked upon as a work creating happiness and glory, and 
 ‘ ‘ worthy of the participation and promotion of the entire nation. 
 
 “ With unlimited confidence do I therefore present to the friends of their coun- 
 “ try, the following explanation and statement of this project: 
 
 “ May they extend to it a wise and sympathizing examination and magnani- 
 “ mous consideration, and may they be assured of the fervent thanks, which pos- 
 “ ter ity will grant them” 
 
 The mines of Saxony produced, and now produce but a mite of what our 
 mines do; the national debt of that country is but small, and the burdens of 
 taxation are not of an onerous character. 
 
How much stronger then should the argument he in the case at issue/ A 
 country containing more mines and richer mines than all the balance of the 
 world combined,- a country having a national debt amounting to over twenty - 
 five hundred millions of dollars, and a people crying out and groaning under 
 unequalled burdens of taxation! 
 
 Wisdom and foresight point out but one course ; let the mineral resources of 
 the country go to ruin, and the national debt, the burdens of taxation and gen¬ 
 eral suffering will be increased from year to year. 
 
 Let our immense mineral resources be developed, an increase in the value of 
 all property, a relieve of the burdens of taxation, unparalleled advancement of 
 commerce, industry and traffic, a bright future, speedy resumption of specie pay¬ 
 ments, and general welfare and prosperity will be the results. 
 
 Those who rule the destinies of this country have the solution of this question 
 in their hands; wisdom, foresight, liberality and true patriotism will grasp the 
 issue, and promptly secure those results which will immensely benefit our 
 present generation, and extend its blessings, to posterity. 
 
 ADOLPH 8UTRO. 
 
 Washington, D. C., March, 1868. 
 
INDEX 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 I. INTRODUCTORY,.. . iii 
 
 II. INDEX, . . ix 
 
 III. MEMORIAL AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE, . xiii 
 
 IV. THE COMSTOCK LODE AND THE EVILS OF OUR PRESENT SYSTEM 
 
 OF MINING, ........ 11 
 
 The Comstock Lode.—A True Fissure Vein.—Mining Companies.—Yield of 
 Bullion.—Importance to Nevada.—The First Mines in the World.—Cost 
 of Mining.—Approaching Abandonment..—The Remedy a Drain Tunnel. 
 
 —Quantity of Water.—Cost of Pumping in Nevada.—Evils of Pumping. 
 
 —Increase of Heat.—Ventilation.—Tunnels in Europe.—The Ernst 
 August Tunnel.—Yield of the Harz Mines.—Other Great Tunnels.— 
 
 The Sutro Tunnel.—Dimensions of Tunnel.—Geology of the Country..—• 
 Advantages to be gained.—A National Question, . . .13 
 
 V. LETTERS FROM DISTINGUISHED EXPERTS, .... 31 
 
 1. Letter from Francis Bowen, Professor at Harvard College, . 33 
 
 2. Letter from Baron von Beust, Chief of the Mining Department of 
 
 Saxony, ......... 33 
 
 3. Letter from Bernhard von Cotta, Professor of Geology at the Min¬ 
 
 ing Academy of Freiberg, . . . . . . .35 
 
 4. Letter from Julius Weissbach, Dr. Phil., Royal Saxonian Mining 
 
 Councillor, and Professor at the Mining Academy of Freiberg, 30 
 
 5. Letter from His Excellency, Dr. H. von Dechen, Actual Privy 
 
 Councillor of the King of Prussia, and late Chief of the Min¬ 
 ing Department, ....... 38 
 
 6 . Letter from FI. Iyoch, Royal Prussian Chief Mining Councillor, . 39 
 
 7. Letter from Bruno Kerl, Professor at the Royal Mining School 
 
 of Berlin, ......... 40 
 
 8 . Letter from C. Borchers, Chief Surveyor of the Mines of the Upper 
 
 Harz, . . . . . . . . . .41 
 
 9. Letter from the Directors of the Discount Company of Berlin, . 43 
 
 10. Letter from FI. Braun, Chief Engineer at the Zinc Mines of Vieille 
 
 Montagne, . . . . . . . . .44 
 
 II. Letter from Michel Chevalier, Senator of the French Empire and 
 
 Member of the Institute, . 
 
 2 
 
 45 
 
X 
 
 12. Letter from A. Daubree, Member of the Institute and Inspector Gen¬ 
 
 eral of the Mines of France, 
 
 13. Letter from L. E. Rivot, Professor at the Mining School of Paris, 
 
 14. Letter from Baron Prisse, . 
 
 15. Letter from Sir Rod. I. Murchison, Prof. Warrington W. Smyth and 
 
 Prof. And. Ramsay, 
 
 16. Letter from P. Ritter yon Rittinger, Councillor in the Mining De¬ 
 
 partment of the Austrian Ministry of Finance, 
 
 17. Letter from LI. Stametz & Co., Bankers, Vienna, 
 
 18. Letter from Baron Otto von Hingenau, Dr. of Law, Councillor and 
 
 Member of the Imperial Austrian Ministry of Finance, . 
 
 19. Letter from John Day, County Surveyor of Lyon County, Nevada, 
 
 20. Letter from Guido Kustel, Mining Engineer, .... 
 
 21. Letter from Dr. Phil. Burkart, Royal Prussian Privy Mining Coun¬ 
 
 cillor, 
 
 Progress of California and Nevada.—What caused it.—Encouragement by 
 Government.—Importance of Mining Legislation.—Legislation on Tun¬ 
 nels.—Assistance by Governments.—Instances of Government Assistance. 
 —Importance of Drain Tunnels.—Tunnels at Freiberg.—Advantages de¬ 
 rived from Tunnels.—Wisdom of Government Aiding in their Construc¬ 
 tion.—Aid to Mining Enterprises in Mexico.—Reasons why but few 
 Tunnels were Constructed.—Manner of Working the Mines.—Mines 
 Owned by Persons Without Means.—Provisions of the “Ordinanzas de 
 Mineria.”—Ignorance of Surveying.—The Mines of Zacatecas.—Facili¬ 
 ties for the Construction of a Tunnel.—The Mines of Guanajuato.—Tun¬ 
 nels existing in Mexico.—Abandonment of the Mines.—Real del Monte. 
 —Errors of an English Company.—General Losses from the Want of 
 Tunnels.—The Sutro Tunnel.—Mining Operations on the Comstock Lode. 
 —Yield and Profits of the Mines.—Increased Expenses of Mining.—A 
 Deep Tunnel the Only Remedy, ..... 
 
 VI. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL RELATIONS OF THE 
 NEVADA LEGISLATURE,. 
 
 Extent of the Mining Regions.—Gold Mining in California.—Placer Mining 
 Not Permanent.—The Comstock Lode.—Continuity in Depth.—The Sutro 
 Tunnel.—Importance of the Work.—Other Lodes.—Future Yield.—Diffi¬ 
 culties in Mining.—Increase of Heat.—Evil Effects of Foul Air.—Neces¬ 
 sity of a Tunnel.—Mining Companies.—European Mines.—Depreciation 
 in the Value of Money.—Difference between the Precious Metals and 
 other Commodities.—Increase in Quantity of the Precious Metals.—Ap¬ 
 preciation in the Value of Property.—Increase of Taxable Property in 
 the World.—It Does Not Affect Individuals.—It Materially Affects an 
 Existing Debt.—Beneficial Influence in Great Britain.—Prosperity of the 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 . 46 
 
 46 
 
 47 
 
 . 49 
 
 49 
 
 50 
 
 51 
 
 56 
 
 57 
 
 . 59 
 
 60 
 
 75 
 
XI 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 United States.—Financial Crisis.—The National Debt.—Increase of Tax¬ 
 able Property in the United States.—Increase of Revenue.—Payment of 
 the National Debt.—Sir Robert Peel.—M. Chevalier.—Importance of 
 
 the Question.—National Aid.—Legislative Proceedings, . . 77 
 
 VII. THE COMSTOCK LODE, ITS CHARACTER AND THE PROBABLE MODE 
 OF ITS CONTINUANCE IN DEPTH. BY FERDINAND BAR¬ 
 ON RICHTHOFEN, Dr. Phil., . . . . . .95 
 
 1. Introduction, ........ 97 
 
 2. Outlines of the Geology of Washoe, . . . . .99 
 
 3. General Structure of the Comstock Vein, .... 103 
 
 Enclosing Rocks.—Out-croppings.—Vein Matter.—Fragments of Country 
 Rock.—Clay and Clayey Matter.—Quartz.—Ores.—Other Minerals.— 
 Distribution of Ores in the Vein. 
 
 4. Comstock Vein a True Fissure Vein, ..... 114 
 
 5. Mode of Formation of Comstock Vein, . . . . .118 
 
 Origin of Fissure.—Filling of Fissure.—Transformation of Vein Matter.— 
 Dynamical Action in the Vein.—Additional Proof of Former Existence 
 of Solfataric Action. 
 
 6 . Continuity of Comstock Vein in Depth, ..... 124 
 
 7. Mode of Continuance in Depth, ..... 124 
 
 Inclination.—Width of Vein.—“Horses.”—Enclosing Rock.—Selvages.—Ore- 
 Bearing Character and Distribution of Ore. 
 
 8 . Means of Securing Future Productiveness, .... 135 
 
 VIII. REPORT OF THE MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, 
 
 CALIFORNIA, ....... 141 
 
 Discovery of Silver in Nevada.—Yield of Bullion.—Profits of Mining.— 
 
 Steam Engines.—Alexander Von Humboldt.—The Valenciana Mine.— 
 
 The Count of Regia.—The English Real del Monte Company.—Report of 
 Mr. Buchan.—Financial History.—Price of Shares.—Valuable Lesson.— 
 Opening a Mine.—“La Bonanza.”—Abandonment of the Mine. — Mining 
 in Europe.—Mines in Germany. —The Freiberg District.—The Ernst 
 August Tunnel.—Old Tunnels. —Description of the Ernst August Tun¬ 
 nel.—Necessity of a Tunnel to the Comstock Lode. -Baron Richthofen. 
 
 — Continuity of the Comstock Lode. —Opinion of Other Writers.—The 
 Sutro Tunnel. - Description of Tunnel.—Character of Rocks.—Tunneling 
 in Nevada.— Time required to Finish Tunnel.—Cost of the Work.—Sum¬ 
 mary of Estimate. —Cost of Other Tunnels —Report of Gen. McClellan. 
 —Privileges Granted to Sutro Tunnel Company. -Financial Aid.— 
 Resolutions, ....... 143 
 
PAGE. 
 
 xii 
 
 IX 
 
 ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF NEVADA AND OF CONGRESS; 
 CONTRACTS AND ENDORSEMENTS, 
 
 1. Act of the Legislature of Nevada, . 
 
 2. Contracts with the Mining Companies, 
 
 3. Act of Congress, ••••''' 
 
 4. Instructions from the General Land Office, 
 
 5 Endorsements by Bankers of San Francisco, 
 
 6. Opinion of Mining Superintendents and Others, • Pontract 
 
 7. Recommendation to the Mining Companies to Enter into a Contract 
 
 WTTH THE SUTRO TUNNEL COMPANY, . • 
 
 8. Memorial of the Miners and Residents of the Pacific Coast for the 
 
 Aid of Government in the Construction of the Sutro Tunnel, . 
 
 X MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, ■ 
 
 1 Extract from the Opinion of Alexander Von Humboldt.-Review of the 
 Mineral Land Act, by Gregory Yale.-Report of the Surveyor-Genera 
 of Nevada.— Report of John Day.—Report of Alphens Bull, President 
 of the Gould & Curry Company.—Report of S. P. Dewey, President of the 
 Empire Company.-Report of the State Mineralogist of Nevada, . 
 
 2. Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles, • • * 
 
 3. Extract from Commentaries on the Mining Ordinances of t pain 
 
 Gamboa, • 
 
 4. Letter from John Stuart Mill, Member of Parliament, etc., etc. 
 
 XI RESOLUTIONS OF THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE, PERSONAL 
 
 ADOLPH SUTRO, ..••••• 
 
 XII TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP, SHOWING THE LOCATIONS OF THE SUTRO 
 TUNNEL AND THE COMSTOCK LODE, • 
 
 XIII. LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF THE COMSTOCK LODE AND SECTION 
 OF THE SUTRO TUNNEL, • 
 
 BY 
 
 TO 
 
 169 
 
 171 
 
 173 
 
 189 
 
 191 
 
 193 
 
 193 
 
 196 
 
 199 
 
 201 
 
 203 
 
 208 
 
 230 
 
 232 
 
JOINT MEMORIAL AND RESOLUTIONS, 
 
 ASKING GOVERNMENT AID IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 Adopted unanimously by both Souses of the Legislature of Nevada, January 25, 1867. 
 
 Whereas, The State of Nevada contains within its borders a silver vein 
 called the Comstock Lode ; and 
 
 Whereas, A deep drainage and exploring tunnel, leading into said lode, is 
 necessary to its permanent yield of the precious metals ; and 
 
 Whereas, The character of said lode is now demonstrated to be such as to 
 give ample security to the capital necessary to he advanced for its construction; and 
 
 Whereas, the following facts in connection with the foregoing are of weighty 
 consideration : 
 
 That the mines on said lode have been worked for seven years last past, and 
 during this time have produced sixty-four millions (64,000,000) of dollars. 
 
 That the present annual yield is sixteen millions (16,000,000) of dollars, an 
 amount equal to the total annual product of the Republic of Mexico. 
 
 That the expenses of working these mines so rapidly increase with the in¬ 
 creased depth, that the sixteen millions (16,000,000) of dollars were last year 
 realized at a cost of fifteen million five hundred thousand (15,500,000) dollars ; 
 and at the present ratio of cost to production, their resources would, in a few 
 years, be wholly absorbed, and the mines practically abandoned. 
 
 That the causes of increased cost are, amongst others, the accumulation of 
 water in the mines, insufficient ventilation, and the increase of heat with depth; 
 and that now having reached a depth of eight hundred (800) feet, these com¬ 
 bined causes will prevent their being worked profitably, on the present plan, 
 below twelve hundred (1200) feet. 
 
 TLat the Comstock Lode is conveniently placed for deep drainage, beino- situ¬ 
 ated on the side of a mountain, which declines into a valley, from which a hori¬ 
 zontal adit or tunnel four miles long can be constructed, which will cut the 
 mines at a depth of two thousand (2000) feet. 
 
XIV 
 
 That this tunnel once constructed, these mines can be profitably worked to a 
 depth of three thousand (3000) feet; and by means of it, at least one thousand 
 millions of treasure will be secured. 
 
 That the State of Nevada cannot render material aid to this indispensable 
 work, by reason of Constitutional inhibitions. 
 
 That the mining companies, while producing large amounts of bullion, and 
 distributing it into the channels of trade and commerce, under existing circum¬ 
 stances derive but an inconsiderable profit, and not equal, without Government 
 aid, to the successful prosecution of such an undertaking. 
 
 That the taxable property of the United States has been more than doubled 
 within the last eighteen years, and this increase has mainly resulted from the 
 vast addition to the precious metals within this time ; and the further addition 
 of one thousand millions would be an increase to that extent of the public re¬ 
 sources, and virtually a reduction, to a considerable extent, of the public debt. 
 
 That the United States contain, by estimation, one million square miles of 
 mineral land, the chief value of which is to be found at great depths from the 
 surface; and what is now wanting to enlist private enterprise in the aid of deep 
 mining, and thus develop incalculable wealth, is a practical proof, upon such a 
 scale as the proposed tunnel would furnish, that our mines are continuous to the 
 lowest levels at which drainage can be secured. 
 
 That in all European mining countries, the aid of Government is given on 
 broad financial considerations, to enterprises of this and like character. 
 
 That the magnitude of the proposed work and the results to flow from its 
 completion, as favorably affecting great financial questions, justly assign to it a 
 national consideration. Therefore, 
 
 Resolved, By the Senate and Assembly of the State of Nevada, conjointly , that 
 our Senators be instructed, and our Representative requested, to use their best 
 endeavors to obtain from Congress such material aid as will secure the speedy 
 construction of the deep drainage and mining tunnel known as the Sutro Tunnel. 
 
 Resolved, That the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing 
 preamble and resolutions, together with the Reports of Committees, to each of 
 our Senators and to our Representative in Congress. 
 
THE COMSTOCK LODE, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 EVILS OF OUR PRESENT SYSTEM OF MINING. 
 
THE COMSTOCK LODE. 
 
 The Comstock Lode in the State of Nevada is situated on the eastern slope of 
 a range of hills, east of, and running parallel with, the Sierra Nevada mountains; 
 from its outcroppings the hills slope down to the valley of Carson river, 
 
 A TRUE FISSURE VEIN. 
 
 The Comstock Lode is a true fissure vein, several miles in length, from one 
 hundred to two hundred feet in width and extending; from the surface down- 
 ward, at an angle of forty-five degrees, to indefinite depth. 
 
 The predominating metal of the Lode is silver, which constitutes about two- 
 thirds in value of the bullion; the other third consists of gold. 
 
 MINING COMPANIES. 
 
 On this great vein, which was discovered in the year 1859, some thirty-five 
 companies own claims, amongst which we may mention: The Ophir, Mexican, 
 Gould & Curry, Savage, Hale & Norcross, Chollar Potosi, Imperial, Empire, 
 Confidence, New-York and Washoe, Yellow Jacket, Crown Point, and Belcher. 
 
 Each company owns a given number of feet, from ten to fourteen hundred, 
 along the length of the Lode, and is entitled to all the ore contained between the 
 sides or walls of the fissure, with all its dips, spurs, and angles, and within its 
 north and south boundaries, to any depth it may be possible to carry mining 
 works. 
 
 YIELD OF BULLION. 
 
 This great vein, the most important one at present worked in the world, and 
 probably the most prolific one of which we have any historical record, has 
 yielded in the last six years to January 1st, 1868, $75,000,000. 
 
14 
 
 Its present annual yield is about six hundred thousand pounds avoirdupois 
 of gold and silver bullion, worth $16,000,000, equal to over one quarter of all 
 the gold and silver produced by all the States and Territories on the Pacific 
 coast, or equal to one-third of all the silver produced per annum in the whole 
 world, and exceeding the present total yield of all the silver mines of Mexico. 
 
 IMPORTANCE TO NEVADA. 
 
 The importance of the Comstock Lode to the State of Nevada will be well 
 understood, when it is considered, that, as the Comptroller’s books of the State 
 for 1865, showed, the taxable property of the five counties surrounding the Corn- 
 stock Lode, and which derive their entire value from these mines, amounted to 
 $24,238,061 —while all the rest of the State of Nevada, embracing eighty thou¬ 
 sand square miles, with its thousands of mines, had only $5,499,315 of taxable 
 property. 
 
 THE FIRST MINE IN THE WORLD. 
 
 The Comstock Lode is pronounced by competent geologists to be a larger, 
 more extensive, and more permanent vein, than either the celebrated Veta 
 Madre of Guanajuato, or the Yeta Grande of Zacatecas, both of which have 
 poured out their treasures for the last three hundred years, the former having 
 yielded about $800,000,000, the latter over $650,000,000. 
 
 A larger interest is concentrated here within the compass of a few miles than 
 on any other spot on the globe; and the continued productiveness of these mines 
 is a matter which not only concerns the State of Nevada, or the Pacific Coast, 
 but the whole United States and the commercial ivorld at large. 
 
 COST OF MINING, 
 
 Notwithstanding the immense yield of these mines they are in the aggregate 
 a source of but little profit—for it almost costs $16,000,000 per annum, 
 expended in pumping out the water, extracting the ore and reducing it, to 
 obtain $16,000,000 worth of bullion; this will be readily understood, when we 
 
15 
 
 consider, that these mines have already reached a depth of from seven to eiglit 
 hundred feet, and in some instances nine hundred feet, and that every pound ot 
 water and ore has to be hoisted that distance. Forty-seven steam-engines are 
 constantly at work on the mines, day and night, and every cord of wood con¬ 
 sumed lias to be purchased at the rate of sixteen dollars in gold. 
 
 APPROACHING ABANDONMENT. 
 
 Many difficulties are encountered in mining downward through perpendicular 
 shafts, and experience in all places and at all times has shown, that mines at 
 some time reach a depth where the constantly increasing cost of mining exceeds 
 the yield , and it is the uniform opinion of mining engineers, that that depth has 
 nearly been reached on the Comstock Lode, and if no other means for draining 
 and working the mines be adopted, that this property but a short time ago 
 worth $25,000,000, including its surroundings, will thus become entirely value¬ 
 less for all practical purposes, and deprive one hundred thousand people of their 
 occupation and means of subsistence. 
 
 fins result is most clearly foreshadowed in the enormous but steady decline 
 ol the shares in nearly all the Comstock mining companies, a fact so notorious 
 as to be absolutely beyond question. 
 
 THE REMEDY—A DRAIN TUNNEL. 
 
 But nature, which has placed these mines two thousand feet above the adja¬ 
 cent valley, has thereby provided the means to run or construct a horizontal 
 adit or tunnel, which would cut the mines at a depth of two thousand feet below 
 the croppings, and which would remove all the obstacles at present encountered, 
 by giving a natural outlet to the flow of water, and extending facilities for 
 working the mines. Such a tunnel would place these mines in a condition to be 
 worked profitably and economically for a hundred years to come , and would 
 secure to the world many hundreds of millions of dollars in gold and silver. 
 
16 
 
 QUANTITY OF WATER. 
 
 It lias variously been estimated that the quantity of water at a depth of 
 1,900 feet, draining the Comstock Lode from its extreme northern to its extreme 
 southern end, (judging from the quantity now running down the canons, and 
 which issues from the various tunnels, or is pumped out of the mines,) would 
 form a stream of 3, 4, 5, 6 and even 10 square feet, flowing at the rate of five 
 miles per hour. Taking the lower figures 3 square feet, that is to say, a stream 
 of water which would fill a trough or canal three feet wide and one foot deep, 
 flowing at the rate of 5 miles or 26,400 feet per hour, we get 26,400x3=79,200 
 cubic feet of water per hour, or per minute 1,320 cubic feet=8,226 imperial 
 gallons. 
 
 COST OF PUMPING IN NEVADA. 
 
 The estimates made on the cost of generating steam power at Virginia City, 
 vary somewhat, but the lowest figures given are at the rate of $1 50 per 
 twenty-four hours for every horse power. Taking the quantity of water as 
 above stated, we have 1,320 cubic feet at 62AV lbs., equal to 82,260 lbs. per 
 minute. This sum divided by 33,000 gives 2AV horse power, to lift the 
 given quantity 1 foot high ; in order to lift it 1,550 feet, (allowing 350 feet for' 
 tunnels in existence now,) it would require 3,859 horse power. Now it takes 
 about double the given power to overcome the friction of water in pipes, 
 the friction of pumps, etc., etc., and it would consequently take 7,718 horse 
 power, to raise the stated quantity of water from a depth of 1,900 feet to the 
 level of the existing tunnels, 350 feet below the surface. At $1 50 per day 
 for every horse power, it would cost to keep the requisite pumping machinery in 
 motion $11,577 per day, or $347,310 per month, or $4,167,720 per annum, 
 without allowing anything for the interest on the money invested in machinery , 
 and its original cost, which would amount to several millions of dollars. 
 
 Captain Taylor some time ago furnished the following figures, as to the cost 
 of pumping at the Best & Belcher Mine, the pumping machinery of which was 
 
17 
 
 among the best, and as economically conducted as any in Nevada. His daily 
 expenses in pumping were : 
 
 Wood 2i cords at $16, . . . . . $ 34 00 
 
 Engineer’s wages, ....... 12 00 
 
 Pitman’s wages, ....... 9 00 
 
 Oil, leather, etc., . . . . . . . 5 00 
 
 Interest on cost of machinery $42,000, at 2 per cent, per 
 
 month—per day, . . . . . . . 28 00 
 
 Total, $ 88 00 
 
 The engineer’s and pitman’s wages would be somewhat less in large 
 pumping works, but not having brought into account any allowance for wear 
 and tear, no great difference would arise therefrom. 
 
 He raised the water 270 feet, and discharged 253 gallons per minute ; at a 
 depth of 1,550 feet, it would have to be raised 5xVir times as high, equal to a 
 daily expense of $505 12. But the quantity at that depth for the whole 
 Comstock Lode as estimated above, will be 32 t Vt times as great. To pump 
 out the same would therefore cost 32tVvX$501 60=$16,421 per day, $492,630 
 per month, or the enormous sum of $5,911,560 per annum. 
 
 These are astonishing figures, but they are nevertheless correct; we may 
 therefore safely put down the cost of pumping out the water from the Comstock 
 Lode at a depth of 1,900 feet, at the average of the above given sums, which 
 would be a trifle over five millions of dollars per annum ; and all this enormous 
 sum is totally wasted, for the moment the pumps stop, the mine fills with 
 water, and all the money expended for pumping is completely lost. 
 
 This sum squandered every year for pumping, applied to the construction of a 
 tunnel, would forever allow the water to flow off by a natural outlet, and would 
 secure profitable mining operations for centuries to come. 
 
18 
 
 EVILS OF PUMPING. 
 
 Independent of the actual cost of pumping, there are other disadvantages con¬ 
 nected with the same, which must not be lost sight of. Engines, boilers, pumps, 
 etc., etc., rapidly wear out, and new ones have to take their places; pumps are 
 liable to get out of order, and being placed at the very lowest point in the 
 mine, if not instantly repaired, the water rises, making it impossible to reach 
 them. 
 
 In consequence of these accidents, the mines will be flooded frequently, 
 and delays occasioned of days, weeks, or even months, throwing the miners out 
 of employ, stopping the mills, and cutting off dividends; thus creating great 
 hardships in all quarters. 
 
 But these are not the only evils arising therefrom : the filling of the chambers 
 and galleries with water swells the ground and timbers, which after the water 
 is removed shrinks, and consequently leaves the mine in an insecure state, 
 making it liable to cave in. Miners in distant parts of the mine remain in a 
 constant state of anxiety, fearing some accident to the pumps ; they can never 
 work with that feeling of security they would otherwise possess. 
 
 Another objectionable feature to using machinery is the fact that the mine 
 which reaches the greatest depth is compelled to do most of the pumping, not 
 only for itself, but also for its neighbors, thus draining their mines without re¬ 
 ceiving any remuneration. This will retard mining operations to a large extent, 
 as many companies would prefer to suspend the working of their mines until the 
 adjoining claims have reached the same level. 
 
 The annual consumption of timber for supports in these mines amounts to 
 sixteen millions feet board measure, which cost $35 per thousand feet or 
 $560,000, and the total quantity thus far placed in them may safely be esti¬ 
 mated at one hundred millions feet, costing $3,500,000. 
 
 This forest of timber, the wood being of yellow pine, increases every year 
 and may be made to last 12 or 15 years, provided a dry fresh current of air 
 
19 
 
 passes through the mines, while it will rot in three or four years in damp, ill 
 ventilated places. That no favorable conditions for its preservation exist, may 
 be concluded from the fact, that several of the mines have lately caved in, and 
 that half the houses in Virginia City are cracked in such a manner, that it is 
 dangerous to live in them. A drain tunnel would remedy all these evils. 
 
 INCREASE OF HEAT. 
 
 Another great obstacle in deep mining is the increase of heat with depth. It 
 is a well ascertained fact, confirmed by experiments all over the globe, that the 
 increase of heat in penetrating the earth’s crust amounts to one degree of 
 Fahrenheit for every 60 feet of descent. This has also been experienced on 
 the Comstock Lode, and it may be stated as an illustration, that the workmen 
 in the Belcher mine, in running a drift from the 900 feet level a short time ago, 
 could only work five minutes at a time without stopping to rest, so excessive was 
 the heat. Any person who has descended into any of the mines on the .Corn- 
 stock Lode within the last year will bear testimony, that the heat, even at the 
 present depth, is excessive, and no one can remain there for half an hour, 
 without being bathed in perspiration. 
 
 The pecuniary loss from this cause must be considerable, for no human being 
 can perform the same amount of labor with the thermometer at 95 than 
 if it stood at 65 degrees. 3,000 miners are employed at $4 00 in gold 
 per day, making an aggregate expenditure of $12,000 per day for that kind of 
 labor; their working capacity would be increased at least 25 per cent, were 
 they to have a cool atmosphere, and the consequent loss therefrom amounts to 
 $3,000 per day or to over one million of dollars per annum! 
 
 VENTILATION. 
 
 This is a subject of so grave a character, that in England committees have 
 been appointed from year to year by Parliament, to investigate the state of the 
 mines with especial regard to ventilation and the health of the miners. 
 
These reports show, that an alarming number of persons die of miners’ con¬ 
 sumption, as the result of being compelled to work in a foul atmosphere. In 
 the mines of the Comstock Lode it is a common thing to enter a drift, wffieie 
 a candle will hardly burn, and in this poisonous atmosphere—deprived of 
 oxygen, without which no human life can exist, the miner is compelled to delve 
 and toil for eight mortal long hours I 
 
 Legislation should remedy so barbarous a state of affairs and a whole nation 
 shoidd assist in removing an evil , which can be so effectually removed by the 
 construction of a deep tunnel, which, after being connected from the surface by 
 shafts, would create a draft and circulation of air as effectual as a chimney 
 would 2,000 feet in height. Such a current could be carried to the remotest 
 parts of the mines, bringing a welcome supply of fresh air, cooling the atmos¬ 
 phere, giving health and vigor to the miners, and saving millions of dollars 
 every year. 
 
 TUNNELS IN EUROPE. 
 
 For all these reasons, and many others which it would be too lengthy to 
 enter into, the Governments of Europe for centuries past have favored, assisted 
 and taken in hand the construction of deep drain tunnels, wherever the topogra¬ 
 phy of the country allowed it. 
 
 A few years ago the great “Ernst August” tunnel to the Harz mines in 
 Germany, was completed; a writer on that occasion, in reviewing the history 
 of those mines, said: 
 
 “Already in the beginning of the sixteenth century, the mechanical appli¬ 
 ances for raising water were found to be insufficient, and it was considered a 
 matter of necessity to construct drain tunnels. The first one, called the Sev¬ 
 enty-eight feet Tunnel, was completed in 1525, the Frankensharner Tunnel in 
 1548, the One Hundred and Fourteen Feet Tunnel in 1551, and the Raven 
 Tunnel in 1573. By means of these tunnels, which were connected with all 
 parts of the mines, it was found possible to work them for about two hundred 
 years; but toward the end of the last century it became impossible to master 
 
tlie water, and in consequence it was concluded, in the year 1771, to run a still 
 deeper tunnel ; work was commenced in 1777, and it was completed in 1799. 
 It is called the Deep George Tunnel, and its length, including cross-cuts, is 
 fifty-seven thousand feet; it drains the mines under Clausthal to a depth of 
 nine hundred feet. 
 
 “This relieved the mines from water for a while, but as work progressed and 
 greater depth was attained, the flow of water increased so rapidly that the 
 grandest pump-works were found to be insufficient. 
 
 “The topographical features of the country are such that no deeper drainage 
 could be obtained, except at an apparently impracticable distance, and in con¬ 
 sequence the danger was imminent, that these mines, which had supported 
 thousands of persons for centuries, would shortly have to be abandoned 
 entirely. 
 
 “THE ERNST AUGUST TUNNEL. 
 
 “In the year 1850, the plan to commence a tunnel in the Dukedom of 
 Brunswick, at a place called Gittelde, which would give a deeper drainage, of 
 about three hundred feet, below the Deep George Tunnel, or a depth under the 
 church of Clausthal, of about one thousand two hundred feet, was determined 
 upon. Surveys were made and the distance found to be seventy-two thousand 
 feet, or about fourteen miles, and the time to complete it was estimated at 
 twenty-two years. On the 21st of July, 1851, work on this great tunnel called 
 after the late king, the ‘Ernst August Tunnel’ was commenced by the Govern¬ 
 ment of Hanover, and on the 22d of June, 1864, the last connection was 
 made ; it therefore took only twelve years and eleven months to complete this 
 great mining work.” 
 
 YIELD OF THE HARZ MINES. 
 
 It may as well be stated here, that the mines of the Harz produce about 
 $500,000 in precious metals per annum, an amount taken from the Comstock 
 every fortnight. Now, if they found it a matter of necessity and economy to 
 4 
 
22 
 
 run a tunnel fourteen miles long in the Harz mountains , in order to obtain an 
 additional drainage of three hundred feet , in a country where fuel is cheap , how 
 evident must it appear, that a tunnel to the Comstock, less than four miles in 
 length, which will give drainage to a depth of two thousand feet, and which 
 would secure the future working of the richest mines in the world, must prove of 
 great benefit. 
 
 OTHER GREAT TUNNELS. 
 
 At Freiberg in Saxony, the mines would have been abandoned hundreds of 
 years ago, had it not been for the drain tunnels, constructed by the Government 
 from time to time, and which had a total length of 97 miles when the 
 Rotheschoeneberger Tunnel was commenced ; this will be eight miles long, but 
 is not quite completed yet, while a much deeper one, the Meissen Tunnel, 24 
 miles long, has been projected and advocated by the principal mining engineers 
 and experts of Germany. 
 
 In Hungary, at the celebrated mines of Schemnitz, a drain tunnel exists, 
 called after the Emperor Joseph II, which has a length of over 9 miles. 
 
 In England, where mining is carried on in the most intelligent manner, the 
 slight elevations above the sea-level do not allow of deep drainage by adits; 
 but wherever any elevation exists, it has been taken advantage of. Thus we 
 find at the United Mines near Redruth, in Cornwall, a drain tunnel which has a 
 length, including its branches, of from thirty to forty miles , while its greatest 
 depth under the surface at any one mine is four hundred and twenty feet , and 
 the average of depth under all the mines only one hundred and eighty feet. 
 
 Besides these a great number of tunnels exist in different mining districts, 
 mostly constructed at Government expense, which it is unnecessary to enume¬ 
 rate here ; some of them are mentioned in the different letters from European 
 experts attached hereunto. 
 
 THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 The mouth of this tunnel is situated in the valley bordering on Carson river, 
 three miles northerly from the town of Dayton, 
 
23 
 
 In order to expedite the work, it is proposed to sink four shafts on the tunnel 
 route to the tunnel level, which will be about four thousand feet apart. From 
 the bottom of each of these shafts the tunnel will be constructed by drifting 
 each way toward its mouth, and toward the Comstock Lode ; thus nine points 
 are obtained to work upon at the same time. 
 
 The Comstock Lode runs north and south ; the tunnel from east to west; it 
 therefore cuts the lode at right ansdes. After reaching the lode, drifts will be 
 extended along the same, northerly and southerly, in order to reach each 
 mining claim. 
 
 The main tunnel will have a length of . . . . .21,178 feet. 
 
 The main branches (as far as the Comstock Lode is now 
 explored from the Utah mine to the Uncle Sam) will have a 
 length of. 17,688 “ 
 
 And the shafts which it is proposed to sink, will have an 
 
 aggregate depth of . . . . . . . . 4,220 " 
 
 Making a grand total of. 43,086 feet 
 
 of tunnel and shafts to be constructed. 
 
 DIMENSIONS OF THE TUNNEL. 
 
 It is proposed to make the tunnel about twelve feet square and provide it with 
 two substantial railroad tracks; one to run cars in, the other to run them out; 
 under the track a drain will be constructed for the purpose of carrying off the water. 
 
 The cars which will have a capacity of five tons, will be propelled by means 
 of a wire rope, set in motion by a stationary engine at the mouth of the tunnel. 
 
 The calculations on the cost of construction, have been made in an elaborate 
 report by the Chief Engineer, It. G. Carlyle, Esq., who estimates the same at 
 one hundred dollars in gold per running foot, including the sinking of shafts, 
 and states the time in which the main tunnel may be completed at 3T years. 
 But it is so well known, that in large works, especially of this character, many 
 difficulties are encountered, which cause delay and increase the cost, that we 
 must also expect it in this instance. 
 
24 
 
 GEOLOGY OF THE COUNTRY. 
 
 The country through which, the tunnel passes, offers no serious obstacles to 
 its construction; the different formations are remarkably favorable for that kind 
 of work, and consist of volcanic tufa, trachytic breccia, trachyte and greenstone 
 porphyry, the latter in a decomposed state; the Mount Cenis tunneling machine 
 will make rapid progress in these rocks. 
 
 For further details concerning the geology of the country, we refer to the 
 able report of BaroD Richthofen, a European geologist well known to the scien¬ 
 tific world. 
 
 ADVANTAGES TO BE GAINED. 
 
 The principal advantages to be gained by the construction of the Sutro 
 Tunnel are : 
 
 1st. All pumping machinery may be dispensed with as soon as the tunnel is 
 completed, for the shafts now existing on the Comstock Lode may at once be 
 connected with the tunnel by boring , which is at the present time accomplished 
 rapidly and at small expense, thus draining off the water from the shafts and 
 permitting their connection with the tunnel without delay. 
 
 2d. The moment this connection is accomplished the most perfect ventilation 
 is insured, drawing off the fumes of powder and foul, damp air, at the same 
 time cooling the atmosphere , giving health and vigor to the miners and pre¬ 
 serving the timber. 
 
 3d. The mines may thereafter be opened by numerous galleries to the whole 
 depth of 2,000 feet, thus showing the different bodies of ore contained in the 
 same, exposing many millions of treasure to the eye and increasing their value 
 in proportion. 
 
 4th. It will give a great impetus to the exploration of those mines, which 
 have thus far been unproductive, particularly those , located at the northern 
 and southern extremities, and which have been lying idle for the want of means 
 to erect the requisite steam pumping engines. 
 
25 
 
 5th. For the reasons already stated, the extraction of ore will be so much 
 facilitated and stimulated, that the present production of sixteen millions of 
 bullion may be increased to, or even be made to exceed, fifty millions of dollars 
 'per annum. 
 
 6th. Not only the pumping engines may be dispensed with, but also those 
 used for hoisting; for after the shafts are connected, instead of hoisting the ore 
 to the surface on the side of the mountain and then transporting it to the valley 
 by means of wagons, it will fall down to the tunnel level by its own gravity, 
 while a railroad in the tunnel will carry it to the reduction works, which are 
 mainly located near Carson river. 
 
 7th. By this great saving in extraction and transportation alone, indepen¬ 
 dently of all the other advantages of the tunnel, it will be made possible to take 
 out the immense bodies of low grade ores, which are known to exist in the 
 Comstock Lode , and which may be concentrated by means of the water which 
 the tunnel itself will furnish. The millions of dollars contained in these ores, 
 will, without the tunnel, forever remain slumbering in the bowels of the earth, 
 for the expenses of extraction under the present costly system are greater than 
 the value they contain. 
 
 8th. After the completion of the tunnel the mines may, without the use of 
 steam engines, be worked to great depth below the level of the tunnel, by con¬ 
 ducting the water, which may be collected on the surface from rain and melting 
 snows, together with that contained in the mines, to hydraulic engines placed in 
 the interior of the mines, thus using a portion of the very water, which causes 
 all the trouble at present, as a most economical and useful motive power to 
 propel pumps, which raise the water from great depths below, and discharge it 
 through the tunnel. According to Professor Weissbach, the highest living 
 authority, fifty gallons per second, introduced at the surface, will give 1,800 
 horse power at a depth of 2,000 feet! It may safely he stated, therefore, that 
 by means of this tunnel the Comstock Lode may profitably be worked to a 
 depth of at least 3,500 feet, a greater depth than has yet been reached on any 
 mine in the world. 
 
9th. The tunnel creating all the advantages above enumerated for the Com¬ 
 stock Lode, will, besides, open up all the country lying to the eastward of the 
 same. 
 
 That numerous parallel ore-bearing lodes exist in the porphyretic belt, is well 
 known to every miner who has examined the ground; but independently of 
 those which are already known theory and analogy, with other mining districts, 
 make it almost a certainty that many veins (blind lodes, as the miner calls them, 
 for they do not reach to the surface) will be discovered and opened. 
 
 In a mineral-bearing region the hopes of discovering such by running hori¬ 
 zontal adits into a mountain are generally well founded; but nowhere on the 
 face of the earth do we find a mountain-range containing a vein as valuable as 
 the Comstock Lode, and having a formation equally favorable for the existence 
 of a series of similar veins. It is not only reasonable to suppose, but quite 
 evident, that the immense convulsion which rent the earth in twain, and created 
 the fissure which is known as the Comstock Lode, at the same time must have 
 cracked and opened the earth’s crust in many other places, and filled the same 
 with precious minerals. 
 
 A NATIONAL QUESTION. 
 
 It is evident and conclusive from the foregoing pages, that the construction 
 of the proposed tunnel to the Comstock Lode, is an absolute , imperative and 
 immediate necessity , and that it involves considerations of a politico-economical 
 nature , much more important than at first glance may seem to appear. 
 
 The question next arises how to carry out so gigantic a work, one so novel 
 and different in its character from any heretofore proposed in the United States. 
 
 Years have been spent already in indefatigable and unceasing efforts to 
 induce private capital to undertake the task; the mining companies, the people 
 of Nevada and California, the capitalists of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, 
 Baltimore, and those of London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna 
 and other financial centres have been appealed to, and the most favorable 
 propositions placed before them, but to no avail. 
 
27 
 
 All mining is looked upon as hazardous in itself, and funds are with difficulty 
 obtained for enterprises of that kind; but when the question comes up to raise 
 millions of dollars for a single mining work, one that may give no returns for 
 years, it becomes absolutely impossible to induce private capital to undertake it. 
 
 What then remains to be done ? The most important and productive mines, 
 which the world can show, are on the eve of absolute ruin and abandonment; 
 an interest upon which the fortunes of an entire state are depending ; one which 
 supports more than one hundred-thousand people; an interest which furnishes 
 the life-blood of commerce and industry, and which helps to pay the national 
 debt; an interest which has been looked upon by all civilized nations, as first in 
 importance to be sustained and encouraged—will go to cureless ruin, if no 
 immediate steps are taken to remedy the threatening evil. 
 
 Will the American Nation, the most intelligent, powerful and liberal one on 
 earth, quietly look on and not come to the rescue f 
 
 The question involved is of a national character; it is one which interests 
 one section of this great country as much as another. The people of Maine 
 and Alabama, those of Illinois and Pennsylvania, should feel as deep an interest 
 in the execution of this great work, as those of Nevada and California. 
 
 This country embraces millions of acres of mining land, containing veins of 
 gold and silver, the value of which lies in great depth, but the mining interests 
 droop ; the production of the precious metals grows less from year to year ; the 
 placers or surface diggings are, to a large extent, worked out or will be so before 
 many years ; capital cannot be found for investment in quartz mining, and half 
 the mining camps are deserted. 
 
 The causes for this decline may readily be seen ; mining operations have 
 mostly proved unprofitable, and the serious losses sustained makes people timid 
 to repeat the experiment. 
 
 The extravagant and wasteful manner of working the- mines, accounts for 
 most of these failures; the sole object of mining seems to be an eager haste to 
 grow rich at once, and no confidence exists for the construction of tunnels, by 
 
28 
 
 tlie aid of which alone a rational system of mining can take"place, because it has 
 never been demonstrated in this country that mineral veins extend to great depth. 
 
 What is now required to restore confidence and to stimulate this vast interest, 
 is the actual demonstration of the continuance of mineral lodes in depth, and 
 no work would prove the same more conclusively than this tunnel to the 
 Comstock Lode. 
 
 The Government is asked, not to establish a precedent of assisting mining 
 enterprises generally, but to assist one grand index work, and the miners of the 
 Western States, by common consent, look upon this work as the one selected to 
 receive that aid. 
 
 If we could once demonstrate that a lode extends downwards more than two 
 thousand feet, and is ore bearing, private capital will not be wanting to enter 
 into similar operations throughout the mining regions, and the result will be the 
 inauguration of a new and lasting system of profitable mining, which will add 
 untold millions to the stock of the precious metals of the world. 
 
 But as a consequence of this important consideration, a graver one, and one 
 which should be foremost in the heart of every American, is the influence which 
 this greed production of the precious metals will have upon the payment of the 
 national debt. 
 
 That subject has been so thoroughly and ably treated in the report of the 
 Committee on Federal Relations of the Nevada Legislature, made in memorial¬ 
 izing Congress to aid the Sutro Tunnel, and which is attached hereunto, that it 
 would be a repetition to enter into the subject here, and special reference to the 
 same is therefore made. 
 
 The General Government will not be asked to construct the work in question, 
 all that is required is, to have it extend its credit as the work progresses ; and 
 after its completion the total proceeds will be applied to the repayment of the 
 capital and interest .. 
 
 The security given to the Government will be quite ample to remove any 
 objections as to risk, for even should not a single ton of ore be found at great 
 depth, there are now visible in the mines four millions of tons low grade ores , 
 
29 
 
 valued at eighty millions of dollars, which but await the completion of the 
 tunnel to be profitably extracted. 
 
 The Government is consequently simply called upon to extend its good will 
 towards the accomplishment of so great a work, for little risk is involved, and 
 every dollar guaranteed will be paid hack years before any part of the capital 
 falls due. 
 
 Every European Government has extended similar aid to similar enterprises, 
 and there is no good reason why the American Government should hesitate for 
 a moment, to pursue the same course in this instance. 
 
 Little Saxony has constructed more than a hundred miles of tunnel; Hanover 
 almost an equal length; will this great American Nation refuse to assist in the 
 construction of a tunnel five or six miles in length f One that involves an 
 interest a hundred fold greater, and that will result in blessings to every portion 
 of the country? We say no; this appeal from the State of Nevada, which in 
 her tottering infancy, requires the strong arm of support of her older sisters, 
 cannot be made in vain. 
 
 May the American statesmen carefully consider the question at issue, may 
 they fully appreciate the important results to flow from so great a work, and 
 may they render that assistance, which alone will insure these results. 
 
 The words spoken by the greatest scientific mind of the century, in regard to 
 a like undertaking in Saxony, are worth remembering. ** 
 
 Alexander Yon Humboldt said: 
 
 “I may be permitted to add, that a subterranean work so bold and gigantic 
 should lend an elevating feeling of moral strength to a people, who do not esti¬ 
 mate their own worth by the number of souls, but by their patriotism, that is, 
 by glorious historical recollections and by the laws created under a liberal con¬ 
 stitution; this feeling becomes particularly important in times, when every body 
 strives to a paltry appeasing of momentary wants, and an undertaking, which in 
 contrast to this strife, creates for a distant future, must appear ennobled and of 
 superior relations.” 
 
 5 
 

Letters from Distinguished Experts. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LETTERS. 
 
 Letter from Francis Bowen, Professor at Harvard College. 
 
 Harvard, College, Cambridge , Mass., Dee. 23, 1867. 
 
 Adolph iSutro, Esq. 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 The question about the practicability and the probable cost of the Sutro 
 Tunnel is one that I am not competent to answer. The problem can be 
 resolved only by able engineers, who have carefully surveyed the locality. 
 
 But of the great utility of the work, when completed, there can be no doubt. 
 It will rescue from threatened decline and abandonment a great national enter¬ 
 prise, which has added within a few years over fifty millions to the stock of 
 precious metals in the world, and probably will soon add many times as much 
 more, if the necessary means can be obtained for its continuance. 
 
 Congress cannot do. better, than devote two or three millions to the rescue of so 
 noble an undertaking, the regular prosecution of which will gradually lessen the 
 burden both of private and public indebtedness throughout the civilized world, 
 and promote the activity of commerce and manufactures for many generations. 
 
 Very respectfully, yours, 
 
 FRANCIS BOWEN. 
 
 Letter from Baron Von Beust,- Chief of the Mining Department of 
 the Kingdom of Saxony. 
 
 Freiberg, October 26, 1867.. 
 
 Mr. Adolph Sutro, of Nevada, in the United States of North America, has 
 submitted to me the project of a deep adit under the name of the Sutro Tunnel, 
 which is to be constructed for the purpose of draining the mines of the Comstock 
 Lode, and for the opening up of new mines in that mountain range, and desires 
 to have my views in regard to the same. 
 
After examining the matter submitted, I do not hesitate to declare, taking the 
 correctness of the facts stated therein for granted, that the projected deep adit 
 should be designated as one of the most healthy, most useful and most hopeful 
 mining enterprises, which could possibly be undertaken, and for that very reason 
 deserves the highest consideration in a financial, politico-economical and scien¬ 
 tific view. I must particularly coincide with the renowned Baron Richthofen, 
 who has a thorough knowledge of the mining operations on the Comstock Lode, 
 in what he says on page 77 of his book: “The Comstock Lode, San Francisco, 
 1866: 
 
 “The only possible way of attaining these results is the construction of a 
 deep adit level or drain tunnel, as it is called by the Washoe miners. There is 
 probably no silver mine in the world, which offers so great facilities and induce¬ 
 ments for the performance of such a work.” 
 
 . While the most important, most brilliant results of the construction of a deep 
 adit could not be doubted, even should the. ores of the Comstock Lode and 
 similar neighboring lodes lose considerable of their value in depth, it may, 
 on the other hand, be predicted with somewhat mathematical certainty, that 
 these mining operations, even with pretty rich ores, will, at no distant day, go 
 to certain ruin, should no tunnel be constructed. 
 
 The reasons therefore are so much at length and clearly stated in the quoted 
 report of Von Richthofen, that it does not here require a repetition of the same. 
 A deep adit of the proportions of the Sutio Tunnel, having a length of 6,000 
 metres, together with four shafts of a probable entire depth of 1,200 metres, 
 which have to be provided with steam engines, could not in very favorable rock 
 formations, as they are said to exist in the Comstock range, be constructed in 
 Germany for less than one to one and a quarter millions of thalers; with the 
 prices of American labor and fuel, as they exist in that neighborhood, three mil¬ 
 lions of dollars may therefore be considered as a fair estimate. 
 
 In regard to the time required, I should not like to estimate it at less than 
 eight years, at the same time basing my calculations upon very favorable rock 
 formations, great energy in execution, and the non-occurrence of special casu- 
 alities, which may occur in such operations, notwithstanding all precautionary 
 measures. 
 
 But this expenditure of three millions of dollars and eight years of time, 
 which, as already stated, I simply put down as the probable result from very 
 
general experiences, would, according to my views be insignificantly .small con¬ 
 trasted with the results, which would be achieved thereby, particularly if not 
 only the direct financial advantages are taken into consideration, but also those 
 of a politico-economical nature, which would consist in having placed for all 
 times, on a solid foundation, the most extensive gold and silver mines, which are 
 known to modern times. 
 
 BA EON VON BEUST, 
 
 Chief of the Mining Department 
 
 of the Kingdom of Saxony. 
 
 Letter from Bernhard von. Cotta, Professor of Geology at the Mining 
 Academy of Freiberg. 
 
 Freiberg, October 31, 1867. 
 
 Adolph Sutro, Esq. 
 
 Hotel d 1 Angleterre, Berlin. 
 
 Much Esteemed Sir: 
 
 After having read Von Eichthofen’s superb treatise on the Comstock 
 Lode, which, as far as the establishment of facts is concerned, thoroughly bears 
 the seal of truth, I feel justified in answering your four questions, from a full 
 conviction, as follows: 
 
 1st. It is beyond doubt, that the Comstock Lode, as a genuine fissure vein, 
 will continue downwards in greater depth, than it will ever be possible to reach 
 by mining, and that this mighty deposit within any depth, which can be 
 attained, will be ore-bearing in the manner Von Eichthofen supposes. 
 
 2d. Accordingly there can be no question about it, that the opening up of the 
 lode by a deep tunnel, will facilitate, to quite an extraordinary degree, minino- 
 upon the same, and in every other regard make it more profitable. 
 
 3d. The advantages in working the mines upon the Comstock Lode by means 
 of the tunnel proposed by you, (the Sutro Tunnel,) will, as concerns the main 
 lode, principally consist of : 
 
 a. In facilitating drainage and ventilation. 
 
36 
 
 After all tire mines are connected with the tunnel, no engines will any longer 
 be required for this purpose, and even before such connections are established, 
 the completion of the tunnel would likely drain off considerable water through 
 the fissures of the lode. 
 
 b. In facilitating transportation , not only of the ore from the mines, since 
 reduction works may be established near its mouth, but also of the materials 
 and timbers required in a portion of the mines. 
 
 c. In facilitating the entry and exit for a portion of the miners. 
 
 d. In any case the possibility will be acquired by means thereof, to work the 
 lode to a much greater depth, than without the tunnel. 
 
 N. B. The concentration of ores in the neighborhood of a river, can in all 
 probability, also be attained better and more advantageously, than on the side of 
 the mountain. 
 
 It is probable in the highest degree, that the tunnel will open up new and 
 similar lodes, which in this neighborhood seem to run mainly from north to 
 south, and which will be found particularly in the rocks which form the hanging 
 wall, eastwardly from the main lode. 
 
 BERNHARD v. COTTA. 
 
 Letter from Julius Weissrach, Dr. Phil., Royal Saxonian Mining Coun¬ 
 cillor and Professor at the Mining Academy of Freiberg. 
 
 Freiberg, October 28, 1867. 
 
 Adolph iSutro, Esq., from California, 
 
 at present at Berlin, Hotel d’ Angleterre. 
 
 Much Esteemed Mr. Sutro : 
 
 My views on your tunnel project to the rich silver mines of the Com¬ 
 stock Lode, etc., etc., in Nevada, are briefly, as follows: 
 
 The geological and topographical position of the Comstock Lode is of such a 
 character, that the execution of the projected tunnel will not only save the 
 mines from approaching abandonment, but will be the means of very largely 
 increasing their yield, 
 
37 
 
 A tunnel, which, with a length of about one German mile, opens up rich ores at 
 a depth of two thousand feet, secures to a professional mining engineer the 
 most welcome and surest means for profitable operations, particularly in a 
 country where no cheap fuel exists for the purpose of generating steam power. 
 Such a tunnel removes , firstly, the necessity of using pumping engines for many 
 years to come. It facilitates and cheapens, secondly , the extraction of ore and 
 waste rock in an extraordinary manner. 
 
 It gives furthermore, thirdly, many opportunities for additional exploration of 
 the country, and discovery of new bodies of ore. The tunnel also, fourthly, 
 makes it possible to derive a profit from the great masses of poor ores. 
 
 The connecting and air shafts of the tunnel, will , fifthly, secure to the mines 
 perfect ventilation. Finally, there will be created, sixthly, a motive power, by 
 saving the water on the surface, and conducting it to hydraulic machines, 
 for instance, turbines, water pressure engines, etc., placed in the mines, 
 which let the water flow off on the tunnel level, after having done its 
 duty, and which not only will entirely remove the necessity of steam engines, 
 but also promise the greatest profit, particularly if the supply of water can be 
 made to last the year round. 
 
 With a fall of two thousand feet, the working power created by one gallon 
 alone=il cubic foot=10 lbs. waterier second is equal to 20,000 lbs. for every 
 foot, that is^*!’^ 0 =36 horse power. A quantity of water of fifty gallons 
 introduced per second would therefore create a working capacity of eighteen 
 hundred horse power. 
 
 May this distinguished mining project soon enjoy the greatest patronage; 
 it deserves the same in the highest degree, it is surely the only means of 
 bringing mining operations on the Comstock Lode into a flourishing condition, 
 and of securing their being carried on to great advantage for a long time to 
 come. 
 
 With especial esteem, yours, 
 
 JULIUS WEISSBACH, 
 
 Royal jSaxonian Mining Councillor and Professor. 
 
 6 
 
38 
 
 Letter from his Excellency Dr, H. von Dechen, Actual Privy Coun¬ 
 cillor of the King of Prussia and late Chief of the 
 Mining Department. 
 
 Bonn on the Rhine , Nov. 1, 1867. 
 
 Mr. Adolph /Sutro, 
 
 Hotel Munsch, Vienna. 
 
 I have no doubt that my answer to your letter of the 29th inst. reached 
 you yet at the Hotel d’Angleterre, Berlin, in which you find a complete con¬ 
 firmation of the views you express in your letter of the 30th inst., which is before 
 me, as regards financial aid to your project in Prussia. 
 
 Agreeable to your request, I may be permitted to state, that the plan of con¬ 
 structing a deep tunnel to the most important gold or silver mines on the 
 Comstock Lode in the state of Nevada, entirely corresponds with the approved 
 rules of mining engineering and will carry with it the most happy results. 
 
 The new improved methods in sinking air shafts and driving tunnels, remove 
 the objections, which for a time have been made against deep and therefore long 
 tunnels, and which were, that the construction of such tunnels would require too 
 much time and its benefits would only be felt in after years. 
 
 The time required is reduced to one-third or even one-fourth compared to the 
 old methods, by means of boring machines, which are used with the best results 
 not only at the tunnel of Mont Cenis, which will have a length of forty 
 thousand feet, hut also at the zinc mines of Altenherg Moresnet, near Aix la 
 Chapelle, and at the coal mines near Saarbriicken, and by means of blasting oil 
 (nitro-glycerine) in the place of blasting powder. 
 
 The Sutro Tunnel can consequently be constructed in a few years and will 
 exercise its blessings for the whole period the Comstock Lode shall be worked, 
 which period will thereby be lengthened, as much as it is in fact possible. /Sim¬ 
 ilar works have been carried out in Prussia, partly by the government itself and 
 have partly received assistance from the same. 
 
 For instance, the deep tunnel at the Argentiferous silver mine of Tarnowitz in 
 Upper Silesia. 
 
 The tunnel at the coal mines of Zabrze and Koenigshuette in the 
 province. 
 
 same 
 
39 
 
 The tunnel at the copper and silver mines of Rothenburg and Eisleben in the 
 province of Saxony. 
 
 The tunnel at the iron, lead and silver mines of Stahlberg near Miisen. 
 
 The tunnel at the iron mines of Eisenzeche and Pfannenberg near Eiserfeld, 
 both the latter in the province of Westfalia. 
 
 That at the iron mines Hollerterzug near Herdorf, and 
 
 At the coal mines Saarbriicken near Neunkirchen, both in the Rhenish 
 province. 
 
 Also, in the kingdom of Saxony the government has constructed a deep 
 tunnel for the silver mines of Freiberg and that of Hanover, for the lead and 
 silver mines at Clausthal in the Harz. 
 
 It would therefore also be highly advisable, if the American Government will 
 either construct the Sutro Tunnel or assist the company which undertakes the 
 work. 
 
 With especial esteem, yours, respectfully, 
 
 HR. H. von HECHEN, 
 
 Actual Privy Councillor of the King of Prussia , 
 
 and late Chief of the Mining Department. 
 
 Letter from H. Koch, Esq., Royal Prussian Chief Mining Councillor. 
 
 Clausthal , Nov . 1, 1867. 
 
 Mr. Adolph Sutro , 
 
 Vienna. 
 
 Honored Sir : 
 
 Upon your wish, I repeat the declaration, which I have already made 
 verbally, that the construction of the Sutro Tunnel is a project, based upon 
 sound mining principles, judging from the material, which has come under my 
 notice. 
 
 It cannot be doubted, according to all mining experiences, that the mineral 
 bearing character of the lodes near Virginia City will continue downwards at 
 least two thousand feet, at which depth the tunnel will cut the same. Equally 
 
40 
 
 probable is it, that by means of the tunnel a mining district of high importance 
 will be opened, the working of which will only be made possible by means o 
 the tunnel, and at the possibly smallest expense. 
 
 The construction of the tunnel itself offers no difficulties to experienced 
 miners, as has been proven by the Ernst August Tunnel, which was constructed 
 under my superintendence, and which has a total length of three German miles, 
 while yours will only have a length of one mile. But if the rock formation is 
 of that character, as you have described it to me, your task will be proportion- 
 ably still easier, than has been the case with ours. 
 
 After you have reached the lode, it will be best to connect the present 
 existing shafts with the tunnel by means of borings for the purpose of draining 
 off the water and in order to facilitate their being sunk to greater depth. 
 
 In conclusion, I wish, with all my heart, that your important project will be 
 carried out upon a sound and solid basis. 
 
 With greatest esteem, 
 
 H. KOCH, 
 
 Royal Prussian Chief Mining Councillor. 
 
 Letter from Bruno Kerl, Professor at the Royal Mining School of 
 
 Berlin. 
 
 Berlin , November 11, 1867. 
 
 Mr. Adolph Butro, 
 
 Paris. 
 
 Much Esteemed Sir: 
 
 You had the kindness, at your recent presence in Berlin, to submit 
 to me a pamphlet, “The Sutro Tunnel to the Comstock Lode,” etc. I have 
 examined the same with interest, and upon the strength of the facts therein 
 stated, recognize the necessity of the proposed tunnel, if the mining operations 
 on the Comstock Lode are to be made lasting and profitable. 
 
 Only by means of such a tunnel—as one has for instance been constructed 
 in the Harz, under the name of Ernst August Tunnel, but under circumstances 
 
* 
 
 41 
 
 by far more unfavorable tban yours—can a metalliferous mountain range be 
 opened properly according to the principles of mining engineering; a well regu¬ 
 lated extraction can take place with such a tunnel, and poor ores may be taken 
 out to advantage along with the rich ores, on account of cheap transportation. 
 
 This is absolutely necessary, if the durability of a mine is to be secured, 
 while piratical mining, the extraction of the best ores alone, will always soon 
 ruin any mine. 
 
 It is true, works will be required for the concentration of ores, but their 
 erection will be much facilitated by having the use of the waters issuing from 
 the tunnel. The grand concentration works, which are in the course of con¬ 
 struction near Clausthal, in the upper Harz, may serve as a pattern for similar 
 works on account of their simple and practical construction, the results being 
 assured by many experimental tests. 
 
 Wishing you the best success in this undertaking, 
 
 I am, yours, with a respectful “Gliickauf!” 
 
 BRUNO KERB. 
 
 Letter from C. Borchers, Chief Surveyor of the Mines of the Upper 
 
 Harz. 
 
 Mr. A. Sutro, 
 
 Langham Hotel, London. 
 
 Clausthal, November 29, 1867. 
 
 In reply to your favor of the 21st inst., I beg to state, in accordance with 
 your request, that subterranean surveys, even to carry out the grandest mining 
 works, may be made with great accuracy and reliability. 
 
 The very small differences found at the connecting points of the Ernst August- 
 Tunnel, the surveys of which were made by me, are as follows, and I must 
 remark, that the principal difficulties in those measurements were occasioned by 
 very deep and inclined shafts, through which they had to be carried out. 
 
42 
 
 I. ERNST AUGUST TUNNEL. 
 
 Designation 
 
 of 
 
 Length of Measurements by 
 Theodolite, 
 
 Differences found at the con¬ 
 necting points. 
 
 Date when connection was 
 made. 
 
 Connecting 
 
 Points. 
 
 in establishing the 
 levels. 
 
 In Direction. 
 
 In Level. 
 
 
 1 . 
 
 310 Harz lachters. 
 
 0.2 in. 
 
 0.15 in. 
 
 December 4, 1856. 
 
 2. 
 
 880 “ 
 
 0.3 in. 
 
 0.40 in. 
 
 December 22, 1857. 
 
 3. 
 
 2,700 “ 
 
 1.5 in. 
 
 0.40 in. 
 
 January 12, 1859. 
 
 4. 
 
 2,760 “ 
 
 1.0 in. 
 
 0.23 in. 
 
 March 10, 1860. 
 
 5. 
 
 1,580 “ 
 
 1.5 in. 
 
 0.60 in. 
 
 April 5, 1861. 
 
 6. 
 
 1,430 “ 
 
 1.1 in. 
 
 0.14 in. 
 
 April 5, 1861. 
 
 7. 
 
 1,890 “ 
 
 1.5 in. 
 
 0.37 in. 
 
 June 6, 1863. 
 
 8. 
 
 3,960 “ 
 
 1.2 in. 
 
 0.09 in. 
 
 October 28, 1863. 
 
 9. 
 
 1,190 “ 
 
 0.7 in. 
 
 0.06 in. 
 
 June 22, 1864. 
 
 The above notes have reference to connections made in a horizontal direction. 
 But by far more difficult are those . subterranean surveys in the construction of 
 perpendicular shafts, where work progresses from a number of different levels 
 at the same time, and where the short and the long diameters of the shaft have 
 to meet perpendicularly. The results of such a work, the Queen Mary shaft, 
 on the Burgstadter Lode near Clausthal, the surveys of which were also made 
 by me, are as follows: 
 
 At the first connection between the surface and the deep George. Tunnel (145 
 lachters under the surface) a variation from the true perpendicular line was 
 found. 
 
 In the long diameter of: In the short diameter of: 
 
 1.5 inches. 1.0 inches. 
 
 At the second connection between the 
 deep George Tunnel and the deep 3d 
 
 level, 202 lachters under the surface, 1.6 inches 0.0 inches. 
 
 At the third connection between the deep 
 3d and the 6th level, 270 lachters 
 
 under the surface, . . . .0.8 inches 1.4 inches. 
 
43 
 
 The shaft has consequently been constructed from the different starting points 
 as accurately as if it had been sunk from the surface by a plumb line. 
 
 If I have stated above, that subterranean measurements, even for very exten¬ 
 sive works may be made with great reliability, I must at the same time dis¬ 
 tinctly state, that I do not make the assertion, that any surveyor, who owns a 
 theodolite or level, would reach such accuracy in his works. I can only affirm, 
 that I have reached the above results by means of contrivances arranged by me, 
 and by the application of peculiar methods in finding ones position. 
 
 To enter into the details of these, would lead too far, and I may be permitted 
 to remark, that these apparatuses and methods have been described quite in 
 detail in a work which I have written, and the manuscript of which has been 
 lying ready for about a year, on : 
 
 “The practical surveys with the theodolite and the air bubble level, with 
 the assistance of proper auxiliary apparatuses, together with an appendix on 
 the application of the magnet, to insure the proper meeting of two subterranean 
 drifts.” 
 
 All that is required now to insure its publication is, to find a publisher, who 
 will print it under acceptable terms. 
 
 Unfortunately this has been impossible to accomplish thus far, for notwith¬ 
 standing the acknowledged superiority of the work, the public for such is said to 
 be too limited to insure a profitable “bookseller’s speculation.” 
 
 With esteem, 
 
 E. BOUCHERS. 
 
 Letter from the Directors of the Discount Company of Berlin. 
 
 Berlin, October 29, 1867. 
 
 Mr. Adolph Sutro, from San Francisco, 
 
 Hotel d’Angleterre. Present. 
 
 We have read with great interest, the statements concerning the Sutro 
 Tunnel, projected in the State of Nevada, but must reply to your inquiry, that, 
 according to our conviction, there is not the slightest prospect of bringing about 
 a participation of Prussian capitalists in the enterprise in question. 
 
44 
 
 The capital which finds its way to our inland exchanges, generally steers clear 
 of mining enterprises, and the latter, whenever they promise great profits, are 
 principally taken up by local participation, while the Government itself takes 
 those enterprises in hand which are of general utility, and which at the same 
 time go beyond the spirit of private enterprise, for instance, the opening of great 
 
 salt mines. _ . 
 
 Under those circumstances, private capital here will certainly not embark m 
 a distant, foreign mining enterprise, which requires a preparation of years, even 
 if the general interest, connected therewith, and the prospective profits are ever 
 so large. 
 
 With esteem, 
 
 The Direction of the Discount Company. 
 
 A. HANSEMANN, 
 GOLDSCHMIDT. 
 
 Letter erom M. Braun, Chief Engineer at the Zinc Mines of Yieille 
 Montagne, near Aix La Ohapelle. 
 
 Moresnet, October 14, 1867. 
 
 Adolph Sutro, Esq. 
 
 Paris. 
 
 My Dear Sir : 
 
 I have read with great interest the different pamphlets and memoirs 
 on the project of a large draining tunnel in Nevada, which you gave me, and I 
 can only approve of this enterprise to its whole extent. 
 
 I have no doubt either of the immense advantage of the Sutro Tunnel for the 
 whole mining district of the Comstock Lode, or of the profits of the enterprise 
 as such. 
 
 In fact, I look upon the execution of the work you propose, as a vital ques¬ 
 tion for all mining in the Washoe mountains, and as well as a lucrative invest¬ 
 ment of capital. 
 
 In the following notes I add some remarks on the details of the execution, 
 and remain, my dear sir, 
 
 Yours, most sincerely, 
 
 M. BRAUN, 
 
 Ingenieur en Chef, etc., etc. 
 
Letter from Michel Chevalier, Senator of the French Empire and 
 Member of tile Institute. 
 
 Paris , 27 Avenue de l’Imperatrice, Nov. 28, 1867. 
 M. Adolphus fSutro , Lang ham Hotel , London. 
 
 My Dear Sir : 
 
 I have taken a deep interest in the communications you have made 
 me, about a tunnel for draining the Comstock Lode, and for establishing a 
 regular mode of working it. 
 
 The project itself appears to me as being quite a practicable one. It is, 
 however, in the style and spirit of the enterprises of the United States citizens. 
 You are the boldest people in the world for useful undertakings. The Com¬ 
 stock Lode, judging from the information you gave me, is one of the richest 
 silver fields, which have ever been discovered in America. During the last 
 few years, a large quantity of information has reached Europe, the result of 
 which is, that this mineral district is not inferior to the Potosi, Guanaxato or 
 Zacatecas. 
 
 But to produce the benefits which they are expected to give, those silver 
 mines must be worked after the most advantageous methods indicated by 
 science, and by the most powerful and perfect means. 
 
 The working of the Comstock Lode, disorderly as it is, whilst there is no 
 tunnel, seems to be little beneficial in the average, but it would in all proba¬ 
 bility become very lucrative by the opening of the tunnel. 
 
 It is likely, that with the tunnel, the main production of silver for the whole 
 world would be on the Comstock Lode, during a certain period of years. Such 
 a fact could not fail to be a benefit to this part of the country and to the far 
 west, and it would give a great impulse to its wealth and population. 
 
 Believe me, dear sir, 
 
 Truly, yours, 
 
 * MICHEL CHEVALIER. 
 
Letter from A. Daubree, Member of the Institute, and Inspector 
 General of the Mines of France. 
 
 department of agriculture, commerce and public works, 
 
 Mines. — Office of the Inspector General , Rue de Grenelle , St. Germain , 91. 
 
 Paris , November 21, 1867. 
 
 Adolph Sutro, Esq. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 You Lave honored me by communicating to me your plans and pro¬ 
 jects in regard to cutting a draining gallery, which will also serve as a means of 
 exploring the Comstock Lode. 
 
 I think that the project is worthy of the most serious consideration, and 
 presents itself in the most favorable conditions for success. 
 
 Otherwise I wish to refer to what I have said in regard to this subject in my 
 official report, which I have been charged to make on the mineral industry of 
 the universal exhibition of 1867, a report which is at the printers, and about to 
 be published. 
 
 Receive, sir, with my best wishes, the assurance of my highest consideration. 
 
 A. DAUBREE, 
 
 Member of the Institute, Inspector General of Mines. 
 
 Letter from L. E. Rivot, Professor at the Mining School of Paris. 
 
 School of Mines. — Laboratory. Paris, September 6, 1867. 
 
 Adolph Sutro , Esq., London. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I have this morning received the publications and plans, which you 
 had the kindness to send me. I am a little pressed for time this moment, being 
 about to depart for the mines of Sialas, (Lezere,) and have not yet read the 
 pamphlets, but I have examined with great interest the plans of the tunnel you 
 
47 
 
 projected for the drainage of the Comstock Lode. I can, notwithstanding, form 
 an opinion from the explanation which you have given me, and the various 
 reports which I have received at different times from several of my friends who 
 have visited Nevada. 
 
 I am convinced, that the tunnel will cut several lodes, parallel to the Com¬ 
 stock, and containing ores of the same description. 
 
 The tunnel will permit the working on a grand and active scale of the Com¬ 
 stock Lode itself to a considerable depth. It is hence quite certain, that this 
 tunnel will secure the greatest facilities for the extraction of incalculable riches. 
 I cannot attempt to give an approximating amount, without having studied the 
 mines on the spot. 
 
 I can only renew the remark, which I made to you verbally yesterday, that 
 you will much facilitate the working of the mines, which the tunnel will cut, if 
 at the same time a second parallel tunnel is constructed, a little higher up, say 
 100 metres at most. You will thereby in a short time, secure ventilation in 
 every one of the lodes, which are cut, and you need not be fearful of the 
 increase of cost. 
 
 Will you kindly receive, sir, my thanks for the attention in sending me the 
 plans and information, and receive the assurance of my most distinguished 
 regard. You have my most sincere and ardent wishes, that you may soon 
 succeed in an enterprise, which will give a lively impulse to the working of the 
 silver mines of Nevada. 
 
 Yours, respectfully, 
 
 L. E. BITOT. 
 
 Letter from Baron Prisse. 
 
 /St. Nicolas, Belgium, November 24, 1867. 
 
 Adolph Sutro, Esq. Langham Hotel, London. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I comply all the more readily with your request to give my opinion 
 about your projected tunnel to the mines of the Comstock Lode, since that 
 opinion is entirely favorable to your project. 
 
The examination of the documents, which you had the kindness to give me, 
 when you passed through Lffige, has convinced me, that nothing could con¬ 
 tribute so much to the increase and success of the mines on the Comstock Lode, 
 than the prompt and thorough construction of your tunnel. 
 
 This is not merely a speculative opinion, which I express, but the wor & on 
 the tunnel at the coal mines of Hazard, near Li6ge, which I had the goo ortune 
 to have you visit, prove to you, that we carry out, on a reduced scale, what you 
 have so judiciously projected—in fact, in order not to be compelled to pump out 
 to the surface the water from a single coal mine at a depth of 170 metres, and 
 in order to have a basis of extraction favorably located, we have undertaken, 
 and now prosecute for several years a tunnel, which, when finished, will have a 
 length of over 3,000 metres; I congratulate myself as a trustee, for having 
 taken part in this work ; it is with a sense of conviction, that I congratulate 
 you upon your well planned project, and wish, with all my heart, that you may 
 be enabled to carry it out. 
 
 I am not entirely informed in regard to what might be accomplished in Bel¬ 
 gium with industrial enterprises; still I believe it to be very difficult to bring 
 such important amounts of capital together here, as are required for your enter¬ 
 prise; a brilliant future seems to be assured to this enterprise, the dividends 
 must be considerable, but Nevada is far off, and above all, entirely foreign to 
 our established commercial relations. 
 
 The construction of your tunnel is of such importance for the development 
 and exploration of the mines already known, and for the general examination of 
 a country, in which it must be expected that new lodes will be discovered, that 
 it appears’ evident that there is more than a local interest comprised. Accord¬ 
 ing to my views, the general interest is so much involved, that the Government 
 should effectually assist you by a guarantee of interest on the capital invested, 
 until the completion of the tunnel, and which would no doubt be of great help 
 towards the formation of a company with sufficient capital. 
 
 I shall be much rejoiced over every thing, that I may learn favorable to your 
 enterprise, wish you good success, and present to you, sir, the expression 
 Of my distinguished regards. 
 
 WM. L. PRISSE. 
 
49 
 
 Letter from Sir Rod. I. Murchison Baronet, Prof. Warington W. 
 Smyth, and Prof. And. Ramsay. 
 
 Royal School of Mines, London, November 29, 1867. 
 
 Assuming the correctness of the data, contained in the reports of Baron von 
 Richthofen and Mr. A. Sutro, and knowing the various advantages bestowed on 
 a mining district by a deep gallery of drainage and exploration, we think the 
 proposed adit or tunnel likely to be of great service to the State of Nevada. 
 
 ROD. 0. MURCHISON, 
 WARINGTON W. SMYTH, 
 AND. RAMSAY. 
 
 Letter from P. Ritter von Rittinger, Councillor in the Mining 
 Department of the Imperial Austrian Ministry of Finance. 
 
 Vienna, Nov. 7, 1867. 
 
 Mr. A. Sutro, 
 
 Present. 
 
 The tunnel projected by you for the drainage and exploration of the 
 Comstock lode will, independently of the well known and generally ac¬ 
 knowledged mining advantages, possess the special one, that the water which at 
 present is pumped out of the mines by means of numerous steam-engines in a 
 most expensive manner, would in the future not only give no further trouble, 
 but on the contrary could be turned to account with very good results. 
 
 By means of this water, large concentration works may be placed near the 
 mouth of the proposed tunnel for the cheap concentration, by mechanical means, 
 of the many poor ores which either are thrown aside now, or remain entirely un¬ 
 touched in the mines ; the cheap transportation of these ores through the tunnel 
 and the use of water-power instead of costly steam engines will much facilitate 
 these operations. 
 
50 
 
 I wish therefore, sincerely, that you may soon succeed in getting many par¬ 
 ticipants in this promising enterprise, and that it may soon he carried out. 
 
 With especial esteem, yours, 
 
 P. yon RITTINGER, 
 
 Letter from J. H. Stametz & Co., Bankers, Vienna. 
 
 Vienna, November IRA, 1867. 
 
 Adolph Sutro, Esq. 
 
 Dear Sir : 
 
 We have read with great attention your statement concerning the 
 grand and useful enterprise of drainage you intend carrying on in the State of 
 Nevada; we feel sorry however not to be able to give you any support in this 
 matter, which we surely should have done particularly on account of the recom¬ 
 mendation of our highly esteemed friends, Messrs. Duncan Sherman & Co., of 
 New York. 
 
 You will have had no doubt already occasion enough to find that the mone¬ 
 tary market in Austria is not so favorable as you have supposed, when you 
 directed your steps to this country in order to raise funds for your enterprise. 
 
 Austria is not a monetary country, and the low rate of discount ought not to 
 be considered as an indication of her monetary abundance. The high premium 
 still quoted for gold and silver would have paralyzed, even under more favorable 
 circumstances, all your efforts to obtain the funds you require ; we now quote 
 silver 21 per cent, premium. 
 
 We feel rather surprised however, that the Government of the United States 
 or that of your State does not bestow more attention on this matter of public 
 welfare. Your plan, if it had to he carried on in Austria, would have found 
 the most efficient support from our government; the matters of public utility as 
 railways, canals, drainage, are always and even now in spite of the bad state of 
 the finances, conducted or at least assisted by our government. 
 
 We remain, dear sir, your obed’t servants, 
 
 J. H. STAMETZ & CO. 
 
 /Successors. 
 
51 
 
 Letter from Baron Otto von Hingenau, Dr. of Law, Councillor and 
 Member of the Imperial Austrian Ministry of Finance. 
 
 A. iSutro , Esq. 
 
 Hotel Munsch. Present. 
 
 Vienna , November 12, 1867. 
 
 REMARKS ON THE SUTRO TUNNEL, NEVADA, U. S. A. 
 
 In compliance witli the request of Mr. Sutro I have examined the 
 different publications submitted to me by him, concerning the project to accom¬ 
 plish the drainage and exploration of the Comstock Lode in Nevada by a main 
 and district tunnel, have compared the same with previous geological and 
 mining information about the Comstock Lode, and believe to be enabled to 
 report on the same with reference to similar undertakings in European mining 
 districts, as follows : 
 
 The statements made in the report of von Bichthofen correspond so minutely 
 with the publications of this gentleman, celebrated by his thorough scientific 
 researches, made some time ago in Dr. A. Petermann’s Mittheilungen (Supple¬ 
 ment No. 19, 1864) that they should be considered fully as probable, as any 
 conclusions, which could be formed on a geological basis. 
 
 The character of other argentiferous lodes in European mining districts, for 
 instance on the Harz in Northern Germany, at Pribram in Bohemia and at 
 Schemnitz in Hungary, which at a depth of 2000 to 2500 feet have not de¬ 
 creased in value, assures us of the same conditions at the Comstock Lode, 
 which, like those quoted above, is said to be a true fissure vein filled from 
 below, and the powerful, and silver bearing character of which has been demon¬ 
 strated in the upper regions by the results already obtained. 
 
 Great depth with its riches of silver, which after what has been said exist 
 according to all probability, may be reached: 
 
 a. Either by a system of deep shafts which may be sunk at such points on 
 the ore-bearing lode, and in such position and distance from each other, that they 
 may be connected at different levels, making it possible to pump out the water 
 flowing into the same. The connection of these shafts with each other would 
 
52 
 
 help to ventilate the mines as well as to conduct the water to the main shafts, 
 from which it would have to be pumped. 
 
 b. Or by a tunnel to be driven from the lowest point in the nearest valley, 
 which need not follow the ore-bearing deposit, but may reach it within a certain 
 length and depth, under an outward inclination, allowing the water to flow off 
 from the entire deepest portion and from all parts of the mines, which are con¬ 
 nected with the main tunnel. 
 
 The first plan, which would be preferred in Europe at such points, where an 
 undulating elevated plain renders the construction of a deep tunnel very dif¬ 
 ficult, and where the distribution of the ores over a small space makes it ad¬ 
 visable to sink shafts to obtain quicker results than could be attained with tun¬ 
 nels of many miles in length and costing much time and money, it seems to me 
 that this plan cannot be carried out to advantage in Nevada, considering the 
 peculiar ownership of mining property and the expense of fuel. 
 
 Where the law grants but small claims on single lodes or even branch lodes, 
 and where they have not yet advanced to the modern ideas of French or German 
 legislation, to grant large tracts encompassed by natural or square boundaries, 
 which alone can insure a systematical and regular mode of working the mines, it 
 appears quite impossible, to conquer the depth by a combined system of shafts, 
 entirely independent of the fact that without rich coal fields and their close prox¬ 
 imity to the mines, supplies of fire wood (which seem to be entirely wanting 
 in the neighborhood of the Comstock Lode) could not be made to last for any 
 length of time in order to supply the steam engines on the shafts which 
 constantly increase in depth. 
 
 The only way therefore to explore, drain and thoroughly work the mines on 
 the Comstock Lode, under the existing circumstances, is by an adit, such as the 
 projected Sutro Tunnel. 
 
 With the experiences I have made in mining enterprises I must entirely agree 
 with what Mr. John Lay, Surveyor of Lyon county says, in regard to the Sutro 
 Tunnel in his report to S. H. Marlette, Esq., Surveyor General of Nevada, 
 dated Nov. 30, 1865. (Annual Report of the Surveyor General of Nevada for 
 the year 1865, page 57.) 
 
 Whether the Sutro Tunnel, before it reaches the Comstock Lode, will cut and 
 develop other ore-bearing lodes, cannot be predicted with absolute certainty, but 
 it is to say the least, probable. For von Richthofen reports that the Comstock 
 
Or) 
 
 Lode lias several branches which run alongside of it, sometimes converge 
 towards the same, then continue as a body of clay, etc., etc. ; in short, it seems 
 that there is not one sharply bounded fissure, but a system of fissures, which 
 constitute the entire powerful lode. 
 
 If the main lode therefore is surrounded by accompanying parallel branches, 
 it is probable that the lodes which lie to the eastward, (according to Charles 
 Hoffmann’s topographical map, showing the location of the Sutro Tunnel,) such 
 as the Monte Christo Lode, Great Flowery Lode and the intervening lodes do 
 not form single fissures, but have branches ; or that parallel lodes occur between 
 them, for we have here, as at Schemnitz in Hungary a mountain cracked by 
 fissures, which may all possibly be of an ore-bearing character, filled from 
 below. 
 
 For these reasons such tunnels were in olden times called the “keys of the 
 mountain,” and to encourage such works, special privileges were granted by the 
 ancient and modern legislators of Germany and Austria, to be transferred 
 always to the deepest tunnel, which should be constructed, in order to induce 
 those undertaking the work to choose the possibly lowest point. 
 
 The usual privileges which were connected therewith, consisted of: 
 
 а. The right to appropriate all the ore to the size of the tunnel, even in those 
 claims belonging to other parties. 
 
 б. In the right to claim one-seventh or one-ninth of all the ores from all the 
 mines which were drained by the tunnel, from the moment their waters run off 
 through the same. 
 
 c. A contribution to the expenses of construction by all the mines, which 
 should be drained or ventilated by the tunnel. 
 
 d. Sometimes also a toll for the water carried off through the tunnel. 
 
 In the language of the old mining laws, these privileges were called “tunnel 
 rights,” and 
 
 a. Was called the right of the “tunnel cut.” 
 
 b. The “tunnel seventh or ninth.” 
 
 c. The “fourth penny” and 
 
 d. The “waterfall money.” 
 
 Sometimes large tunnels have been constructed by governments, who re¬ 
 ceived back a portion of the outlay by means of the aforequoted rights. 
 
 The principal works made by government, are : 
 
 8 
 
54 
 
 1. The “Ernst August Tunnel” in Hanover for the mines of the Harz. Fin¬ 
 ished in 1863. 
 
 2. The “Joseph I. Tunnel” at Schemnitz, which has often been interrupted and 
 is not yet completed. 
 
 3. The “Oclya Tunnel” at Abendb&nja in Transylvania, which was not 
 successful, for it was carried to a gold deposit concentrated in a single spot which 
 showed no other bodies. 
 
 4. The “Ferdinand Tunnel,” which is to be constructed from the valley of the 
 river Gran in Hungary to Kremnitz, and which has been commenced by the 
 government. 
 
 5. The great tunnel of “Rotheschoeneberg” at Freiberg in Saxony, for drain¬ 
 ing the mines of Freiberg. 
 
 The tunnels mentioned at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are all longer than the Sutro 
 Tunnel (the “Joseph I. Tunnel ”has a length of nearly 11 English miles) and 
 their slow progress has been caused by the lack of money , which has frequently 
 interrupted the labors for years. The “Ernst August Tunnel” has been com¬ 
 pleted quickest of all. 
 
 The cost of such a tunnel, with the dimensions of the proposed Sutro Tunnel, 
 without a railroad, would in Austria amount to about 2 to 300,000 dollars per 
 English mile, according to the experiences made in constructing the Joseph I. 
 Tunnel at Schemnitz. In America, with the high prices of labor and fuel for 
 the engines on the four shafts, we must certainly calculate on double the cost, 
 if not more still, although the working capacity of laborers is likely much 
 greater there than here. 
 
 According to these figures, which must be very indefinite, having but an 
 imperfect knowledge of the prices in Nevada, the cost of the Sutro Tunnel, 
 with a length of 4 English miles would be (200,000x2)x4=$l,600,000, or 
 (300,000 X 2) X4=$2, 400,000. Strange to say, the sum $1,983,616, given on 
 page 31 of the pamphlet entitled “The Sutro Tunnel to the Comstock Lode,” as 
 the estimate of the Chief Engineer, corresponds very nearly with the arith¬ 
 metical medium of the sums 1,600,000 and 2,400,000. Under the presup¬ 
 position therefore, that the costs in America are not more than double of those 
 paid in Hungary in the construction of the Joseph I. Tunnel, the cost of the 
 Sutro Tunnel ( without railroads) may be put down qt $2,000,000. 
 
Since the probability is very great that this sum, and even a much greater 
 one would be repaid out of the riches contained in the Comstock Lode, and since 
 the act of Congress of July 25, 1865 (vide the pamphlet “the Sutro Tunnel’’) 
 compels the payment of contributions by all the mines reached by the Sutro 
 Tunnel, gives mining privileges on both sides of the same and grants some land, 
 the repayment of the costs of construction can be but a question of a few years 
 after completion of the same. 
 
 If capital should require still more inducements, a guarantee by the govern¬ 
 ment of an interest of 4 or 5 per cent, on the investment during the time of 
 construction and for 10 years thereafter, would, according to my views, suffice 
 entirely to obtain the necessary sums. 
 
 The government would risk but little thereby if the condition is made, that 
 the sums advanced for interest should be repaid after a stated time. A bill of 
 that kind should be about as follows : 
 
 Article 1. The Government guarantees to the stockholders of the Sutro Tun¬ 
 nel an interest of four or five per cent, on the cost of $2,000,000 during the 
 time of construction, and for ten years thereafter, so that, should the dividends 
 not amount to four or five per cent., the Government advances the difference. 
 
 Article 2. Whenever the income of the Sutro Tunnel Company should exceed 
 four or five per cent., that surplus is to be paid back to the Government, and 
 credited on the advances already made, until the whole sum is repaid, and not 
 until then are the shareholders entitled to any higher dividends. 
 
 Article 3. The time of construction is limited to-years. If the tun¬ 
 
 nel is not completed by that time, the ten additional years of guarantee are to 
 be shortened accordingly. 
 
 Article 4. In the re-payment of the sums advanced for interest, no interest is 
 to be charged, so that the capital advanced by the Government in makino- the 
 guarantee, is to be considered as a loan to the enterprise, bearing no interest. 
 
 I should think, that, with the energy and enterprise of the American people, 
 such a guarantee would suffice to get the capital, which is wanting on the 
 Pacific coast, at the rich money centres of the Atlantic States, for the risk to 
 capitalists would almost disappear; while the Government itself makes a loan, 
 which grows smaller from year to year, and at last ceases, and still rapidly 
 develops the riches of Nevada without making a Government work of it 
 
56 
 
 In this manner I think the principle of the greatest possible self-activity is 
 given to the enterprise, while the Government complies with its duty in assisting 
 a truly useful and grand undertaking, without taxing the resources of the country 
 too much, and without weakening the impulse of pushing the enterprise ahead. 
 
 OTTO von HINGENAU, 
 
 Dr. of Law, Councillor and Member of the 
 Imperial Austrian Ministry of Finance. 
 
 Letter from John Day, County Surveyor of Lyon County, .Nevada. 
 
 Dayton, Lyon County, Nevada , December 12, 1865. 
 
 Adolph /Sutro, Esq. 
 
 Sir: 
 
 Agreeably to your request, I made a reconnoisance of the line of your 
 proposed tunnel to the Comstock Ledge in February last, and in the following 
 month took the field with a competent force, the point selected by yourself, 
 although not so low as another near by, was much better adapted in conse¬ 
 quence of having a fall of about one hundred feet in a third of a mile from the 
 mouth of the tunnel, with large area for dumping purposes, and the erection of 
 quartz mills, that can be propelled by the water discharged from the tunnel. 
 
 The starting point for the tunnel is designated by planting a large stone about 
 two feet in the ground with a cross cut upon the top, and which is on a level 
 with the surface of the ground, and a mound of stones about two feet high 
 erected over it. 
 
 And now commences the line as run with theodolite and chain, the course 
 N. 70°.00 W. (true meridian) ascending gradually at the start, and on nearing, 
 what may be termed the first summit, quite abruptly, and descending to Wil¬ 
 liam Penn Canon, where the first shaft is located, and distant from the mouth of 
 the tunnel 4,078.5 feet, altitude above the same 446.09 feet. 
 
 Thence continuing on the same course, and rising gradually to the main 
 divide, which is distant from the starting point 7,920.5 feet, with an altitude of 
 1,453.63 feet. 
 
Then descending abruptly to a ravine in which shaft number two is located, 
 distant 9,261 feet, and in altitude 985.28 feet. 
 
 Thence ascending again, (through the Silver Star Mining District,) and at the 
 distance of 13,325 feet, shaft number three was located, and is 1,440 feet above 
 the tunnel. 
 
 Then again to the 2d divide, which is distant 16,069.5 feet, with an altitude 
 of 1,699.29 feet above tunnel. 
 
 Thence again to the location of the fourth shaft, being 17,909 feet from the 
 
 o ’o’ 
 
 starting place, and in altitude 1,371 feet. 
 
 On again to six mile canon, which is crossed in 19,734 feet, and is 1,482 
 feet in altitude, thence again ascending through Virginia City until the Savage 
 Works (south of the Gould & Curry) on the Comstock is reached, in a distance 
 of 22,114 feet, and in altitude 1,938 feet from the place of beginning, which is 
 about three and a half miles northerly from Dayton. 
 
 I will here add that the different altitudes were correctly ascertained with the 
 level, after the line had been measured, and the location of the different shafts 
 decided upon. 
 
 Allow me to congratulate you, sir, for being the projector of this enterprise, 
 its importance to the State is incalculable, and its practicability clearly demon¬ 
 strated—it is in fact a mining necessity. 
 
 Respectfully, yours, 
 
 JOHN DAY, 
 
 County Surveyor. 
 
 Letter from Guido Kustel, Esq., Mining Engineer. 
 
 San Francisco, January , 1866. 
 
 Adolph Sutro, Fsq. 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 The Sutro Tunnel for the purpose of draining the Comstock Lode, is 
 the most important and 'promising enterprise in the Pacific States, and at the 
 same time vital, an absolute necessity to the future working possibility of the 
 Comstock Ledge. 
 
We may go on for some time yet with the working of the mines, while diffi¬ 
 culties and expenses are constantly increasing, but it will soon be found that the 
 hoisting of ore and pumping of water from a greater depth, not even regarding 
 interruptions in the mines, drifts or shafts, caused by cavings, which may occur 
 in consequence of too much water, especially after the rainy season, will depend 
 on rich ore only. 
 
 A permanent continuation of rich rock in all or nearly all claims of the Corn- 
 stock will be a condition for successful working. This, however, no experienced 
 miner could ever expect. The best mines contain chimneys, pockets, and local 
 deposits of rich ore, followed alternately by poor ore or dead masses, sometimes 
 to a considerable extent. This is a rule to which all mines are subject. 
 
 The claim owners and corporations will be compelled to join and form still 
 larger companies, in order to diminish the expenses by united operations in tim¬ 
 bering, pumping, managing and so forth, but there is no doubt, that the difficul¬ 
 ties caused by water, bad air, costly hoisting and timbering, will become so 
 overwhelming, that in a few years all operations on the Comstock will come to 
 a stand, if your proposed tunnel should fail to come into existence. 
 
 The construction of a tunnel like this one in question requires some years of 
 hard work. Every month, delay is certainly a great loss, which will be felt in 
 the future. The sooner you commence so much the better for all. There never 
 will be a more favorable offer to drain the Comstock Lode to a depth of 2,000 
 feet, without any risk whatever on the part of the claim owners, on the con¬ 
 trary, nothing hut benefit will and must result to the whole of the State of Ne¬ 
 vada ,, for when the tunnel is finished, not only the incalculable quantity of ore, 
 which fills the fissure of the Comstock can be extracted to a considerable depth 
 below the tunnel, yielding an income for more than a life-time, but the tunnel 
 will secure nearly double the quantity of payrock, of which a great part even 
 at present must remain in the mines on account of too heavy mining and haul¬ 
 ing expenses. 
 
 There are claims on the Comstock which, with a length of twenty feet only 
 between two levels of 100 feet, would furnish 3,000 tons of ore, assaying from 
 $10 to $15 per ton. Such ore, under present circumstances, cannot be worked. 
 Taking the length and depth of the whole Comstock, considering that rock, at a 
 greater depth, assaying twenty or twenty-five dollars, will be considered too 
 poor to cover all expenses, it can easily be perceived, that millions of dollars 
 
will be lost forever. This is an absolute loss to the community at large, while 
 your tunnel would enable the proprietors of the Comstock to mine and transport 
 this class of ore through the tunnel direct to Carson river for the purpose of 
 concentration. 
 
 The division of the Comstock into numerous independent claims will prove 
 inconsistent with proper mining, when surrounded by numerous adversities and 
 obstacles, which will arise in a greater depth on account of water and its conse¬ 
 quences. A union of all claims would meet so many objections, that a similar 
 arrangement must be given up a priori, so we are reduced again to the only 
 remedy, the “Sutro Tunnel.” The tunnel question is only a question of time— 
 whether it be built now, or when half of the Comstock Companies are ruined, 
 but the tunnel must be made. 
 
 This undertaking is well secured by a lode containing ore from twenty to fifty 
 feet wide, two and a half miles in length, imbedded in porphyry, a rock most 
 qualified for permanent metallic veins. At the greatest depth of 700 feet the 
 Comstock shows rich rock. 
 
 The mines of Schemnitz in Hungary, and at Pribram, Bohemia, can hardly be 
 compared with the Comstock in regard to extent and richness. At more than 
 3,000 feet depth these mines present good ore, in Pribram even richer than in 
 the upper regions. By comparison with other mines, it is reasonable to suppose, 
 that the Comstock descends deeper than the present generation can follow. 
 
 Respectfully, yours, 
 
 G. KUSTEL. 
 
 Letter from Dr. Phil. Burkart, Royal Prussian Privy Mining 
 
 Councillor. 
 
 Bonn* on the Rhine, December 7, 1867. 
 
 Adolph Sutro, Esq. 
 
 Washington. 
 
 In compliance with your request, I give herewith my views on the general 
 advisability and utility of constructing deep drain tunnels for mines_also my" 
 
opinion m regard to one for the Comstock Lode m Nevada and my views on 
 the causes which have prevented the construction of a greater number of such 
 tunnels in Mexico, at the same time requesting to be excused, if I have perhaps 
 been a little more circumstantial than you may have expected. 
 
 PROGRESS OF CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA. 
 
 If we contemplate the present condition of the States of California and Ne¬ 
 vada, their flourishing cities and villages, their rapidly developing agriculture 
 and commerce, their industry and their lively traffic upon the highways and 
 railroads, created within a short time—and compare the same with the former 
 condition of these countries, which hardly twenty years ago were, with the 
 exception of a few inhabited towns on the coast of the Pacific ocean, and a few 
 inconsiderable settlements of whites in the interior, inhabited only by savage 
 Indian hordes, we feel astonished at the unexampled, almost marvellous, progress, 
 which the population and its development have made in so short a time. 
 
 WHAT CAUSED IT. 
 
 The question here forces itself upon the mind, what particular circumstances 
 have caused and been able to accomplish such sudden and extraordinary changes 
 of these conditions, after those countries have, notwithstanding their favorable 
 situation and glorious climate, remained unnoticed and in their abnormal con¬ 
 dition during the many years of their possession under a colonial government by 
 Spain and afterwards also under the government of Mexico; and we must con¬ 
 clude that the cause thereof is to be found in the discovery of rich gold fields in 
 California, and valuable silver deposits in Nevada, and in the mining operations, 
 which thereby sprung into existence. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT BY GOVERNMENT. 
 
 But if such a branch of industry may so suddenly revolutionize uninhabited 
 and partly but little .productive regions, as is the case in Nevada, and if it is 
 capable of inducing a numerous population to permanent settlement and to the 
 establishment of a well organized commonwealth under a providential govern¬ 
 ment as we find in the States of California, and Nevada, it must surely be con- 
 
sidered one of the first duties of the Government to preserve and encourage such 
 an industrial branch and to assist the same energetically , more especially, when 
 it is intended, as in the present case, to exhume treasures slumbering in the 
 depths of the earth, to apply them to the animation of commerce, industry and 
 agriculture, and thereby to increase the national wealth. 
 
 IMPORTANCE OF MINING LEGISLATION. 
 
 This principle, as regards mining operations has been recognized and followed 
 as correct by the governments of Europe, for they have taken care to establish 
 special laws, not only for the preservation and development of mining in general 
 but have favored and assisted in particular the construction of deep drain 
 tunnels. Spain also, has not left this principle unnoticed in her mining legislation, 
 for her former possessions on the American continent, which remained in force 
 after the declaration of independence in Mexico. In some of the States of 
 North America, laws have been made to regulate and secure the possession of 
 mining property. 
 
 Independently of the latter, regulations by law for drainage, are absolutely 
 necessary in a politico-economical view, and for the protection of private 
 interests, especially where extensive mining operations are carried on in single 
 districts, and where the ownership is much divided. 
 
 LEGISLATION ON TUNNELS. 
 
 For this reason, in the mining legislation of Europe attention has in most 
 cases been bestowed upon this important subject, especially in the “Ordenanzas 
 para la mineria de la nueva Espana (Madrid 1783.) 
 
 The construction of deep tunnels, generally acknowledged as the most judi¬ 
 cious and cheapest way of attaining these results, has therein been considered 
 preeminently, and the rights and privileges have been established by law, 
 which are to be granted to the parties undertaking such works, not only by the 
 Government, but also by the proprietors of mines, when they do not themselves 
 construct the work. 
 
 ASSISTANCE BY GOVERNMENTS. 
 
 In numerous instances, the construction of deep drain tunnels at single mines, 
 or for whole districts, in those European countries where extensive mining opera* 
 9 
 
62 
 
 tions are carried on, have been considered of such importance and necessity , in 
 order to preserve and continue mining operations in the interest of the people 
 and the national wealth, that the respective governments, whenever the yield of 
 the mines and the means of the miners were considered insufficient for such 
 extensive undertakings, have carried them out at public expense. They looked 
 upon the advantages to he gained as large and important enough to justify the 
 expenditure of very considerable sums for such draining works. 
 
 INSTANCES OF GOYEENMENT ASSISTANCE. 
 
 Amongst the more important drain tunnels existing in European mining dis¬ 
 tricts, which have been constructed at Government expense, I will only name: 
 
 The main Key Tunnel, in the district of Mansfield. 
 
 The deep Frederick Tunnel, near Tarnowitz, (2,6094 lachters=17,315 feet 
 long ;) but especially, 
 
 The deep George Tunnel, in the Harz, (4,645 ladders long, to the Duke 
 George William shaft,) and 
 
 The deep Ernst August 'Tunnel, which is 300 feet under the mouth of the 
 former, and has a length of 7,600 lachters, also in Saxony, 
 
 The Kotheschoneberger Tunnel, (length 6,852 lachters, depth 62 lachters 
 under the level of the Anna Tunnel.) 
 
 It may further be remarked, that according to von Herder, (see “The deep 
 tunnel from Meissen,” page 4 and 48,) the total length of all drain tunnels con¬ 
 structed at different times in Saxony at government expense, was 130,104 lach¬ 
 ters (819,395 English feet,*) and those of the Freiberg district alone, had at the 
 end of the year 1835, a length of 81,364 lachters, (512,430 feet English,f) and 
 have therefore absorbed very considerable amounts of the government funds. 
 
 IMPOETANCE OF DEAIN TUNNELS. 
 
 In order to point out still further the vast importance of deep drain tunnels 
 in great mining centres, I may state the following — 
 
 Before it was decided to construct those important deep tunnels on the Harz, 
 it was generally believed, that the time could already be foreseen when the 
 existing pumping machinery would not suffice any longer, while its increase was 
 
 * 155 Miles. 
 
 197 Miles. 
 
too costly to he profitable, and without that increase those large mining opera¬ 
 tions would soon have come to an end. 
 
 A branch of industry, which up to that time supported a large population, 
 would thus have gone to ruin, without replacing the loss, and without rendering 
 it possible to prevent the impoverishment of a district, kept in a flourishing 
 state by mining and by the industry depending thereon. 
 
 The deep George Tunnel offered the remedy to avoid that danger for the time 
 being. But hardly half a century after its completion, similar fears were again 
 expressed, and it was resolved, in order to remove that danger, to bring in the 
 Ernst August Tunnel from a greater distance, at the expense of the government, 
 which finished it in the year 1864, at an expenditure of a very large amount. 
 
 TUNNELS AT FREIBERG. 
 
 Similar apprehensions in regard' to the undiminished continuance of mining 
 at Freiberg, in Saxony, and the danger of imperiling the prosperity of this por¬ 
 tion of the “Erzgebirge,” induced the Chief of the Mining Department, von 
 Herder, to elaborate as far back as in the year 1830, a project of a deep tunnel, 
 to be constructed at government expense for draining the mines of the Freiberg 
 district, and which was to be driven from the river Elbe to the Halsbrueckner 
 Lode. 
 
 He estimated the value of the silver to be produced from the ores made 
 accessible by the same at three hundred millions of thalers, the length of the 
 tunnel at 11,360 lachters, (79,520 Leipzig feet,) its depth under the Anna Tunnel, 
 92.72 lachters, and the cost at 3,600,000 thalers. 
 
 At the same time he proved that this work would be by far the most judi¬ 
 cious, compared to several other projects for introducing water power to propel 
 pumping engines, and considered it his duty to recommend this plan as to the 
 true interest of the miners and the country, by securing to Freiberg another 
 period of brilliant mining operations. Von Herder reviewed the advantages of 
 several shorter tunnels, amongst which the Rotheshoeneberg Tunnel, at an esti¬ 
 mated cost of 1,500,000 thalers, but dropped these as less advisable.’ 
 
 Still the project of the deep Meissen Tunnel has not been carried out yet, 
 but its construction is simply postponed to a not far distant day. To secure the 
 immediate protection of mining in Freiberg, the Rotheschoeneberger Tunnel was 
 commenced in the year 1844, at government expense, m place of the former 
 
64 
 
 and had been finished up to the end of 1865 to a length of 4,/09 lachters, at a 
 cost of nearly one and a half millions of thalers, and its completion may be 
 expected before long. 
 
 ADVANTAGES DERIVED FROM TUNNELS. 
 
 The facts cited should prove sufficiently, what importance is placed on the 
 construction of deep drain tunnels in those German States, where mining is 
 carried on; and rightfully so, for correctly planned, promptly and well con¬ 
 structed drain tunnels, in comparison to machinery for deep mining, offer the 
 most essential advantages to the interest of the mine owners, to the State and 
 to the commonwealth. Because : 
 
 1st. They cheapen drainage, compared.to the application of machinery; 
 
 2d. They permit not only an examination of the country traversed, and dis¬ 
 covery of the metalliferous deposit contained therein, but also a rational and 
 regular system of mining. 
 
 3d. They facilitate ventilation, transportation and the extraction of ore, there¬ 
 fore decrease the expenses in these operations, and consequently, 
 
 4th. Allow the extraction and reduction of poor ores, which otherwise could 
 not be turned to account. 
 
 5th. They increase the yield and the profits of the mine owners, and also, 
 what is to be considered particularly: 
 
 6th. They make it possible to reach far below the tunnel level by means of 
 the existing machinery, and to extract the ores occurring there at a profit, 
 thereby, 
 
 7th. Putting into circulation the gold and silver, which these ores yield, a 
 dead capital, slumbering in the bowels of the earth, increasing the national 
 wealth, and 
 
 8th. Secure to the population of the neighborhood the means of subsistence 
 for the whole period that mining operations are thereby lengthened. 
 
 WISDOM OF GOVERNMENT AIDING IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 In consequence of all this, it must be considered a measure wise and fully jus¬ 
 tified by the circumstances, if a government, in cases where private resources 
 do not suffice, or are divided too much, favors and assists or even carries out on 
 
its own account, the construction of a well projected, generally useful, and 
 promising deep tunnel, thereby furthering the general prosperity of commerce, 
 industry and agriculture, and increasing the national welfare. 
 
 AID TO MINING ENTERPRISES IN MEXICO. 
 
 In the very extensive silver mining operations in Mexico, this principle has 
 also been recognized as correct, and the construction of deep tunnels was regu¬ 
 lated by the mining laws (Ordenanzas para la Mineria, Tit. X.,) as the most 
 suitable and cheapest way of attaining drainage, and the rights to be granted to 
 the parties undertaking such works were fixed by the same. 
 
 These laws also created a fund in the “Banco de Avio,” derived from the 
 duties paid to the crown on the silver produced, which was set apart for the es¬ 
 tablishment of a mining tribunal and “Colegio de Mineria” as well as for the 
 purpose of making loans in assistance and for the animation of mining en¬ 
 terprises (Ordenanzas, Tit. xvi;) but of the application of funds for the latter 
 purpose but little has become publicly known. 
 
 REASONS WHY BUT FEW TUNNELS WERE CONSTRUCTED. 
 
 If notwithstanding many mines in Mexico went to ruin on account of lack of 
 capital, and if but few and limited deep drain tunnels have been carried out, the 
 reason therefore must not be sought in the conclusion, that they were considered 
 injudicious or superfluous. A closer examination of the subject, on the contrary, 
 shows that this must, in most instances, be ascribed to the peculiar and special 
 circumstances under which mining operations were carried on in Mexico, and to 
 a total disregard of the common welfare and those considerations, which are of 
 a politico-economical nature. The high plateau of Mexico at the same time 
 prevented their construction in many places; this was especially the case in the 
 districts of Fresnillo, Kancos, Angeles, etc., etc., and in order to prove the former 
 statement the following may be said : 
 
 MANNER OF WORKING THE MINES. 
 
 1st. Soon after the. conquest of Mexico many of the mines were taken posses¬ 
 sion of, more with the aim of rapidly obtaining and converting into value large 
 
66 
 
 quantities of rich ore than to carry on well regulated mining operations, wnich 
 would have required longer time and absorbed more capital in their preparation. 
 
 It was therefore preferred to apply the anything but superabundant laboring 
 material to the extraction of ore, rather than to preliminary and elaborate min¬ 
 ing operations. This suited the laborers all the better, as by sharing a portion 
 of the ores (partido) larger earnings were obtained, or at least promised to them, 
 than they could have acquired by working in the country rock. 
 
 As a general thing, also, it was not within the power of the mine owners 
 to procure the necessary number of workmen, particularly if rich ores were 
 being extracted on neighboring mines, which secured to the miners high wages 
 from the share they held in them. 
 
 In addition to this it often happened that a mine was abandoned whenever all 
 the rich ores Had been taken out, before new ones were discovered ; for the pro¬ 
 prietor either did not possess the capital for further operations, or did not care 
 about risking again the profits already made. The water then soon filled the 
 mine and the improvements went to ruin before any one could be found to start 
 work anew. This required large capital for pumping out the water and for 
 making new explorations in order to find good ores, and was generally accom¬ 
 plished by repairing the old shafts, provided they were not too deep, rather than 
 by a tunnel, which the predecessors had neglected to make. In mines of con¬ 
 siderable depth, the costs of clearing them from water and putting them in order 
 were quite large, and caused a grievous loss if no new bodies of ore were found 
 as was the case with many mines after the declaration of independence in 
 Mexico. 
 
 MINES OWNED BY PERSONS WITHOUT MEANS. 
 
 2. The way and manner of acquiring mining property in Mexico, particularly 
 when persons without means made the discovery of rich deposits, is correctly 
 described by St. Clair Duport on page 29 of his work, “De la production des 
 metaux precieux au Mexique,” and was partly the cause of preventing the con¬ 
 struction of long tunnels during the time of the first stage of mining operations. 
 The means for that purpose did not exist, while the sinking of a shaft and the 
 erection of a horse whim answered the purpose, and were muck cheaper. 
 
 A desire to improve his momentary financial condition is always decisive to a 
 miner, and we therefore find the results above described. 
 
PROVISIONS OF THE “ORDENANZAS DE MINERIA.” 
 
 3. Although the “Ordenanzas de Mineria” give the guardianship over mining 
 operations to government experts, under the general supervision of the ‘'Tribunal 
 de Mineria,” the smallest portion only of the regulations made by them were 
 carried out,especially at a distance from the capital; therefore mining operations 
 were only conducted with a regard to private interests, which were not always 
 judged correctly from a want of the necessary mining knowledge by the super¬ 
 intendents. 
 
 IGNORANCE OF SURVEYING. 
 
 4. The latter, consequently, in many instances could not form any idea of the 
 topography of the country and could not establish the levels indispensable to 
 the construction of a proper tunnel. Prior to the establishment of the mining- 
 school in Mexico, properly educated engineers and mining surveyors, who could 
 level off and survey a locality correctly, were to be found in but few mining ■ 
 districts, and people therefore remained in the dark about the advantages of 
 different tunnel routes, which might have been selected. 
 
 THE MINES OF ZACATECAS. 
 
 All this together and the division of mining property amongst many persons 
 appears to have been the cause, why a deep tunnel, the construction of which is 
 much favored by the topography of the locality was not executed at an early 
 day in the mountains of Zacatecas. 
 
 Afterwards when competent companies were formed, owning more extensive 
 mining ground, the mines had already reached a greater depth than could have 
 been obtained by a tunnel of not too great a length, so it was preferred up to a 
 late period, to pump the water through the shafts which are located high up on 
 the mountain, rather than to commence the construction of a deep drain tunnel, 
 although such could have been made even then to good advantage. 
 
 FACILITIES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TUNNEL. 
 
 The plain which surrounds the mountain of Zacatecas being situated 900 to 
 1000 Paris feet (and at some distance still deeper) under the mouth of the shafts 
 
68 
 
 located on the middle of the mountain, the construction of a tunnel would have 
 obviated the necessity of lifting the water to so great a height. Besides the very 
 considerable advantage would have resulted of exploring the mountain, at the 
 same time of opening up such bodies of ore as had been overlooked, of examin¬ 
 ing them through side drifts and of employing the existing pumping machinery 
 for clearing those parts of the mines situated under the tunnel level. 
 
 About the year 1830 Don Francisco Garcia, then governor of that State was 
 not disinclined, upon my proposition, to construct such a deep tunnel at govern¬ 
 ment expense ; it is true he dropped this plan in order to get the mines of 
 Fresnillo started, but came back to the original project and was only prevented 
 from carrying it out by the political circumstances and disorders of the country. 
 
 THE MINES OF GUANAJUATO. 
 
 The mountains of Guanajuato also offer a very favorable opportunity for the 
 construction of a deep tunnel to draw off the water from the mines located there, 
 which does not seem to have been properly appreciated. The plain spreading 
 out to the southwest, at a moderate distance from the mountain of Guanajuato, 
 is situated, according to barometrical measurements, 700 feet under the town, 
 and 1,400 feet under the top of the shaft of Valenciana, so that, below Marfil a 
 favorable point might have been selected to drain the mines of the Yeta Madre, 
 and probably also those of La Luz, by means of a moderately long tunnel. 
 The same would doubtless have cost but little, for it would have traversed, to a 
 large extent, a formation of red conglomerate. 
 
 That such a plan was not carried out under the colonial government of Spain, 
 may have been the result of the above mentioned circumstances; why it was 
 also neglected afterwards and not examined into under the administration of the 
 English companies, which had undertaken to work the mines of Guanajuato, can 
 only have been caused by their proportionally short contracts with the mine 
 owners. At the same time I do believe that it would even now be to the 
 interest of the latter, and especially to that of the State government, to pay to 
 this matter the requisite attention, and to establish by an examination, what 
 private and politico-economical advantages would result from the construction 
 of a deep tunnel to Guanajuato. 
 
TUNNELS EXISTING IN MEXICO. 
 
 In such places in Mexico, where the favorable topographical features of dis¬ 
 tricts containing silver lodes could be recognized without intricate measurements 
 and mappings, and where short tunnels could therefore be constructed without 
 difficulty, they have often been made, as we may observe in numerous places. 
 
 Thus we find tunnels, and some of not inconsiderable length, at Tasco, Tlal- 
 pujahua, Real del Monte, Lomo del Toro, San Jose el Oro, Guadalcazar, Catorze, 
 etc., etc. The number of tunnels at Tlalpujahua from the valley to the two 
 main lodes, is so great that their aggregate length would have sufficed for a 
 main tunnel of not inconsiderable depth. This great number of tunnels was 
 constructed, because the mines situated on one and the same lode, did not adopt 
 a joint working system, for each mine owner, unconcerned of his neighbor, only 
 strove to get rid of the water in his own mine, and to transport his ore on the 
 shortest road to the valley. 
 
 The only tunnel, which has a greater length, is that to the Coronas Lode 
 below Tlalpujahua, but even this was neither continued at right angles to the 
 mines situated further off from the hanging wall, nor were branches constructed 
 to those mines, located further south and higher up in the mountain. 
 
 ABANDONMENT OF THE MINES. 
 
 The mines in the places mentioned, soon reached considerable depth under 
 their respective tunnels, and were abandoned under the increased cost of mining, 
 and that of pumping, after the rich bodies of ore had been taken out, or when¬ 
 ever they became poorer. 
 
 The shafts, galleries and underground works then went to ruin, and to re-work 
 such mines was much more difficult and expensive than would have been the 
 case had the water been drained off regularly by means of a deep adit. 
 
 In such condition were the mines of Tlalpujahua, when in the year 1825 an 
 English company attempted to place them in working order again. With¬ 
 out the slightest possible knowledge of the abandoned ore deposits, and the con¬ 
 dition of the lodes, large sums had to be expended in order to obtain that know¬ 
 ledge. Through my instrumentality a deep tunnel was commenced, which with 
 a length of 5,500 varas would have given a depth of 328 varas at one of the 
 " 10 
 
principal shafts, but work upon the same was soon again stopped on account of 
 a lack of profitable ore, and the refusal of the shareholders to pay any further 
 assessments. 
 
 REAL DEL MONTE. 
 
 Amongst the Mexican mines, with which I have become acquainted, Real del 
 Monte can show the longest tunnels, but is also much favored by its situation 
 on a mountain range not very wide, which is bounded on the south by the 
 high plateau of the valley of Mexico, and on the north by that of Ototonilco. 
 
 Already in the first half of the last century, a deep tunnel was commenced 
 on the south side of this mountain range near Azoyatla, and during nine years 
 constructed at a cost of $80,000 to a length of 1,200 varas ; it was then discon¬ 
 tinued under the pretext of bad air and hard rock, but probably on account of 
 its high location. Another tunnel was commenced at Omitlan to the northward 
 of Real del. Monte, but this also was discontinued after one year. 
 
 But when a grant had been made to the mine owners of Real del Monte, 
 securing to them a larger field of operations, they commenced another deep 
 tunnel in the year 1749, near the mine of Moran, which reached the Biscanya 
 vein already in 1762, having a length of 2,881 varas, and a depth of 203 varas 
 at the Toya shaft. Through this tunnel more than seven millions of dollars 
 were taken out in a short time; it secured to the owners the profitable extrac¬ 
 tion of much silver ore, and made it possible to work the mines, though later, 
 with changing success, until the troubles commenced, caused by the declara¬ 
 tion of independence. 
 
 However, before that time, still another deep tunnel, el “Aviadero,” had been 
 commenced near Omitlan, which, at a length of 4,500 varas, was to cut under 
 the upper tunnel at a depth of 130 varas, but was stopped at the same time the 
 mines were, before much of it was finished. 
 
 ERRORS OF AN ENGLISH COMPANY. 
 
 At Real del Monte, an English company, in re-commencing operations on 
 these mines in 1825, committed the error not to properly appreciate the neces¬ 
 sity of completing this tunnel, and to attempt the drainage of the mines by 
 steam engines alone. They did not consider that the water would have to be 
 pumped 130 varas less in height, that the pumping would be less costly, and 
 
'Tl 
 l 1 
 
 tliat furthermore it would "be possible to go that much deeper on the lode, and 
 make more silver ores available. 
 
 But, when in 1847 it was barely possible to raise the accumulating water to 
 the upper tunnel by means of powerful steam engines at an annual cost of 
 $90,000, and after extensive bodies of rich ores had been taken out without any 
 profit to the stockholders, the mines passed over into other hands. The new 
 owners paid more attention to the Aviadero Tunnel, fully appreciated its object, 
 and decided upon its continuation, so that the same had advanced in the year 
 1859, through very hard rock, to a length of 2,403 varas, and was still being- 
 pushed ahead in 1862. 
 
 When this tunnel reaches the Biscaina Lode, another good time may com¬ 
 mence for the miners of Pteal del Monte, but the great loss will be difficult to 
 make up, which the former company, as well as the present one sustained by 
 the'non-construction of the tunnel, and by the consequent necessity during many 
 years, of keeping the mines clear of water by very expensive steam engines. 
 
 Catorze can also show several tunnels, amongst them two of not inconsider¬ 
 able length, but which seem to have been commenced more with a view of facili¬ 
 tating the transportation of ore than to dram off the water, and which were not 
 completed when I was in Catorze. 
 
 GENERAL LOSSES FROM THE WANT OF TUNNELS. 
 
 The losses occasioned in Mexico by neglecting the timely construction of deep 
 tunnels cannot be given in figures, but the amount lost by private persons and 
 by the nation must have been considerable, to judge from what has been stated 
 already. 
 
 The high expenses for pumping, those for exploration, preparation and trans¬ 
 portation, but especially the fact that ores had to be left behind m the mines 
 which could have been extracted to advantage under a rational system of min¬ 
 ing, occasioned a very serious loss, which it is much to be regretted, in a politico- 
 economical view, was not avoided by proper assistance from the Government 
 
 THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 In conclusion, I will not fail to express my views on the Sutro Tunnel or deep 
 adit tor the drainage of the rich Comstock Lode; but not having that know- 
 
ledge acquired from my own observations and examinations I must base my 
 remarks on the valuable detailed accounts of the locality, given by von Rich¬ 
 thofen, J. Ross Browne and R. H. Stretch, in regard to the topography of the 
 neighborhood and the lode itself, and in regard to the mining results. 
 
 According to these accounts the Comstock must be considered the richest of 
 all known silver lodes. Notwithstanding, the lode is not ore-bearing in all places 
 and not equally rich, but shows, as is also the case with all silver lodes of 
 Mexico, richer and poorer ores, which are interrupted horizontally and perpen¬ 
 dicularly by poor spots, that is by matter which fills the vein containing no ore. 
 The statements about the explorations thus far made, show a greater extent of 
 ore in depth than in a horizontal direction. 
 
 The bodies of ore, also show a certain dip, not with the inclination of the 
 lode, but they are found either further north or south in the lower levels than in 
 those nearer to the surface; additional explorations are necessary however in 
 order to base thereupon a systematical working of the mines. 
 
 MINING OPERATIONS ON THE COMSTOCK LODE. 
 
 The lode is known to a length of 24,000 feet, and more than 40 proprietors 
 or companies exist with as many different claims of from 10 to 2,000 feet in 
 length, who have constructed several shallow tunnels and have sunk numerous 
 shafts, thereby sacrificing more money than would have been necessary for 
 regular mining operations. 
 
 On these shafts are 47 steam engines of about 2,000 horse power, of which 
 8 are used for pumping alone, 13 for hoisting and 26 for both purposes, which 
 occasion unproportionally great expenses with the high prices of fuel. 
 
 The deepest portion of the Chollar Potosi mine has reached 923 feet under the 
 croppings near the top of the shaft and is 909 feet above the level of the Sutro 
 Tunnel, while the lowest works of the Gould and Curry at a depth of 900 feet are 
 only 900 feet, and those of the Belcher at a depth of 850 feet are but 750 feet 
 above the Sutro Tunnel, the latter mine therefore having the greatest absolute 
 depth. 
 
 Several other mines have not advanced so far, the White and Murphy being 
 still 1,585 feet above the tunnel level, offering therefore a much larger unex- 
 
 O O 
 
 amined field for exploration than the others. 
 
YIELD AND PROFITS OF THE MINES. 
 
 The Comstock Lode has, according to the statements given by Browne, yielded 
 from 1859 to 1866 gold and silver bullion, valued at $66,000,000, of which 
 $16,500,000 were extracted in 1866. A like produce is expected for 1867 and 
 for some years to come, and the remark is made, that it might even be increased 
 to $20,000,000. These amounts have been furnished from 1859 to 1866 by 
 the different claims or mines, in a very unequal and changing proportion, for 
 some had very rich ores, some poor ones, and others none at all. 
 
 Equally different were the profits of the different mines, which were regulated 
 somewhat by the expenses, but some single proprietors are said to have cleared 
 $o 0,000 per annum, and even more. Some mines however, are not yielding as 
 much as they did, partly because pumping with steam engines is too expensive, 
 pait.ly because the existing power does not suffice to go any deeper, or because 
 othei difficulties have arisen, and lastly, also because the capital is wanting to 
 carry on the necessary explorations. 
 
 INCREASING EXPENSES OF MINING. 
 
 But the expenses of mining increase with increasing depth of the works, and 
 it can theiefore not appear strange when it is stated that in many mines on the 
 Comstock Lode they now either absorb the yield partly, or entirely, considering 
 the high wages and high prices of materials. Nor can it appear strange that 
 even rich bodies of ore do not cover the expenses in the limited extent of small 
 claims on account of the dip of the ore, and of the expenses occasioned by the 
 necessary preparatory works, such as shafts and galleries and those of pumping 
 ventilation, extraction, etc., etc. 
 
 The expensive system of mining on the Comstock Lode is shown by the state¬ 
 ment of Browne, that the length of tunnels, galleries, shafts and connections 
 already made, is 40 miles, which must seem very great, considering the small 
 depth and limited extent of the works in most of the mines. 
 
 All this kind of work and in fact all sorts of labor are done at very kiofi 
 prices, and we find it stated that with a yield of $16,500,000 in 1866 the profits 
 hardly amounted to $500,000. 
 
74 
 
 A DEEP TUNNEL THE ONLY REMEDY. 
 
 The evil of an increase of cost by increasing depth, and the consequent inter¬ 
 ruption of mining can, under existing circumstances, be met only b} r a deep 
 tunnel and a joint system of rational mining, which will make steam engines 
 superfluous. 
 
 The Comstock Lode being cut up into many different claims, the construction 
 of a tunnel with its north and south branches is only possible, if third parties 
 undertake the work. 
 
 In that way alone, it seems to me, will it be possible to diminish the present 
 high cost of mining, of opening up the bodies of ore with the smallest possible 
 expense, and of making poor ores available, which now remain in the mines and 
 which afterwards could never be reached again. 
 
 The Sutro Tunnel will furthermore have the advantage of exploring the whole 
 country from its mouth to the Comstock Lode, a distance of 20,000 feet, in 
 which several paying silver lodes are known to exist, of opening up the same 
 and of facilitating the examination of these lodes. 
 
 Under such circumstances I can only concur in the opinion of those experts , 
 who have expressed themselves in favor of this tunnel, and I may warmly recom¬ 
 mend its construction as not only in the interest of the mine owners, but also in 
 that of the Government. 
 
 I close with the hope that you may soon be able to inform me of your suc¬ 
 cess in having removed the last obstacles to the execution of this project, and 
 that you have insured and commenced the construction of the tunnel. 
 
 BURK ALT, Dr. Phil., 
 Royal Prussian Privy Mining Councillor. 
 
REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Committee oil Federal Relations, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NEVADA LEGISLATURE, 
 
 Adopted Unanimously, January 23 , 1867 . 
 
"REPORT. 
 
 The Committee on Federal Relations, to whom was referred “Joint Memorial 
 and Resolutions asking Government aid in the construction of the Sutro Tunnel," 
 beg to report the same back and recommend its passage. 
 
 Along with said Memorial, and as a part thereof, they likewise submit the 
 following report : 
 
 EXTENT OF THE MINING REGIONS. 
 
 The vast regions embracing portions of California, Nevada, Dakota, Nebraska, 
 Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Mon- 
 tana covering an area of one million square miles ; containing untold wealth 
 in gold and silver mines—to-day command the attention of the American 
 statesman. 
 
 GOLD MINING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Mining for gold and silver is comparatively of recent date within this country. 
 The discovery of gold in California gave the first active impulse to the search 
 for precious metals. The immense placers of that region invited a numerous 
 and adventurous population from all parts of the globe ; and the facility with 
 which the surface earth yielded its golden treasures—the implements required 
 consisting only of a pick, a shovel, and a rocker, within the reach of every one— 
 soon swelled the amount of bullion produced to astounding figures, and worked 
 a revolution in the financial condition of the entire world. 
 
 PLACER MINING NOT PERMANENT. 
 
 But the gold distributed in the alluvial deposits, attacked as it was By many 
 thousands of miners, soon disappeared in the most favored localities. “ The en¬ 
 terprising mining population looked for more permanent deposits, andfdiscovered 
 them at some depth upon the bed rock, where ancient rivers had deposited the 
 precious particles. 
 
 11 
 
78 
 
 These also gave no promise of permanency ; and the intelligent miner now 
 turned his attention to the fountain head, the true matrix of the precious metals , 
 from whence the immense distribution had taken place, which covers the hill-sides 
 and valleys—the quartz mines of the country. 
 
 THE COMSTOCK LODE. 
 
 The discovery of the Comstock Lode in the then Territory of Utah, on which 
 are located the most productive mines at present wrought in the world, gave a 
 new impulse to quartz mining. 
 
 This remarkable mineral deposit occurs in what is termed a true fissure vein, 
 or a vein formed at a very remote period by some great volcanic convulsion, 
 causing the crust of the earth to be rent in twain, thus creating an immense 
 chasm or fissure, several hundred feet in width, and several miles in length. 
 
 CONTINUITY IN DEPTH. 
 
 This large fissure, which gradually filled up by ascending vapors and gases, 
 carrying with them a volatile form quartz and gold and silver, leaves no doubt, 
 to the scientific investigator, of its permanency ; for the very theory of its forma¬ 
 tion, having been filled from unknown depths, compared with which the deepest 
 mining works appear insignificant, proves it conclusively. 
 
 Independently of theory, however, practical experience has shown all over 
 the world, that true fissure veins are continuous in depth ; and not a single au¬ 
 thenticated instance is recorded where one of them has failed. Notwithstand¬ 
 ing, mining is looked upon as a hazardous undertaking ; and no matter what 
 theories demonstrate, or what experience in other countries teaches, capital is 
 reluctantly invested in adventures of that kind. 
 
 As stated already, quartz lodes are the true source of the precious metals : to 
 them must we look for the future supply, and anything which tends to develop 
 that interest, should be regarded by the legislators of the country as an all-im¬ 
 portant benefit to the nation. 
 
 THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 What is required to thoroughly develop that interest, and to induce private 
 capital hereafter to embark largely in mining pursuits, is a practical and positive 
 
79 
 
 demonstration of the continuity of the mineral lodes in depth ; and no work 
 will prove this proposition more thoroughly and satisfactorily than the proposed 
 Sutro Tunnel. This tunnel, starting near the borders of Carson river, a dis¬ 
 tance of four miles, will cut the Comstock Lode at a depth of 2,000 feet; while, 
 if continued a short distance, it will reach a point under the summit of Mount 
 Davidson at a depth of 3,500 feet. By means of the tunnel, the mines can be 
 worked at least one thousand feet below its level, thus demonstrating the con¬ 
 tinuance of the Comstock Lode to a depth of 3,000 feet—a greater depth than 
 has yet been reached in any mine in the world. 
 
 IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK. 
 
 The bearing this work will exercise upon the future of the mining interest in 
 the United States cannot be too highly appreciated. Capital will be invested 
 in enterprises of the like character where no confidence exists now ; millions of 
 treasure will see the light, which now lie buried deeply in the bowels of our 
 mountain ranges. The immediate and direct result from this work, will be the 
 developments made on the Comstock Lode. This great lode was discovered in 
 the year 1859, and has yielded thus far $64,000,000 in silver and gold—chiefly 
 the former. The regular annual yield, now, is $16,000,000. 
 
 OTHER LODES. 
 
 If we compare this lode with other great mineral lodes, we find that none 
 were ever worked in the old world of equal or approaching magnitude. The 
 American continent has produced three similar mines—the great Potosi mine of 
 Bolivia, which yielded $1,200,000,000, the Veta Madre of Guyanajuato, 
 $800,000,000, and the Yeta Grande of Zecatecas, $650,000,000—the two last 
 named being in Mexico. Competent geologists assert that the Comstock is a 
 larger, more regular and permanent vein than either of the others mentioned. 
 What can we expect to be its yield, with the proposed tunnel once finished, en¬ 
 abling the miner to explore the same to a depth of three thousand feet, with 
 the modern improved appliances for mining, and the enterprise and energy of 
 the American artisan to guide its operations ? 
 
FUTURE YIELD. 
 
 If we estimate its yield, after tlie proposed tunnel is completed, at $30,000,000 
 per annum, we shall have , in thirty years , the enormous yield of $900,000,000 ; 
 and this may he considered a moderate estimate. Without the projected tunnel, 
 this vast and important property, which directly and indirectly gives employment 
 to nearly or quite 100,000 people, will, after the lapse of a few years have 
 to he abandoned, for reasons which are at once apparent and conclusive. 
 
 DIFFICULTIES IN MINING. 
 
 The yield of these mines for the year ending December 31st, 1866, has been 
 $16,000,000, which was procured at a cost to the mining companies of 
 $15,500,000, leaving the paltry net profit of $500,000. This extraordinary 
 result is due to various causes, prominent amongst which are, the difficulty of 
 removing the water from the mines, want of ventilation, the increase of heat 
 in going downwards, and the expense of transportation. These mines are 
 situated on the side of a mountain, and are approached by perpendicular shafts, 
 of which there are over forty. These have reached a depth of from 500 to 
 900 feet, and on each of them a steam engine is placed, which propels pumps, 
 and at the same time hoists the ore and debris. The cost of fuel at Virginia 
 City and Gold Hill, where these shafts are located, is sixteen dollars per cord, in 
 gold; and the consumption of fuel is so great, that this item alone absorbs a 
 large share of the yield, and that item of expenditure increases for every foot 
 of descent. These engines are kept in motion day and night; for were they 
 allowed to stop, the mine would fill with water. 
 
 INCREASE OF HEAT. 
 
 Another serious obstacle, as depth increases, is the difficulty of keeping the 
 mines supplied with a sufficiency of fresh air to furnish the oxygen required for 
 respiration. The increase of heat, which amounts to one degree of Fahrenheit 
 for every sixty feet in depth, prevents the miner from performing the same 
 amount of work as if he were employed in a healthy atmosphere, and at a 
 moderate temperature. The pecuniary loss from this source is very large, con¬ 
 sidering that 3,000 persons are employed at an average pay of three dollars 
 
This loss is estimated 
 
 and fifty cents, in gold, per day of eight working hours, 
 at twenty-five per cent. 
 
 EVIL EFFECTS OF FOUL AIK. 
 
 But a consideration of a still graver character, is the evil effect a foul 
 atmosphere exercises upon the health of the miner. Amadee Burat, an eminent 
 French writer, says upon this subject: 
 
 “The circulation of fresh air is one of the most important in mining. This 
 importance may be readily understood when we find that four-fifths of all 
 workmen who perish in mines, are victims of foul air.” 
 
 Scoffern, an English writer, makes use of the following language: 
 
 “The stagnant air acts on the organs of respiration, producing consumption 
 and other allied diseases, which carry off the miner in the prime of life. As a 
 class, they are robust and naturally less liable than even seamen to such dis¬ 
 eases ; but such are the pernicious effects of the impure air they breathe, that 
 fifty-two per cent, die of consumption, in a country where the per centage 
 amongst agricultural and other surface laborers amounts only to twenty per 
 cent, in the worst localities.” The cause of humanity should provide a remedy, 
 when an effectual one is within reach! 
 
 Many other difficulties present themselves in deep mining, which increase in 
 a fearful ratio as depth increases; and the profits, which have already dwindled 
 down to a small amount, soon thereafter will be absorbed entirely, and then be 
 exceeded by the cost of mining. 
 
 The fate of these mines, if no remedy is found, is therefore clearly fore¬ 
 shadowed. 
 
 NECESSITY OF A TUNNEL. 
 
 The only remedy, positive and sure in its operation, which presents itself, is, 
 the construction of a deep adit or tunnel. It will cut the mines at a depth of 
 2,000 feet, draining off the water to that depth by its natural flow, securing 
 the best ventilation, cooling the atmosphere in the mine, furnishing facilities 
 for transportation, and making it possible to dispense with all pumping and 
 hoisting machinery: for the miner can enter the mines from below, work 
 upwards, and the ore will fall by its own gravity; whilst a railroad in the 
 tunnel will transport the same at small cost to the adjacent valley. 
 
Such are some of the considerations which present themselves, and which 
 show that the proposed work is a matter of vital importance, and one of abso¬ 
 lute necessity to the State of Nevada. 
 
 MINING COMPANIES. 
 
 The mining companies, which are mostly incorporated in California, and the 
 stock owned to a large extent in San Francisco, are unfortunately mainly con¬ 
 trolled by a class of men who speculate from day to day upon the varying 
 fortunes of the mines, and only care to increase the momentary price of the 
 shares. Their interest in the permanent yield is but small; and this cause, 
 together with the present financial condition of most of the companies, give 
 little hope of substantial aid from that source. 
 
 EUROPEAN MINES. 
 
 Whilst we are enriching the whole nation by the production of large amounts 
 of bullion, we are ourselves growing poorer from day to day. In all European 
 mining countries, the respective Governments, with an eye to the importance of 
 the production of bullion, and to promote the general welfare of the population, 
 have given substantial and liberal aid to similar undertakings—a number of 
 which, on a much larger scale than the one here proposed, have been successfully 
 carried out, and the future of their mines secured. A tunnel was lately finished 
 in Hanover, fourteen miles in length; one in Saxony is nearly completed, eight 
 miles in length ; and another in Austria of equal length. 
 
 Your Committee now desires to call attention to the important bearing the 
 increased production of bullion will exercise upon the financial condition of the 
 country, and in the payment of the national debt. 
 
 DEPRECIATION IN THE VALUE OF MONEY. 
 
 The world’s stock of coin in the year 1848 was, in round numbers, eighteen 
 hundred millions of dollars; to this has been added to the present time an equal 
 amount, of which the United States have furnished, according to Secretary 
 McCulloch’s late Report, eleven hundred millions. Allowing two thousand 
 millions as the natural increase of taxable property by the growth of the country, 
 we still find that the same has doubled in the United States, within the period 
 
named. From seven thousand millions it lias increased to sixteen thousand 
 millions. This result is due, not to a direct depreciation of the precious metals, 
 for that is regulated by the standard adopted by our Government, but by an 
 increase in value of all property and commodities. Thus, the same article that 
 could have been bought eighteen years ago for one silver dollar, now requires 
 two; or, in other words, two silver dollars at the present time only have the 
 intrinsic value of what one then had. 
 
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRECIOUS METALS AND OTHER COMMODITIES. 
 
 It must be borne in mind that there is a vast difference between the production 
 of gold and silver and all other productions. Most of the latter are articles of 
 consumption; they are useful for a special purpose, in the application of which 
 they are consumed, disappear, and cease to exist. The farmer who produces 
 wheat to the value of $1,000, and the miner who digs out gold to that amount, 
 may derive an equal profit from their different pursuits ; and hence one stands 
 on an equality with the other, so far as individual gain, or the interest of a par¬ 
 ticular locality, is concerned; yet wheat is ground into flour, made into bread, 
 and consumed, while the gold dug out by the miner finds its way into the chan¬ 
 nels of trade, is transferred from one nation to another, as the balance of trade 
 may require, and forms a permanent addition to the stock of the precious metals 
 in the world. 
 
 INCREASE IN QUANTITY OF THE PRECIOUS METALS. 
 
 At the time of the discovery of America, in 1492, the stock of the precious 
 metals in Europe was estimated at $170,000,000. In the year 1600, it had 
 increased to $650,000,000—a gain of nearly fourfold, 
 
 That extraordinary addition to the precious metals in a little more than one 
 hundred years, had a corresponding effect. Gold and silver became cheaper in 
 the same ratio as their quantity had increased. It required four times the amount 
 to buy any commodity—that is to say, all commodities increased in price four¬ 
 fold. The same increase in prices can be traced distinctly to the present day, 
 as the stock of the precious metals gradually increased, while making due 
 allowance for all other causes which would exercise a bearing in that direction, 
 such as the increase of commerce, the growth of population, facilities for inter¬ 
 course between different nations, etc., etc. 
 
84 
 
 APPRECIATION IN VALUE OF PROPERTY. 
 
 The conclusion we arrive at, by carefully examining into this subject, which is 
 clear and positive, is that the increase in quantity of the precious metals depre¬ 
 ciates their value in precisely the same proportion as it appreciates the value of 
 all kinds of property. Or, in other words, the per centage added to the stock 
 of the precious metals in circulation, adds the same per centage to the money 
 value of all property in the world. 
 
 Francis Bowen, the best American authority on political economy, expresses 
 this view in the following words : 
 
 “The general principle is, that the value of money falls in precisely the same 
 ratio in which its quantity is increased. If the whole money in circulation 
 should be doubled, prices would be doubled ; if it was only increased one-fourth, 
 prices would rise one-fourth.” 
 
 The same principle is laid down by John Stuart Mill, well known as the 
 highest modern authority in England. He says : 
 
 “It is to be remarked that this ratio would be precisely that in which the 
 quantity of money had been increased. If the whole money in circulation was 
 doubled, prices would be doubled ; if it was only increased one-fourth, prices 
 would increase one-fourth.” 
 
 INCREASE OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE WORLD. 
 
 To illustrate the immense bearing this rise in prices exercises all over the 
 world, we will assume the following figures : 
 
 Taking the taxable property of the whole civilized world at $200,000,000,000, 
 the amount of money in existence at $3,600,000,000, the addition of $900,000,000 
 would depreciate the precious metals 25 per cent., and, in consequence, it would 
 require $250,000,000,000 to purchase all the taxable property of the world. 
 The addition of $900,000,000 in money, therefore, would have the effect of 
 producing $50,000,000,000 in the increased value of property. Every addition 
 of $100,000,000 has its corresponding influence on the increased value of all 
 property : it adds over $5,000,000,000 to the property of the world. This 
 increase of value may not be perceptible from year to year ; the aggregate result 
 however, after a number of years, is inevitable. Bowen refers to this as follows : 
 
85 
 
 “There may be brief ancl violent fluctuations in the relative value ot pmtu u 
 lar commodities, while the great movement is steadily going on which slow ly 
 enhances the value of all. 
 
 IT DOES NOT AFFECT INDIVIDUALS. 
 
 This increase in value, however, does not materially affect individuals . ioi 
 when the cost of living increases, the rates of wages do, also ; but it acts as a, 
 stimulus to enterprise , and thus creates general 'prosperity. 
 
 Hume, long ago, remarked that, “in every kingdom into which money begins 
 to flow in greater abundance than formerly, everything takes a new face : labor 
 and industry gain life, the merchant becomes more enterprising, the manufac- 
 turer more diligent and skillful, and even the farmer follows his plow with 
 greater alacrity and attention. But when gold and silver are diminishing, the 
 workman has not the same employment from the manufacturer and merchant, 
 though he pays the same price for everything in the market; the farmer 
 cannot dispose of his corn and cattle, though he must pay the same rent to 
 his landlord. The poverty, beggary, and sloth that must ensue, are easily 
 foreseen.” 
 
 Even so cautious and conservative a writer as the distinguished English 
 political economist, McCulloch, fully admits the truth of this view, though he 
 adds the just qualification that the fall in money must proceed from natural 
 causes. 
 
 William Jacob, in his valuable treatise on the precious metals, remarks : 
 
 “The world is very little really richer or poorer from the portion of metallic 
 wealth that may lie distributed over its surface; the whole mass of material 
 wealth is neither diminished nor increased by any change in the relative weight 
 of gold and silver to the usual measures of other commodities. The only 
 benefit to the world in general, from the increase of those metals, is that it acts 
 as a stimulus to industry by that general rise of money prices which it exhibits 
 to the view. It matters little to him who raises a bushel of wheat whether it 
 is exchanged for a pennyweight or an ounce of silver, provided it will procure 
 for him the same quantity of cloth, shoes, liquors, furniture, or other necessaries 
 which may be desirable to him.” 
 
 12 
 
86 
 
 IT MATERIALLY AFFECTS AN EXISTING DEBT. 
 
 JBut when a debt already exists , being a fixed number of dollars, the decrease 
 of value of each dollar reduces the debt in the same proportion. The 
 immortal and much lamented Lincoln thoroughly understood this question, 
 when, in his annual message of 1862, he made use of the following language : 
 
 “The immense mineral resources of some of those Territories ought to be 
 developed as rapidly as possible. Every step in that direction would have a 
 tendency to improve the resources of the Government and diminish the burdens 
 of the people. It is worthy of your serious consideration whether some extraor¬ 
 dinary measures to promote that end cannot be adopted .” 
 
 That wise and good man had carefully studied the effect which was then 
 strongly felt in Europe, and which is alluded to by Alison, the English historian, 
 as follows: 
 
 BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 “It will belong to a succeeding historian to narrate the wonderful spring 
 which this country (England) made during the five years which followed 1852, 
 under the influence of the gold discoveries in America and Australia. The 
 annual supply of gold and silver for the use of the world was, by these discove¬ 
 ries, suddenly increased from an average of ten millions to thirty-five millions 
 pounds sterling. Most of all did Great Britain and Ireland experience the 
 wonderful effects of this great addition to the circulating medium of the globe. 
 Prices rapidly rose, wages advanced in a similar proportion, exports and imports 
 enormously increased, while crime and misery rapidly diminished. Wheat rose 
 from forty-five to sixty-five shillings, but the wages of labor of every kind 
 advanced in nearly as great a proportion : they were found to be about 30 per 
 cent, higher than they had been five years before. In Ireland, the change was 
 still greater, and probably unequalled in so short a time in the annals of history. 
 The effect of the immense addition to the currency of the world, to the industry 
 of all nations, and in an especial manner of the British Isles, has been pro¬ 
 digious. It has raised our exports from £58,000,000 in 1851 to £97,000,000 
 in 1854, £95,000,000 in 1855, and £115,000,000 in 1856; and augmented 
 our imports from £157,000,000 in the former to £172,000,000 in the latter 
 year.” 
 
8-7 
 
 PROSPERITY OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Thus, the influence of the increased metallic currency saved Great Britain 
 from bankruptcy; and while its mysterious agency was working these wonders 
 in Europe, it exercised a similar bearing in this country. Some years before 
 the rebellion, this country had commenced to prosper ; and when that deplorable 
 event began, our resources were just beginning to expand under the beneficial 
 influence of the increased metallic wealth. Had it not been for the constant 
 and continuous flow from California, which increased the resources many fold, 
 when they were most needed, the difficulties of providing the requisite means 
 to carry on the war would have been so great that the disruption of the Union 
 might have been the result. It has been the wonder and marvel of all Europe 
 how the United States carried on that gigantic war for four years, kept one 
 million of men in the field, contracted during that brief space of time a national 
 debt of nearly $3,000,000,000, and came out in a more flourishing and pros¬ 
 perous condition than when they engaged in it. The explanation of this won¬ 
 derful phenomenon is simple —the magic agency of gold wrought it. 
 
 FINANCIAL CRISIS. 
 
 Since the war is ended, the immense increase in prices, which is particularly 
 noticeable in the large cities of the East, where real estate, rents, wages, and 
 everything else have assumed an apparently exorbitant value, has been mainly 
 ascribed to an inflated paper currency; and an extensive financial crisis has 
 been predicted as a necessary consequence.' We have been expecting it for 
 three years past, and it has not taken place yet; nor do we consider it probable 
 that it will at all occur, so long as the increase of metallic wealth keeps pace 
 with the expansion of trade. The credit system of the United States has been 
 much curtailed since the war, and there has been no time in our history when 
 the business community have been less in debt. How can a great financial 
 crisis and panic occur -when no overtrading on a credit basis has taken place, and 
 not sufficient creditors exist to make their alarm the cause of such a commercial 
 convulsion ? 
 
 THE NATIONAL DEBT. 
 
 The issuance of a depreciated paper currency during the war has had the 
 effect, as confidence became restored, and as its metallic value increased, of en- 
 
88 
 
 riching the population at large who held that currency, enabling them to pay off 
 their private debts ; while the Government, issuing at one time as much as three 
 paper dollars, which only had the value of one metallic dollar, became propor¬ 
 tionally more in debt. The result, therefore, has been, that the individual debts 
 of the American people have, to a large extent, been transferred to the Govern¬ 
 ment, increasing the same to an enormous extent, and amounting, to-day, to 
 $2,500,000,000. That debt is a burden on $16,000,000,000 of taxable prop¬ 
 erty : if we increase the latter, we virtually reduce the former. 
 
 INCREASE OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 The amount of the precious metals at present in circulation throughout the 
 world, amounts to $3,600,000,000. The proposed tunnel to the Comstock Lode 
 will, within thirty years, add $900,000,000 to the same, or twenty-five per cent. 
 It will consequently add twenty-five per cent, to the taxable property of the 
 United States, equal to $4,000,000,000, which, at the rate of taxation of two 
 per cent., will give an annual increase to the resources of this Government of 
 $40,000,000 for each of the first thirty years, and $80,000,000 for each year 
 thereafter. 
 
 INCREASE OF REVENUE. 
 
 The proposed work adds each year $30,000,000 to the stock of the precious 
 metals, equal to the one hundred and twentieth part of the $3,600,000,000 
 in existence. It therefore adds the one hundred and twentieth part to the 
 $16,000,000,000 of taxable property in the United States, equal to an annual 
 increase of $133,333,333. That addition made from year to year, gives the 
 above stated result, as will be seen by the following table: 
 
 Increase of Taxable Property. Increase of Revenue. 
 
 1st year.$ 133,333,333 at two per cent.=$ 2,666,666 
 
 2d year. 266,666,666 “ “ 5,333,333 
 
 3d year. 400,000,000 “ “ 8,000,000 
 
 6th. year. 800,000,000 “ “ 16,000,000 
 
 12th year. 1,600,000,000 “ “ 32,000,000 
 
 15th year. 2,000,000,000 “ “ 40,000,000 
 
 24th year. 3,200,000,000 “ “ 64,000,000 
 
 30th year. 4,000,000,000 “ “ 80,000,000 
 
PAYMENT OF THE NATIONAL DEBT. 
 
 If this annual increase in revenue be set apart for the purpose, it will pay off 
 the whole National debt in forty-six years. 
 
 When Francis Bowen wrote his “Principles of Political Economy,” we had 
 no National debt. In referring to that of Great Britain, he says : 
 
 “As the depreciation goes on, taxation may be extended pari passu without 
 throwing any additional burden upon the community; and a sinking fund 
 formed out of the surplus thus obtained, would pay off the National debt in less 
 than one generation. Our National debt, it is true, is but small, and what little 
 there is, will quickly be extinguished. But the debts of the individual States 
 are large, amounting in the aggregate to over $200,000,000, a large portion of 
 which is owned in Europe. It is, therefore, satisfactory to remember that as 
 the monetary revolution will operate exclusively to the benefit of the indebted 
 party, our own land will derive as much benefit from it, in proportion to our 
 means, as any other country on earth.” 
 
 SIR ROBERT PEEL. 
 
 The effect of the increase of bullion on taxable property and a National debt, 
 has been long recognized by the financiers and statesmen of Great Britain, and 
 was enunciated in the following language, held by Sir Robert Peel, in 1844 : 
 
 “There is no contract, public or private, no engagement, National or individ¬ 
 ual, which is not affected by it. The enterprises of commerce, the profits of 
 trade, the arrangements made in all domestic relations of society, the wa^es of 
 labor, pecuniary transactions of the highest amount and the lowest, the payment 
 of the National debt, the provision for the National expenditure, the command 
 which the coin of the smallest denomination has over the necessities of life, are 
 all affected by it.” 
 
 M. CHEVALIER. 
 
 M. Chevalier, the well known French writer on Political Economy, in his 
 treatise on “The probable Fall in the Value of Gold,” published in 1859, says : 
 “Owing to the discovery of the new gold mines, a time will arrive when a change 
 will come over the British Treasury as if some genii, an enemy of its creditors, 
 had spirited away their dividend warrants, and substituted others of only half 
 
90 
 
 their value. Not that the number of pounds sterhng, due to them as principal, 
 and of which the interest is counted to them every six months, will be dimin¬ 
 ished—not that the quantity of gold contained in the pound sterling will be 
 lessened; but the British Treasury will henceforth draw from the tax-payers 
 each pound sterling, with as little difficulty to them as it previously took to pay 
 a half-sovereign.” 
 
 IMPORTANCE OF TPIE QUESTION. 
 
 Your Committee, in presenting the above views on the importance of the 
 proposed tunnel as the means of furnishing a large addition to the stock of the 
 precious metals of the world, has found it necessary to enter somewhat into 
 details as to its bearing upon the future of the United States, and the payment 
 of the National debt. This important question is but little understood : we 
 have tried to throw as much light upon it, by giving quotations of eminent 
 writers, as the limited space of a report would allow, and hope the attention of 
 our National Legislators will be drawn towards this subject. 
 
 NATIONAL AID. 
 
 The proposed tunnel to the Comstock Lode is, in our opinion, a work of such 
 magnitude and vast national importance, that our Government, though it has 
 always been reluctant to aid private enterprise, and was only induced to aid the 
 Pacific Railroad as “ a war measure ,” will give such substantial aid to this enter¬ 
 prise as will insure its being carried out, upon the ground that it is eminently a 
 11 peace measure 
 
 B. S. MASON, 
 
 THEODORE D. EDWARDS, 
 
 WM. G. MONROE, 
 
 Committee on Federal Relations. 
 
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 NEVADA LEGISLATURE—THIRD SESSION. 
 
 SENATE-SEVENTEENTH DAY. 
 
 Wednesday, January 23d, 1867. 
 
 The Senate met at the usual hour ; the Lieutenant Governor in the Chair. The roll was 
 called and a quorum present. Chaplain absent on leave. 
 
 The journal of yesterday was read and approved. 
 
 REPORTS. 
 
 Mr. Mason—Mr. President and Senators: In presenting a report of the character of that 
 which I hold in my hand, I must first bespeak for it your candid consideration. It is a report 
 upon the subject matter of the memorial presented by the Senator from Storey (Mr. Sumner) 
 yesterday ; a report which has occupied a great deal of time in its preparation, and one which 
 eminently deserves and calls for your most candid consideration. The facts enunciated, the 
 principles set forth, the erudition displayed in its preparation, drawing for its details on the 
 works of original minds from Adam Smith, Descartes and Hume, to John Stuart Mill, touch¬ 
 ing upon the subject of political economy, may secure such results from Congress as will place 
 us, insignificant as Nevada now may be, upon a proud pinnacle of fame. And the individual 
 who has the honor of conceiving the idea of the Sutro Tunnel—what I consider to be one of 
 the boldest conceptions of our time—is entitled to the eternal gratitude of the peojole of 
 Nevada, even if it never be completed. The Committee on Federal Relations, to whom was 
 referred a memorial entitled “ Joint Memorial and Resolutions, asking Government aid in the 
 construction of the Sutro Tunnel,” beg leave to report the same back, and recommend its 
 passage. 
 
 The yeas and noes were called, and the same passed unanimously. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Grey, 2,000 copies of the Joint Memorial and Resolutions, together with 
 the Report of the Committee on Federal Relations, were ordered printed. 
 
 SENATE-EIGHTEENTH DAY. 
 
 Thursday, January 24th, 1867. 
 
 By Mr. Doron— 
 
 Resolved , That 500 copies of the Memorial and Joint Resolutions in reference to the Sutro 
 Tunnel, and of the report of the Committee on Federal Relations thereon, be delivered to A. 
 Sutro, for distribution at the seat of Government of the United States. Adopted. 
 
ASSEMBLY—EIGHTEENTH DAY. 
 
 Thursday, January 24th. 
 
 AFTERNOON SESSION. 
 
 At 1 o’clock, P. M., after a call of the House, speaker pro tem. Julien in the chair, the gen¬ 
 eral file was taken up. 
 
 FROM THE SENATE. 
 
 Transmitting Senate Joint Memorial and resolutions, asking Government aid in the con¬ 
 struction of the Sutro Tunnel to the Comstock Ledge. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Mayhugh, the rules were suspended, and the resolutions were read a 
 third time. 
 
 Mr. Munckton said he hoped that there would not be a dissenting voice on the final passage 
 of these resolutions. The project was one of the greatest of the age, and most important to 
 the State, and involved the prosperity and future success of our mining interests. Money, all 
 knew, was one of the great moving powers of all nations. The work, when completed, would 
 be the means of putting in circulation untold millions of mineral wealth. 
 
 Mr. Jones regarded the project as of vast importance, not simply as a beneficial result, 
 financially, to the United States, but as an index work. He wanted this one demonstration 
 or test of the continuation of the Comstock Lode, in the way that it would be by the Sutro 
 Tunnel. This aid was asked of the Government for experimental purposes; and if it proved 
 satisfactorily the existence of deep metal-bearing lodes, then from the Missouri to the Pacific 
 millions of dollars would flow into the national treasury. Then would the permanency of our 
 mines be established, and capital for their development flow in upon us, seeking investment in 
 projects similar to that for which aid is asked, and no aid need afterwards be asked of Gov¬ 
 ernment. He concurred with Mr. Munckton in the hope that there would be no dissenting 
 voice on the final passage of the resolutions. 
 
 The resolutions passed by a unanimous vote. 
 
 SENATE—NINETEENTH DAY. 
 
 Friday, January 25tli, 1867, 
 
 Senate met at the usual hour; the Lieutenant Governor in the chair. The roll was called, 
 and a quorum present. Prayer by the Chaplain. 
 
 The journal of yesterday was read and approved. 
 
 Resolutions—Sutro Tunnel. 
 
 By Mr. Sumner— 
 
 _ TAsoAed. By the Senate, the Assembly concurring, that the Legislature of Nevada recog¬ 
 nize, as already due, and cordially extend the thanks of the people of this State to Adolph 
 
93 
 
 Sutro, for his great service in originating the Sutro Tunnel, and urging aid and organization 
 for undertaking work upon the same ; and be it further concurrently 
 
 Resolved, That we have entire confidence in the ability of Mr. Sutro to present to Congress¬ 
 men and capitalists, the claims of the enterprise referred to, knowing that he will prepare, 
 with skill, and clearly exhibit the whole statistical and politico-economical arguments bearing 
 in its favor, without overlooking or exaggerating any of its merits. 
 
 Mr. Sumner—I have no apology to offer for introducing these resolutions; although they 
 may seem superfluous, inasmuch as we have passed a resolution, under a memorial, touching 
 the subject matter here referred to. We have already formerly commended the project, 
 which is all the originator himself asks. But, sir, I desire that the author of this great en¬ 
 terprise, in which the citizens of Storey county feel a profound interest, should, when he goes 
 from among us to the bankers of the East and of Europe, at least experience for himself that 
 he has the sympathies of the people of this State. And it seemed to me that such a special 
 resolution was called for, in some measure, inasmuch as merchants in San Francisco, that, by 
 accident, have fallen into seats in the director’s rooms of mining companies whose works are 
 located in this State, and upon the Comstock Ledge, have undertaken to disparage Mr. Sutro’s 
 earnest, intelligent and self-sacrificing efforts, and to belittle the plan which he originated. 
 I say, fortunate is that commonwealth which has men of such public spirit as Mr. Adolph 
 Sutro has evinced in connection with the proposed tunnel which is to be called by his name ; 
 such indefatigable zeal; such a temper to face the discouragements and endure, with conrpla- 
 cency and unabated determination, the scoffs of the incredulous, and still push forward toward 
 a successful commencement and consummation. I know, sir, that this proposition for a per¬ 
 sonal indorsement is unusual. But the jmoject named is itself unusual in its need and neces¬ 
 sities. If carried out, it is to revolutionize, in a great degree, the present system of mining 
 in the principal mining districts of this State ; and will, so far as it proves a successful experi¬ 
 ment, indicate what may be done for convenient and exhaustive mining in other and newly 
 developed portions of Nevada. It is to be reasonably expected that the next journey East, 
 of the gentleman referred to, somewhat encouraged and aided by the resolutions we adopt, 
 will result in a positive success. I think that this benediction—if I may be permitted to so 
 entitle it—from the Legislature of Nevada, upon Mr. Sutro, may be of benefit—beneficial to 
 him—that he may be successful; and if he succeed, returning benefits incalculable to my con¬ 
 stituency, and to the people of this State, and of this nation. 
 
 The ayes and noes were demanded, and the resolution unanimously passed, as follows: 
 
 Ayes—Doron, Eastman, Edwards, Geller, Grey, Hastings, Hutchins, Linn, Mason, Meder, 
 Monroe, Proctor, Sumner, Terry, Welty—15. 
 
 ASSEMBLY—NINETEENTH DAY. 
 
 Friday, January 25th, 1867. 
 
 Resolutions complimentary to Adolph Sutro—passed unanimously. 
 
 13 
 
94 
 
 SENATE—TWENTY-FOURTH DAY. 
 
 Wednesday, January 30th, 1867. 
 
 Senate met persuant to adjournment, the President in the Chair. The roll was called, and 
 a quorum present. Chaplain absent. 
 
 MOTIONS AND EESOLUTIONS. 
 
 By Mr. Grey : 
 
 Resolved. That the Secretary of the Senate be authorized and required to prepare a hand¬ 
 somely engrossed copy of the Senate concurrent resolutions relating to Adolph Sutro, signed by 
 the officers of the two Houses, and forward the same to the person therein named. Adopted. 
 
 £ 
 
The Comstock Lode: 
 
 ITS CHARACTER, AND THE PROBABLE MODE OF ITS 
 CONTINUANCE IN DEPTH. 
 
 By Ferdinand Baron Bichthofen, Dr. Phil. 
 
 NOVEMBER 33 < 1 , 1865 . 
 
TO THE 
 
 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SUTRO TUNNEL COMPANY. 
 
 Virginia, Nev., November 22d, 1865. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 In compliance with your request, I beg to submit the subjoined statement 
 of my views in regard to the character of the Comstock vein and the probable mode of its 
 continuance in depth, as well as the necessity of constructing a deep adit-level for the pur¬ 
 pose of draining and ventilation. 
 
 I have had, during my sojourn in the Pacific States, repeated opportunities of visiting the 
 Washoe region, and have made its geology and the structure of the Comstock vein, the object 
 of my careful investigation. In the course of my explorations, I have become more and 
 more impressed with the necessity of securing the future profitable productiveness of the 
 Comstock vein and the prosperity of a numerous population by the great work which you 
 propose to execute, and for which few silver mines throughout the world offer greater induce¬ 
 ments, while none can boast of equal facilities. I, therefore, cheerfully embrace the oppor¬ 
 tunity which you offer me, to aid in promoting an enterprise of lasting value, upon the execu¬ 
 tion of which depends the future of the mines on the Comstock vein. 
 
 Hoping sincerely that you may mqet with success, 
 
 I remain, gentlemen, 
 
 Yours, very respectfully, 
 
 F. B. RICHTHOFEN. 
 
CHARACTER OF THE COMSTOCK VEIN. 
 
 The Comstock Lode, in the State of Nevada, may be ranked among the 
 richest and most productive metalliferous deposits which in historical time are 
 on record in any part of the world : and, although but a short time has elapsed 
 since its discovery, it adds considerably to the present production of silver. Its 
 produce has been : 
 
 YEAR. TOTAL. SILVER GOLD. 
 
 1862 .about $ 4,000,000 about $ 2,500,000 about $1,500,000 
 
 1863 . “ 12,000,000 “ 8,000,000 “ 4,000,000 
 
 1864 . “ 16,000,000 “ 11,000,000 “ 5,000,000 
 
 1865 . “ 16,000,000 “ 11,250,000 “ 4,750,000 
 
 Total produce 1862 to 1865.$48,000,000 $32,750,000 $15,250,000 
 
 If it is considered that in 1854, since which time the annual production of 
 silver in other parts of the world has not undergone great changes, the total 
 amount of silver produced was, according to Prof. Whitney, $47,443,200 of 
 which sum $7,864,000 came from European, and $39,451,200 from American 
 mines, it will be seen that the produce of silver (deducting the gold) of the 
 Comstock vein, in the last three years, was about twenty-three per centum of 
 the entire amount furnished by all the silver mines in the world. It exceeds 
 the aggregate produce of all European countries, and equals that of the entire 
 Western coast of South America, which in 1854 was $11,099,200. The only 
 country to which it is inferior, is Mexico. But it would, of course, be unfair to 
 compare the produce of one single vein with that of the country which exceeds 
 all others in the abundance of silver-bearing veins. 
 
 The extraordinary productiveness has made the Washoe-region more famous 
 for its mineral wealth than many places where silver ores have been mined and 
 extracted for centuries. It has attracted a numerous civilized population to a 
 country, which before was sparsely inhabited by wandering Indian tribes, and 
 which, by its desert character, seemed to debar forever human industry and arts ; 
 
98 
 
 it has built cities in this desert, and roads across high mountain ranges, and at 
 the present time accelerates the connection by steam of the Atlantic and Pacific 
 coasts of America ; it has created a new branch of mining in the Pacific States, 
 which, through the discovery of the Comstock vein, has assumed gigantic pro¬ 
 portions all over the Great Basin ; it has given successful employment to large 
 amounts of capital, and rescued the trade of California from imminent decline at 
 a time when the placer mines were rapidly decreasing in importance. 
 
 Yet, notwithstanding the achievement of such remarkable results in the 
 space of a few years, the question arises, whether the mining interest of 
 Washoe, the only source of wealth indeed which this country possesses, is going 
 to decline and attain the end of a few years history, or whether it is going to 
 last for a long time to come, and if so, by what means its future existence 
 and greatness may be promoted ? There are not a few, and among them men 
 of prominent intellect and experience, who are of the opinion that the era of 
 the productiveness of Washoe is fast approaching its end, the Comstock vein 
 being a gash-vein terminating in depth in the shape of a wedge, and who, on 
 the strength of this preconceived idea, would reject any means proposed for se¬ 
 curing lasting profits. It is, therefore, a matter of no small importance to in¬ 
 vestigate the nature of the Comstock vein, for the purpose of arriving at definite 
 conclusions as to its true nature and the prospects of its further successful 
 exploration. 
 
 It may be objected, that after only a few years of mining the true nature of 
 a mineral deposit can hardly be understood. But it must be borne in mind that 
 probably no mine ever fell, from the day of its discovery, into the hands of so 
 enterprising and energetic a population as that engaged on the Comstock vein, 
 and no metalliferous deposit ever was developed so fast, not even excepting the 
 great Potosi mine in Bolivia. The amount of work done in Washoe would, 
 under ordinary circumstances, at the slow rate at which mining is conducted in 
 other countries, have required five or six times as many years for its execution. 
 
 Numerous facts of importance have been brought to light by these explora¬ 
 tions, and these have to be collected and compared, in order to arrive at definite 
 conclusions as to the character of the Comstock vein so frequently and bitterly 
 discussed in the courts of Virginia City, and to solve satisfactorily many 
 important problems, such as the following questions: Will the vein extend 
 downwards to an indefinite depth? Will its metallic yield increase or decrease 
 
in depth, or will it remain stationary ? What means have to be applied to make 
 deep working profitable ? Will the vein retain its dip in depth ? etc. There is 
 also considerable general interest connected with, these researches, inasmuch as 
 scarcely ever, since geology has taken its place among the inductive sciences, 
 has opportunity been given for studying the character near the surface, of a 
 metalliferous vein of equal magnitude, since almost every one had been worked 
 to great depth before the practical use of such investigations began to be appre¬ 
 ciated. 
 
 OUTLINES OF THE GEOLOGY OF WASHOE. 
 
 The range of the Washoe mountains, on which the Comstock vein is situ¬ 
 ated, is separated from the steep eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada by a con¬ 
 tinuous meridional depression marked by the deep basins of Truckee valley, 
 Washoe valley, and Carson valley. Its shape is irregular, though in general a 
 direction from south to north may be traced in the summit range. South, it 
 slopes gradually down to a smooth table-land, traversed from west to east by 
 the Carson river flowing in a narrow crevice, beyond which the Washoe range 
 continues in the more elevated Pine-Nut Mountains. Some peaks in the latter 
 have an altitude of probably more than nine thousand feet. To the west the 
 Washoe mountains descend rapidly and sink beneath the detrital beds of 
 Washoe valley and Truckee valley, but are connected with the Sierra Nevada 
 by two low granite ridges stretching, at right angles with its general course, 
 across the northern and southern ends of Washoe valley, and thus isolating its 
 basin. To the north and east, the Washoe range passes into a very extensive 
 mountainous region which is but little explored; while to the south-east it dis¬ 
 appears abruptly below one of the middle basins of Carson river. The width 
 of the entire range is not more than fourteen miles, while its length from north 
 to south is not yet determinable, on account of the scanty knowledge we possess 
 about the northern parts of the country. The culminating point of the range 
 is Mount Davidson, the elevation of which was- determined by Professor J. D. 
 Whitney as 7,827 feet. The altitudes of other places are: Virginia City, (B 
 Street) 6,205 feet; Devil’s Gate, 5,105 feet; while the basins to the west and 
 south, have the following elevations: Washoe Lake, 5,006 feet; Carson City, 
 4,615 feet; Dayton, 4,490 feet; all according to barometrical measurement by 
 Professor Whitney. 
 
100 
 
 The summit range, which extends northerly and southerly from Mount David¬ 
 son, forms the water-shed; deep gulches, marking the intense eroding action of 
 currents in former times, though now almost entirely dry, descend from it down 
 to the basins. 
 
 The aspect of the Washoe mountains is exceedingly barren; so is the view 
 from Virginia over the hilly country to the east. Yet, there is a remarkable 
 grandeur and sublimity in it. The air is extraordinarily pure and transparent, 
 so as to allow every gulch and declivity in the slope of mountains a hundred 
 miles off to be distinguished. The eye wanders over an unbroken desert, where 
 barren hills alternate with wide and sandy basins. There is no beauty in this 
 scenery, but it has a strange charm ; the constant enjoyment of the distant view 
 is a redeeming feature of life in Virginia. 
 
 At the time of the discovery of the Comstock vein, the Washoe mountains are 
 said to have been covered with scattered trees of the nut-pine and cedar. But 
 since then, they have been extirpated, and Virginia depends for its supply of wood 
 and timber chiefly on the slope of the Sierra Nevada, which, down to the before- 
 mentioned depression, is covered with a continuous forest. The enormous con¬ 
 sumption of hewn timber in the mines is, however, rapidly bringing about the 
 destruction of the better part of those forests, and the supply will soon have to 
 be obtained from a greater and greater distance. It is almost unlimited on 
 Truckee river, at thirty miles distance from Virginia, but this will only be 
 made available by the construction of a railroad from that place to the mines. 
 
 The situation of Washoe in the westernmost part of the great basin, and 
 immediately east of the steep eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, causes it, in 
 its geological features, to form an intermediate link between the structure of 
 both of them, though it partakes far more of the diversified composition pecu¬ 
 liar to the mountain ranges of the Great Basin. To the Sierra Nevada it is 
 related by the metamorphism of its sedimentary formations, which farther east 
 appear more regularly stratified and less altered. With both it has in common 
 the considerable part which tertiary and post-tertiary eruptive rocks, partly of 
 pure volcanic origin, play in its architecture. We mention in the following only 
 the more important rocks : 
 
 Mount Davidson, the prominent central point, consists of Syenite , a granatic 
 rock, which here is composed of two kinds of feldspar, (orthoclase and oligoclase,) 
 hornblende in laminated prisms of greenish black color, some mica, and occa- 
 
sionally cpidote, but no quartz. It is probably a continuation of the granitic 
 axis of the Pine-Nut mountains, and forms with the Metamorphic rocks, which 
 accompany it, the backbone of the Washoe mountains. The latter rocks join 
 the syenite to the north and south, and are intersected by d} 7 kes of that rock, 
 thereby proving its later origin. Lithologically, they exhibit a great variety; 
 but they may be subdivided in three distinct groups, one of which is of Triassic 
 age, and was first discovered by Prof. J. D. Whitney in Eldorado Canon near 
 Dayton; this is the most recent group, and its rocks are ordinarily but little 
 metamorphosed. They are immediately preceded in age by a series of micaceous 
 and quartzose slates, which usually contain some beds of limestone. Both these 
 groups occur only at some distance from the Comstock vein. Of more import¬ 
 ance lor the latter is a third series, of hornblenclic (uralitic) rocks, with inter- 
 stratified layers of quartzite, gray slate, and crystalline limestone, which is often 
 accompanied by extensive deposits of very pure specular iron. These rocks 
 form the hills which flank American Flat to the west, as well as those between 
 Silver City and Carson. They are capped by an overflow of Quartzose por- 
 phyry, an eruptive rock, which, however, is of no importance, except as forming 
 the footwall of the Justis vein. 
 
 These rocks form the ancient semes. They partly preceded, and partly were 
 contemporaneous with the gradual emergence of the Sierra Nevada and the 
 Great Basin, and the entire chain of the Cordilleras, from the ancient sea, 
 whose traces are left in saline incrustations and salt pools at the bottom of the 
 numerous basins between the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains, which 
 had formerly remained filled with the water of the retiring sea. The Washoe 
 mountains formed undoubtedly an elevated range during the long period which 
 elapsed till the commencement of the formation of the recent series of rocks, 
 which bear still closer relation to the Comstock vein than the former. These 
 rocks are eruptive and volcanic, and belong to the latter part of the tertiary and 
 to the post-tertiary periods. 
 
 To the first of them in age we apply the recently introduced term: Propylite. 
 In Washoe the names “feldspathic porphyry” and “hornblendic porphyry” are 
 commonly used to designate two prominent varieties of it. They are very 
 appropriate miners’ terms; but scientifically applied, would be capable of very 
 dilleimg inteipietation. In other countries the terms “Diorite,” “Dioritic por- 
 II 
 
102 
 
 phyry,” “greenstone,” “porphyritic greenstone,” and “tracliytic greenstone,” have 
 been applied, which confusion of names shows best the indistinctness of the 
 external characters of the rock. Propylite has this remarkable peculiarity, 
 namely : that it resembles many ancient rocks exactly in appearance, and yet is 
 among the most recent in origin. It is prominent among the enclosing rocks of 
 the Comstock vein, and, besides, encloses several , perhaps most , of the largest 
 and most productive silver veins in the world , as those in the Karpathian moun¬ 
 tains, of Zacatecas and other places in Mexico, and probably several veins in 
 Bolivia. Mineralogically, it consists of a fine-grained paste of ordinarily green¬ 
 ish, but sometimes gray, red, and brown color, with imbedded crystals of feldspar 
 (oligoclase) and columns of dark-green and fibrous, seldom of black, hornblende, 
 which, is also the coloring matter of the base. A peculiarity of the rock is its 
 ferruginous character when decomposed. Probably it contains other metals 
 besides iron. Geologically, it is an eruptive rock; but it is accompanied by 
 vast accumulations of breccia, which is sometimes regularly stratified. The 
 flats of Virginia City, Gold Hill, American City, and Silver City, consist of 
 propylite ; it lies, in general, east of the mountains consisting of the ancient 
 formations, and contains several mineral veins besides the Comstock Lode. Its 
 distribution in other countries of the world is not very general. 
 
 Several different kinds of eruptive and volcanic rocks followed the outbreaks 
 of propylite ; but only to one of them have we to direct attention in reference 
 to the Comstock vein, as it probably caused its formation, besides taking a promi¬ 
 nent part in the structure of the country. It is known in- Petrology by the 
 name of Sanidin-trackyte; for convenience sake we simply use the name Trachyte. 
 Its essential character is the predominance of a species of feldspar, called glassy 
 feldspar or sanidin, which, along with hornblende and mica, is imbedded in a 
 base or paste of a peculiarly rough texture, caused by microscopical vesicules 
 which fill the rock. It has a beautiful appearance and presents very different 
 colors. Several superior qualities render it of great use in Washoe as building 
 material; all the masonry of the Gould and Curry Mill is constructed of trachyte; 
 some laminated varieties break easily into regular blocks, uged for stairs and 
 pillars. Also ordinary varieties yield easily to the blow of the hammer, and 
 break into conchoidal fragments; it forms, therefore, an easy blasting rock—a 
 quality which will come considerably into account for the construction of a deep 
 adit level. 
 
There is no doubt about the eruptive origin of trachyte. It even presents 
 the aspect of volcanic lava, and this term has been applied to it in Washoe. 
 The mode of occurrence shows that it has been ejected through long fissures, 
 in a viscous or liquid state and at a high temperature. In some places the 
 eruptions were subaqueous, as in the vicinity of Dayton. The entire table-land 
 around that place is built up of stratified trachytic tufa. The solid trachyte 
 rises from it in rugged mountains, which form an elevated and very conspicuous 
 range, passing east of the Gould and Curry Mill, across Seven-Mile Canon, 
 (where, for instance, the Sugar-Loaf Peak consists of it) and bending in a semi¬ 
 circle round to Washoe Lake. Pleasant Valley is entirely surrounded by 
 trachytic hills; and farther north, this rock covers the country to great extent. 
 
 Sanidin-trachyte has never been found to contain silver-bearing veins ; and in 
 Washoe none occur in it, and yet it has evidently been mainly instrumental in 
 the formation of the Comstock Lode and other veins in that region. 
 
 No geological events after that epoch are worth noticing, for our present object. 
 Eruptions of basaltic rocks were considerable in adjoining parts of the Great 
 Basin, but have been of little consequence in Washoe. Volcanic and eruptive 
 activity gradually died away, and we behold now their last stages in the action 
 of thermal springs, such as Steamboat Springs. The surface underwent but slow 
 and gradual denudation, and the events of the volcanic period are recorded so 
 perfectly and distinctly in the nature and association of the rocks, as to aid us 
 greatly in explaining the mode of formation of the Comstock vein. 
 
 GENERAL STRUCTURE OF COMSTOCK VEIN. 
 
 The Comstock vein runs, nearly in the direction of the magnetic meridian 
 (the variation being fifteen degrees east) along the eastern slope of 'the Mount 
 Davidson range, which descends at a steep grade until it abuts against the 
 gentle slope of three “Flats,” on which, at an altitude of from five thousand 
 eight hundred to six thousand two hundred feet, are situated the towns of Vir¬ 
 ginia, Gold Hill, and American City. The outcroppings of the vein extend in 
 a broad belt along the foot of the steep grade and immediately .above the three 
 towns. The course of the vein, as far as yet explored, is somewhat dependent 
 on the shape of the slope, as it partakes of all its irregularities, passing the 
 ravines in concave bends, and inclosing the foot of the different ridges in convex 
 
104 
 
 curves ; the greatest convexity is around the broad, uninterrupted foot of Mount 
 Davidson itself. These irregularities are of importance, as they influence the 
 ore-hearing character of the vein. 
 
 The length to which the Comstock vein has been traced with certainty, is 
 about nineteen thousand feet, (from Utah Mine to Caledonia Tunnel, south of 
 Overman Mine,) while its total extent is, probably, at least twenty-four thou¬ 
 sand feet. The most extensive explorations are between the Ophir North Mine 
 and the Overman, a distance of about eleven thousand feet; at other parts but 
 little or only superficial work has been done. This applies particularly to the 
 northern and southern ends, as well as to some short portions of the central 
 part. Several mines are being worked to more than five hundred feet in depth, 
 while some of the shafts, as those of the Mexican, Hale and Norcross, Gould 
 and Curry, and other mines, descend to more than seven hundred feet below the 
 outcrops. Altogether, the amount of work done up to this time is sufficient to 
 show clearly the structure of the vein in its upper portion, and to allow “well- 
 founded conclusions to be drawn in regard to those which are below the present 
 works. 
 
 Without entering here on the question of the “plurality of veins,” or the cor¬ 
 rectness of the so-called “one ledge theory,”—the discussion of both of which 
 has caused expensive and bitter litigation and retarded the development of 
 Washoe, but at present is decided m the minds of probably everybody—we 
 simply state in the following those facts which may be considered as proved by 
 evidence. 
 
 The Comstock vein, at a depth of from four hundred to six hundred feet 
 beneath its lowest outcrops, fills a fissure of from one hundred to one hundred 
 and thirty and even two hundred feet in width, but contracting at places so as to 
 allow both walls to come in close contact. Both of the latter, at that depth, 
 descend easterly at an angle varying from forty-two to sixty degrees. Upwards, 
 from the average depth of five hundred feet, the western wall rises to the surface 
 with the same inclination, which, however, occasionally diminishes at upper 
 levels, to forty and thirty-eight degrees, while the eastern wall soon bends to 
 the vertical and gradually turns to a western dip, which at places is forty-five 
 degrees. Its general position to the depth mentioned, is, therefore, about ver¬ 
 tical, with an inflation to the west. The vein, consequently, expands towards 
 the surface, in the shape of a funnel. The increase in volume is especially pro- 
 
cluc.ed by the intervention, between the vein-matter, of large fragments of 
 country-rock, broken from the walls, but usually moved only a little way down¬ 
 ward, by sliding, from their original place. The bulk and number of these 
 fragments, or “horses,” increases towards the surface, where some of them have 
 a length of almost one thousand feet, and a width of fifty to upwards of one 
 hundred feet. Vein-matter, branching off from below, fills the spaces between 
 the fragments, but is generally near the surface far inferior in bulk as compared 
 with the country-rock. The width of the belt in which these branches come to 
 the surface, and there form scattered outcroppings, is generally more than five 
 hundred feet. 
 
 On the western side, (west of the Virginia and El Dorado croppings,) the 
 Comstock vein is accompanied by a number of smaller veins, the outcroppings 
 of which are visible on Cedar Hill, Central Hill, Ophir Hill, and Mount David¬ 
 son, and are with some of them of considerable size. They are nearly parallel 
 to the main vein, and dip to the east. Probably they will unite in depth with 
 the Comstock vein, which, by its relation to them, may be considered as the 
 main vein of what German miners call a “Gangzug.” The western boundary 
 of this main vein is exceedingly well defined, by a continuous clay selvage lying 
 on the smooth foot-wall, and separating the vein-matter very distinctly from the 
 country; but it is different on the eastern side, w r here the adjoining country- 
 rock, as is often the case with true fissure-veins, is impregnated with matter 
 similar to that which fills the fissure. It is frequently concentrated in channels 
 running parallel to, or ascending from, the vein, but in fact forming parts of it. 
 The well-defined east wall of its main body, has, therefore, often not the same 
 position relatively to the entire vein, and with the growing depth gained by 
 successive explorations, the development of vein-matter east of what was 
 formerly considered the east wall, increases. 
 
 Enclosing Rock .—The rocks which accompany the Comstock vein, change in 
 its course. They are different varieties of propylite on the eastern side, through¬ 
 out its whole extent. In some places the frequent and large crystals of feldspar 
 give it a porphyritic character, which in certain varieties, is rendered more strik¬ 
 ing by green columns of hornblende ; at others, the rock has a very fine grain, 
 and the enclosed crystals are of minute size; again, the rock is either compact 
 and homogeneous, or it has a brecciated appearance from the inclosure of 
 numerous angular fragments. Also the color changes, though it is predomi- 
 
106 
 
 nantly green, and the different degrees of decomposition create, finally, an 
 endless variety. We will presently have occasion to consider the causes to 
 which it is due. 
 
 The western country offers more differences. Along the slope of Mount 
 Davidson and Mount Butler, from the Best and Belcher mine to Gold Hill, 
 it is formed by syenite which, at some places, is separated from the vein by a 
 fine-grained and crystalline rock of black color, having the nature of aphanite, 
 but altogether obscure as to the mode of its occurrence. It is from three to 
 fifty feet thick, and the elucidation of its real nature may be expected from 
 further developments. As syenite to the west, and propylite to the east, occur 
 just in that portion of the Comstock vein which has been most explored, and 
 where works, more than anywhere else, extend in both directions into the coun¬ 
 try, it has been generally assumed, in Virginia, that the lode follows the plane 
 of contact between two different kinds of rock, and is therefore a contact 
 deposit. But immediately north of Mount Davidson, where propylite extends 
 high up on the western hills, this rock forms the western country as well as the 
 eastern, as at the California and Ophir mines—though at the latter, metamOr¬ 
 phic rocks and syenite are associated with propylite, on the western side. On 
 Cedar Hill, syenite again predominates; but, farther north, propylite forms the 
 country on both sides. South of Gold Hill, the syenite disappears from the 
 western wall, and its place is taken to some extent by propylite, but in greater 
 part, by metamorphic rocks of the third of the beforementioned classes, princi¬ 
 pally quartzite and uralitic rocks. They are best exposed in the Caledonia 
 Tunnel. Nowhere have syenite and metamorphic rocks been found occurring 
 on the eastern side. 
 
 Outcroppings .—The outcroppings of the Comstock vein do not form a con¬ 
 tinuous line, but consist rather of small and detached ranges of quartz, ordina¬ 
 rily protruding from the surrounding ground, and sometimes forming bold crests, 
 which, in the aggregate, constitute a broad interrupted belt. The horizontal 
 distance across the vein of the outcrops of the different branches, amounts to 
 upwards of six hundred feet. Those of the western branches, which retain the 
 eastern dip of the western wall of the vein, carry principally crystallized quartz 
 of very glassy appearance, ordinarily of white or at least light color, and com¬ 
 paratively pure quality. Angular fragments of the country-rock are imbedded 
 in the quartz, and form the centers of its crystallization ; they usually occur in 
 
large pieces, and not in finely-disseminated particles. Metalliferous minerals 
 are scarce, though nowhere entirely wanting. Nothing indicates underground 
 wealth, nor, indeed, has such been found by subsequent mining, Ihe only ex¬ 
 ception is Cedar Hill, where native gold was found abundantly in places ; but 
 its scarce dispersion never justified great expectations. Of this nature are the 
 Sacramento, Virginia and El Dorado outcrops, and others on Mount Davidson 
 and Mount Butler. They have in several places a width of one hundred and 
 twenty feet, besides other branches which form part of them. 
 
 In the eastern outcrops, particles of the country-rock, together with others of 
 clayey matter and metallic substances, occur, finely disseminated through the 
 quartz, causing thereby a marked difference from the character of the western 
 outcrops. A certain porous structure of the quartz, evidently originating from 
 the removal of fine particles of ore, and the brown and red coloring caused by 
 metallic oxyds, indicate the ore-bearing character of large portions in depth ; 
 and the dissemination of native gold and silver in small pores and larger cavi¬ 
 ties, gives evidence of the presence of ores of the precious metals. Also the 
 chloride and simple sulphuret of silver occur in the eastern outcrops. These 
 different characters of the “Pacos” and “Colorados” of the Mexican and the “Iron 
 hat” of the German miner, continue downward to varying depths. 
 
 Vein-Matter .—The vein-matter of the Comstock lode is of a highly varied 
 character, if we consider every substance which .enters into the composition of 
 the body of the vein, between its two walls, as belonging to it. Its chief com¬ 
 ponent parts are : fragments of country-rock, clay and clayey matter, quartz 
 and ores. 
 
 Fragments of Country-rodc .—Near the surface, about five-sixths of the mass 
 of the Comstock vein consists of fragments of country-rock, “horses,” as the 
 Cornish miner calls them ; they are often of larger size and then terminate be¬ 
 low in a sharp edge. Their shape and size varies somewhat with the different 
 nature of the rock of which they consist. Those of propylite, which along the 
 whole range occur on the eastern side, and only occasionally extend throughout 
 the whole vein where the country is of the same character on both sides, are 
 ordinarily very much elongated in the direction of the vein, frequently to one 
 thousand feet or more, while their breadth is far inferior and their height is inter¬ 
 mediate between both. At their ends they thin out gradually. Those of sye¬ 
 nite terminate more abruptly and their dimensions are more equal, though they 
 
108 
 
 are alwavs largest in the chrection of the strike of the vein. From the large 
 “horses” every variety of size occurs down to the smallest fragments. The 
 quartz is often so thickly filled with angular pieces as to have a brecciated ap¬ 
 pearance. Propylite is more common among them than syenite, and brecciated 
 vein-matter is therefore prevalent in those parts of the lode where propylite 
 encloses the same on both sides, or where, at least, it furnished the larger part of 
 the material for the “horses.” It is for this reason abundant in the California, 
 Central and Ophir mines, and in the southern part of the Gold Hill mines. 
 
 Clay and Clayey Matter .—Few large veins are so abundant in these sub¬ 
 stances as the Comstock vein. Clay forms the western and eastern selvages 
 from north to south in continuous sheets, sometimes of from ten to twenty feet 
 in thickness. Other sheets of clay divide “horses” from quartz or different 
 bodies of the latter; and where the two walls come in close contact, they have 
 at places a united width of from fifty to sixty feet. This clay is ordinarily 
 tough and putty-like, and contains rounded pebbles of the adjoining rock ; only 
 where quartz is on both sides, it partakes of its nature and is more earthy and 
 dry. But, besides, clayey matter occurs in the body of the vein to great extent, 
 and at places takes a prominent part in the filling of the fissure. Most “horses” 
 terminate at their lower end in a clayey substance, and continue downwards, 
 as well as in the direction of the vein, as sheets of clay. Outside of the vein 
 the same matter occurs to great extent in the eastern country, but scarcely, if 
 ever, in the western, thereby giving another evidence of the indistinctness of 
 the eastern boundary of the vein. 
 
 Quartz .—The differences mentioned before as prevailing in the quartz of the 
 outcrops continue downward ; but are not so conspicuous in depth, on account 
 of the general white color of the quartz. But even there the finely-dissemi¬ 
 nated particles of the wall-rock are more peculiar to the eastern than to the 
 western portions, and are always abundant where the quartz contains ore. At 
 upper levels, some bodies of quartz are of a reddish color ; this is where the 
 colorados continue downwards. Frequently, however, this color is only due 
 to the red clay filling the fissures of the fractured quartz. In this case it is 
 probably produced by tiie percolation of the vein-matter, by water, while in the 
 former it is likely that it is connected with the original formation of the vein, 
 as all the phenomena presented by the “iron hat.” The quartz in the Com¬ 
 stock vein is rarely solid, and blasting is applied for its removal in but few 
 
instances. Generally, it is fractured, and, at numerous places the effects ot 
 dynamical action on it are such as to give it the appearance of crushed sugar. 
 It occurs in this condition almost always when enclosed m clayey matter, and 
 then frequently reminds one of the waving lines of damask. But then, also, large 
 and continuous bodies, consisting entirely of “crushed quartz," as we may call 
 it, are occasionally met with. Such was the case throughout the larger part of 
 the great “bonanza” of the Ophir mine. 
 
 Ores .—The principal silver ores of the Comstock Lode are : stephanite, vitre¬ 
 ous silver ore, native sih T er, and very rich galena; in small quantities occur: 
 pyrargyrite or ruby silver, hornsilver and polybasite. Besides these are found : 
 native gold, iron pyrites, copper pyrites, zincblcnde, carbonate of lead, pyromor- 
 phitc (both the two last named very scarce.) 
 
 Other Minerals .—The Comstock vein is remarkably poor in a mineralogical 
 point of view. The ores are seldom crystallized, and specimens, which at other 
 mines would be considered very common, are admired in Virginia as rarities. 
 In regard to the accidental minerals the same might be said, as they do not 
 occur in either rare or beautiful forms. Quartz is the only gangue. Carbonate 
 of lime very seldom accompanies it, while other carbonates, as those of lead and 
 copper, have only in a few instances been observed. Sulphates are abundant in 
 the waters which issue from the mine, and cover the walls of the old drifts. 
 But the only one forming an essential part of the vein, is gypsum, which occurs 
 in a number of places ; it abounds in the lowest works of the Gould and Curry 
 mine, and was formerly found in large crystals in the Fairview. Sulphate of 
 baryta has not yet been observed. Zeolites are limited to the northern portion 
 of the vein, where chabasite and stilbite fill small fissures and cavities in propy- 
 litic b reccia within the body of the vein. 
 
 Distribution of Ores in the Vein—( a) North of Gold Hill .—The ore is dis¬ 
 tributed in a different way in the northern and in the southern part of the Com¬ 
 stock vein. The passage between the two modes of occurrence is gradual. In 
 the northern part the ore is concentrated in elongated lenticular masses of 
 which the greatest axis is not far from the vertical, but dips to the south and 
 sometimes also to the east. Their width across the vein varies from fifteen to 
 fifty feet. Sometimes several of them adjoin each other laterally m such way 
 that the westernmost one extends farther north than the one adjoining to the east' 
 and this again, farther than its next eastern neighbor. This is most con- 
 
spicuous in the Gould and Curry and Savage mines, where, at the same time, 
 the western bodies extend, in general, higher up towards the surface. Three or 
 four bodies of ore, arranged in the way described, and either separated by 
 country-rock or adjoining each other closely, may be distinguished in these mines. 
 Their total length from the north-western to the south-eastern and lower end, is 
 about six hundred and fifty feet: their aggregate width about one hundred to 
 one hundred and twenty feet; while their extent downwards is not yet known. 
 They belong to the middle and eastern portion of the vein. The ore has been 
 exceedingly rich in the center of the different bodies, where, at the same time, 
 it was soft and could easily he removed, while the outer parts are hard, and 
 consist of second-class and low-grade ores. Upwards of twenty millions of 
 dollars have been extracted from this immense bonanza. In the Ophir and 
 Mexican mines only one body of similar shape was found. It commenced on 
 the surface, where it was only two feet wide, and descended to the depth of three 
 hundred and thirty feet. It first gradually increased in width, until it reached 
 forty-five to fifty feet, which was the maximum : then, it thinned out again in 
 its downward course, and terminated as narrow as- it commenced. As it was 
 next to the east wall, it dipped with that towards the west, near the surface ; 
 then, in its widest portion, straightened out and gradually turned to an eastern 
 dip, with which it terminated. The length of this body was two hundred feet; 
 it appears that about seven millions of dollars have been extracted from it, with 
 the imperfect processes used during the first years of mining at Washoe. This 
 deposit was accompanied to the west, at about forty feet distance, by another 
 body of ore, which, however, had the shape of a narrow sheet, its total width 
 being six to fifteen feet, and its length about three hundred and eighty feet. It 
 was parallel to the western boundary plane of the former body, but extended 
 north and south beyond its limits, though, generally, it did not reach to equal 
 depth; in the Mexican, however, it continued downward about three hundred 
 and fifty feet. The amount extracted was about three and a half millions of 
 dollars. Compared with the first body, it contained a large proportion of lead 
 and copper. 
 
 The space between the Ophir and Gould and Curry mines has yielded but 
 very little ore. The Central mine extracted some from the continuation of the 
 deposits worked in the Ophir, and the California found a large body of quartz 
 extending to its lowest level, but the ore was scattered and rarely of rich quality. 
 
Ill 
 
 The next four mines south of it, and the northern half of the Gould and Curry 
 mine, have been unproductive. But the explorations were not extended more 
 than a few hundred feet beneath the surface. 
 
 The southern part of the Savage mine, and the Hale and Horcross, have 
 been almost entirely unproductive, though both of them offer good prospects for 
 finding ore in depth. But with the Chollar-Potosi commences another rich 
 part of the Comstock vein. On the northern line are the so-called Bajazet 
 chimneys, two bodies of ore, separated by about eighteen feet of barren rock, 
 each from twelve to twenty feet wide and about eighty feet long. They have 
 been worked several hundred feet down, and their end seems not yet to have 
 been reached. Their greater axis dips about sixty degrees to the south. With 
 the next deposit to the south, a different shape makes its appearance, which is 
 more perfectly developed in Gold Hill, that of very long and narrow sheets of 
 ore intercalated in the quartz and parallel to the eastern wall, or at least to a 
 distinct clay seam which bounds the main body of quartz to the east. The 
 Potosi deposit is about two hundred feet long, and contained rich ore to the 
 width of from six to, twenty-three feet. It commenced near the surface and 
 has been mined without interruption to the depth of four hundred and ninety 
 leet. Its northern and southern boundary lines dip south. A considerable 
 body of poor oie lies adjacent to and parallel with it, and is at present being 
 extracted. Some narrow “chimneys” have been found in lower levels west of 
 this body. After some interruption the latter continues along the so-called 
 eastern clay for a long way, and has been explored by the Chollar company 
 It first made its appearance at the depth of about three hundred and eighty 
 feet and had at one place a width of fifty-five feet; but it soon terminated in 
 depth. The entire length of the eastern body of ore of the Chollar-Potosi 
 mine excluding the Bajazet chimneys but including some short interruptions is 
 a out seven hundred and fifty feet; and even farther south ore occurs along; the 
 eastern clay, but scattered and not worth extracting, at the present time. Quartz 
 i s lieie the entire width of the vein from the western to the eastern wall and 
 m no part can its unity be more clearly recognized. It continues with a similar 
 character in the Bullion mine, the northern part of which consists entirely of 
 ore-bearing quartz of about one hundred and twenty feet in width. But at the 
 
 levels worked up to this time it is too poor for extraction, as the ore is not con¬ 
 centrated in distinct bodies. 
 
(b) At Gold HiU and South of it .—The occurrence of ore in “chimneys,’' 
 and of barren portions between them, ceases entirely at the divide between Vir¬ 
 ginia and Gold Hill. The great wealth of the mines south of it consists in the 
 continuous ore-bearing character of the lode for a length of fifteen hundred and 
 forty feet, from the Alpha mine to the middle part of the Yellow Jacket, and of 
 other extensive portions farther south. The vein is by no means ore-bearing in 
 its entire width ; but the ore is concentrated in continuons sheets, the principal 
 one of which is very near and parallel to the eastern wall, and but little inter¬ 
 rupted in its entire length. Its widest places, which are from forty to fifty-five 
 feet, are in the Imperial, Bacon, and Empire mines, and again in the Yellow 
 Jacket. In most places it commenced at from one hundred and fifty to two 
 hundred and fifty feet below the surface ; and in many mines it is still worked 
 at their lowest levels. It is wider in the three first-mentioned mines because 
 there united into one mass. South of the Empire it forks into three branches, 
 the two western ones continuing in an irregular way. Besides this very exten¬ 
 sive eastern body, there is another one in the Gold Hill mines farther to the 
 west, which extends from the outcroppings down to from one hundred to two 
 hundred and fifty feet in depth, and dips at an angle of fifty to sixty degrees 
 to the west. It was worked out in the early and most flourishing time of Gold 
 Hill, and considerable amounts were extracted, as its width was from twelve to 
 twenty-two feet, and the ore very rich, particularly in gold. It continued in 
 length, without interruption, for about five hundred feet. A similar body was 
 worked out in the Yellow Jacket, the Crown Point, and the Belcher. It was 
 not quite continuous, but at each of the three places was several hundred feet 
 in length. Everywhere it dips to the west at about sixty degrees, and at some 
 depth, which, as we recede from the northern Gold Hill mines, slightly but con¬ 
 stantly increases, flattens out to the west, the bottom being nothing but clay in 
 horizontal layers. Also its southern portion was remarkable for its high yield 
 in gold, and for its rich ores in general, but its width was here only from six to 
 twelve feet. The southernmost continuation of this body was found in the 
 Overman mine, where it is likewise rich in gold, but is limited in extent. 
 
 The upper portions of the Gold Hill mines are but little explored, and even at 
 ^ er ^ eve ^ s works were never extended to the western branches of the vein. 
 When the bottom of the first deposit was reached and its wealth found to 
 terminate m clay, the owners of the mines became discouraged ; but explora- 
 
113 
 
 tions from that clayey bottom towards the east, brought, them to the pla'ce where 
 the real wealth of their mines is accumulated, and will probably last for a long 
 time to come. The eastern bodies were first found in Gold Hill proper, then in 
 the Yellow Jacket, the Kentucky, and Crown Point, while the Belcher and 
 Overman mines have not yet succeeded in finding them. 
 
 Another subject which we have to consider, in connection with the mode of 
 distribution of the ore, is the change in its yield. It is a matter known to 
 every Washoe miner that, in general, it has decreased. The deposits of the 
 Ophir, and Mexican, and of the Gould and Curry, were the richest. The 
 former yielded, at an average, one hundred and seven dollars per ton ; the 
 latter, seventy to eighty dollars, notwithstanding the imperfect processes of 
 extraction which were formerly applied. Ores of six hundred dollars to the ton 
 were then no rarity, and considerable shipments could be made of such as yielded 
 from two thousand to three thousand dollars to the ton. It would now scarcely be 
 possible to collect one ton of such ore, excepting when old works, in the highest 
 levels, are being overhauled. Ores of three hundred to four hundred dollars are 
 now of as rare occurrence as formerly those of fifteen hundred to two thousand 
 dollars. The yield of the middle and low-grade ores has also considerably 
 diminished; and, by far, the majority of the ore, which is being extracted at 
 this day, contains at an average not more than thirty to thirty-two dollars, 
 while the general average of all the ores will not be more than thirty-seven 
 dollars to the ton. This decrease applies for the total amount of ore extracted; 
 but it is equally true for every single mine. The quantity of ore extracted has 
 remained stationary for a long time past, and is now about twelve hundred and 
 fifty tons daily. But the methods of reduction have improved, and their expenses 
 been diminished; therefore, ores of lower grade than formerly can now be 
 worked profitably. 
 
 During the early period of the working on the Comstock Lode, the. proportion 
 of gold and silver changed considerably, the yield in gold decreasing constantly. 
 But as a greater depth is being reached, the proportion of gold is again on the 
 increase. 
 
 As some general rules, in regard to the mode of distribution of the ore, may 
 be observed: 
 
 1st. The ore is, in the northern part of the vein, concentrated in chimneys, 
 dipping at an angle of sixty to eighty degrees to the south; in the southern 
 
114 
 
 part, it forms continuous sheets of great length, but which are comparatively 
 narrow. 
 
 2d. These deposits of ore are enclosed in the eastern and sometimes also in 
 the middle portion of the vein; the western branches are barren or poor. 
 
 3d. The richest and largest deposits have been found at those places where 
 the outcrops (including those of the western branches) were most prominent, 
 namely : at the Ophir, the Gould and Curry, the Savage, the Chollar, the Gold 
 Hill mines, the Yellow Jacket, the Crown Point, and Belcher. 
 
 4th. In the northern part the vein is, at the levels explored up to the present 
 time, invariably poor where it passes a ravine, (as in Ophir, Central, Mount 
 Davidson ravines, and the one which divides Mount Davidson from Mount But¬ 
 ler.) But in the southern part, the ore continues in the ravines (Kentucky 
 mine and Segregated Belcher.) 
 
 5th. The richest portions are south of each ravine crossed by the vein. 
 
 6th. All the chimneys in the northern part are at those places where the 
 walls from close contact rapidly diverge to the south and cause the vein to 
 expand. 
 
 7th. All the principal accumulations of ore are at those places where most 
 room was given in the fissure for the deposition of quartz, and are therefore 
 generally rare where an unusual amount of “horses” obstruct the vein (except 
 North Potosi chimney in Gould and Curry mine.) 
 
 I have dwelt on the subject of the distribution of the ore in the Comstock 
 vein to some length, because I consider its examination as being of great import¬ 
 ance to enable us to draw conclusions in regard to the mode of continuance of 
 the vein in depth. 
 
 COMSTOCK VEIN A TRUE FISSURE VEIN. 
 
 A true fissure vein may be designated as a fissure 'proceeding from indefinite 
 depth and filled mainly from below , by chemical processes , with matter differing 
 m nature from the country-roclc. Great importance appears lately to have been 
 attached to the question whether the Comstock vein is a true fissure vein or not. 
 Though it would be a perfect absurdity to range it among any other class of 
 mineral veins, yet this question will be examined m the following paces, and I 
 will try to show that the Comstock vein possesses more than almost any other 
 
115 
 
 vein, all the peculiar features of a true fissure vein. As such may be con¬ 
 sidered : 
 
 1st. A true fissure vein extends indiscriminately through different rocks. It 
 was mentioned in the foregoing pages that the Comstock Lode is but in part of 
 its course enclosed between syenite and propylite on both sides, and, again, at 
 others has metamorphic slate, especially quartzite and hornblendic rocks, on the 
 western, and propylite on the eastern side. 
 
 2 d. True fissure veins extend down to indefinite depth. This fact cannot be 
 practically proved in any other way than by following the vein in its downward 
 course. A few veins have been worked to the depth of a little over 2,000 feet. 
 This is very inconsiderable compared with the depth to which true fissure veins 
 are assumed to extend. There is, in fact, in regard to this question, but little 
 difference whether works on a mineral lode extend to the depth of 500 or to 
 that of 3,000 feet below the surface, as it may in either case terminate at a 
 limited depth with equal likelihood, unless strong and convincing reasons make 
 it evident that the vein, having the character of a true fissure vein, extends 
 downwards indefinitely. Comparison with metalliferous veins of other countries 
 would easily show that it is highly probable that the Comstock vein, which ex¬ 
 ceeds almost all of them in the magnitude of its proportions, extends to as great 
 a depth as has yet been reached by mining in any country. Farther on, we 
 shall be able to adduce evidence sufficient to demonstrate not only the proba¬ 
 bility, but almost the certainty of the continuance of this vein in depth, in 
 speaking of the mode of formation of the Comstock vein. 
 
 3 d. 1 rue fissure veins show evidences oj dynamic action , besides the mere act 
 of the opening of the fissure. Not only has the country-rock on one side gen¬ 
 erally moved downward on the other, but also within the space formed by the 
 opening of the fissure powerful dynamic action has taken place. Few veins 
 present these phenomena so distinctly as the Comstock vein, the eastern side of 
 which has apparently moved downward on the western. The “horses,” besides 
 and the numerous fragments causing the brecciated structure of parts of the 
 vein-matter, the clay-selvages accompanying it on both sides, the clay-seams and 
 masses of clayey matter in the body of the vein, the waving damask lines of the 
 crushed quartz enclosed in the clayey matter, all these phenomena furnish ample 
 evidence of violent and extensive dynamic action having taken place within the 
 body of the vein. The Comstock vein possesses a certain plasticity shared by 
 
116 
 
 few other veins, winch allowed that action to manifest itself on a grander scale 
 than it usually does. 
 
 4.th. True fissure veins are ordinarily found to be connected with the ejection 
 of some eruptive rock , and where this is not visible at the surface, disturbances 
 of strata and metamorphic action make its presence underground probable. 
 With the Comstock vein, this accompanying rock, which was instrumental in its 
 formation, is plainly visible. It does not require great sagacity to see at once 
 the intimate connection which exists between the formation of the fissure as well 
 as its filling, and the outbursts of the before-mentioned trachytic rocks which form 
 a range of hills east of the vein and almost parallel to it, at about two miles 
 distance. 
 
 5th. True fissure veins are filled mainly from below, and essentially by chem¬ 
 ical action. This statement, as well as the foregoing, we shall try to prove for 
 the Comstock vein in treating of the mode of its formation. 
 
 We shall now turn to the negative proof, that the Comstock vein can only be 
 a true fissure vein because it possesses none of the characteristics of any other 
 class of mineral veins. We may, besides the true fissure veins, distinguish the 
 following classes: gash-veins, segregated veins, contact veins, and intrusive 
 veins. 
 
 Gash-veins fill crevices limited to the formatior in which they occur, that is 
 to say, not passing from one set of beds into another of a different character. 
 The crevices have their origin in shrinkage, from loss of moisture or diminution 
 of heat; the filling is mainly due to infiltration from above and from the sides, 
 and to precipitation from the water of springs. The magnitude of the fissure 
 of the Comstock vein excludes those modes of origin which created the limited 
 crevices of gash-veins, and must have a grander and more deep-seated cause. 
 
 The fact that it passes through rocks- of very different nature, also removes it 
 far from gash-veins in character. Moreover, it would be impossible to explain, 
 even if fissures having the nature of gash-veins could attain such magnitude, 
 the mode of filling them with substances such as the Comstock vein contains, 
 either as to quantity of vein-matter, or the quantitative proportion of different 
 metals, or the mode of their combinations. It may also be noticed that gash- 
 veins are of far rarer occurrence than is ordinarily supposed. It appears, that 
 especially all silver lodes, that is, those which contain this metal in sufficient 
 quantity to make it the chief object of mining, are true fissure veins. This 
 
character is proved beyond doubt for the veins of the Carpathian mountains, of 
 Freiberg, the Hartz mountains, the provinces of Murcia and Granada m Spain, 
 and it appears to be even true for those of Kongsberg in Norway, which aie 
 seldom more than one inch wide, but have been followed with great regularity 
 downward to the depth of 1,800 feet. For the generality ot the silver veins of 
 Mexico it is likewise an established fact; and only lor those ot South Ameiua 
 some doubt was entertained, and many ot them were supposed to be gash-veins. 
 But this is proved not to be the case as -mining works become more extended, 
 on the different lodes of the three greatest mining countries in South Amenca. 
 Pasco m Peru, Potosi m Bolivia, and Chanarcillo m Chili, the character of the 
 silver-bearing lodes as true fissure veins is established beyond doubt. It no 
 other proofs of the continuity of the Comstock vein in depth could be given, it 
 would yet be preposterous to consider one ot the greatest silver veins a gash- 
 vein, since no argentiferous lode has ever yet been proved to be of this charac¬ 
 ter, not even those which are smallest and least developed. 
 
 Segregated veins, according to Whitney, do not occupy a previously-existing 
 fissure in the rock, being so enclosed and limited on all sides by it as to show 
 that the metalliferous and mineral substances of which they are made up, could 
 not have been introduced into their present position in any other way than by 
 gradual elimination of their component particles from the surrounding formation. 
 They usually occur in metamorphic rocks, and lie parallel to their cleavage 
 planes. They have no clay-selvages, and contain no “horses,” so there could 
 be no appearance of dynamic action within the vein. It is evident that the 
 Comstock vein does not belong to this class. 
 
 Metalliferous deposits at the contact of two different formations are ordinarily 
 of irregular shape, but they frequently form Contact veins with selvages. The 
 Comstock vein has "been considered to be of that character, on account of its 
 following the plane of contact between syenite and propylite. But the proof 
 which we have given in the preceding pages of its passage into different kinds of 
 rock, and its partial enclosure by propylite on both sides, is sufficient to show that 
 the formation of the fissure was only in so far dependent on the contact between 
 two different formations as it followed the same accidentally in part of its course, 
 probably because the resistance along it was inferior to that offered by the solid 
 masses of rock on either side, 
 
 16 
 
118 
 
 Uniformity of composition from one wall to the other, and equally through 
 the whole extent in length, is one of the characteristic features of all Intrusive 
 veins , part of which are ordinarily called dykes ; these are homogeneous through¬ 
 out, except that the texture of the crystalline matter may be coarser or finer in 
 places. They have been formed by the forcible injection of liquid matter from 
 below into a previously formed fissure. They never possess clay-selvages. The 
 diversified structure of the Comstock vein through its entire mass, and the varied 
 character of the vein-matter, are sufficient to remove all doubts whether it 
 originated in any such way. 
 
 All positive and negative evidence which has been adduced in the foregoing 
 pages, goes to show that the Comstock vein possesses more distinctly all the pecu¬ 
 liarities of true fissure veins than most other mineral lodes. In many instances 
 it is not easy to decide on the real character of a lode ; but this is not the case 
 with the Comstock vein. 
 
 MODE OF FORMATION OF COMSTOCK VEIN. 
 
 True fissure veins offer a great variety. Every mineral lode may be con¬ 
 sidered as an individual, peculiar in its nature and differing from all other veins. 
 A review of those silver veins which furnish the larger portion of the present 
 production of silver, would show wide discrepancies, as to the nature of the en¬ 
 closing rock, the length and width of the veins, the character of the gangue and 
 of the ores, the distribution and quantitative proportion of metals, the structure 
 of the vein-matter and its relation to the enclosing rock, and numerous other 
 circumstances*which it would require too much space to explain separately. It 
 may justly be concluded that the same differences exist as to the mode of forma¬ 
 tion. Infiltration from above, infiltration from the walls, thermal action, and 
 other processes, have separately been advocated as the sole origin of all metal¬ 
 liferous veins. But the combined experience obtained from different countries, 
 renders it evident that all of these processes have been active more or less si¬ 
 multaneously in the filling of every true fissure vein ; and that the differences 
 which such veins exhibit, were occasioned by the predominance of one or the 
 other of them, and by the influence of the enclosing rock. 
 
 The Comstock vein has neither been filled from above nor from the sides, as 
 none of the surrounding rocks could have yielded the immense quantity of vein- 
 matter and ore; and had it been formed in this way, the mass would have a 
 
banded and comb} 7 structure, which is by no means observable. Ihe eastern 
 rock may. on account of its extensive decomposition, appear to iavor the assump¬ 
 tion of lateral infiltration; but this decomposition was effected by ascending 
 currents which have left distinct traces, and which could not have removed any 
 matter in a lateral way. Thermal springs, which are considered by many au¬ 
 thorities as the agent which carried mineral matter from below into fissures and 
 to have formed every true vein, would not explain the formation ot the Comstock 
 lode. Silica, in such cases, is accumulated around the mouth of the fissures and, 
 though ordinarily removed by denudation, it could hardly be supposed to be so 
 at the Comstock vein as, since its formation, the surface has undergone but slight 
 changes. But, besides, the decomposition of the eastern country, for miles in 
 extent, cannot be explained by the action of thermal springs. 
 
 In order to discover the real agent which carried such immense masses ot 
 vein-matter from a deep-seated source into the Comstock fissure, we have simply 
 to trace the origin of the latter, and then to observe what processes follow, at 
 the present time, the formation of fissures of similar origin. If these processes 
 are sufficient to produce such results as we observe in the Comstock vein, then 
 it is highly probable that they were instrumental in its formation; and if we 
 succeed in proving that they have left their unmistakable traces all over the 
 country, we may consider the explanation, though theoretical, as founded on a 
 solid basis. 
 
 Origin of Fissure .—The Comstock fissure is, of course, of more recent origin 
 than the rocks which it traverses; and as propylite is predominant in the latter, 
 the fissure must necessarily have succeeded it in age. The only event after the 
 outbursts of propylite, capable of producing such powerful action, was the erup¬ 
 tion of trachyte, which accompanies the vein at a distance of two miles to the 
 east. As there is other evidence of its intimate connection with the Comstock 
 vein, we may take it for granted that it caused the rending of the fissure. The 
 more immediate cause of the latter is, in similar cases, the production of a con¬ 
 stantly-increasing tension beneath the solid crust of the rocks of the surface. 
 As soon as such tension is greater than the resistance offered by the crust, it 
 will cause the rending ot the overlaying rocks and give vent to the agencies by 
 which it was produced. Sanidin-trachyte is a volcanic rock and, though it did 
 not pour out from the craters of actual volcanoes, yet it must have been attended 
 by the same phenomena which accompany the outbreaks of lava. Among them 
 
is the rending of fissures which are occasionally of as great a magnitude as the 
 one under consideration. 
 
 Filling of the Fissure .—The process which immediately follows the opening 
 of fissures at or near active volcanoes, is the violent emission of steam. A 
 crevice in this state is called a solfatara. It has been proved by Bunsen 
 for the volcanoes of Iceland, by Boussingault for those of the South American 
 Andes, by St. Claire Deville for those of the Canary Islands, and by myself for 
 the tertiary volcanoes of Hungary and Transylvania, that every solfatara, in 
 the course of time, passes through two stages, in the first of which the steam is 
 accompanied by gaseous combinations of fluorine and chlorine ; in the second, 
 by those of sulphur; while a third one is ordinarily marked by the emission of 
 carbonic acid and combinations of hydrogen and carbon, at which time the term 
 solfatara is no longer applicable. We have in the elements evolved during the 
 first two periods all the conditions required for filling the Comstock fissure with 
 such substances as those of which the vein is composed. Steam, ascending with 
 vapors of fluosilicic acid created in its upper parts (by the diminution of pressure 
 and temperature, according to well-known chemical agencies) silica and silico- 
 fluohydric acid, the former in solid form, the latter as a volatile gas which acts 
 most powerfully in decomposing the rocks it meets on its course. The chloride 
 of silicon in combination with steam forms silica and chlorohydric acid. Fluo¬ 
 rine and chlorine are the most powerful volatilizers known, and form volatile 
 combinations with almost every substance. Besides silicon, the metals have a 
 great affinity with them. All those which occur in the Comstock vein, could 
 ascend in a gaseous state in combination with one or the other of them. They 
 must then be precipitated in the upper parts as metallic oxydes or chlorides, 
 and in the native state. Thus the fissure was gradually filled from its upper 
 portion downwards with all the elements which we find chemically deposited in 
 it. A fissure is ordinarily not stationary after its first opening; but by subse¬ 
 quent action may from time to time widen and frequently contract again. New 
 channels would thus be opened where the old ones were obstructed. If such 
 widening, or opening of an empty space within the matter filling the old fissure, 
 was followed by emanations rich in metallic vapors, then the conditions would 
 be given for the formation of a body of ore of the shape of the newly-opened 
 chasm, which corresponds precisely to most of the bodies of ore in the Comstock 
 Lode. Contemporaneously with the filling of the fissure, the adjoining rock 
 
121 
 
 would be acted upon by the ascending acid vapors, and its nature by them 
 entirely changed. Cracks would form in it, and be filled with substances similar 
 to those of the vein itself. As the Comstock vein has an eastern dip, and the 
 action of forces manifests itself towards the surface, only the rock on the hang¬ 
 ing wall, or the eastern country, would be influenced in this way. Crevices 
 branching off from the main fissure would probably penetrate into the hanging 
 wall, and it may reasonably be expected that deeper working will disclose such 
 branches filled with vein-matter, and probably of ore-bearing character, east of 
 the main body of the vein. 
 
 Transformation of Vein-Matter .—A transforming action must necessarily 
 take place from the very commencement'of the decomposition of matter in the 
 fissure. Sulphurous ' acid and sulphuretted hydrogen which were among the 
 escaping gases in the first period, together with* combinations of fluorine and 
 chlorine, gradually became predominant, marking the second period of solfataric 
 action. But little more matter could be introduced into the fissure, as the com¬ 
 binations of sulphur with mineral substances are not volatile. Chemical trans¬ 
 formation was now the principal action within the vein. Silica is deposited 
 from its combinations with fluorine and chlorine in a gelatinous state, very dif¬ 
 ferent in its physical characters from those of the crystalline quartz which fills 
 the vein. It must undergo a solution in water with which, in the form of steam, 
 it was impregnated, in order to assume this character. Metallic oxydes and 
 chlorides were converted into sulphurets, and the presence of antimony caused the 
 formation of sulph-antimoniurets, the principal one of which is stepkanite. By 
 such processes, the entire vein-matter was gradually converted from its former 
 condition into that which it presents at this day. 
 
 Thus, following simply the mechanical and chemical actions observed in active 
 solfataras, and basing our conclusions on experiments made in the chemical 
 laboratory on the processes of precipitation and transformation which must be 
 effected by them, we are led to precisely the same results which we actually 
 observe in the Comstock vein. The question may still be put as to what was 
 the origin of the vein-matter , which in the deep-seated volcanic laboratory was 
 prepared for ascending into the Comstock fissure. As to fluorine and chlorine, 
 they take part in the cbmposition of rocks, but their principal source was doubt¬ 
 less the water which penetrated through the rocks to the region of volcanic 
 activity, and which in the case of active solfataras can alone explain the eontin- 
 
uous emanation of volumes of steam. Though the sea, at the time of the for¬ 
 mation of the Comstock vein, was far distant, yet the waters of the adjoining 
 basins were, as they are to-day, highly charged with the same salts as are 
 dissolved in sea-water, among them chlorides and fluorides. Fluorine and 
 chlorine, therefore, had the same origin as they are supposed to have in active 
 solfataras. As to the source of the mineral substances, we have to look for the 
 action of those elements on the surrounding rocks. Silica was offered in unlim¬ 
 ited quantity, particularly in the trachytic rocks. Every silicate is easily decom¬ 
 posed by fluorine, fluosilicic acid escaping in a gaseous state while some solid 
 residuum remains. For the metals we have to account in the same way, con¬ 
 sidering the vast quantities of rock which in the depths of the solfataras could 
 be acted upon by the acids. Silver appears, from recent researches, to form, in 
 very small quantity, a constituent part of every rock, and gold probably enters 
 in still more minute quantity into their composition, while other metals are 
 present in larger proportion, and iron especially forms a considerable per centage 
 in the composition of all rocks. But even those which are present in so small 
 a proportion as almost to escape detection by chemical analysis, may be concen¬ 
 trated, if acted upon by such elements as have most affinity to them, and then 
 carried by them into channels where, when exposed to other influences, they are 
 deposited. It is a fact worthy of notice that there is scarcely a single chemical 
 agent, excepting fluorine and chlorine, which would not carry metallic substances 
 into fissures in exactly or nearly the reverse quantitative proportion from that 
 in which they occur in silver veins. Iron and manganese are not only more 
 abundant in rocks but also much easier attacked and carried away by acids, than 
 silver and gold. The proportion of these to the former ought, therefore, to be 
 still smaller in mineral veins than it is in rocks, and lead and copper ought to be 
 more subordinate, if their removal from their primitive place had been effected 
 by other agents than fluorine and chlorine. Only these two will first combine 
 with those metals which are most scarce in rocks and relatively most abundant 
 in silver veins; and they are probably the only elements which have originally 
 collected them together into larger deposits, though these may subsequently 
 have undergone considerable changes, and water may have played altogether the 
 most prominent part in bringing them into their present shape. 
 
 Dynamical Action in the Vein .—The rending of the fissure was the first 
 dynamical action in the history of the Comstock vein. It continued, as men- 
 
tioned before, in repeated rewidening and partial reclosing. Another dynamical 
 process was the separation of fragments from the hanging wall ot the fissure. 
 Small fragments fell into it during the formation of the vein-matter and caused 
 its brecciated structure, while larger ones were separated by the formation of 
 fractures and slid down until they met resistance. Every fissure of active 
 solfataras is closed on the surface by similar fragments broken off from the sides 
 of the fissure, and one may walk on solid ground over the chasm from which 
 steam issues hissing and roaring, escaping from between the rocks and feeding 
 boiling cauldrons. There is no difference between these obstructions and those 
 in the upper part of the Comstock fissure. Other dynamical changes which 
 are still going on constantly, are manifested by the clay-selvages along the walls 
 and the clay-seams in the body of the vein. They indicate a sliding motion of 
 the vein-matter on the walls, and of different portions of the former on each 
 other. Few veins present such plasticity of the vein-matter as the Comstock 
 Lode possesses, a circumstance which on one side facilitates mining extraordi¬ 
 narily, on account of the loose nature of the quartz, while on the other part it 
 is the most serious nuisance in mining, as it causes the rapid breaking and caving 
 of old works. Drifts in clayey matter cannot be kept open by the strongest 
 timbers, those of a foot square in thickness being frequently broken within a 
 few days. The constant movement in the vein may also be witnessed where 
 clay-seams are cut by drifts; after some time the rock on one side is lowered 
 considerably. Mining works probably promote this slow but incessant motion 
 in the body of the vein, since they open outlets for the water, which can perco¬ 
 late the vein-matter freely and diminish its substance by its dissolving power. 
 
 Additional Proof of former existence of Solfataric Action .—Though it seems 
 that the Comstock fissure was the principal theater for the emission of steam 
 and all those phenomena which may be comprised by the name of solfataric 
 action, yet the latter left its'traces over a wide extent of the adjacent country. 
 The entire belt of rounded hills extending east of the vein for two miles to the 
 foot of the trachytic range, shows its effects very conspicuously. It consists of 
 propylite; which, however, can scarcely be recognized on account of the complete 
 decomposition it has undergone and which has transformed it into a clayey rock 
 of red and yellow color, but still showing distinctly the enclosed crystals of 
 feldspar and hornblende. It is traversed by numerous crevices from which the 
 decomposition originated, and shows everywhere evidences of vertically-ascendiim 
 
currents which, caused it. Whoever has seen active solfataras, will be struck by 
 the resemblance of the chemical action on the surrounding rocks to that displayed 
 in the region east of the Comstock Lode. Near some of the crevices the de¬ 
 composed rock is strongly impregnated with silica, producing the ranges of red- 
 colored bluffs which accompany the Comstock vein to the east, and which have 
 been partly located as outcroppings of veins, while at about two miles distance 
 real metalliferous veins occur, promising in their outcrops, but not yet explored. 
 Besides this belt, the former action of solfataras is plainly visible in many parts 
 of the country. The formation of the Comstock vein is but one of its mani¬ 
 festations. 
 
 CONTINUITY OF THE COMSTOCK VEIN IN DEPTH. 
 
 The problem which above all others occupies at present the minds of miners, 
 stockholders, and speculators in Washoe, is, whether the Comstock Lode will 
 continue in depth, and, if it does, whether it will be productive. And these 
 questions are indeed of the highest importance for the future of the country, and 
 ought so much more to be considered with care, as on their solution depend the 
 means which will have to be applied for securing future prosperity and profits. 
 
 It was proved in the foregoing pages that the Comstock Lode presents in all 
 respects the character of a true fissure vein, and these in such perfect degree as 
 but few veins of this class exhibit. It was furthermore proved that the mode 
 of its formation can only be explained in one way, namely, by solfataric action 
 connected with the outbursts qf trachyte. No theory but this is able to explain 
 the origin of the vast quantities of vein-matter, the profuse diffusion of ore 
 through it, the abnormal quantitative proportion of the metals in the ore, the 
 thorough decomposition of the eastern country for two miles in width, the mode 
 of distribution of the ore in the vein, and the formation of the “horses” wdiich 
 obstruct it in many parts. As the creative forces acted from below, they must 
 have found an open way for the communication of the laboratory below with the 
 place of deposition in the upper portion of the vein. No sound mind can there¬ 
 fore doubt the continuance of the fissure, and therefore of the vein, in depth. 
 
 MODE OF CONTINUANCE IN DEPTH. 
 
 It is much easier to come to definite conclusions in regard to the question, 
 whether the Comstock Lode continues at all in depth, than to state the most 
 
probable mode of its continuance. Our deductions as to this subject cannot but 
 be hypothetical, however numerous and well founded the facts and laws may be 
 on which they are based. We may consider the question from different points 
 of view, partly in reference to the structure in general, and partly to the ore- 
 bearing character. 
 
 Inclination .—It appears that the real inclination of the Comstock vein coin¬ 
 cides with that of the western wall, which is remarkably constant for a distance 
 of nineteen thousand feet on the course of the vein, wherever it has been 
 explored, and for about one thousand feet in vertical extent, from its highest out¬ 
 crops to the deepest mining works. The angle at which it dips to the east, 
 varies from thirty-eight to sixty degrees, the lower figures being the usual ones 
 near the surface, the higher ones at a moderate depth, while in the lower works 
 the inclination is again forty-five degrees. There is but one reason in favor of 
 the assumption that the lode may straighten out to an almost vertical position. 
 This is the occurrence of “horses” identical with the rocks forming the western 
 country, and the vertical position of the plane of division between these horses 
 and those derived from the eastern country, wherever such difference exists 
 between both sides of the fissure. The assumption that the fissure originally 
 followed this vertical dividing plane, would well account for all the phenomena 
 presented by the “horses.” But this argument is not strong enough to militate 
 against the regularity of the inclination of the western wall, moreover as the 
 eastern wall was by the mining works proved to make the previously-mentioned 
 bend, and to assume finally, in depth, an inclination parallel to the western 
 wall. There is another argument corroborating the theory of the permanency 
 of the present dip of the vein of about forty-five degrees to the east, which, 
 from a geological point of view, is more conclusive. As mentioned before, the 
 propylitic rocks for two miles east of the vein have undergone a decomposition 
 which, from its nature, must be ascribed to the former action of solfataras. 
 There can be no doubt, that the currents of steam and vapors, which left their 
 traces particularly on the sides of numerous vertical fissures, emanated from one 
 common source. Since the concentration of solfataric action must have been in 
 the Comstock fissure, where its results are most evident, it appears that this has 
 been the immediate source, and through its inclined hanging wall branched off 
 all those ramifications which spread the decomposing agents through the over¬ 
 hanging rock; this at least is manifestly the case in the lower works, where 
 17 
 
crevices filled with quartz and clayey matter ascend vertically through the 
 hanging wall, but frequently do not rise to the surface. 
 
 Width of Vein .—The indistinct character of the eastern boundary of the 
 Comstock vein often renders the determination of its width difficult. Wear the 
 surface it is ordinarily five hundred to six hundred feet, and on American Flat 
 exceeds these figures. With increasing distance from the surface the vein grad¬ 
 ually contracts, to that certain depth where the eastern wall begins to descend 
 parallel to the western one ; from thence downwards it begins to be more con¬ 
 stant. The real width of the vein cannot therefore be determined before this 
 depth is reached. In general, the parallelism of the walls commences in the 
 northern mines at a higher level than in the southern ones. Five hundred feet 
 may be considered as the average depth at which it is first well marked ; but on 
 American Flat it appears to be several hundred feet more. As far as the vein 
 at this depth has been explored from wall to wall, it forms a channel of great 
 regularity and about one hundred to one hundred and twenty feet in width (at 
 right angles to the inclination,) though at some places it expands beyond this 
 figure, and at others contracts. South of the Chollar-Potosi mine, the vein is 
 nowhere contracted in width; but north of it, the walls frequently come together. 
 Such places must necessarily occur in an inclined vein of some magnitude, since 
 the hanging wall, during the long periods of the filling of the fissure, required 
 some support. The walls of every true fissure vein are uneven planes. The 
 downward movement of one side of the fissure on the other, at the time of the 
 formation of the vein, caused protuberances of one w 7 all to meet such of the 
 other and concave places to come opposite each other. This is the reason why 
 every large fissure vein is liable to repeated expansions and contractions, though 
 the former prevail largely over the latter. It is to be expected that the Com¬ 
 stock Lode will exhibit the same features in its downward course to indefinite 
 depth, as it also has done heretofore, though its general width will probably 
 remain nearly equal to that which it possesses in the lowest works. 
 
 '‘Horses ."— 1 The formation of large “horses” is, from the nature of their origin, 
 more peculiar to upper than to lower levels, since their breaking down from the 
 hanging wall will in every fissure be most apt to take place where the latter is 
 of comparatively inferior thickness, than where it is hundreds or thousands of 
 feet wide. But small fragments may separate from it at any depth, and their 
 quantity will chiefly depend on the nature of the rock aud the power of the 
 
decomposing agents. It was mentioned before, that the action of the latter was 
 exceedingly violent in the Comstock fissure, fluorine, chlorine, and steam being 
 the principal elements by which it was effected. It is therefore highly probable 
 that the bulk of small fragments will be very considerable at lower depths, and 
 that this will cause the appearance of brecciated vein-matter to great extent, 
 besides forming larger accumulations of barren nature, which will principally be 
 above the places of contraction. This may already be observed in the Ophir 
 mine, in the deepest works at the present time. 
 
 Enclosing Rock .—It is not likely that the country-rock adjoining the vein on 
 either side will, in depth, undergo any changes, other than such as may be occa¬ 
 sioned by different degrees of decomposition or by an increase of some of them 
 in extent. The structure of the country indicates that the meridional Mount 
 Davidson range existed at the time when the eruptions of propylite formed an 
 addition to the mountain mass on its eastern side, and that the steep slope of the 
 former continues below the rounded hills of the latter. Probably the fissure 
 followed the plane of division of the ancient Mount Davidson rocks with the 
 more recent masses of propylite, as offering less resistance to the tension below 
 than the rending of the solid mass of one kind of rocks would have done. 
 Only where the old slope deviates from a straight line, the tertiary rocks appear 
 to have filled the depressions, and the fissure to have intersected them. Yet 
 the ravines in the old mountains, which formerly were the same as at present 
 and descend below the propylitic covering, have had some influence, since the 
 vein is known to make concave bends through them. This influence will, there¬ 
 fore, most likely be perceptible to great depth, though it may not always be as 
 unfavorable for the ore-bearing quality of the vein as it has been in the upper 
 levels. If any change as to the enclosing rocks should occur in depth, it is 
 probable that propylite will disappear on the western side and syenite predomi¬ 
 nate there more and more. 
 
 Selvages .—All the evidences in the upper levels justify the expectation that 
 the foot wall will continue with its smooth and regular clay-selvage, while the 
 irregularity and indistinctness of the eastern side will not diminish, but rather 
 increase as its true character as hanging wall will become more conspicuous. 
 The vertical sheets of clay which have from time to time been cut in the adits 
 east of the vein, rise undoubtedly from the hanging wall. Every one of them, 
 when struck at a lower level, will in its course be considered as east-wall, until 
 
another one farther to the east will be found. This periodical change of opinion 
 is already now observable in the deeper mines. Clay-seams within the body of 
 the vein'will probably diminish with the increase of unity in inclination. Those 
 which are at present observable at upper levels, are particularly occasioned by 
 the vertical position of the vein-matter, which of course facilitates sliding mo¬ 
 tions. Larger accumulations of clay will especially continue near the old 
 ravines. 
 
 Ore-bearing Character and Distribution of Ore .—Some unfavorable develop¬ 
 ments made recently on the Comstock vein, have induced even those who be¬ 
 lieve in its continuity, to have some doubt in regard to its carrying any ore in 
 depth. The question is of great importance, and one in regard to which one 
 may easily arrive at too sanguine views if mines are “in bonanza," and just as 
 easily at too unfavorable results when they are “in borasca.” A short review 
 of some facts observed in other silver mines may assist us in drawing conclusions 
 for the Comstock vein. 
 
 In no branch of mining are the vicissitudes of this industry so conspicuous 
 as in silver mining. Princely fortunes have been made by it m the shortest 
 time, and equal amounts spent in vain in search of fortunes. The history of 
 the Mexican mines, as chronicled by Humboldt and Ward, furnishes remarkable 
 illustrations; hut they would possess a still higher degree of interest if an 
 equally able historian could he found in modern times, who might add those de¬ 
 velopments which have taken place during the present century. We are told of 
 mines which, after having yielded immense wealth, were abandoned because no 
 more profits could he obtained, and then, after a long lapse of time, were re¬ 
 opened by enterprising individuals, and anew poured out treasures from below 
 where they had been worked before, then were left again, and successfully 
 reopened a third time. The causes of abandonment were either the deterioration 
 of the ore, or the impossibility of making the returns exceed the expenses of 
 keeping the water down, or lawsuits, or, finally, political circumstances. The 
 success of reopening was, in the two first cases either due to the improvement 
 of the ore at some lower level, or to the introduction of cheaper modes of drain¬ 
 age, partly by improved machinery and partly by adit-levels. 
 
 The Valenciana mine on the Yeta Madre of Guanajuato, was opened in 1760 
 on a part of the vein on which some work had been done in the sixteenth cen¬ 
 tury, and which afterwards had been neglected as unpromising for almost two 
 
centuries. In 1768 a rich “bonanza” was struck at a deptli of two hundred and 
 forty feet, from which $1,500,000 were extracted annually. Still from 1 t 88 to 
 1810 the yearly produce averaged $1,383,195. A town of seven thousand 
 inhabitants was built near the mine, and thirty-one hundred people were occu¬ 
 pied by the latter. A large octagonal shaft was sunk to upwards of two 
 thousand feet, and the mine explored by it in lower parts. But the rich ore ex¬ 
 tended only to the depth of twelve hundred feet, below which it was then too poor 
 for extracting. In 1810 the mine filled with water. Fifteen years later the 
 Anglo-Mexican Company, with a considerable outlay of money, freed the mine 
 of water, but the ores gave no profit, on account of the expenses of keeping 
 the water down. It is now owned by the United Mexican Company, and for a 
 number of years has yielded immensely by the large amounts of low grade ores 
 which fill the vein. 
 
 The Veta Grande, at Zacatecas, which from 1548 to 1832 yielded about 
 $666,000,000, occurs in propylite, as does the Comstock Lode, and has a similar 
 structure, the vein branching out towards the surface and descending at an angle 
 of about forty-five degrees. Its wic^h is inferior to the Comstock vein, being 
 generally not more than from one to thirty-three feet, and only at one place in¬ 
 creasing to eighty feet. It has clay-selvages and encloses large fragments of 
 country-rock. The ore in the upper levels was concentrated in chimneys and 
 rich, but with increasing depth it became poorer, though at the same time it was 
 distributed through a much larger extent of the vein. The ore for some time 
 could not be worked with profit, but at present the production of Zacatecas has 
 again reached a very high figure. 
 
 In these two instances the ores are poorer in the lower portions of the lode, 
 but more equally distributed, and it is the immense quantity of low-grade ores 
 which causes its great productiveness. It is noteworthy that the character of 
 the ores changes in no other respect. They remain true silver ores through all 
 levels. Many other mines offer the same conditions, particularly those in the 
 central part of Mexico. It is different in the northern provinces. The silver 
 mines there are famous for the large amounts of native silver which they pro¬ 
 duced near the surface, and the quantity of rich ores which were raised from 
 them. They too have poorer ores in depth, but this poverty is due to the in¬ 
 creasing predominance of lead over the silver in the veins. The same is true 
 of the silver mines in the Carpathian mountains, all of which are in propylite 
 
130 
 
 and resemble the Comstock vein in many respects. The vein of the Grossgrnbe 
 in Felsobanya is almost its counterpart. This mine as well as those of Schem- 
 nitz are said to have yielded immensely in former times, though worked with 
 imperfect processes. Extensive chimneys of ore have been entirely removed by 
 the Romans. In depth the ore is exceedingly poor, so as to yield but a small 
 profit with the economical mode of working proper to European countries. But 
 this deterioration is chiefly due to the prevalence of the ores of lead and copper 
 in lower levels, true silver ores being of rare occurrence. At the same time the 
 ores become more equally distributed through the entire vein-matter, though 
 they still form in it small seams and bunches. 
 
 Other mines retain an equal yield of silver at every depth. Those at Frei¬ 
 berg, though having their bonanzas at different levels, have on the whole rather 
 improved with an increase in depth. Those of Kongsberg, in Norway, had their 
 temporary bonanzas as far down as eighteen hundred feet, the lowest level 
 reached, and have in later times yielded more profits than formerly. Those of 
 Catorce and several other places in Mexico, show likewise no decrease in yield, 
 and have excellent ores at eighteen hundred and two thousand feet in depth. 
 Many other mines of the same nature could be mentioned. 
 
 It would occupy too much of our space to enter more fully into the details of 
 other argentiferous veins. If we proceed to compare the Comstock vein with 
 those best explored, it is evident that it differs in nature from a certain class of 
 narrow veins, which, as those of Freiberg, Kongsberg, Chanarcillo in Chile, 
 Pasco in Peru, Catorce in Mexico, and Austin in Nevada, fill a number of small 
 fissures, which are either parallel or intersect each other, and which exhibit in 
 depth nearly the same character and richness as near the surface. It presents, 
 on the contrary, all the characters of a second-class of silver-veins which are 
 prominent on account of their magnitude and unity, and exhibit wherever they 
 occur, one great mother-vein or “veta-madre,” surrounded in most instances by 
 some smaller veins of little or no importance. To this class belong the veins of 
 Schemnitz and Felsobanya in Hungary, the Veta-Madre of Guanajuato, the 
 Veta Grande of Zacatecas; while the veins of Potosi in Peru and the Biscayna 
 of Real del Monte in Mexico have to be referred more to this than to the. former 
 class. Notwithstanding their small number, these great mother-veins furnish by 
 far the greater portion of the silver produced throughout the world. They re¬ 
 semble each other in many points. All of them fill fissures of extraordinary 
 
width and length, and appear to be of very recent origin, and also to be inti¬ 
 mately related to volcanic rocks, by which they are accompanied. Although the 
 laws which govern the distribution of the ore differ more or less for each vein, 
 yet all of them have been found to be highly metalliferous to whatever depth 
 explored; and it appears that a nearly equal quantity of silver is with most of 
 them contained in each level (the vein of Guanajuato being an exception to this 
 rule.) It may be inferred that this will continue to be the case to an indefinite 
 depth. There is, however, a marked difference in the concentration of silver, ores 
 of extreme richness being usually accumulated in limited bodies in the upper 
 levels, while in depth similar bodies recur, greater in extent, but consisting of 
 lower grade ores. This is one of the principal reasons why, on all the veins 
 mentioned, mining in upper levels has been so highly remunerative compared 
 with the profits derived from deep working. Each ton of ore costs there but 
 little to extract, and yields a large amount of metal, while raising the same 
 weight from greater depth is more expensive, and at the same time a smaller 
 amount of bullion is realized. The history of the Mexican mines is the best illus¬ 
 tration of these relations. In former centuries Counts and Marquises have been 
 made by the King of Spain whenever fortune enabled a single individual to 
 accumulate enormous wealth in a few years. Mining, then, w r as confined to rich 
 ores within a few hundred feet from the surface. In the present century, since 
 greater depths have been reached, the Spanish Crown, if it had still the scepter 
 of Mexico, would scarcely have found an opportunity of bestowing equal honors 
 on fortunate mining adventurers, notwithstanding the unabated enterprising 
 spirit of the population, and the increased facilities of raising the treasures. 
 And yet, the production of the Mexican mines has anything but decreased. It 
 appears, on the contrary, that it has never been as high as at the present time. 
 Humboldt states that vastly the majority of the annual production of Mexico 
 has through all times been derived from the mother-veins alluded to above; and 
 still at this day, they furnish at least three-fourths of it, though each of them 
 has repeatedly been abandoned as unprofitable. They would be inexhaustible 
 sources of wealth, if the increase of expenses attending the growing depth did 
 not put a limit to all profitable mining. 
 
 The equality of produce of the Mexican mines is probably partly due to the 
 prevalence of true silver-ores through all levels. The Hungarian mines offer 
 less favorable conditions, as the ores, on account of the previously-mentioned 
 
increase of lead and copper in depth, undergo a real deterioration. Yet they 
 have evidently had at upper levels their concentrated bodies of rich ore.. Such 
 have been extracted at Schemnitz within the time of historical record, while their 
 former existence at Felsobanya may he inferred from the shape and character of 
 the old Roman works near the out-croppings. 
 
 Let us now return to the Comstock vein, the “Veta-Madre of Washoe, and 
 examine what conclusions as to its future we are justified in drawing from the 
 present condition of the explorations. In the first place, we have to mention 
 the fact that the ores through all the levels explored, retain the character of true 
 silver-ores which they had near the surface. The amount of lead, copper, iron, 
 and zinc has never been large in the Comstock ores, and these metals preserve 
 now, at the lowest levels, nearly the same relative proportion as formerly. 
 Their increase, especially of lead, would be the most unfavorable indication for 
 the future of the Comstock Lode, as, besides the growing difficulty of metallur¬ 
 gical treatment, the conclusion would be justified, that lead ores would more and 
 more replace those of silver, and the limits of profitable productiveness would 
 soon be reached. But, as it is, no deterioration is to be expected, even if an 
 impoverishment takes place. It thus approaches in its ore bearing character the 
 great mother-veins of Mexico, and is different from those of Hungary. 
 
 But even the reasons for an impoverishment are by no means so evident as 
 might appear at first sight. There have been, it is true, bonanzas near the sur¬ 
 face, which surpassed in richness all those worked upon in later times. As 
 such may be mentioned the bonanzas of the Ophir, the Gould and Curry, and 
 the western body of ore in Gold Hill. Their richness and the facilities of their 
 extraction co-operated in making the latter exceedingly profitable. Yet the 
 production of the Comstock vein did, at the time when it was solely derived 
 from these surface-bonanzas, not reach the figure it attained after the exhaustion 
 of their principal portion. One of the reasons is, that then the ore was concen¬ 
 trated within narrow limits, while, as a greater depth was attained, the distribu¬ 
 tion of the ores was much more general, though their standard was lower. 
 New bodies of ore had been discovered, commencing at a depth of from one hun¬ 
 dred and fifty to three hundred feet below the surface, such as the continuous 
 sheets of ore in the eastern part of the lode in the Gold Hill mines and the Yellow 
 Jacket, and the similarly-constituted one in the Chollar-Potosi. None of them 
 contains, excepting a few narrow streaks or bunches, ores of equal richness with 
 
those of which the surface-bonanzas were composed. But their extent so lar 
 exceeds that of the latter, as to make up, by the increased amount of daily 
 extraction, for the inferior yield. The profits of working are, of course, greatly 
 diminished. 
 
 These bodies of ore have continued to the deepest levels reached in the Com¬ 
 stock mines, varying in width and extent, and also in their yield. The latter 
 did not increase, but in some instances, as in the southern part of Cold Hill, 
 decreased with the growing width of the deposit, while in others no material 
 change is perceptible. Few new bodies of ore made their appearance below the 
 level of three hundred feet. Foremost in importance among them are two 
 bodies discovered at seven hundred feet below the surface by the Hale and 
 Norcross works, one of which is on ground supposed heretofore to be un¬ 
 productive. 
 
 Considering these facts exhibited by the Comstock vein itself, and comparing 
 with them what is known about similar argentiferous veins, we believe to be 
 justified in drawing the following conclusions : 
 
 1st. That the continuity of the ore-bearing character of the Comstock Lode 
 in depth must, notwithstanding local interruptions, be assumed as a fact of equal 
 certainty with the continuity of the vein itself. 
 
 2d. That it may positively be assumed that the ores in the Comstock Lode 
 will retain their character of true silver ores to indefinite depth. 
 
 3d. That it is highly probable that extensive bodies of ore equal in richness 
 to the surface-bonanzas, will never recur in depth. 
 
 4th. That an increase in size of the bodies of ore in depth is more probable 
 than a decrease, and that they are more likely to increase than to remain of the 
 same size as heretofore. 
 
 5th. That a considerable portion of the ore will, as to its yield, not materially 
 differ at any depth from what it is at the present lower levels ; while, besides, 
 there will be an increasing bulk of low grade ores. We are led to this' supposi¬ 
 tion by the similarity in character of all the deposits outside of the rich surface- 
 bonanzas, and the homogeneous nature which almost every one of them exhibits 
 throughout its entire extent. 
 
 6th. That the ore will shift at different levels from certain portions of the 
 lode to others, as it has done up to the present time. More equality in its dis¬ 
 tribution may, however, be expected below the junction of the branches radiat- 
 18 
 
ing towards the surface, when the vein will probably fill a more uniform and 
 more regular channel. Some mines which have been heretofore almost unpro¬ 
 ductive, as the Central, California, Bullion and others, have therefore good 
 chances of becoming metalliferous in depth. But throughout the extent of the 
 vein it is most likely that the portion which lies next to the foot wall will con¬ 
 tinue unproductive, as it did from the surface down to the lowest works, while 
 the entire portion between it and the hanging wall must be considered as the 
 probable future source of ore. As remarked in the foregoing pages, it is also 
 probable that repeatedly, in following the lode downward, branches will be found 
 rising from its main body vertically into the hanging wall and consisting of clay 
 of quartz. Many of them will probably be ore-bearing. Such bodies of ore 
 should be sought for, at all the mines, in what is generally supposed to be the 
 eastern country. Experience in upper levels would lead to the supposition that 
 such eastern bodies might carry richer ores than the average of the main portion 
 of the vein. 
 
 7th. That the intervention of a barren zone, as is reported by good authori¬ 
 ties to occur at the Yeta Madre of Guanajuato, at the depth of twelve hundred 
 feet, is not at all likely to be met with in the case of the Comstock Lode. The 
 argument which we have to adduce for this conclusion, has some weight 
 from a geological point of view. It is a well-known fact that the enclosing 
 rocks have usually great influence on the quantity and quality of the ores of 
 certain metals in mineral veins, and that a rich lode passing into a different 
 formation frequently becomes barren or poor. At the Yeta Madre of Guan¬ 
 ajuato, a sudden decrease in the yield of the ore, at the depth of twelve hundred 
 feet, attends the passage of the lode into a different formation, which from thence 
 continues to the lowest depth attained. No such change can ever be anticipa¬ 
 ted for the Comstock Lode, since the structure of the country seems to indicate 
 the continuity of the enclosing rocks to an indefinite depth. 
 
 In winding up these considerations, we come to the positive conclusion, that 
 the amount of nearly fifty million dollars which have been extracted from the 
 Comstock Lode, is but a small proportion of the amount of silver awaiting 
 future extraction, in the virgin portions of the vein, from the lowest levels ex¬ 
 plored down to indefinite depth; but that, from analogy with other argentifer¬ 
 ous veins, as well as from facts observed on the Comstock Lode, the diffusion of 
 the silver through extensive deposits of middle and low grade ores is far more 
 probable than its accumulation in bodies of rich ore. 
 
MEANS OF SECURING FUTURE PRODUCTIVENESS. 
 
 The main object for those engaged in mining on the Comstock Lode should 
 be, to derive the highest possible profits from the exploration of the mines, that 
 is, to devise means for reducing the expenses and improving the methods of re¬ 
 duction. In both these respects improvements have been made heretofore at 
 equal rate with the decrease in the yield of the ore, and profits are now earned 
 from ores which are much poorer than any worked in former days. Yet, by 
 the constantly-increasing expenses of pumping, hoisting and keeping the mines 
 in working order, these profits will soon disappear and losses be incurred h no 
 further reduction of expenses takes place. In speculating as to the means re¬ 
 quired for attaining this end, we have to start from as unfavorable a basis as 
 possible and to employ such as will be applicable even in the possible case of an 
 impoverishment of the ore in depth. 
 
 The Comstock mines have this great advantage, that sinking and driving are 
 relatively cheap, owing to the soft nature ot the quartz and country-rock. This 
 character will probably not change at lower levels. The best system ot mining 
 will therefore be that which makes the best use ot this advantage and, at the 
 same time, meets most perfectly and with the least expense the disadvantages 
 resulting from the same quality of the rock. Such a system, which is very dif¬ 
 ferent from that formerly in use, is being more and more adopted. The former 
 plan of removing first all the ore in sight, and of commencing exploring work 
 in other parts of the mine only after the complete exhaustion of the former, 
 when the reluctant stockholders are forced to pay for the doubtful success of the 
 work, is not yet abolished ; but in some mines is giving way to a more sensible 
 system of exploration. Even if stock-speculation, the greatest enemy of legiti¬ 
 mate mining, should hereafter still exert its evil influence on the management of 
 the Comstock mines, yet those other improvements will not fail to act in a bene¬ 
 ficial way. So, too, the increasing knowledge of the nature of the Comstock 
 vein has led to an improved system of working. The soft nature of the eastern 
 country compared with that of the hard western rocks, has taught that shafts 
 can only be sunk profitably in the former, and never ought to be allowed to 
 penetrate into the latter. The dip of forty-five degrees to the east makes it a 
 matter of course, that a shaft near the outcroppings will reach sooner the hard 
 foot-wall than one which is constructed farther east. Much monev would have 
 
136 
 
 been saved if this experience could have directed former, operations. Hence¬ 
 forward the working of the mines will be in great degree governed by this idea. 
 The gentle slope to the east, on the surface, of the eastern country facilitates 
 greatly this method of exploration. 
 
 Yet all these improvements cannot prevent the profits derived from ores of 
 the present average yield becoming, in course of time, gradually less and at last 
 insufficient to cover the increasing expenses. Shafts must be sunk to greater 
 depths; and the power required for hoisting the ore increases in a rapid 
 ratio. It will be more and more difficult to secure thorough ventilation, and 
 to get rid of the heat and moisture of the air in depth. But more than all 
 this, the water in the mines will be a growing impediment. The power of 
 pumping-machinery is being increased constantly, and the amounts paid for 
 keeping the mines dry have already attained a high figure. At the same time 
 other heavy expenses remain stationary, such as hauling the ores to the reduc¬ 
 tion works. The cost of reduction on Carson river, by water power, is not more 
 than five dollars per ton ; but is increased to eleven dollars by the cost of haul¬ 
 ing the ores from the mines. The mills in the vicinity of the mines are worked 
 by steam power, and, though hauling to them costs only one dollar to one dollar 
 and fifty cents a ton, yet the aggregate expense is the same as in the former 
 case. The total costs per ton at the mine, if it is very productive, are not less 
 than seven dollars per ton, and as in most cases a considerable profit has to be 
 paid to the owners of reduction works, the lowest limit of profitable working is 
 a yield of twenty-five dollars per ton, with the application of an imperfect 
 method of reduction, and no reasonable profits can be expected from ores which 
 yield less than thirty dollars per ton. 
 
 If some means could be devised to lower the expenses of freight to Carson 
 river, where, besides the considerable water-power, steam-power is much cheaper 
 than near Virginia and Gold Hill, and if at the same time the expenses of work¬ 
 ing the mines could be reduced, the extraction of such ores as are far beneath the 
 present average would then become profitable, and the gains from the latter 
 would greatly increase. 
 
 The only possible way of attaining these results is the construction of a deep 
 adit-level or dram tunnel, as it is called by the Whshoe miners. There is 
 probably no silver mine in the world which offers so great facilities and induce¬ 
 ments for the performance of such a work. It is proved that an adit-level of 
 
not more than twenty thousand feet in length would strike the Comstock vein 
 about one thousand nine hundred feet vertically below its outcroppings. The 
 construction of the work would be comparatively easy, as the rock to be perfo¬ 
 rated is far superior to the average of rocks through which adit-levels have been 
 constructed in other countries, in respect to tjie ease with which they can be 
 excavated. The importance of “drain tunnels” for mines in general has lately 
 been demonstrated repeatedly and illustrated by numerous examples from other 
 countries, in reference to the execution of the work of this kind contemplated 
 for the Comstock vein. I will therefore not dwell here on this subject, but will 
 simply state the various reasons why it appears to me to be the only way of 
 securing the future profitable productiveness of the Comstock mines, and will 
 try to show what additional benefits may be derived from the speedy execution 
 of this work. 
 
 1st. The greatest benefit would be, the drainage of the mines, which, by 
 branches north and south, could be effected throughout the whole length of the 
 vein. The amount which is expended for it at the present time will, with the 
 further application of pumps, increase constantly, and so absorb alone all the 
 profits. Adits at upper levels drain usually but a small portion of the vein, as 
 intervening clay-seams retain the water in reservoirs, which have to be tapped 
 in order to be drained. This inconvenience will doubtless cease with the turn 
 of the vein to its regular dip and course, as the clay-seams within the body of 
 the vein will then probably only continue in or near the ravines. Every portion 
 between two ravines will have most likely to be drained by a separate branch 
 from the adit. 
 
 2d. An adit will allow work to be continued to the unusual depth of at least 
 twenty-four hundred feet. Exploration and exploitation will be equally easy 
 and inexpensive as the principal impediments to deep working will be removed. 
 
 3d. The removal of the ore, in particular, from the mines will be easy, expe¬ 
 ditious, and cheap, since no more hoisting by application of steam-power will be 
 required, but all the ore can be carried out on cars through the adit; the inclina¬ 
 tion of the lode of forty-five degrees will make the dumping of the ore into the 
 adit-level convenient. 
 
 4th. The adit will give vent to a perpetual flow of water. It would be haz¬ 
 ardous to undertake to calculate its amount. But if it is taken into considera¬ 
 tion, that the water from a few adits above and back of the outcrops of the 
 
Comstock vein gives at present a sufficient flow for the wants of Virginia City 
 and Gold Hill, and the adits to the Comstock mines at high levels furnish an 
 additional supply for the requirements of all the reduction works near Virginia, 
 Gold Hill, Silver City, and Johntown, a stream of greater volume may be expected 
 from the depth of nineteen hundred feet, and it will be considerably increased 
 by the drainage of the country between the mouth of the adit and the Comstock 
 vein. As there is a difference in elevation of about two hundred feet between 
 the former and Carson river, the water may be made available for the erection 
 of reduction works all along its course after it has left the adit. The cars carry¬ 
 ing the ores from the mines may empty their contents immediately at the differ¬ 
 ent mills, and thus the amounts of freight be avoided, which at the present 
 contribute to render the reduction of the ores expensive. Steam-power on Car- 
 son River, as aforesaid, is cheaper than in the vicinity of the mines, but will 
 scarcely b.e required to great extent on account of the water-power of Carson 
 river. 
 
 5th. A thorough ventilation of the mines will be effected by the adit, and the 
 working thus accelerated and facilitated, and the decay of timbers diminished. 
 
 6th. A very important result of the construction of the adit would be the 
 thorough exploration of the Comstock vein in those parts which up to the 
 present have been unproductive. On all the mines between the Opliir and 
 Gould and Curry, work has been discontinued and will probably not be resumed 
 for a long time. North of the Opliir, where the character of the vein and the 
 bold outcroppings on Cedar Hill appear, from analogy, to justify expectations of 
 success, the explorations have always been very limited, and stockholders will 
 soon be deterred from further investment by the expense required for deep ex¬ 
 plorations, if favorable indications at the present levels should not encourage 
 them more than heretofore. The most unlucky portion of the whole Comstock 
 vein has been American Flat, of which stock-speculation took a fatal hold. 
 About one hundred locations were made all over the broad belt in which the sev¬ 
 eral branches of the Comstock vein come to the surface, and quite as many 
 “mines” opened. Far more than one million of dollars has been expended on 
 these, but no decided result was obtained, on account of the scattered and super¬ 
 ficial character of the work. The same outlay of money spent in a thorough 
 and systematic exploration at one place would have sufficed for a thorough devel¬ 
 opment, and the nature of that part of the lode would be known. But there is 
 
no prospect of such a work being undertaken. A complete discouragement 
 followed suddenly the greatest excitement, and the mines have been almost 
 entirely abandoned. Other reasons will retard the resumption of work, as, 
 besides the expenditure which the adjustment of the numberless conflicting titles 
 would require, the indications at upper levels are not encouraging. The vein is 
 unusually wide, the diverging branches being about one thousand feet distant on 
 the surface. The place where both walls descend parallel to the east, will 
 -therefore be at greater depth than in other portions of the vein, and exploring 
 work ought to descend at once to about eight hundred feet. The deep adit will 
 not only explore’ all these unproductive parts of the vein at a depth of nineteen 
 hundred feet, but also facilitate the examination of its entire body from that 
 depth to the surface. 
 
 7th. Another advantage of the adit will be the exploration of the country 
 from its mouth to the Comstock vein, which may possibly result in considerable 
 profits. The line of the proposed adit is crossed by two belts of metalliferous 
 veins, one to the east of the trachytic range, the other to the west of it. The former 
 is at a short distance from the mouth of the tunnel, the other about two miles 
 west of it. The latter will be cut about sixteen hundred feet below the surface. 
 It contains several veins, among which the Monte Cristo, Occidental, and St. 
 John are best known. The belt continues to the vicinity of Silver City. At 
 many places the outcrops were found rich in gold and silver, and at present 
 some ore from them is said to be worked with profit. These veins have never 
 been thoroughly explored, but the appearance of their outcrops justifies the 
 expectation of their ore-bearing character in depth. 
 
 The disadvantages of working the Comstock mines with the present system 
 to considerably greater depth, compared with the great benefits which would 
 result from the construction of a deep adit, are so self-evident as indeed to make 
 the speedy execution of this work a question of vital importance to the future pro¬ 
 ductiveness of these mines. In the former case, the treasures buried in the unex¬ 
 plored depths of the vein will be valueless, in the other they will be a lasting 
 source of wealth, for the owners of the mines, for the population of Washoe, 
 and that portion of the community at large which depends more or less on the 
 products of the Comstock vein. The amounts poured out by the latter to the 
 imperfectly explored depth of five hundred feet, besides those which are still 
 known to exist above this level, are such as to render insignificant the disburse- 
 
140 
 
 ment required for the execution of a work which will not only thoroughly ex¬ 
 plore the entire vein at a deep level, but allow the works to descend two thousand 
 feet below their present lowest levels with comparative ease. The future yield 
 of the mine, as argued before, is not to be expected from other concentrated 
 bodies of rich ores, but from large accumulations of middle-grade and poor ores, 
 which cannot be profitably extracted but after the completion of a deep adit. 
 We consider its execution as the only possible way of securing the future pro¬ 
 ductiveness and profitable working of the Comstock vein. 
 
Report of the Mechanics’ Institute, 
 
 OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY AT THE REGULAR MEETING OP 
 APRIL 4th, 1867. 
 
 19 
 

REPORT ON THE SUTRO TUNNEL 
 
 The Mechanics’ Institute, of San Francisco, California, on the 1th of March, 
 1867, appointed a special Committee , consisting of Wm. T. Lewis, Chairman , 
 Archibald Cooper and P, M. Randall, for the purpose of investigating the 
 Sutro Tunnel Project , who made the following report , which was unanimously 
 adopted at the regular meeting of the Association , held April 4 ih, 1867 : 
 
 DISCOVERY OF SILVER IN NEVADA, 
 
 In June, 1859, Peter O’Reilley and Patrick McLaughlin, while engaged in 
 gold washing on a spot which is now the property of the Ophir Company, dis¬ 
 covered a heavy black substance, which, upon examination, was found to contain 
 sulphurets of silver of the highest value. 
 
 It was ascertained that this substance was a portion of the vast deposit of 
 silver and gold-hearing ore, now known as the Comstock Lode, so called from a 
 miner named Comstock, interested in the first purchase of the adjoining ground. 
 
 An excitement unparalleled since the first discovery of gold in California fol¬ 
 lowed ; speculators and miners from California crossed the Sierra Nevada Moun¬ 
 tains, and rushed to the new mines. Locations Were made for miles on the sup¬ 
 posed course of the lode, and the flourishing towns of Virginia City and Gold 
 Hill sprung up; the former named after one James Finney, a native of the 
 State of Virginia, who was known among his fellows by the soubriquet of “Old 
 Virginia.” 
 
 Under rules formed by the miners, similar to those long in use in California, 
 each miner was allowed to locate 200 feet on the length of the lode. These loca¬ 
 tions were afterwards transferred to companies, and comprises the ground now 
 belonging to the Ophir, Mexican, Gould & Curry, Savage, Hale & Norcross, Im¬ 
 perial, Yellow Jacket, Crown Point and many other companies not so well 
 known. 
 
144 
 
 YIELD OF BULLION. 
 
 These mines have now a world-wide reputation; the yield of the precious 
 metals from the Comstock Lode far exceeds that of any other locality. 
 
 The annual produce for the past five years has been, in round numbers, as 
 
 follows : 
 
 1862 .$ 4,000,000 
 
 1863 .-. 12,000,000 
 
 1864. 16,000,000 
 
 1865 . 15,000,000 
 
 1866 . 16,000,000 
 
 Total produce in five years.$ 63,000,000 
 
 The total annual production of silver in the world in 1854 is stated by Pro¬ 
 fessor Whitney at $47,443,200. The bullion obtained from the Comstock Lode 
 in 1866 is, therefore, equal to more than one-third in value of all the silver pro¬ 
 duced in 1854. Mexico, in its most flourishing days, from 1795 to 1810, pro¬ 
 duced an annual average of $24,000,000 from several thousand mines. After 
 1810, when the Revolution took place, the yield of the mines fell in some years 
 to as low a figure as $4,500,000, but the average from 1810 to 1825 shows 
 $10,000,000. At the present time the entire product of Mexico does not exceed 
 that of the Comstock Lode. 
 
 The celebrated mines of Potosi averaged about $4,000,000 per annum for 
 300 years ; those on the Yeta Madre (mother vein) of Guanajuato, about 
 $3,000,000 for an equal period, and the mines of the Real del Monte Company, 
 on the Biscanya vein, in Mexico, $400,000 for the last 110 3 r ears, or a total 
 of $44,000,000—a less amount than has been obtained from the Comstock Lode 
 in the last three years. 
 
 PROFITS IN MINING. 
 
 The immense yield of bullion from the Comstock Lode will lead one to sup¬ 
 pose that the profits realized by the owners have been proportional to the yield, 
 but this has not been the case. 
 
 It is true that the value of bullion obtained by some companies has greatly 
 exceeded the current expenses ; as, for example, the Gould & Curry, the net 
 
145 
 
 profits of which amount to over $3,000,000. But some other companies have 
 expended large sums of money and realized little, and some nothing at all. We 
 have no accurate figures for the earlier years; but, comparing the dividends 
 with the assessments levied, we find that the aggregate produce of the mines 
 has been swallowed up by expenses. In 1865, the dividends paid amount to 
 $1,900,000, and the assessments levied to $1,950,000, or $50,000 more than 
 the dividends. 
 
 In 1866, the dividends paid were $1,794,400; the assessments levied, 
 $1,232,380. Dividends over assessments, $562,020. In the first years of 
 operations on the Comstock Lode, the expenditures for machinery, which had to 
 be transported from California across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, for the 
 erection of costly reduction works, and for other permanent improvements, 
 together with the extravagant prices paid for reducing ores in a very imperfect 
 manner, absorbed nearly the whole produce. Latterly, the only increase of 
 expense has been in mining operations ; as greater depths were reached, a large 
 amount of prospecting or dead work had to be done, and additions made to the 
 pumping and hoisting machinery, almost counterbalancing the reduction in the 
 cost of crushing the ore, of labor, and of freight, and we consequently find, that 
 the aggregate profits of the mines at the end of the last year bear but a small 
 ratio to the production. 
 
 The cost of labor and of reducing ores will gradually diminish from year to 
 year, and on the completion of the Central Pacific Bailroad from Sacramento to 
 the valley of the Truckee river, which will certainly be effected in the year 
 1868, the price of transportation from San Francisco to the mines will not be 
 more than one-third of the average rates heretofore paid. But we do not 
 believe that any reduction of expenses on these items which can be made will 
 be sufficient to meet the increased cost of working the mines after a few years, 
 when greater depths are attained, if the present system of pumping out the 
 water, and of raising the ore and refuse through shafts to the surface is con¬ 
 tinued. 
 
 STEAM ENGINES. 
 
 In the late report of B. H. Stretch, Esq., State Mineralogist of Nevada, we 
 find it stated that forty-seven steam engines are now in oporation on the Com¬ 
 stock Lode, which answer all the present requirements; but every addition to 
 
the depth demands additional power, correspondent augmentation of capital 
 invested in machinery, and a larger annual demand for fuel. The little wood 
 there was originally in the vicinity of Virginia City was long since exhausted ; 
 it has now to he obtained almost exclusively from the eastern slope of the Sierra 
 Nevada Mountains, and as the nearer timber is destroyed, it must be hauled a 
 greater distance and at an increased price. 
 
 If we take into consideration the cost of machinery, of annual additions and 
 repairs, and of consumption of fuel, wages of employes, delays caused by break¬ 
 ing of pumps, expense of explorations, obstacles in securing good ventilation 
 and increase of heat with the depth, and the financial result of past years, we 
 are forced to the conclusion that the mode now adopted of working these mines 
 cannot long he prosecuted with profit to the owners. 
 
 The result of similar operations in other countries, as furnished by Humboldt, 
 Ward, St. Clair Duport, and other writers, conveys an instructive lesson for 
 persons interested in mining enterprises. These authorities agree, that mining 
 from the surface must always prove suicidal to the interests of the owners when 
 the position of the mines will allow the construction of adits or tunnels, which 
 will drain the water, ventilate the mines, and diminish the cost of removing the 
 ore and valueless material. 
 
 ALEXANDER YON HUMBOLDT. 
 
 Humboldt in his “Essay Politique sur la Nouvelle Espagne,” published in 
 1811, in reference to the Veta Madre of Guanajuato, a lode much resembling 
 the Comstock, exclaims: 
 
 “It is, indeed, strange that mines of such richness have no tunnels for drain¬ 
 ing when the neighboring ravines of Cata and Marfil, and the plains of Tumas- 
 catio, which are below the level of the lowest works of the Valenciana mine, 
 would seem to invite the miner to commence works which would serve for 
 drainage and at the same time afford facilities for transporting materials to the 
 smelting and amalgamation works.” 
 
 A gentleman of intelligence, whom Humboldt questioned in regard to this 
 want of wisdom, replied, “that the excavation of a general tunnel would be a 
 work very expensive, and perhaps impossible, on account of the want of union 
 among the proprietors of the different mines." 
 
147 
 
 THE VALENCIANA MINE. 
 
 Upon this lode is located the celebrated Valeneiana mine, which, according to 
 Humboldt, was first opened by Obregon, a young Spaniard, who, without means, 
 commenced prospecting on a part of the vein which up to that time had been 
 unproductive. 
 
 After undergoing many privations, he at last struck an immense body of ore, 
 from which alone was extracted, from the first of January, 1787, to the 11th of 
 June, 1791, the sum of $14,764,492 of silver, out of 134,988 tons of ore. 
 Seilor Obregon, afterwards known as the Count of Valeneiana, became the 
 richest man in Mexico, and probably in the world, at that time. As greater 
 depths were attained, the increase of expense became such, that the mine ceased 
 to yield a profit, and before the breaking out of the revolution in 1810, it was 
 allowed to fill with earth and water. In 1825, this mine, together with many 
 others, fell into the hands of a wealthy English company, who expended twenty- 
 one months in draining it of water, but the expenses of mining and pumping were 
 so great that after some years the lower works were again abandoned. 
 
 THE COUNT OF REGLA. 
 
 The most remarkable and disastrous experience made by any foreign company 
 in Mexico, has been that of the English Real del Monte Company. 
 
 They became, in the year 1823, the possessors of the Biscanya and several 
 other veins, the former having been worked for many years, and having yielded 
 large amounts of silver, prior to 1749. At that date an intelligent miner, 
 named Bustamente, concluded to run an adit, or tunnel, in order to effect their 
 drainage. He labored long and patiently, and was supplied with means by Hon 
 Pedro Terreros, who continued the work after the decease of Bustamente. In 
 1759 the vein was reached, after running a tunnel 9,000 feet in length, cutting 
 the vein at a depth of 600 feet beneath the surface, and exposing to view an 
 immense body of ore. Terreros, in the twelve succeeding years, drew from his 
 mines a clear profit of $6,000,000; he obtained the title of “Count of Regia” by 
 the munificence of his donations to the Court of Madrid; he presented Charles 
 III with two ships of the line, (one of 112 guns, constructed at Havana of 
 the most costly materials,) and accommodated him besides with a loan of 
 $1,000,000, no part of which has been repaid. 
 
148 
 
 His successor, the second Count, continued the working of the mines, but not 
 with equal profit, for the upper portions of the vein being worked out, he was 
 compelled to go below the adit, and the water encountered required 1,200 horses 
 to pump it out, at an annual expense of $250,000. After struggling for many 
 years, and after a depth of 324 feet under the adit had been reached, the work 
 was abandoned, and the mine allowed to fill with water. 
 
 THE ENGLISH REAL'DEL MONTE COMPANY. 
 
 It was in this state when the English Real del Monte Company took posses¬ 
 sion; they expected, by substituting powerful steam machinery for the horse 
 whims, which had been employed by the Mexicans, to make the mines again 
 profitable. The result, however, was very disastrous, for in the 23 years they 
 held the mines the expenditures were $15,381,633; while the total yield was 
 $10,481,475, showing a loss of nearly $5,000,000. 
 
 They first erected two steam engines of 36 inch cylinders each, which freed 
 the mine from water to a depth of 324 feet under the adit; at this point another 
 one was required and erected, of 54 inch cylinder, by which the working was 
 carried to 724 feet under the adit; but here again the engines were overpowered, 
 and still another engine of 75 inch cylinder was erected. 
 
 REPORT OF MR. BUCHAN. 
 
 Mr. John Buchan, the Superintendent of the mine, in one of his reports, made 
 in 1852, says: 
 
 “After the mine had reached a depth of 710 feet under the adit, (1,310 feet 
 below the surface,) the difficulties of drainage had so increased, both from aug¬ 
 mented quantity of water and the greater height to raise it to the point of dis¬ 
 charge, that three powerful steam engines could barely stem the coming waters 
 of the mine. 
 
 “With the increased difficulty of drainage, seeing three bunches of ore worked 
 out, and a debt of $5,000,000 still outstanding, it is not surprising that the 
 energy and perseverance of the English adventurers were at last exhausted. 
 
 “Had the company prosecuted a projected deeper drain tunnel, it would have 
 secured the continued prosperity of the mines for many years to come. It will 
 be remembered that the first Count of Regia distinguished himself and made 
 
149 
 
 the fortune of his family, by driving the present adit; the second Count readied 
 down 324 feet below it, being the limit to which the mines could be worked 
 with profit by horse-power drainage. The English Company, by the powerful 
 aid of steam machinery, carried down the workings to 720 feet below the adit; 
 but here we find another limit to profitable working, as the deeper excavations 
 of the Biscanya vein are again abandoned to fill with water. 
 
 '‘A deeper adit, which had to be driven a distance of 13,500 feet, had 
 been commenced by the second Count. The English Company, unfortunately, 
 adopted the more speedy plan, as it was supposed, of employing steam engines 
 instead of the slower but surer plan of driving home the deep adit, which could 
 have been done with the investment of but little more capital than that expend¬ 
 ed in applying steam engines, and would no doubt have given a very different 
 turn to the fortunes of that company.” 
 
 FINANCIAL HISTORY. 
 
 Mr. W. P. Robertson thus relates the financial history of this company : 
 
 “The London Real del Monte Company commenced working on a magnificent 
 scale ; then, under the influence of a panic, suddenly deserted, in the most critical 
 time, their judicious and indefatigable agent at the mine, and the result has been 
 unmitigated ruin. The mania in London at the time (1823 to 1825) was so 
 strong and so general that no expenditure was for a moment grudged. People 
 thought they were laying out tens to receive back thousands ; so they paid up 
 th eir tens with surprising alacrity. The management in London of many of the 
 new companies under the reaction was miserably bad, and, in the end, many of 
 the shareholders were completely ruined and retired to cottages, there to abandon 
 forever their ‘Chateaux en Espagne.’ ” 
 
 PRICE OF SHARES. 
 
 “In 1825, the late Mr. Kinder, the enthusiastic leader of the Real del Monte 
 Company, was offered $8,000 for each of his thirty shares of $500 paid up in that 
 concern ; he refused to sell—that is, he would not take $240,000 for what had 
 cost him $15,000. The reaction set in, and down went all shares. In 1845-46, 
 those of Real del Monte were to be had at $12 50 each ; that is, Mr. Kinder’s 
 thirty shares, which in 1825 were worth $240,000, had gradually dwindled 
 20 
 
150 
 
 down to $375 ! The company was all but bankrupt; no more assessments were 
 listened to; and the debts could not be paid with unsaleable engines, though 
 though they kept up their steam, nor yet with stones, although silver was in 
 them. The shares have since gone to nil; no one will have them, fenced in as 
 they are with unknown responsibilities and debts. In vain did their new, 
 active, intelligent and enterprising, though prudent manager and agent, Mr. 
 Buchan, write to the shareholders to take heart and not to throw away their 
 property. They had been panic-stricken in the first instance, they had got sick 
 of the business in the second, and in this last and most helpless fit, they entered 
 into negotiations for the sale of the property to a Mexican Company. A bar¬ 
 gain was struck, and the perpetual lease of Real del Monte, with everything on 
 it, passed from the hands of the Real del Monte bond-holders for an old song. 
 The entire sum paid was $130,000 for a business on which $7,000,000 had first 
 and last been expended, and even of the mite to be recovered, three-fourths 
 were not to go into the hands of the bond-holders at all, but were to be appro¬ 
 priated in Real del Monte itself, in the liquidation of sums still due to the 
 servants of the old company. What a winding up! Shares once worth $8,000 
 each, now not worth thirty cents! and the actual movable property on the 
 estate, in houses, workshops, machinery, crushing establishment, timber, wood, 
 iron implements, utensils, steam engines, horses, horned cattle, mules, and many 
 valuable miscellaneous materials, must be worth altogether some millions of 
 dollars. The house of Regia alone cost a million and a half, and now is valued 
 at a million of dollars—all gone for $130,000 ! 
 
 VALUABLE LESSON. 
 
 “Thus did Real del Monte pass from the Counts of Regia in Mexico, and thus 
 has it passed from tne luckless shareholders in London—the first paying the 
 penalty of personal extravagance, the other an equally severe one of wild specu¬ 
 lation and injudicious management. It is now in wiser hands than theirs, and 
 prosperity dawns again on this almost national establishment or colony.” 
 
 This history of the Real del Monte mine teaches a valuable lesson, confirmed 
 by the result of almost every similar enterprise in Mexico. They show that 
 after a certain depth has been reached, and no drain tunnels constructed, the 
 mines have been abandoned and the proprietors ruined, 
 
St. Clair Duport, who published a work on the mines of Mexico in 1843, 
 gives a general sketch of mining operations, which is a perfect representation of 
 recent experiences in California and Nevada. He says : 
 
 “OPENING A MINE. 
 
 “By accident, somebody discovers, guided by the croppings elevated above 
 the soil, quartz containing some metal. He exposes some pieces to white heat, 
 and if he discovers thereon globules, or pearls of silver, he takes up the claim. 
 The discoverer now seeks partners with capital to work his claim, as generally 
 the means of one man are not sufficient for such an enterprise. At first they 
 generally seek to extract the ore by following down on the vein, and open a 
 number of shafts along its course; but in the same ratio as these shafts increase 
 in depth the water increases too ; galleries and new shafts become necessary, 
 and finally, as is generally the case when the largest portion of the yield has 
 been expended in such operations, particularly in mines which are not extraor¬ 
 dinarily rich in minerals, the work has to stop on account of bad air and 
 abundance of water, the improvements being of no further use. 
 
 “The owners now look for new partners ; if the vein presents probabilities of 
 richness at a greater depth, persons can be found who, for a portion of the stock, 
 generally for half, advance the necessary means which is to be repaid out of the 
 first yield of the mine. 
 
 “LA BONANZA.” 
 
 “After the water has been removed, and the shafts and galleries are made, 
 and really rich ore is found, then commences the good time of the mine. 
 Arrived at a depth where silver generally is abundant, and where the expenses 
 to bring the water and ore to the surface are not too meat, minino is a oood 
 paying business ; that is what is called in the miner’s language ‘la bonanza .’ 
 This time is hoped for with ardent desire, not only by the owners of the mine, 
 and the miners employed, but also by the entire neighborhood. In this case 
 labor, and all necessary articles for mining, are in demand, and well paid for ; 
 the money earned with ease is spent freely, and everybody in the whole minino 
 region having any claims is full of hopes to strike it equally rich. The buikk 
 ings lor the reduction of ores are now erected, and very often in a style alto¬ 
 gether too costly for their use. Next underground works are constructed to 
 
facilitate the hoisting of ore and water. In case the mines in ‘ bonanza belong 
 to private individuals, these works are executed on a substantial basis, with a 
 view of usefulness for the future. But in most cases, when a mine is divided 
 amongst a number of shareholders, they present such a diversity of ideas, that 
 they often cannot agree upon anything at all, except to extract the most money 
 from their mine in the shortest time possible, without even looking ahead for a 
 few months. For this reason we cannot find one single well-worked gallery in 
 such mines. The richest ore is torn from the mine, and less rich ore remains 
 untouched, to be taken out when l la bonanza ceases. It is difficult to under¬ 
 stand why in times of prosperity a small portion of the yield is not spent to 
 make new developments. 
 
 ABANDONMENT OF THE MINE. 
 
 “The pay streak once traversed, and the increased depth rendering the price 
 of extraction too considerable, the ‘ bonanza ceases. The less rich ore left in 
 the mine is now taken out, and one of the greatest expenses being the keeping 
 down of the water, the lower qualities of ore are abandoned. 
 
 “The reserved middle class of ores will pay expenses to explore the mine for 
 awhile, but the time arrives when a day’s work, or the value of a pound of ore, 
 ceases to pay, and the mine is thereafter entirely abandoned.” 
 
 The author of the above description of mining operations in Mexico, written ' 
 twenty-five years ago, could not have given a more truthful account of operations 
 on the Comstock Lode had he spent the last six or seven years in Virginia City. 
 Our mining companies have been pursuing exactly the same course, and have 
 followed in the foot-steps of their Mexican predecessors. Ruin of the owners 
 and- abandonment of the mines has been the result there ; ruin and abandon¬ 
 ment must follow upon the suicidal course pursued here. 
 
 MINING IN EUROPE. 
 
 If we turn to Europe, however, we find that mining is carried on with intelli¬ 
 gence, economy, and with a view to permanency. In England but few mines 
 are located at any considerable elevation above sea level, and deep drainage by 
 adits is impossible. But each mine has its adit, however small its depth may 
 be beneath the surface, and in stating the depth of shafts in England they are 
 given from the adit downwards; what is above the adit is not counted at all. 
 
153* 
 
 The most remarkable work of this kind in Great Britain is the great adit m 
 
 Cornwall, of which an English writer says: 
 
 “The advantages of working mines by adits are well shown at the ^3niter 
 mines, near Redruth, where an adit has been driven, commencing onh a lev 
 feet above the sea level, which, with its branches, has a length of from thirty to 
 forty miles, and a depth under the mines of from 180 to 420 feet. E} 
 means of this work a saving in the consumption of coal is effected amounting 
 to 24,000 tons per annum. This magnificent undertaking was completed in 
 1768.’’ 
 
 MINES IN GERMANY. 
 
 The mines in Germany present by far the finest field for studying mining 
 operations, reduced to a science. There mining schools and learned professors 
 have for years prepared young men, who were to be placed in charge of mines, 
 with a thorough knowledge of all the varied branches required of mining en¬ 
 gineers. It is owing quite as much to intelligent management as to the low 
 rate of wages that mines are profitably worked in Germany, which would be 
 considered valueless in California or Nevada. There we see the most complete 
 systems of drainage and ventilation, and mines placed beyond the usual contin¬ 
 gencies of such enterprises, yielding nearly uniform dividends, and regarded by 
 capitalists as good security for investment. 
 
 THE FREIBERG DISTRICT. 
 
 Some years since it was proposed to drain the Freiberg mining district by an 
 adit-level of the extraordinary length of twenty-four miles, which would cut the 
 vein at a mean depth of 2,000 feet. This plan was vigorously supported by 
 Von Beust and other eminent mining- engineers, and received the sanction of the 
 Saxon Government. This gigantic work has not yet been commenced, but a 
 deep adit is now being driven, which will drain the mines 400 feet below the 
 present deepest natural drainage, and will have a length of a little over eight 
 miles. It is eight feet wide, nearly ten feet high, and rises in the whole distance 
 twelve feet six inches. 
 
 In the Harz district some mines have attained an immense depth. The mine 
 of Andreasberg has a depth of 2,450 feet, being one of the deepest mines in 
 the world; adits have been run there for centuries, the largest of which was 
 completed three years ago. 
 
154 
 
 THE ERNST AUGUST TUNNEL. 
 
 We make the following condensed extracts from a report made by Dr. 
 Geissler, concerning this great work, called the Ernst August Tunnel, after the 
 late King of Hanover: 
 
 “On the 22d of June, 1864, a drain tunnel was completed which may be 
 called the greatest work of the kind ever executed. To explain its objects and 
 importance it will be necessary to give the following details: 
 
 “The mines of the Harz were about to be abandoned, or, more properly 
 speaking, about to he drowned out by water beyond redemption. In the course 
 of time the explorations in those mines went deeper and deeper, until they 
 reached a depth of 2,000 feet. While the higher situated galleries ceased to 
 yield pay ore in sufficient quantity, the exceedingly rich ores discovered in the 
 lowest levels could not be reached on account of great bodies of water, which 
 pumps and engines could not master, and the lower levels had to be, for the time 
 being, abandoned. 
 
 OLD TUNNELS. 
 
 “There have been drain tunnels in the Harz for a long time, which were used 
 as canals for the transportation of ores. Already at the commencement of the 
 sixteenth century mechanical means to remove the water from the mines were 
 insufficient, and drain tunnels were constructed at that early period. The first 
 tunnel was commenced in 1525, another in 1548, one in 1551, and still another 
 in 1573. By aid of these tunnels mining was continued in those districts for 
 200 years, but about the middle of the last century it became difficult again to 
 master the water. 
 
 “In 1799 another deep tunnel—having a length, including galleries, of 57,000 
 feet, or nearly eleven miles—was completed. But this also, afterwards, was 
 considered insufficient for future purposes, for notwithstanding additional engines 
 might have been used for a while, their dimensions and cost in mines which had 
 reached such an enormous depth would have been very great. And, after all, 
 the surest and cheapest way for water to be removed is by its natural flow; the 
 engines have enough to do in pumping the water up to the Ernst August Tun¬ 
 nel, as that gives the deepest natural drainage which can ever be obtained. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE ERNST AUGUST TUNNEL. 
 
 “In 1850, after careful surveys and due consideration, the construction of the 
 Ernst August Tunnel was resolved upon; it was to commence at Gittelde, a 
 little town at the foot of the Harz mountains, and it was estimated that twenty- 
 two years would be required for its completion, but it only took a little over half 
 that time, for it was entirely completed in twelve years and eleven months. 
 Nine shafts had been sunk, from which eighteen galleries or drifts were run, and 
 one from the mouth, so that the work progressed from nineteen different points. 
 The connections were made with such perfection that they could not be recog¬ 
 nized after they were completed. 
 
 “This tunnel has a uniform fall of 5 4-10 inches to each 630 feet, or 1 in 
 1,400; its height is 8 feet 3 inches; its width, 5 feet 6 inches, and its shape 
 that of an egg. The water has a sufficient depth to allow the use of long flat 
 boats, for the transportation of ore. A part of the water course is covered over, 
 to be used as a side walk for the miners.” 
 
 NECESSITY OF A TUNNEL TO THE COMSTOCK LODE. 
 
 We have thus far reviewed the results of mining experience where drain tun¬ 
 nels have not been, and where they have been constructed, and the conclusion 
 your committee arrives at is, that a deep drain tunnel to the Comstock Lode will 
 not only greatly facilitate mining operations , but it is an absolute necessity; the 
 sooner it is constructed the more benefit will be derived therefrom , and without it 
 nothing is more certain than the abandonment of those mines before the lapse of 
 many years. 
 
 The necessity of the tunnel having been sufficiently demonstrated, it remains 
 to show that the ore which will probably be obtained from these mines will 
 justify the cost of construction. 
 
 BARON RICHTHOFEN. 
 
 The first question to be examined is, whether the ore in the Comstock Lode 
 extends to an unlimited depth. This question has been so ably handled by 
 Baron Richthofen, an eminent geologist of the highest European reputation, that 
 we content ourselves by giving some extracts from a letter written by him upon 
 
156 
 
 this subject, in February, 1865, and published in one of the pamphlets issued 
 by the Sutro Tunnel Company. For a more detailed account of the geology of 
 the Washoe country we refer to bis able report, to be seen on the tables of this 
 Institute. 
 
 CONTINUITY OF THE COMSTOCK LODE. 
 
 The learned Baron says: “The value of a deep tunnel will, of course, chiefly 
 depend upon the question whether these mines will ever be worked to consider¬ 
 able depth; that is, whether the Comstock vein will extend far down, and 
 whether it will retain its metalliferous character in depth. Both questions will 
 have to be decided from the study of the structure and nature of the Comstock 
 vein, and from comparing the results with the observations at such mines in 
 other countries which have already been worked to great depth. My experience 
 on the Comstock vein is based on close and repeated examinations of nearly all 
 the mines on its course. I believe I concur with almost everybody who has 
 had equal experience about them, in the opinion, that it is a true fissure vein, of 
 extraordinary length, and extending downward much further than any mining 
 works will ever be able to be carried on. It would be too lengthy to enumerate 
 the various reasons which lead most positively to this conclusion. It is now 
 assumed almost universally as a fact, and the number of those who consider it 
 as a gash-vein, or a system of gash-veins, is fast diminishing. 
 
 “As to the downward continuance of the ore-bearing character, every instance 
 goes to show that the average yield in precious metals remains about the same 
 at every depth. Some mines had accumulations of ore near the surface, (Ophir, 
 Mexican, Gold Hill;) in others, they commenced very near under the surface, 
 (Gould & Curry, Potosi, Yellow Jacket, Belcher;) at others, again, considerable 
 work had to be done before bodies of ore of any amount were struck, (Chollar, 
 the southern part of Gold Hill, Uncle Sam, and others,) and some which had no ' 
 ore heretofore, appear to have good prospects to find it soon. The fact that some 
 rich bodies of ore, which were found near the surface, gave out at a depth of a 
 few hundred feet, induced the common belief that the Comstock vein was be-' 
 coming poorer in its lower parts. But the explorations of the last few months 
 have entirely defeated this opinion. On the contrary, the enormous amount of 
 bullion which is being produced by the jnines at present may almost appear to 
 prove that the vein is improving in depth. But this conclusion is probably 
 
equally fallacious, as it must be borne in mind that many mines have been 
 developed at different levels, and ore is being extracted from several of those. 
 Hoisting works and the mode of extracting the ore have also been improved, 
 and of course help to increase the daily produce. This average equality of the 
 produce of the vein at different levels is not only true for the amount of ore extract¬ 
 ed, but also for its yield. The rich body of ore in the Ophir and Mexican mines 
 forms the only exception to this rule, as none of equal average per centage in sil¬ 
 ver and gold has been found again. Even the relative proportion of gold and silver 
 in the ore has not undergone any material change, though the bullion, on account 
 of the more imperfect process of reduction, contained at first proportionately 
 more gold than at present. 
 
 “There is no reason to doubt that the equality of the average produce and 
 yield throughout the entire length of the vein will continue downward to any 
 depth. Besides the very obvious theoretical conclusion, that vast amounts of 
 silver could not be carried into the fissure from the overlying or enclosing rocks, 
 but naturally had to rise from unknown depths, through the channel of the fis¬ 
 sure itself, to be deposited in it where the conditions for sublimation or precipi¬ 
 tation were given in its open space ; experience in other countries by no means 
 shows of a regular decrease or an increase in yield as of common occurrence, 
 though either of them may happen. More commonly, the produce of true 
 fissure veins in precious metals has been found to be about constant.” 
 
 The Baron wrote the above over two years ago. The explorations made since 
 that time in the Hale & Norcross and other mines, strongly confirm the views 
 expressed by him. 
 
 OPINION OF OTHER WRITERS. 
 
 Nearly all writers who have specially studied the question of the continuance 
 of mineral veins in depth, have arrived at the same conclusion. We will give 
 an extract upon this subject from an eminent French writer, M. Burat. He 
 says: 
 
 “In all countries where isolated veins are worked, a large number of them 
 have been abandoned and taken up again ; abandoned because accidents or bar¬ 
 ren streaks rendered the working burdensome; and afterwards taken up ana in, 
 when the\ have, by the aid of capital, been made productive mmes< r ihe same 
 veins have been declared to be rich or exhausted, for these reasons, at different 
 times; exhausted always when the owners were discouraged, and rich after the 
 21 
 
execution of further works had pierced the barren places. These are the facts, 
 of which we will relate several examples, and by which we intend to prove that 
 each re-working of a vein after an abandonment more or less long, bears witness 
 of the continuity of mineral veins in depth.” 
 
 Burat and other prominent writers recite numerous instances of this kind, but 
 we cannot give place to them in this report. 
 
 THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 The proposed tunnel begins 31 miles below Dayton, between Corral and 
 Webber Canons. The distance from the mouth of the tunnel to the Savage 
 works is a little over four miles, but as the Comstock Lode dips to the east, it 
 will be cut in 20,178. It will pass through'the different ledges in Silver Star 
 and other districts nearly at right angles. Allowing a grade of one inch in 100 
 feet, or four and four-tenths feet per mile, it will be 1,922 feet below the floor of 
 the Savage works. The topography of the country is admirably adapted for 
 sinking shafts, four of which are proposed to be put down. They will not only 
 supply the tunnel with fresh air, but will greatly expedite work, as drifts can he 
 run each way after reaching the grade of the tunnel. The distance of the first 
 shaft from the mouth of the tunnel is 4,070 feet—depth, 443 feet; second shaft 
 from first, 5,150 feet—depth 980 feet; third shaft from second, 4,060 feet— 
 depth, 1,436 feet; fourth shaft from third, 4,654 feet—depth, 1,360 feet; from 
 fourth shaft to Comstock Lode 2,244 feet—depth, 1,922 feet. These are con¬ 
 venient distances for working and ventilation. The mouth is about one and a 
 half miles from Carson river, and 150 feet above high water mark. There is a 
 gradual descent for about one-third of a mile, in which a fall of 100 feet is ob¬ 
 tained, giving sufficient area for dumping and mill-sites. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE TUNNEL. 
 
 The vertical section of the tunnel through rock not requiring any support is a 
 circle of twelve feet diameter, with offsets 31 feet from the bottom, about one 
 foot wide, which support the superstructure of the railroad track to be used for 
 removing ore and debris from the mine. The space under the superstructure is 
 for drawing the water from the lode. Where timber supports are required to 
 sustain the adjacent rock, the top is level, and ten feet wide, clear of the fram¬ 
 ing ;. height, eight feet to the bottom of the timbers supporting the railroad, 
 
159 
 
 where it is twelve feet wide in the clear. Below this there is a triangular space, 
 three feet seven inches in depth, forming the water way. 
 
 The estimates of the cost of construction have been Very ably discussed in a 
 lengthy report by Id. G. Carlyle, Esq., covering some 200 pages oi manuscnpt 
 and illustrated by numerous well-executed diagrams. Mr. Carlyle has resided 
 some years in Virginia City, when he was the Engineer of the Gould & Curry 
 Company, and appears to be perfectly familiar with everything connected with 
 mining in that country. The minuteness with which he goes into the details of 
 the proposed work, the elaborate calculations into which he enters, and the 
 scrupulous manner in which he weighs his conclusions, entitle his report to care¬ 
 ful consideration. 
 
 CHARACTER OF ROCKS. 
 
 It is impossible for us to give more thaii a condensed abstract of the results 
 he has obtained. The basis of his calculations is the experience of himself and 
 others in mining near Virginia City, and the statements ot Baron Richthofen in 
 regard to the character of the material encountered in the construction of the 
 tunnel. The Baron says : 
 
 “The facilities of excavating the tunnel would depend mainly upon the 
 quality of the rock through which it will pass. It is a remarkably fortunate 
 incidence that the route selected by Mr. Sutro not only gives the greatest depth, 
 is the shortest, has the best facilities for working shafts, but promises also in 
 this respect to be the most advantageous. The first 6,000 or 7,000 feet will be 
 through trachyte and trachytic breccia, which, in a broad semicircular belt of 
 prominent hills, swing from Dayton by the Sugarloaf to Washoe valley. Tra¬ 
 chytic breccia may easily be worked by the pick, yet is ordinarily solid and dry 
 enough to require no timbering. An idea of its excellent qualities for tunneling- 
 may be formed from the fact that in Hungary wine cellars hundreds of feet 
 in length are with preference excavated in this kind of rock. The solid tra¬ 
 chyte is an excellent blasting rock. Its superior qualities have caused its gen¬ 
 eral use in Washoe for building material; it was as such applied in the construc¬ 
 tion of the solid masonry of the Gould and Curry mill. With the use of the 
 drilling machine of Mont Cenis, speedy work will be made in this rock. The 
 next 2,500 ieet will, to all probability, exhibit a great variety of rock, some of 
 which will be rather hard. The following 10,000 feet to the cutting of the vein 
 will most likely consist of the same material as is traversed by the numerous 
 
160 
 
 tunnels which lead at present to the Comstock vein. This rock (trachytic 
 greenstone) would offer some obstacles if it were in an undecomposed state. But 
 from the general nature of its decomposition, which evidently was performed 
 from below by ascending steam and vapors during a time of volcanic action, 
 we believe we are justified in the conclusion, that it will be found for the entire 
 length of 10,000 feet of the same rotten nature, as in the shallow tunnels at 
 present in existence, and it may have to be timbered the whole distance.’ 
 
 TUNNELING IN NEVADA. 
 
 Mr. Carlyle speaks as follows in regard to his experience with the two prin¬ 
 cipal kinds of .rock to be encountered : 
 
 “While I was in the employ of the Gould and Curry as their Chief Engineer, 
 we used solid trachyte for building purposes, taken from a quarry on the side of 
 the Sugarloaf mountain. I had, therefore, considerable opportunity of learning 
 the particular character of the stone. It is not porous, very close in its nature, 
 has very few seams, no grains or special tendency to fracture in any particular 
 direction. It is rather soft, and, in consequence, is easily drilled to any desired 
 shape. The rock drills well and blasts freely, as it does not seem to have much 
 cohesion on account of its many component parts. It does not air slack : on 
 the contrary, it grows harder by exposure.” 
 
 This rock is extensively used for building purposes ; all the stone buildings in 
 the town of Dayton are constructed of it. 
 
 ITis experience in working greenstone porphyry he gives as follows : 
 
 “This class of rock is traversed by several tunnels to the Comstock Lode, all 
 of which were easily worked, and they had to be supported by timber. The 
 Gould and Curry lower tunnel is the only exception to this, as it passed through 
 1,400 feet of undecomposed rock, which was not difficult to work on account of 
 its favorable stratification; powder was used but to a small extent, and this for the 
 purpose only of shaking the mass. The remaining 800 feet to the lode had to 
 be timbered, as the rock would not support itself. The whole length of this 
 tunnel, 2,200 feet, was run from one working point in 486 working days, or 
 sixteen months ; the work, however, was distributed over a period of two years, 
 as it did not progress steadily. The average daily progress was nearly five feet.” 
 
 Mr. Carlyle estimates that 10,535 lineal feet of tunnel will be through solid 
 rock, and 9,643 through decomposed rock requiring timbering. 
 
161 
 
 Shaft No. 1 is 7i feet by 13i feet, and shafts Nos. 2, 3 and 4 are 7i feet by 
 14 feet outside of planking. They are timbered and planked from top to bottom, 
 and divided into two compartments—one for pumping out the water, and the 
 other for raising the excavated material. 
 
 Preliminary tunnels are driven from the bottom of these shafts in both diiec- 
 tions till they meet. These tunnels are in solid rock, 5 feet in width and 7 feet 
 high, the top being a semicircle. In rock requiring timbering they are of a box 
 shape, 4 feet wide on top, 5 feet on bottom, and 6 feet 4 inches inside of the 
 timbering, with a channel below for drainage. 
 
 TIME REQUIRED TO FINISH TUNNEL. 
 
 “The time required to sink the different shafts on the Sutro Tunnel and make 
 connections of the drifts from the same, I estimate as follows, on the basis that 
 four feet can be sunk per day on the shafts, and five feet made on the drifts : 
 
 Connection from drift No. 1 in 462 working days, 
 
 Connection from drift No. 2 in 693 working days. 
 
 Connection from drift No. 3 in 708 working days, 
 
 Connection from drift No. 4 in 815 working days, 
 
 “Since all these shafts would be progressing at the same time, the connections 
 from shafts Nos. 1, 2 and 3 will be made before those of No. 4, and the whole 
 time, therefore, required to finish a preliminary tunnel to the Comstock Lode 
 would be 815 days. 
 
 “The enlargement of this preliminary tunnel will progress from the mouthy 
 from time to time, as the connections are made, and will be completed up to a 
 point midway between shafts 3 and 4 by the time the last connection is finished. 
 Prom that point 4,618 feet would still remain to be enlarged, which would oc¬ 
 cupy 116 days. The total time, therefore, required to complete the Sutro tunnel 
 to the Comstock Lode would be 931 days, or 2 years 6 months and 21 days.” 
 
 The Committee would remark in regard to the removal of the rock for 4,618 
 feet that, estimating the sectional area at 9 yards, the amount is only 13,854 
 cubic yards, on which, as the cut can be worked all along the top and at the 
 two ends, a sufficient number of men can be employed to remove it in the time 
 indicated. 
 
 Mr. Carlyle then cites numerous instances of shafts sunk by different compa¬ 
 nies, and tunnels driven to the Comstock Lode, which prove that his estimate of 
 
162 
 
 4 feet per day in sinking shafts and 5 feet in driving tunnels, whenever prosecu¬ 
 ted with energy, is confirmed by experience, making due allowance for their size 
 and other circumstances which in some cases have retarded work. 
 
 Your Committee are of the opinion that, with proper energy, a sufficiency of 
 capital, and provided no extraordinary obstacles are encountered, the tunnel 
 might be finished in the time stated, hut it is so well known that delays are met 
 with in works of this kind, from causes impossible to anticipate, that it is proba¬ 
 ble that an additional time of at least one year may he occupied. It is safe to 
 say that, making all due allowance for contingencies, the tunnel can be comple¬ 
 ted in from three and a half to four years. 
 
 COST OF THE WORK. 
 
 The estimate of Mr. Carlyle is given very much in detail, and is accompanied 
 by a number of bids from miners, foundry-men, boiler-makers and others, who 
 state the prices at which they are willing to make the excavations, furnish the 
 machinery and necessary mechanical works connected with the enterprise. 
 
 , As the calculations of quantities are made with an unusual degree of care, 
 there seems to be very little margin for variation from the estimate. We ex¬ 
 tract from Mr. Carlyle’s report the following table of the cost of the work, which 
 includes cost of tunnel, of a double track railroad and cars, stationary engines, 
 ropes, and fixtures for the removal of the ore from the lode to the mouth of the 
 tunnel: 
 
 SUMMARY OF ESTIMATE. 
 
 Materials and labor for sinking shafts and running pre¬ 
 liminary tunnel, .... 
 
 Materials and labor for enlargement of preliminary 
 tunnel, ..... 
 General materials and sundries not included above, 
 Machinery for the shafts, . . 
 
 Boilers for above machinery, 
 
 Erection of machinery and necessary buildings, 
 Expense of operating machinery in sinking shafts, 
 Expense of running preliminary tunnels, 
 
 Cost of best appliance, complete for hauling out ore, 
 (3,000 tons per day,) 
 
 $416,467 05 
 
 619,854 10 
 66,439 00 
 121,679 00 
 33,736 40 
 32,265 00 
 138,734 27 
 324,784 90 
 
 49,328 00 
 
 $1,803,287 
 
163 
 
 Add 10 per cent, for superintendence and general con¬ 
 tingencies, ..... 180,328 7 1 
 
 Grand total, . . . $1,983,616 49 
 
 Cost per lineal foot, $98 25. 
 
 In the above estimate the cost of sinking an aggregate depth of 4,220 feet 
 of shafts was, 
 
 For labor, excavating shafts and setting the timbers, 
 
 (from proposal of Wm. Welch,) . . . $117,270 00 
 
 Materials used, blacksmiths’ and carpenters’ work, . 70,158 16 
 
 Expense of engines and attendance, . . . 138,734 27 
 
 Total cost, . . . . $326,162 43 
 
 Or $77 29 per foot lineal, exclusive of the cost of engines and machinery, 
 which amounts to $187,680 40. 
 
 One of the engines is intended to be used after the completion of the tunnel 
 to operate the machinery for moving the cars on the railroad. The remainder, 
 and a portion of the machinery can be sold, but Mr. Carlyle has made no deduc¬ 
 tion from his estimates on account of proceeds obtained from their sale. 
 
 In the annual report of the State Mineralogist of the State of Nevada, for 
 1866, page 93, it is stated that the cost of sinking the shaft of the Gould and 
 Curry Company, exclusive of cost of engines and machinery, was $75,378 40 ; 
 depth attained, 6921 feet; price per foot, $109 36. The shaft consists of four 
 compartments, five feet square, and is cribbed with twelve-inch timbers. It is 
 capable of working the mine to the depth of 1,200 feet. 
 
 This shaft is about double the size of those proposed for the Sutro Tunnel, 
 and the actual cost per foot lineal is but 411 per cent, greater. It would seem, 
 from this experience, that the estimate for the cost of the shafts is sufficient. 
 
 COST OF OTHER TUNNELS. 
 
 We do not find any statements of the actual cost of constructed tunnels of 
 great length, and of as small dimensions as the one proposed by Mr. Sutro. 
 
 The Sapperton Tunnel, on the Thames and Severn Canal, England, through 
 rock partly lined with masonry, is 12,900 in length; sectional dimensions, 15 
 by 15 feet, cost $12 44 per foot lineal. 
 
164 
 
 The Hare Castle Tunnel, on the Trent and Mersey Canal, England, through 
 rock and sand, lined throughout with masonry, is 8,778 feet in length ; sectional 
 dimensions, 14 by 16 feet; cost $57 05 per foot lineal. 
 
 The Blissworth Tunnel, on the Grand Junction Canal, England, through rock 
 and clay, lined throughout with masonry, is 9,240 feet in length ; sectional 
 dimensions, 161 feet by 18 feet; cost $23 181 per foot lineal. 
 
 Edge Hill Tunnel, on the Liverpool and Manchester Railroad, England, 
 through clay and free-stone, partly lined with masonry, is 6,600 feet in length; 
 sectional dimensions, 22 by 16 feet; cost, $30 15 per foot lineal. 
 
 It will be noticed that the sectional area of all these tunnels is about twice 
 that of the one proposed by Mr. Sutro. 
 
 The Eochistongo Tunnel, made in 1607, to drain Lake Tumpango, in Mexico, 
 is 21,659 feet in length through clay and marl; its dimensions are 13.78 by 
 11.48 feet, and it was completed in 287 days. The maximum depth below the 
 surface was but 164 feet. Cost not stated. 
 
 REPORT OF GENERAL McCLELLAN. 
 
 We could, if our limits permitted, give statements in relation to many large 
 tunnels constructed on lines of railroads, within a few years, but we w T ill con¬ 
 clude our remarks on this subject by submitting an extract from Gen. McClellan’s 
 memoranda on railroads. 
 
 “The Eerthe Tunnel, near Marseilles, is 15,153 feet long; has twenty-four 
 shafts, whose aggregate length is 7,589 feet, the deepest being 610 feet. It is 
 in very hard limestone rock; is 291 feet high by 26i feet wide. The shafts are 
 lined with masonry, a portion of the body of the tunnel is lined with masonry 
 one, two and three bricks thick; another portion is not lined at all. A semi¬ 
 circular brick aqueduct, 41 feet in diameter, runs the whole length of the tunnel 
 under the floor. The time occupied in the construction is not stated. 
 
 ‘The cost of the Eerthe Tunnel was as follows: 
 For mining the body of the tunnel, 
 
 For.mining the shafts, 
 
 Masonry for the shafts, 
 
 Lining for the body of the tunnel, 
 
 CosCof aqueduct, .... 
 
 $705,982 20 
 109,081 08 
 49,069 31 
 423,711 18 
 10,607 10 
 
 Total cost of tunnel, 
 
 $1,298,450 87 
 
“The average cost of excavating the shafts, which are nine ieet ten inches in 
 clear diameter, was $43 per yard downward; the average cost ot lining the 
 shafts was $19 40 per yard down. The deepest shafts cost on the average, 
 $73 per yard down, completed. 
 
 “Cost of mining the body of the tunnel, $139 761 per running yard. 
 
 James Hayward, Civil Engineer, in Ins testimony before a Committee of the 
 Legislature of Massachusetts on the Hoosac Tunnel, states that not more than 
 five years were occupied in the construction of the Nerthe Tunnel. 
 
 The sectional area of this tunnel, supposing the top to be a semi-circle, as is 
 usual on railroads, is about 700 feet, or more than six times that of the Sutro 
 Tunnel. 
 
 These statements are given that those interested in such inquiries may insti¬ 
 tute a comparison between the cost of works which have been constructed with 
 the one proposed by Mr. Sutro. In such a comparison due allowance must, ot 
 course, be made for the difference between the cost of labor and material in 
 Nevada and in other countries. 
 
 After reviewing Mr. Carlyle’s estimates as carefully as time would permit, we 
 have come to the conclusion that liberal prices have been generally allowed for 
 the several items of expenditure; but taking into consideration the liabilities of 
 interruptions from breaking of machinery and irruptions of water, to which 
 works of this description are subject, it would be safer to add for such contin¬ 
 gencies 25' per cent, to his estimate, making the whole cost about $2,500,000. 
 
 PRIVILEGES GRANTED TO SUTRO TUNNEL COMPANY. 
 
 From a pamphlet published by Mr. Sutro in New York, in September last, 
 we learn the following; facts: 
 
 The Legislature of Nevada in February, 1865, granted to A. Sutro the exclu¬ 
 sive right for fifty years to run a tunnel from the foot hills to the Comstock 
 Lode, leaving the rates to be paid by the mining companies open to voluntary 
 agreement. Subsequently a contract was made with all the leading companies, 
 by which they agreed to pay two dollars for every ton of ore extracted after the 
 main tunnel is completed and actually drain the mines; or, if they are not 
 drained, then after a lateral drift reaches under any mine; one dollar per ton 
 for every ton transported through the tunnel, and twenty-five cents for each man 
 to be transported through the tunnel, either in or out. 
 
We understand from Mr. Sutro that these contracts are subject to the condi¬ 
 tion that he and his associates obtain subscriptions to the amount of $3,000,000 
 in currency prior to the 1st of August, 1868. The mining companies have 
 already subscribed between $300,000 and $400,000, as part of the above 
 amount, to become binding when the residue is subscribed. 
 
 In July, 1866, the Government of the United States passed a bill which 
 grants— 
 
 1st. The right of way through the public domain for seven miles on or along 
 the Comstock Lode, or any other lode which may be developed or discovered by 
 the tunnel. 
 
 2d. The right to select one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of land at 
 the mouth of the tunnel. 
 
 3d. The right or title to the mines for two thousand feet on each side of the 
 tunnel, equal to five thousand and eighty acres of mining land. 
 
 4th. It makes all the mines of the Comstock Lode, or any other lode bene- 
 fitted by the tunnel, tributary to the same, and compels the owners of all those 
 mines to pay to the Tunnel Company the same rates of charges as agreed 
 upon in the above mentioned contracts, and makes their title subject to that 
 condition. 
 
 The aggregate income of the Tunnel Company from the various sources, 
 taking the yield of the mines to be 1,500 tons daily, is $7,200 per day, or 
 about $2,500,000 per annum; the yield of the mines, however, is expected to 
 be largely increased after the completion of the tunnel, which would double or 
 treble the income of the company. 
 
 A number of mines have been located east of the Comstock Lode, which 
 show fair prospects on the surface and may be valuable in depth. 
 
 The land of the Tunnel Company will also prove of high value, for whenever 
 the tunnel is completed a settlement will spring up at its mouth, as the mines 
 must be entered and worked from that point. 
 
 FINANCIAL AID. 
 
 The evidence adduced by Mr. Sutro m the pamphlet referred to (copies of 
 which are on the tables of the Institute) must be sufficient to satisfy any one 
 who will take the pains to examine the subject, that.the capital invested in the 
 enterprise must yield a large revenue, When it is recollected, that the annual 
 
167 
 
 produce of these mines is about four-tenths of the whole yield ot the precious 
 metals in the States of Nevada and California, and that the prosperity of San 
 Francisco is largely dependent upon the mineral resources of the country, we 
 must conclude that every merchant, mechanic, manufacturer and landholder in 
 this city is deeply interested in the project. 
 
 In this connection the Committee would call your attention to a letter to Mr. 
 Sutro, dated October 5th, 1866, and signed by Moses Taylor, Peter Cooper, 
 August Belmont, Eugene Kelly, It. C. Fergusson, Wm. T. Coleman, C. K. Gar¬ 
 rison; Duncan, Sherman &■ Co., and other leading capitalists of New Tork. 
 This letter is found in the pamphlet on the Sutro Tunnel, to which reference has 
 been previously made : 
 
 “If the mining companies on the Comstock Lode, and the people of Nevada 
 and California, who are familiar with the value of your mines, would evince 
 their confidence in the enterprise by subscribing a portion of the requisite capi¬ 
 tal, say four or five hundred thousand dollars, and work on the tunnel is actually 
 commenced, we think you will find it comparatively an easy task to obtain the 
 balance of the funds here. 
 
 “We would consequently advise you not to lose any valuable time in futile 
 attempts here or in Europe, where, no doubt, the same objections will be raised, 
 but to return at once to San Francisco, and use your efforts there to get the 
 work started.” 
 
 That it is both the duty and the interest of the people of San Francisco to aid 
 this enterprise, by such contributions as shall secure its success, is too evident 
 to need further illustration or enforcement. 
 
 The Committee recommend the adoption of the following resolutions embody¬ 
 ing a summary of the views expressed in the preceding report: 
 
 RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 First .—That the Comstock Lode is a vein of extraordinary value, presenting 
 every feature of permanency and continuance in depth, much further than 
 mining works can ever be carried. 
 
 Second .—That experience in all countries shows conclusively that the difficul¬ 
 ties in drainage and ventilation limit the depth to which mines can be worked, 
 and whenever attempts have been made to work them below this limit, without 
 the aid of adits or tunnels, the result has been disastrous to the owners. 
 
168 
 
 Third. —That the proposed tunnel will, by affording good ventilation, diminish 
 the temperature and greatly improve the sanitary condition of the miners. 
 
 Fourth. —That the Comstock Lode must have a drain tunnel, or the mines 
 must be eventually abandoned. 
 
 Fifth. —That the proposed Sutro Tunnel is a work entirely feasible, and offers 
 no unusual mechanical difficulties whatever, and we believe it can be constructed, 
 with proper energy, judicious management, and a sufficiency of capital, in from 
 three and a half to four years, at a cost of about $2,500,000. But were a work 
 required of such magnitude as to cost $ 10,000,000, necessity would demand its 
 construction. 
 
 Sixth. —That the rights granted to the Tunnel Company, the contracts 
 made with the mining companies, and the chances of discovering valuable 
 mines, make this enterprise one of the most promising undertakings ever pro¬ 
 jected on this coast, and offers extraordinary inducements for the investment of 
 capital. 
 
 Seventh. —That by means of this tunnel a permanence and importance.;will 
 be given to the mines on the Comstock Lode which can hardly be realized now; 
 that the produce of bullion from the mines may be doubled, and even trebled, 
 exercising a most beneficial influence upon the commerce, the industry and 
 resources of San Francisco. 
 
 Eighth. —-That every citizen of California and this coast at large, who has the 
 future welfare of the Pacific States at heart, should lend a helping hand, and 
 encourage, in every way and manner the execution of this great work. 
 
 Ninth.—That recognizing the influence which the 'production of the precious 
 metals has upon the general welfare of the Nation, in increasing its taxable 
 property, and consequently its revenue, we respectfully solicit Congress to give 
 liberal aid to the work, in such manner as in their wisdom they may deem 
 proper. 
 
 Tenth. —That we fully recognize the foresight of A. Sutro, Esq., in projecting 
 this great work, and highly appreciate the intelligent manner in which he has 
 presented to the public the importance and necessity of this enterprise. 
 
 All of which is respectfully submitted, 
 
 WM. J. LEWIS, 
 ARCH'D COOPER, 
 
 P. M. RANDALL. 
 
Act of the Legislature of Nevada; 
 
 CONTRACTS WITH THE MINING COMPANIES; 
 
 ACT OF CONGRESS, 
 
 AND ENDORSEMENTS. 
 
ACT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 'LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA. 
 
 An Act granting the right of way and authorizing A. Sutro and his asso¬ 
 ciates to construct a Mining and Draining Tunnel. (Approved April 4 th, 
 1865.) 
 
 The People of the State of Nevada, represented in Senate and Assembly, do 
 enact as follows: 
 
 Section 1 . A. Sutro and his associates, successors and assigns, shall, for the 
 next fifty years ensuing, from and after the approval of this Act, have, possess 
 and enjoy the exclusive privilege of the right of way, and to run, construct and 
 excavate a tunnel, running into the Comstock Lode, from any point to be 
 selected in the foot hills of the Carson river valley, within the boundaries of 
 Lyon county, and between Coral Canon and Webber Canon; also, to sink 
 mining shafts along the line or course of said tunnel, and connecting with the 
 same at such points as may be selected by said parties; provided, however, the 
 right of way hereby granted for said tunnel shall in no manner or in any wise 
 interfere with any rights heretofore acquired in and to the said Comstock Lode, 
 or any other lode along the line or in the vicinity of said tunnel, or any rights 
 of property heretofore acquired by any person or corporation; and provided, 
 further, that said right of way for said tunnel shall in no wise interfere with 
 the rights of miners, according to the laws and customs of this State. 
 
 Sec. 2. That the object of said tunnel being for the purpose of draining the 
 Comstock Lode, and all other lodes along its line of direction or course, and for 
 the discovery and development of other lodes through which the same may pass, 
 and for the general purpose of advancing the mining interest of this State, the 
 the rate, price or sum of money to be charged for the benefit derived by the 
 persons, companies or corporations along the line of said tunnel, and others who 
 
may be benefitted by the drainage of their mines or lodes, and freeing the same 
 from the flow of water therein, shall be whatever sum or sums of money, or 
 stock, which may or shall be agreed upon by and between the corporations, 
 person or persons to be benefitted as aforesaid, and the grantee herein, his asso¬ 
 ciates, successors or assigns. And the said A. Sutro and his associates, their 
 successors and assigns, shall have the right to receive and collect all sums of 
 money or stock which said persons, companies or corporations shall contract to 
 pay; and in default of the payment of the same, according to the tenor and 
 condition of such contract or contracts, the said A. Sutro and his associates, 
 their successors or assigns, shall have the right, and are hereby authorized and 
 empowered, to sue for and collect the same in any court of competent juris¬ 
 diction in this State. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of A. Sutro, his associates, their successors or 
 assigns, to commence the work of said tunnel, in advancing the objects afore¬ 
 said, within one year from the passage of this Act, and to complete the same 
 within eight years. 
 
United States 
 Revenue Stamp. 
 
 SEAL 
 
 of the Collector of 
 Internal Revenue, 
 California. 
 
 Revenue Stamp 
 of the 
 
 State of Nevada. 
 
 SEAL 
 
 of the Comptroller 
 of the 
 
 State of Nevada. 
 
 AGREEMENT. 
 
 THE SUTRO TUNNEL COMPANY WITH THE 
 
 MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Articles of Agreement, Made and entered into this-day of-- 
 
 A. I). one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, by.and between William M. 
 Stewart, D. E. Avery, Louis Janin, Jr., II. K. •Mitci-iell, and A. Sutro, 
 
 Trustees for the Sutro Tunnel Company, parties of the first part, and the- 
 
 Mining Company, a corporation doing business in the county of Storey, State 
 of Nevada, party of the second part. 
 
 Whereas, by an Act of the Legislature of the State of Nevada, enti¬ 
 tled, “An Act granting the right of way, ancl authorizing A. Sutro and his 
 associates to construct a Mining and Draining Tunnel," approved February 
 4dh, 1865, the Legislature of said State granted to the said A. Sutro and his 
 associates, his and their successors and assigns, for the period of fifty years from 
 and after the approval of said Act, the exclusive privilege of the right of way, 
 and the exclusive privilege to run, construct and excavate a tunnel running into 
 the Comstock Lode from any point in the foot-hills of the Carson river valley, 
 within the boundaries of the county of Lyon, and between Webber Canon and 
 Corral Canon; and also granted other rights and privileges, which fully appear in 
 said Act: 
 
 And whereas, the said A. Sutro, and the above-named William M. Stew¬ 
 art, D. E. Avery, Louis Janin, Jr., and Henry K. Mitchell, have associ¬ 
 ated themselves together, under the name and style of “The Sutro Tunnel 
 
Company” for the purpose of running and completing said tunnel in accordance 
 with the terms and conditions of said legislative enactment: 
 
 And Whereas, all corporations, associations, companies and individuals, own¬ 
 ing or interested in the said Comstock Lode, are beneficially interested, by the 
 drainage of their respective mines on the Comstock Lode, in the speedy com¬ 
 pletion of the said tunnel. 
 
 And Whereas, the party of the second part is the owner of, in possession of, 
 and working upon that certain portion of the said Comstock Lode in the county 
 
 and State aforesaid, known as the- Mining-Company’s Mine; and as 
 
 such owner is beneficially interested in the early completion of said tunnel, for 
 the purposes of drainage aforesaid, and other conveniences thereby to be afforded: 
 Now, therefore, these Artioles witness: 
 
 Article I. The parties of the first part, in consideration of the premises, 
 and in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter mentioned, to 
 be kept and performed by the party of the second part, covenant and agree to 
 and with the party of the second part, that the parties of the first part will, on 
 or before the first day of August, 1867, commence and with reasonable energy 
 and vigor, and at their own'expense, run, excavate and complete the tunnel and 
 lateral drifts hereinafter mentioned, and put the same in condition for use, in 
 accordance with the provisions of the said Act of the Legislature of the State 
 of Nevada, and with the covenants in this agreement contained, for the purpose 
 of draining the mines on the said Comstock Lode and furnishing other con¬ 
 veniences for working the same. 
 
 Art. II. The said tunnel shall commence at some point in the foot hills of 
 Carson valley, between Corral Canon and Webber Canon, within the county of 
 Lyon, and shall extend to, and cut, and pass through, the said Comstock Lode 
 to its western wall, at some point between the north line of the claim of the 
 Ophir Silver Mining Company, and the south line of the claim of the Yellow 
 Jacket Company, and at a depth of not less than one thousand eight hundred 
 feet below the top of what is known as the Gould and Curry croppings. 
 
 Art. III. The parties of the first part covenant and agree that the work 
 shall be commenced at the time specified, by running the tunnel from the foot 
 hills of Carson valley; and also by simultaneously sinking at least three shafts 
 of sufficient capacity on the line of the tunnel, and when the shafts have reached 
 the depth required for the level of the tunnel, then to drift in both directions 
 
from the bottom of each shaft, so that there shall be at least seven plaices ot 
 excavation going on, from the time that all of the shafts shall reach the requisite 
 level, all the time until the tunnel is completed, unless connections between 
 some of the shafts are sooner made; and the said work at all times shall be 
 prosecuted continuously and without any interruption, except from unavoidable 
 accident, until the completion of the tunnel, and of the works which under this 
 agreement are to be considered as draining the mine of the party of the second 
 part; and in case of any such interruption occurring, the cause thereof shall be 
 removed or remedied and the work resumed without delay. 
 
 And the parties of the first part covenant and agree, that on or before the 
 said first day of August, 1867, there shall have been subscribed, in good faith 
 and by apparently responsible persons, at least the sum ot three millions ot dol¬ 
 lars for the purpose of carrying on and completing the said tunnel and the lateral 
 drifts hereinafter mentioned; that of said sum at least ten per cent, shall have 
 been actually paid in cash; that during the first year in which the work shall 
 be prosecuted, commencing on said first day of August, 1867, there shall be 
 expended upon, or on account of the work, not less than the sum of lour hun¬ 
 dred thousand dollars, and during each succeeding year thereafter, until the work 
 shall be completed so as to drain the mine of the party of the second part within 
 the meaning of this agreement, not less than the sum of two hundred thousand 
 dollars; provided that this amount can be advantageously expended after the 
 completion of the main tunnel, and that they, the parties of the first part, will, 
 within thirty days after the expiration of each year, furnish to the party of the 
 second part, a full, true and correct statement of the expenditures made on 
 account of the work during such year, verified by the oath of the managing 
 agent and secretary or book-keeper of the parties of the first part. 
 
 Art. IV. It the work shall not be commenced on or before the said 
 day, and with said sum of three millions of dollars subscribed, and ten per cent, 
 thereof actually paid in cash, as hereinbefore provided, or if, after so commenc¬ 
 ing, the parties ot the first part shall during any year fail to expend on account 
 ot the work the sum of money hereinbefore agreed to be expended during such 
 year, this agreement shall, at the option of the party of the second part, cease 
 and determine, and thereafter be of no effect. And if, after the work shall have 
 been commenced, it shall not be continuously prosecuted, as hereinbefore agreed, 
 the party of the second part, in conjunction with other companies or corporations 
 
with which the parties of the first part may have entered into similar agree¬ 
 ments, and which may desire to unite with the party of the second part in so 
 doing, shall have the right to enter and take possession, and complete the work, 
 or have it completed under contracts, at the expense of the parties of the first 
 part, deducting the costs of its completion from the first moneys becoming due 
 to the parties of the first part under this agreement. 
 
 Art. Y. The parties' of the first part further covenant and agree, that in 
 the event they shall fail in obtaining subscriptions for the sum of three millions 
 of dollars, or if the sum of three hundred thousand dollars shall not have been 
 actually paid in cash, as hereinbefore agreed, on the said first day of August, 1867, 
 then the said parties of the first part shall and will, if the party of the second 
 part desire it, sell and convey within six months thereafter, the said franchise 
 granted to A. Sutro by said Act of the Legislature of the State of Nevada, of 
 February 4th, 1865, and also three hundred and twenty acres of land at and 
 including the mouth of said tunnel, to be selected by the purchasers, in one 
 body and in a square or rectangular form, and if the latter, the length not to 
 exceed twice the width, to the said parties of the second part, and to the other 
 mining companies which have entered or shall enter into like contracts with the 
 said parties of the first part, and shall join in the purchase, for the sum or price 
 of one hundred thousand dollars, each company paying thereof its pro rata , 
 according to the number of feet of ground owned by each. 
 
 Art. YI. The dimensions of said tunnel shall be not less than seven feet in 
 height in the clear, and eight feet in the clear in width. It shall have a grade 
 of not less than one inch to the one hundred feet, and on the floor two substan¬ 
 tial railways shall be laid down for the running of cars to and from the mine, 
 and sufficient for the transportation of all materials to be used in said mine, and 
 to convey all ore, debris, earth and rock from the mine to the mouth of the 
 tunnel. And the said tunnel shall also have capacity to carry all water running 
 into it from any source, and to discharge the same at the mouth thereof. 
 
 Art. YII. If the said main tunnel shall intersect the said Comstock Lode 
 outside of the northern and southern boundaries of the mine of the party 
 of the second part, the parties of the first part shall excavate or run a 
 lateral drift, either within said Comstock Lode, or at any point not exceeding 
 five hundred feet from and east of the west wall thereof, to a point from which a 
 drift at right angles from said lateral drift will cut the said Comstock Lode 
 
177 
 
 between the north and south boundaries of the claim of the party ot the second 
 part; such lateral drift shall be of sufficient height and width to allow the free flow 
 of all water coming into the same, also for the laying down ot a double railroad 
 track, and for the transportation of timber and other materials to said mine, and 
 the conveying of ores, earth, rock and debris therefrom, and such railways shall 
 be laid down by the parties of the first part the entire length of such lateral 
 drift, and the grade thereof shall be the same as in the main tunnel. 
 
 Art. VIII. After the completion of the tunnel and such lateral drifts as 
 may be necessary to comply with the preceding Articles, the party of the second 
 part shall have the privilege to enter into said tunnel and the lateral drift, and 
 to work through the same, having ingress thereto and egress therefrom, and to 
 excavate and run any drift or drifts necessary to cut said Comstock Lode within 
 the boundaries of the claim of said party of the second part, and to connect such 
 lateral drift with the mine and mining works of said party of the second part, 
 in such manner and by means of such drifts or other works as the party of the 
 second part may think proper for the purpose of draining and conveniently 
 working its mine. 
 
 Art. IX. The parties of the first part, from and after the completion of said 
 tunnel — if the same intersects said lode within the northern and southern 
 lines of the said second party’s claim—or if not, then from and after the time 
 when the parties of the first part shall have extended their lateral drift to a 
 point opposite the claim of the party of the second part, and from which the 
 party of the second part shall desire to make any connection between said 
 lateral drift and its own works, shall convey, by means of said tunnel, drifts and 
 railways, from the mouth of the tunnel to the point at which the drifts or works 
 of the party of the second part connect with the drift or tunnel of tire parties 
 ot the first part, all trustees, officers, agents and employees, who may desire to 
 go into said mine, and shall also by the same means convey them from the same 
 point to the mouth of the tunnel, such conveyance to be made whenever the 
 same is desired by the party of the second part, and in as expeditious a manner 
 as the nature of the case will allow, and without any unreasonable delay. 
 
 And the parties of the first part shall, after the time in this Article mentioned, 
 also convey to the same point from the mouth of the tunnel, all timber, mate¬ 
 rial, tools, machinery and implements for mining, which the party of the’second 
 Part may desire to use in its said mine, and shall also from said point of connec- 
 
178 
 
 tion, convey to any point designated by the party of the second part, outside of 
 the tunnel, and not more than one thousand feet from the mouth of the tunnel, 
 all ore, rock, earth and debris, which said party of the second part may desire 
 to remove from its said mine or works. 
 
 Akt. X. The parties of the first part shall keep the said tunnel, and their 
 own lateral drifts and railways and machinery for transportation as aforesaid, in 
 good condition, so as not to interrupt or delay the party of the second part in 
 the transportation of its officers, agents and employees, or the materials as afore¬ 
 said, to and from said second party’s mine, and shall also keep said tunnel open 
 for the free flow of all waters coming into it, or into said drifts, for the full 
 drainage of said mine ; and in the event that any accident should occur, or the 
 works aforesaid should in any manner be rendered unfit for said purposes, the 
 same shall be remedied with all reasonable dispatch, and without unnecessary 
 delay. And should there be any obstructions to the flow of w T ater through said 
 tunnel or lateral drift, so as to retard the drainage of the said second party’s 
 mine, such obstructions shall be removed as soon as possible, according to the 
 circumstances; and if the parties of the first part shall fail, within a reasonable 
 time, to remove such obstructions or to put said tunnel and their own lateral 
 drifts, railways, or machinery, in good condition, the party of the second part 
 shall have the right to enter and remove such obstructions, or make any needful 
 repairs, at the expense of the parties of the first part. 
 
 Art. XI. The parties of the first part further agree, that the prosecution of 
 said work shall be as diligent and vigorous as the circumstances and the nature 
 of the work will allow, and that the completion thereof shall not be unreason¬ 
 ably delayed. 
 
 Art. XII. In consideration of the foregoing covenants and agreements to be 
 kept and performed by the parties of the first part, and for valuable considera¬ 
 tions from the parties of the first part moving, to the party of the second part, 
 the said second party covenants and agrees to pay to the parties of the first part 
 two dollars per ton for all ore extracted from the mine of said second party, after 
 the works of said first parties shall have drained the said second party’s mine, 
 so as to render all other means of drainage unnecessary to the lowest level at¬ 
 tained; provided such level is not lower than the level of the tunnel herein pro¬ 
 vided for. Also, during the time when said party of the second part shall use 
 said tunnel or drifts as means of transportation as hereinbefore contracted for, 
 
the party of the second part will pay to the parties of the first part for each ton of 
 ore, rock, earth or debris removed from the point hereinbefore designated, lo^ or 
 beyond the mouth of the tunnel, as the case may be, the sum ot twenty -li\ e 
 cents per mile from the place of removing it, to the place of discharging it, and 
 at the same rate for all material conveyed from the mouth of the tunnel to 
 said point of connection heretofore described, forty cubic feet ot timbex, 01 
 twenty-two hundred and forty pounds of rock, ore or other material being con¬ 
 sidered a ton, and will also pay the said parties of the first part the sum ot 
 twenty-five cents each way for each man conveyed to and from the said point, 
 at the request of, or on account of the said second party; all laborers, employees, 
 agents and other persons connected with the said corporation ol the second part, 
 to be included and paid for as above stated. And il at any time the mining 
 works of the party of the second part shall reach a level lower than the level 
 of the tunnel aforesaid, the party of the second part shall be permitted, by 
 means of pumps, or otherwise, to raise water from such lower level to the level 
 of said tunnel or lateral drift, and the water so raised shall be discharged by 
 means of the tunnel, as if the same were struck on or above such level. Pro¬ 
 vided, that the party of the second part shall only pay to the parties of the first 
 part the said sum of two dollars per ton on the ore extracted which said second 
 party shall have reduced at some mill or other reduction works, or shall have 
 sold; and provided further, that no such payment shall be due or made, until 
 the works of the parties of the first part shall have either actually drained said 
 mine, so as to obviate the necessity for all other modes of drainage, or shall be 
 prosecuted to the extent in the next article mentioned, which shall be deemed 
 and considered sufficient drainage within the meaning of this agreement; and 
 provided further, that said sum of two dollars per ton shall only be due and 
 payable during such time or times as the said works shall actually drain said 
 mine as aforesaid, or shall be in good condition to the extent in the next article 
 mentioned; and no sum of money shall be due or payable to the parties of the 
 first part, on account of ores extracted, during any time or times when the said 
 second party’s mine is not drained, by reason of any obstruction or defect in the 
 tunnel or drifts of the said first parties. 
 
 Akt. XIII. It is mutually agreed, that the true intent and meaning of these 
 articles, as to the draining of the mine of the party of the second part, arc, that 
 whenever the said mine is actually drained by the works of the said first parties, 
 
180 
 
 so as to render all other means of drainage useless, to the lowest level attained 
 by the works of the said party of the second part, but not lower than to the 
 level of the tunnel, the same shall be deemed a full compliance with the cove¬ 
 nant of the parties of the first part for the drainage thereof, and whether said 
 mine be actually so drained or not, it shall be deemed and considered drained 
 within the meaning of this agreement, in either of the following events: 
 
 If the main tunnel shall intersect the Comstock Lode, and cut the eastern 
 wall thereof, between the north and south boundaries of the mine of the said 
 second party, the mine shall be considered drained. 
 
 Or it shall be considered drained, if the main tunnel shall cut said eastern 
 wall outside of those lines, and the parties of the first part shall extend the 
 lateral drift hereinbefore covenanted to be extended within said Comstock vein, 
 to a point equidistant from such north and south boundaries. 
 
 Or it shall be considered drained, upon the expiration of three months after 
 the parties of the first part shall have extended said drift outside of said lode, 
 but within five hundred feet east of the west wall thereof, to a point not more 
 than five hundred feet east of said west wall, whence a drift at right angles 
 would enter said lode at a point equidistant from the northern and. southern 
 boundaries of the claim of the second party. 
 
 Art. XIV. The party of the second part, after the completion of the works 
 aforesaid according to the meaning and intent of the preceding article, agrees 
 and binds itself to furnish to the parties of the first part, on the fifth day of 
 each and every month, (unless that day be Sunday, and in that event on the 
 sixth day,) a full, fair and just account of each ton of ore extracted from its 
 mine, and reduced at some mill or other reduction works, or sold for such reduc¬ 
 tion, during the month preceding, or which may have been sent by the party of 
 the second part to such mill or other reduction works to be reduced; and on the 
 day of rendering such account, or within three days thereafter, shall pay to the 
 parties of the first part the said sum of two dollars for each ton of ore so ex¬ 
 tracted, and on the same day shall pay such other sum as may be due for 
 the transportation or conveyance of the workmen, or other persons, and of ores, 
 rock, debris, timber, and other material, to or from said mine; Provided , that 
 if, during the month preceding, the mine of the party of the second part shall 
 not have been drained, by reason of any defect or obstruction in the works of 
 said parties of the first part, the said sum of two dollars per ton on account of 
 
181 
 
 ores so extracted during the time such obstruction existed, shall not be due or 
 payable, but only the sums due for other causes shall he due and payable at 
 such time. 
 
 Art. XV. If any question should arise between the parties to this agreement, 
 either in respect to the time when the mine of the party of the second part 
 shall have been drained in accordance with the foregoing articles, and the pay¬ 
 ment of two dollars per ton for ore extracted should commence, or in respect to 
 the amount of money at any time due or payable from the party of the second 
 part to the parties of the first part, it is agreed that such question shall be 
 determined by each party choosing one competent and disinterested person as 
 an arbitrator; and in the event of disagreement between such arbitrators, they 
 shall choose a third competent and disinterested person; the arbitrators shall be 
 sworn, and a majority of the three may decide the disagreement between the 
 parties hereto, and their decision shall be final. For the purpose of deciding 
 such issue, the arbitrators, in the presence of each party, or upon reasonable 
 notice thereof in writing, may receive evidence of witnesses, or other proofs; and 
 either party, in the presence of the other, or upon reasonable notice in writing, 
 may produce evidence before the arbitrators so chosen. The decision of the 
 arbitrators shall in every case be made in writing, and it shall be binding and 
 effectual from the time that a copy thereof, certified by the arbitrators, or a 
 majority of them, shall have been delivered to both parties. 
 
 Art. XVI. If the parties of the first part shall, at any time, enter into any 
 agreement with any other person, company or corporation holding a mine upon 
 the Comstock Lode, in respect to drainage, transportation, or other advantage 
 derived from the works of the parties of the first part, upon terms more favorable 
 to such person, company or corporation than those herein contained, the party of 
 the second part shall be entitled, at its option, to all the benefits thereof, as fully 
 and to the same extent as if they were herein set forth and made part of this 
 agreement. 
 
 Art. XVII. Each and every of the articles of this agreement shall be bind¬ 
 ing and of full force against each party hereto, and upon the assigns and suc¬ 
 cessors thereof; and said assigns or successors shall be entitled to all the bene¬ 
 fits and privileges thereof, as if the same were in each article distinctly set forth. 
 And it is agreed, that if the said coporation, party of the second part, should in any 
 manner be dissolved, or if it should convey the said mine, the grantees and suc- 
 24 
 
cessors of said corporation shall take the said mine subject to the cone ltions 
 and obligations of this agreement, which it is agreed shall constitute and be a len 
 in law and equity on said mine, for the faithful carrying out of the co\ enants 
 herein contained. 
 
 Art. XVIII. It is agreed that all payments provided in this agreement to 
 be made by the party of the second part to the parties of the first part, shall be 
 made in gold coin, and not otherwise. 
 
 In Testimony Whereof, the said parties hereto set their names and affix 
 their seals, the day and year first above written ; the name ot the party of the 
 second part being hereto subscribed, and its corporate seal affixed, by , 
 
 President, and-Secretary, duly authorized by a Resolution of the Board 
 
 of Trustees of said party; these presents being executed in triplicate. 
 
 WM. M. STEWART, 
 
 [ Seal.] 
 
 ADOLPH SUTRO, 
 
 [ Seal.] 
 
 LOUIS JANIN, Jr., 
 
 [ Seal.] 
 
 HENRY K. MITCHELL, 
 
 [ Seal.] 
 
 D. E. AVERY, 
 
 [ Seal.] 
 
 State of New York, 
 
 City and County of New York, 
 
 On this eighth day of August, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, before me, 
 C. von Hesse, a Commissioner of Nevada, duly commissioned and sworn, residing in the city 
 of New York, personally appeared the above named Win. M. Stewart, whose name is sub¬ 
 scribed to the foregoing instrument as a party thereto, personally known to me to be the 
 individual described in and who executed the said foregoing instrument, and acknowledged 
 to me that he executed the same freely and voluntarily, and for the uses and purposes therein 
 mentioned. 
 
 In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my 
 notarial official seal the day and year in this Certificate first above written. 
 
 SEAL. 
 
 CHRISTIAN YON HESSE, 
 Commissioner for Nevada. 
 
183 
 
 State of Nevada, 
 
 County of Storey, 
 
 ss. 
 
 On this twenty-eighth day of April, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, before 
 me, Id. M. Morgan, Notary Public in and for said county, duly commissioned and sworn, and 
 residing in the city of Virginia, personally appeared the above named Adolph Sutro, Henry 
 K. Mitchell, Lewis Janin, Jr., and D. E. Avery, whose names are subscribed to the foregoing 
 instrument as parties thereto, personally known to me to be the individuals described in and 
 who executed the said foregoing instrument, and acknowledged to me that they executed the 
 same freely and voluntarily, and for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. 
 
 In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my 
 notarial official seal the day and year in this Certificate first above written. 
 
 SEAI ,. H. MORGAN, 
 
 Notary Public. 
 
 SAVAGE MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 Savage Mining Co. 
 
 By 
 
 f ALPHEUS BULL, President. 
 ( E. B. HOLMES, Secretary. 
 
 State of California, 
 
 City and County of San Francisco, 
 
 ss. 
 
 On this third day of April, A. D. 1866, before me, Otis V. Sawyer, a Commissioner of 
 Deeds, for the State of Nevada, duly commissioned and sworn, residing in said city and county 
 of San Francisco, personally appeared the above named Alpheus Bull, President, and E. B. 
 Holmes, Secretary of the Savage Mining Company, whose names are subscribed to the fore¬ 
 going instrument, personally known to me to be the individuals described in and who executed 
 the said instrument, who acknowledged to me that on behalf of the said Savage Mining 
 Company they executed the same freely and voluntarily, and for the uses and purposes 
 therein mentioned. 
 
 In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my 
 notarial official seal, the day and year in this Certificate first above written. 
 
 seal. OTIS V. SAWYER, 
 
 A Commissioner of Leeds for the State of Nevada. 
 
184 
 
 CALIFORNIA SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 California Silver Min¬ 
 ing Company. 
 
 j WM. E. BARRON, President, 
 
 | GEORGE STAACKE, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 20tli, 1866, before Henry Haight, Commissioner of 
 Deeds for Nevada. 
 
 YELLOW JACKET SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 Yellow Jacket 
 Silver Mining Co. 
 
 ( JOHN B. WINTERS, President, 
 ^ ( WM. H. WATSON, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, Gold Hill, Nevada, April 25th, 1866, before Wm. E. Hale, Notary Public. 
 
 THE GOULD & CURRY SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 j ALPHEUS BULL, President, 
 
 | J. M. SHOTWELL, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, March 29th, 1866, before Otis V. Sawyer, Commissioner 
 of Deeds for the State of Nevada. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 Gould & Curry 
 Silver Mining Co. 
 
 CENTRAL SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 ( B. F. SHERWOOD, President, 
 
 By -< 
 
 | J. S. BURGESS, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, May 9tli, 1866, before Henry Haight, Commissioner of 
 Deeds for Nevada. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 Central 
 
 Silver Mining Co. 
 
 BELCHER COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 Belcher Company. 
 
 ( E. A. TRIPLE, President, 
 
 By J 
 
 | H. BRUCKMANN, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, Virginia City, Nev., April 27th, 1866, before LI. M. Morgan, Notary Public. 
 
1 So 
 
 CROWN POINT GOLD AND SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the Crown Point 
 Gold k Silver 
 Mining Co. 
 
 Bi 
 
 A. H. BARKER, President, 
 ( J. H. JOKES, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 12th, 1866, before Henry Haight, Commissioner for 
 the State of Nevada. 
 
 CONFIDENCE SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 Confidence 
 Silver Mining Co. 
 
 By -< 
 
 \ GEO. W. STEWART, President, 
 ( R. WEGEKER, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 6th, 1866, before George T. Knox, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
 CHOLLAR-POTOSI MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 Chollar-Potosi 
 Mining Co. 
 
 B 
 
 , (a. K. P. HARMON, President, 
 
 W. E. DEAN, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 20th, 1S66, before E. P. Peckham, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
 ALPHA GOLD HILL MINING COMPANY. 
 
 THOMAS SUNDERLAND, President, pro tern. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 Alpha Gold Hill 
 Mining Co. 
 
 By, 
 
 THEO. A. HALE, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, Gold Hill, Nev., April 25tb 1S66, before Wm. E. Hale, Notary Public. 
 
 HALE & NORCROSS SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 ( GEO. S. MANN, President, 
 
 seal. Joy < 
 
 JOEL F. LIGHTNER, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 11th, 1S66, before Henry Haight, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
186 
 
 BACON MILL AND MINING -COMPANY. 
 
 ; Corporate Seal j ( Q J LOW, PRESIDENT, 
 
 of the j> y J 
 
 j " I W. E. DEAN, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 19th, 1866, before Henry Haigiit, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
 GOLD HILL QUARTZ MILL AND MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 Gold Hill Quartz Mill 
 and Mining Co. 
 
 J OTTAYIANO GOBI, President, 
 [WM. Y. GARVEY, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 19th, 1866, before Henry Haight, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
 IMPEPIAL SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 Imperial 
 
 Silver Mining Co. 
 
 Acknowledged, 
 for Nevada. 
 
 f G. F. LAWTON, President, 
 y ( DAVID A. JENNINGS, Secretary. 
 
 San Francisco, April 17th, 1866, before Henry Haight, Commissioner 
 
 EMPIRE MILL AND MINING COMPANY. 
 
 [SQUIRE P. DEWEY, President, 
 j GEO. R. SPINNEY, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 14th, 1866, before F. J. Thibault, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 Empire Mill and 
 Mining Co. 
 
 By 
 
 BEST & BELCHER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 
 Best & Belcher 
 Mining Co. 
 
 WM. M. LENT, President, 
 WM. WILLIS, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 20th, 1866, before Henry Haight, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
OPIUR SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 WM. BLANDING, President, 
 
 THOS. J. LAMB, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 16th, 1S66, before IIenry Haight, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 Ophir 
 
 Silver Mining Co. 
 
 By 
 
 OVERMAN SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 JAS. J. ROBBINS, President, 
 
 GOMER EVANS, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 19th, 1866, before Henry Haight, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the 
 Overman 
 Silver Mining Co. 
 
 
 WHITE & MURPHY GOLD AND SILVER MINING COMPANY. 
 
 j D. N. WALTER, President, 
 
 } ’ [ JAS. P. NOURSE, Secretary. 
 
 Acknowledged, San Francisco, April 12th, 1866, before F. J. Thibault, Commissioner 
 for Nevada. 
 
 Corporate Seal 
 of the White & Murphy 
 Gold & Silver 
 Mining Co. 
 
 [SEAL.] 
 
 [SEAL.] 
 
 [seal.] 
 
 Acknowledged, 
 for Nevada. 
 
 GUIDO KUSTEL, 
 
 CH. V. BESELER, 
 
 MIRANDA BESELER. 
 
 San Francisco, April 31st, 1SG6, before IIenry Haight, Commissioner 
 
 [SEAL.] 
 
 [seal.] 
 
 Acknowledged, 
 
 Nevada. 
 
 A. HIRSCHMAN, 
 
 LOUIS GEEST L U 
 
 San Francisco, May 2d, 1866, before Henry Haight, Commissioner for 
 
 [seal.] 
 
 [seal.] 
 
 Acknowledged, 
 for Nevada. 
 
 THOMAS B. HOWARD, 
 
 MARY B. HOWARD. 
 
 San Francisco, April 25th, 1S66, before Henry ITaigiit, Commissioner 
 
EXTENSION OF TIME. 
 
 This Agreement made this-day of April, 1867, between the 
 
 Mining Company, a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of 
 California, and having its mine on the Comstock Lode, in the State of Levada, 
 party of the first part, and the Sutro Tunnel Company party of the second part, 
 
 Witnesseth, That in consideration of one dollar in gold coin of the United 
 States, in hand paid to the said party of the first part, by the said party of the 
 second part, and of other good and valuable considerations, receipt whereof is 
 hereby acknowledged, said party of the first part agrees and covenants that said 
 party of the second part shall have and is hereby granted an extension of time 
 for one year from and after the period specified in Articles First, Third, Fourth 
 and Fifth, of a certain coptract entered into between the parties hereto on the 
 
 -day of- 1866, and it is hereby declared to be the intention of 
 
 said grant of extension of time, that the operation and effect thereof shall be 
 the same in all respects as if the first day of August, 1868, had been originally 
 inserted in said contract, instead of the first day of August, 1867, wherever the 
 date last mentioned is found therein. 
 
 In testimony whereof, the-Mining Company has caused these presents 
 
 to be signed by its President and Secretary, and its corporate seal to be affixed 
 this-day of April, 1867. 
 
 \Here follow signatures of the Presidents and Secretaries of the Mining Com¬ 
 panies with their corporate seals.~\ 
 
ACT OF CONGRESS, 
 
 APPROVED JULY. 25, 1866. 
 
 An Act granting to A. Sutro the right of way, and granting othe,r privileges, 
 to aid in the construction of a Draining and Exploring Tunnel to the Corn- 
 stock Lode, in the State of Nevada. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of the construc¬ 
 tion of a deep draining and exploring tunnel to and beyond the Comstock Lode, 
 so-called, in the State of Nevada, the right of way is hereby granted to A. 
 Sutro, his heirs and assigns, to run, construct, and excavate a mining, draining, 
 and exploring tunnel; also to sink mining, working, or air shaits along the line 
 or course of said tunnel, and connecting with the same at any points which 
 may hereafter be selected by the grantee herein, his heirs or assigns. 
 
 The said tunnel shall be at least eight feet high and eight feet wide, and shall 
 commence at some point to be selected by the grantee herein, his heirs or 
 assigns, at the hills near Carson river, and within the boundaries of Lyon 
 county, and extending from said initial point in a westerly direction, seven 
 miles, more or less, to and beyond said Comstock Lode; and the said right of 
 way shall extend northerly and southerly on the course of said lode, either 
 within the same, or east or west of the same; and also on or along any other 
 lode which may be discovered or developed by the said tunnel. 
 
 Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the right is hereby granted to the 
 said A. Sutro, his heirs and assigns, to purchase at one dollar and twenty-five 
 cents per acre, a sufficient amount of public land near the mouth of said tunnel 
 for the use of the same, not exceeding two sections, and such land shall not be 
 mineral land or in the bona fide possession of other persons who claim under 
 any law of Congress at the time of the passage of this Act; that upon filing a 
 plot of said land the Secretary of the Interior shall withdraw the same from sale, 
 aud upon payment for the same a patent shall issue. 
 
190 
 
 And the said A. Sutro, his heirs and assigns, are hereby granted the right to 
 purchase, at five dollars per acre, such mineral veins and lodes within two thou¬ 
 sand feet on each side of said tunnel as shall be cut, discovered, or developed by 
 running' and constructing the same, through its entire extent, with all the dips, 
 spurs, and angles of such lodes, subject, however, to the provisions of this Act 
 and to such legislation as Congress may hereafter provide : Provided , That the 
 Comstock Lode with its dips, spurs, and angles, is excepted from this grant, and 
 all other lodes with their dips, spurs, and angles, located within the said two 
 thousand feet, and which are, or may be at the passage of this Act, in the actual 
 bona fide possession of other persons, are hereby excepted from such grant. 
 
 And the lodes herein excepted, other than the Comstock Lode, shall be with¬ 
 held from sale by the United States ; and if such lodes shall be abandoned or not 
 worked, possessed and held in conformity to existing mining rules, or such regu¬ 
 lations as have been or may be prescribed by the legislature of Nevada, they 
 shall become subject to such right of purchase by the grantee herein, his heirs 
 or assigns. 
 
 Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That all persons, companies or corpora¬ 
 tions, owning claims or mines on said Comstock Lode or any other lode, drained, 
 benefited or developed by said tunnel, shall hold their claims subject to the 
 condition (which shall be expressed in any grant they may hereaftor obtain 
 from the United States) that they shall contribute and pay to the owners of said 
 tunnel the same rate of charges for drainage or other benefits derived from said 
 tunnel or its branches, as have been or may hereafter be named in agree¬ 
 ments between such owners and the companies representing a majority of the 
 estimated value of said Comstock Lode at the time of the passage of this Act. 
 
 United States of America, 
 
 Department of State. 
 
 To all to whom these presents shall come , greeting: 
 
 I certify, that the document hereunto annexed, is a true copy of the original on file in this 
 Department. 
 
 In testimony whereof, I, William H. Seward, Secretary of State of 
 the United States, have hereunto subscribed my name and caused 
 the seal of the Department of State to be affixed. 
 
 Done at the City of Washington this thirtieth day of July, A. D. 1866, 
 and of the Independence of the United States of America the 
 ninety-first. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 
 
 SEAL 
 of the 
 
 Department of State. 
 
INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. 
 
 Department of the Interior, 
 General Land Office, August 1, 1866. 
 
 Register and Receiver, Carson City, Nevada, 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I enclose herewith a preliminary survey of a drainage and 
 exploring tunnel to the Comstock Lode, authorized to he constructed by A. Sutro, 
 as per Act of Congress approved July 25, 1S66, granting to said Sutro, for the 
 purpose aforesaid, the right of way to run, construct and excavate a mining, 
 draining and exploring tunnel; also to sink mining, working or air shafts along 
 the line or course of said tunnel and connecting the same at any points, which 
 may hereafter be selected by the grantee herein, his heirs and assigns. 
 
 The Act aforesaid also grants to said Sutro, his heirs and assigns the right to 
 purchase, at $1 25 per acre, a sufficient amount of public lands near the mouth 
 of said tunnel for the use of the same, not exceeding two sections, which shall 
 not be mineral lands or in the bona fide possession of other persons, who claim 
 under any law of Congress at the time of the passage of the Act aforesaid. Said 
 Act further grants the right to purchase at $5 per acre such mineral veins or 
 lodes within two thousand feet on each side of said tunnel as shall be cut, dis¬ 
 covered or developed by running and constructing the same, through its entire 
 extent, subject to the provisions of this Act, and to such legislation as Congress 
 may hereafter provide. 
 
 The Comstock Lode and such other lodes as may be in possession of other 
 persons at the passage of the Act are excepted from the grant. 
 
 You will see from the enclosed diagram that said tunnel runs through the 
 public lands, from a line dividing sections 1 and 2 in Township 16 N. of Range 
 21 E. to section 23, in Township 17 N. of Range 20 E. 
 
 Lands indicated by yellow shading at the mouth of the tunnel, on the accom¬ 
 panying map, (green on the map attached to this book) are the particular tracts 
 selected by said Sutro, under the said act, and claimed by him to be necessary 
 
for the use of the same, and those shaded blue (red on the map attached to this 
 book) are the particular tracts which said Sutro claims the right to purchase 
 along the line of said tunnel. 
 
 The tracts above designated, as aforesaid, will be withheld from market until 
 it shall be ascertained whether any of said tracts fall within any one of the ex¬ 
 ceptions named in said Act, and until said Sutro shall have had a reasonable time 
 to comply on his part with the conditions of the law, and to show by satisfactory 
 proof before purchase as to the actual amount of land needed at the mouth of 
 said tunnel, for the use of the same, not to exceed two sections. 
 
 You will, therefore, upon the receipt of these instructions, withdraw from sale, 
 location, pre-emption or homestead claims the lands along the line, and at the 
 mouth of said tunnel, indicated by said coloring. 
 
 Acknowledge the receipt of this letter. 
 
 Very respectfuly, your obedient servant, 
 
 J. M. EDMUNDS, 
 
 Commissioner. 
 
 Approved August 1, 1866. 
 
 JAS. HARLAN, 
 
 Secretary Interior. 
 
 I, J M. Edmunds, Commissioner of the General Land Office, do hereby certify that the 
 foregoing copy of a letter of the present date from this office to the Register and Receiver of 
 the Land Office, at Carson City, Nevada, is a true and literal exemplification of the original, 
 as of record in this office. 
 
 SEAL 
 
 of the United States 
 General Land Office. 
 
 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused 
 the seal of this office to be affixed at the City of Washington, on the 
 day and year above written. 
 
 J. M. EDMUNDS, 
 
 Commissioner of the General Land Office. 
 
193 
 
 ENDORSEMENT BY BANKERS OF SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
 
 Fully appreciating the benefits which would accrue to the people at large of 
 the Pacific States, by securing the permanent working of the Comstock Ledge, 
 which in our opinion would be accomplished by constructing a deep drain tunnel, 
 we most cheerfully endorse Mr. Sutro’s proposition to the Companies, and shall 
 do all in our power to assist him in carrying out his project. 
 
 JOHN PARROTT, 
 LOUIS McLANE, 
 
 San Francisco, March 1, 1865. W. C. RALSTON. 
 
 OPINION OF MINING SUPERINTENDENTS—AND OTHERS. 
 
 The undersigned, fully aware of the importance and urgent necessity of pro¬ 
 viding means for draining the Comstock Ledge by means of a deep drain tunnel, 
 and foreseeing the difficulties which must present themselves, before long, in 
 removing the water from these mines; and being satisfied that the best interests, 
 of not only the owners of the Comstock Ledge, but the people at large of 
 this State, would be seriously effected by neglecting this matter : we would most 
 earnestly recommend the immediate construction of such a work, and ask the 
 co-operation of all parties interested, in order that this important undertaking 
 may be speedily carried out. 
 
 Virginia, February 15th, 1855. 
 
 Wm. Sharon, Agent of Bank of California. 
 
 Chas. Bonner, Superintendent Gould & Curry S. M. Company. 
 
 John B. Winters, President Yellow Jacket S. M. Company. 
 
 * F. A. Tritle, President Belcker M. Company. 
 
 A. E. Davis, General Superintendent Opkir S. M. Company. 
 
 Harvey Beckwith, Superintendent Mexican Mine. 
 
194 
 
 O. II. Frank, Superintendent Central S. M. Company. 
 
 Pat. N. McKay, Superintendent California S. M. Company. 
 
 James Morgan, President Sides Company. 
 
 H. H. O’Reiley, Superintendent White & Murphy Company. 
 
 Thos. G. Taylor, Superintendent Best & Belcher M. Company. 
 Sam’l F. Curtis, Superintendent Savage M. Company. 
 
 Chas. L. Peck, Superintendent Hale & Norcross S. M. Company. 
 
 I. Adams, Superintendent Chollar S. M. Company. 
 
 Pat. N. McKay, Superintendent Potosi G. & S. M. Company. 
 
 J. M. Walker, Superintendent Bullion M. Company. 
 
 P. S. Buckminster, Superintendent Imperial S. M. Company. 
 
 John II. Mills, President of Superior Company. 
 
 Robert Apple, Superintendent Minerva Consolidated M. Company. 
 R. Graves, Superintendent Empire M. & M. Company. 
 
 W. Tozer, President Challenge S. M. Company. 
 
 L. U. Colbath, Superintendent Challenge S. M. Company. 
 
 L. S. Bowers, owner in Gold Hill. 
 
 Lindauer & Hirschman, owners in Gold Hill. 
 
 Chas. Pioda, owner in Gold Hill. 
 
 J. Woodruff, Superintendent Bacon M. & M. Company. 
 
 Wm. Arrington, President Confidence Company. 
 
 Robert Apple, President Apple M. & M. Company. 
 
 Winters, Kustel & Co., owners in Gold Hill. 
 
 M. A. French, owner in Gold Hill 
 
 H. Woodcock, Superintendent Crown Point Company. 
 
 Wm. Arrington, President Overman Company. 
 
 C. C. Thomas, Superintendent Uncle Sam Company. 
 
 Paxton & Thornburg, Bankers. 
 
 Jas. H. Latham, Agent Wells, Fargo & Co. 
 
 B. F. Hastings & Co., Bankers. 
 
 E. Ruhling & Co., Bankers. 
 
 Almarin B. Paul & Co., Bankers. 
 
 Maynard & Flood, Bankers. 
 
 M. C. Hillyer, Trustee Chollar S. M. Company. 
 
 A. Meyer, Trustee Hale & Norcross S. M. Company. 
 
 D. E. Avery, General Agent New York & Washoe M. Company. 
 
J. R. Williams, Superintendent Sierra Nevada S. M. Company. 
 W. E. Bidleman, Superintendent Utah Company. 
 
 J. Neely Johnson. owner in Virginia City Mines. 
 
 Id. F. Rice, Agent Wells, Fargo & Co’s, Carson. 
 
 F. Richthofen. 
 
 John Cradlebaugh. 
 
 Gillig, Mott & Co. 
 
 W. M. Brown, Mining Engineer. 
 
 C. V. Beseler, Mining Engineer. 
 
 John A. Veatch, Mining Engineer. 
 
 John White, formerly of the United Mines, Cornwall, 
 
 S. M. Johns, formerly of the Wheal Prosper Mine, Cornwall. 
 
 J. F. Lewis, Chief Justice Supreme Court. 
 
 C. M. Brosnan, Justice of Supreme Court. 
 
 W. 0. Beatty, Justice of Supreme Court. 
 
 Richard Rising, District Judge, Storey County. 
 
 R. S. Mesick, District Judge, Storey County. 
 
 C. Burbank, District Judge, Storey County. 
 
 J. L. Crossman, Lieutenant Governor. 
 
 C. W. Noteware, Secretary of State. 
 
 H. W. Nightingill, Controller of State. 
 
 E. Rhoades, State Treasurer. 
 
 N. W. Winton, State Senator. 
 
 M. S. Thompson, State Senator. 
 
 J. Seely, State Senator. 
 
 A. J. Lockwood, State Senator. 
 
196 
 
 RECOMMENDATION TO THE MINING COMPANIES TO ENTER 
 INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE SUTRO TUNNEL CO. 
 
 The Undersigned, Presidents , Trustees and /Stockholders of Mining 
 Companies on the Comstock Ledge , hereby recommend the speedy adoption 
 of the contract offered to them by the Sutro Tunnel Company, which contract, 
 in our opinion, presents the best plan for accomplishing the great and absolutely 
 necessary labor of draining the lode to a great depth, besides furnishing the 
 best means of ventilation, and the cheapest mode of extracting the ore. 
 
 San Francisco, October 27 , 1865 . 
 
 Charles Bonner, Trustee Savage S. M. Company. 
 
 B. F. Sherwood, Trustee Gould & Curry S. M. Company. 
 
 John B. Winters, Bresident Yellow Jacket Company. 
 
 Wm. Blanding, President Opkir Silver Mining Company. 
 
 Edward Martin, Trustee Opkir Silver Mining Company. 
 
 Wm. B. Johnston, Trustee Opkir Silver Mining Company. 
 
 Jos. C. Vandervoort, Trustee Opkir Silver Mining Company. 
 
 A. L. Davis, Trustee Opkir Silver Mining Company. 
 
 Jas. Morgan, President Sides Company. 
 
 John Bjckelton, Superintendent Sides Company. 
 
 D. N. Walter, President Wkite & Murpky Company. 
 
 L. Gerstle, Trustee Wkite & Murpky Company. 
 
 P. Rousset, Trustee Wkite & Murpky Company. 
 
 A. L. Greeley, Trustee Wkite & Murpky Company. 
 
 A. Wasserman, Trustee Best & Belcker Company. 
 
 Henry Yoorman, Trustee Best & Belcker Company. 
 
 H. M. Newhall, Trustee Best & Belcker Company. 
 
 H. Woodleaf, Trustee Best & Belcker Company. 
 
 Alpheus Bull, President Gould & Curry S. M. Company. 
 
 D. B. Williams, Trustee Gould & Curry S. M. Company. 
 
 A. L. Tubbs, Trustee Gould & Curry S. M. Company. 
 
 R. B. Woodward, Trustee Gould & Curry S. M. Company. 
 
 John 0. Earl, Trustee Gould & Curry S. M. Company. 
 
197 
 
 Louis Janin, Superintendent Gould & Curry S. M. Company. 
 J. M. Shotwell, Secretary Gould & Curry S. M. Company. 
 Alpheus Bull, Trustee Savage S. M. Company. 
 
 Isaac Glazier, Trustee Savage S. M. Company. 
 
 Samuel F. Curtis, Superintendent Savage S. M. Company. 
 George S. Mann, President Hale & Norcross Company. 
 
 M. Morgenthau, Trustee Hale & Norcross Company. 
 
 N. Van Bergen, Trustee Hale & Norcross Company. 
 Stephen Moore, Superintendent Hale & Norcross Company. 
 Joel F. Lightner, Secretary Hale & Norcross Company. 
 
 A K. P. Harmon, President Chollar Potosi Company. 
 
 M. C. Hillyer, Trustee Chollar Potosi Company. 
 
 W. E. Barron, Trustee Chollar Potosi Company. 
 
 Lloyd Tevis, Trustee Chollar Potosi Company. 
 
 Charles Hosmer, Trustee Chollar Potosi Company. 
 
 Charles Bonner, President Bullion Company. 
 
 W. T. O'Neale, Trustee Bullion Company. 
 
 J W Mackey, Trustee Bullion Company. 
 
 Tiios. H. Williams, Trustee Bullion Company. 
 
 J. W. Walker, Superintendent Bullion Company. 
 
 G. W. Hopkins, Secretary Bullion Company. 
 
 O. A. Sanborn, Trustee Alpha Company. 
 
 J. W. Carrick, Trustee Alpha Company. 
 
 J. C. Corey, Trustee and Superintendent Alpha Company. 
 
 L. W. Coe, President Imperial Company. 
 
 G. T. Lawton, Trustee Imperial Company. 
 
 Charles Hosmer, Trustee Imperial Company. 
 
 J. B. Dickinson, Trustee Imperial Company. 
 
 A. H. Barker, Trustee Imperial Company. 
 
 J. E. de la Montagnie, Trustee Imperial Company. 
 
 P. S. Buckminster, Superintendent Imperial Company. 
 Charles Bonner, President Bacon Company. 
 
 L. Gerstle, Trustee Bacon Company. 
 
 J. Greenebaum, Trustee Bacon Company. 
 
 J. B. Low, Superintendent Bacon Company. 
 
 2 <; 
 
0. EL Giffin, President Empire Company 
 S. P. Dewey, Trustee Empire Company. 
 
 Robeet Shebwood, Trustee Empire Company. 
 
 Chables Mayne; Trustee Empire Company. 
 
 W. T. Gbissim, Eclipse Company. 
 
 W. K. Rogebs, Eclipse Company. 
 
 Louis Sloss, Eclipse Company. 
 
 Chables Fobman, Superintendent* Eclipse Company. 
 
 John McDonald, Jr., President Confidence Company. 
 
 0. A. Sanboen, Trustee Confidence Company. 
 
 J. Geeenebaum, Trustee Confidence Company. 
 
 Jos. Todman, Trustee Confidence Company. 
 
 W. H. Fobbes, Trustee N. Y. & Nevada and N. Y. & Washoe Cos. 
 D. E. Aveby, Gen. Sup’t N. Y. & Nevada and N. Y. & Washoe Cos. 
 John Gillig, Trustee Yellow Jacket Company. 
 
 N. A. H. Ball, Trustee Yellow Jacket Company. 
 
 Chables Fobman, Trustee Yellow Jacket Company. 
 
 A. H. Baekeb, President Crown Point Company. 
 
 Isaac Glazieb, Trustee Crown Point Company. 
 
 Geo. T. Gbimes, Trustee Crown Point Company. 
 
 M. Mobgenthau, Trustee Crown Point Company. 
 
 J. H. Jones, Secretary Crown Point Company. 
 
 F. A. Teitle, President Belcher Company. 
 
 J. W. Woodbuff, Trustee Belcher Company. 
 
 Geo. F. Jones, Trustee Belcher Company. 
 
 H. Beuckman, Secretary Belcher Company. 
 
 Jas. J. Robbins, President Overman & Uncle Sam Company. 
 
 W. W. Stow, Trustee Overman & Uncle Sam Company. 
 
 Richaed Newby, Trustee Overman & Uncle Sam Company. 
 
 J. M. McPheeson, Trustee Overman & Uncle Sam Company. 
 Chables C. Thomas, Sup’t Overman & Uncle Sam Company. 
 Robeet Apple, Segregated Belcher Company. 
 
 W. E. Bidleman, President Utah Company. 
 
 Piebbe Venabd, Gold Hill M. & M. Company. 
 
 G. Kustel, Consolidated M. Company. 
 
MEMORIAL 
 
 OF THE MINERS AND RESIDENTS OF THE PACIFIC COAST FOR 
 THE AID OF GOVERNMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 
 SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 To the Honorable the Senate and House of 
 
 Representatives of the United States of America: 
 
 Your Memorialists, miners and residents of the Pacific States, most respect¬ 
 fully show: 
 
 That the western regions of the United States embrace, by estimation, one 
 million square miles of mineral land, containing gold and silver mines of untold 
 wealth. 
 
 That the principal and permanent deposits of gold and silver are found in the 
 quartz lodes of the country, the main wealth of which is encountered at great 
 distances from the surface. 
 
 That quartz mining at great depth, in most cases, cannot be made profitable, 
 except by means of extensive works, such as drain tunnels, requiring the outlay 
 of large amounts of money. 
 
 That private capital is reluctantly invested in such enterprises; for, although 
 the continuity and the metalliferous character of mineral lodes in depth are 
 clearly proven by theory and by experience in other countries, it has never yet 
 been practically demonstrated in this country. 
 
 That one great index work is required to establish that proof practically, which 
 will give a stimulus and confidence, heretofore unknown, to private enterprise 
 in similar undertakings. 
 
 That if Government will lend its aid to one grand work of this kind, no 
 further aid will be asked or required by the miners of this coast. 
 
That the Comstock Lode is, by far, the most important mineral vein at present 
 worked in the world, producing $16,000,000 per annum. 
 
 That it is most favorably situated on the side of a high mountain, which 
 declines into a valley from which a horizontal adit or tunnel, four miles in length, 
 can be constructed, by which the mines can be worked to a depth of 3,000 feet 
 beneath the surface. 
 
 That, by common consent, this tunnel is looked upon by the miners of the 
 Pacific coast, as the great test work for the entire mining region, which is to 
 prove the continuance of mineral lodes in depth. 
 
 That the magnitude of the proposed work, and the results to flow from its 
 completion, as favorably affecting great financial questions, justly assign to it a 
 National ground. 
 
 Therefore, Your Memorialists would respectfully pray that such government 
 aid be extended to the “JSutro Tunnel Companyas may insure the speedy com¬ 
 pletion of the worli. 
 
 [Here follow many thousand Signatures.] 
 
Miscellaneous Extracts 
 
 AND 
 
 NEWSPAPER ARTICLES. 
 
E XTRACTS. 
 
 Extracts from the opinion of Alexander Von Humboldt, on the construction of 
 
 A DEEP TUNNEL IN THE FREIBERG DISTRICT. 
 
 I have been honored with the request, to give a professional opinion about the means which will secure the 
 welfare of the mines in the Freiberg district for centuries to come; mines which have been a highly productive 
 source of the national wealth of Saxony, and believe best to comply with the same, by compiling in a few pages 
 the facts, which induce me, after the most mature and impartial deliberation, to concur fully with the report of 
 the mining department. 
 
 As a pupil of Werners, and educated as a practical miner at the Academy of Freiberg, I have deeply felt the 
 duty to earnestly consult the experiences, which I have gathered in an active life, (sometimes superintending 
 mining operations, although in a limited circle; sometimes professionally studying the extraction of ore in the 
 American Cordilleras and the Russian portion of Northern Asia,) in order not to recommend an undertaking 
 inconsiderately, which will withdraw important sums from other portions of the Government’s resources, but 
 which will establish new and lasting sources of prosperity. 
 
 The principal points, which are to be considered here, are threefold. Is there no other remedy, shorter and 
 cheaper, than the Meissen Tunnel, to save the mines of Freiberg? Is it probable, that the ores will continue at 
 such great depth ? Is it not to be considered that unexpected accidents in such a length of time may occur lo 
 interfere with the undertaking? These three questions, I hope, will be satisfactorily explained in the following 
 remarks, based upon the materials collected with so much foresight by the Royal administration. 
 
 Not trusting entirely to my own views, I have in this important examination and in making this report con¬ 
 sulted a good friend (the Royal Prussian Chief Mining Counsellor von Dechen*) who not only may be counted 
 amongst the most illustrious geologists of Germany, but who by his travels in the most important parts of 
 Europe and by his own professional calling, is intimately acquainted with practical mining and smelting operations. 
 
 Von Humboldt enters at length into the discussion of these questions, answers them most conclusively 
 and earnestly recommends the construction of the proposed tunnel. 
 
 Extract from a Review of the Mineral Land Act, by Gregory Yale. p UB . 
 
 LISHED IN THE PACIFIC LAW MAGAZINE, APRIL NUMBER, 1867. 
 
 The Sutro Tunnel Act is a partial legislation by Congress to regulate important mining interests, and as such 
 the proper subject of comment in this connection. 
 
 On the 25th of July, 1806, one day prior to the general act, an act was passed granting the right of way and other 
 privileges to Adolph Sutro, and his assigns, to aid in the construction of a draining and exploring tunnel to the 
 Comstock Lode, in the State of Nevada to sink mining, working, or air shafts along the line or course of the tunnel 
 and connecting with the lode at any point to be selected by the grantee. The tunnel is to be at least eight feet high 
 and eight feet wide, and to commence at a point at the hills near Carson river, to be selected, extending to a puint 
 in a westerly direction seven miles, more or less, to and beyond the lode. The right of way’is also granted on'or 
 along any other lode which may be discovered or developed by the tunnel. The act authorizes the purchase of not 
 
 * 
 
 * A letter from Dr. H. von Dechen will be found on page 38 of this book. 
 
more than two sections of public land at the mouth of the tunnel, for the use of the same, not being mineral land, or 
 in the bona fide possession of any person under any law of Congress, at the date of the act, at the minimum price, an 
 the right to purchase, at $5 00 per acre, such mineral veins or lodes within two thousand feet on each aide of said 
 tunnel as shall be cut, discovered, or developed by running or constructing the same, through its entire extent, with 
 the dips, spurs and angles of such lodes, subject to the provisions of the act, and the future legislation of on 
 gress. The Comstock Lode, and all other lodes, located within the two thousand feet, in the actual possession 
 of other persons, are excepted from the grant. All of these lodes, excepting the Comstock, are withheld f lom 
 sale by the act, unless abandoned, or not worked in conformity to existing mining rules, or such regulations as have 
 been or may be prescribed by the Legislature of Nevada; in that event these other lodes are subject to the right 
 of purchase by the grantee. By the 3d and last section of the act, all persons and companies owning claims or 
 mines on the Comstock, or any other lode, drained, benefitted, or developed by the tunnel, shall hold their claims 
 subject to the condition, to be expressed in any grant from the United States, that they will contribute and pay 
 to the owners of the tunnel the same rate of charges for drainage or other benefits derived from the tunnel or its 
 branches , as have been, or may be, named in (an) - ) agreement between such owners and the companies represent¬ 
 ing a majority of the estimated value of said Comstock Lode at the date of the act. (14 Stat. at Large, 242-3.) 
 
 This is the first act of Congress granting a mining privilege on public land to any individual, or to the public 
 at large. It was evidently intended to be cotemporaneous with the general law under consideration ; but it was 
 necessary, for the security of the exclusive privileges granted, that it should be prior in date. In principle, the 
 law assumes the function of regulation, or the administration of the mines, in an important argentiferous 
 locality, by recognizing the necessity of drainage, and the equitable adjustment of payment therefor, and for 
 other advantages, according to the benefits derived by proprietors of the lodes cut by the tunnel. It might as 
 well have provided for the payment at once, as the power existed, as to leave it the subject of agreement by a 
 majority in value ; or of a forced payment by all, in proportion to benefits, instead of a forced payment, by the 
 minority in value. The minority now pays by compulsion from the majority, instead of being compelled to pay 
 directly by the act. There is no doubt that the lodes benefitted are, by this law, subjected to a lien to the 
 extent of the agreements, by their respective owners; and the claims of the minority owners are in the like 
 condition by the force of contracts not of their making. The existing mining rules, and the regulations pre¬ 
 scribed by the Legislature of Nevada, are also distinctly recognized. 
 
 The principle of pro rata payments by the parties benefitted, to the constructors of a general tunnel, is a fixed 
 regulation in the mining codes. They are always constructed under the authority of the officers appointed to 
 direct the proper working of the mines. In the Spanish system a tunnel is called a contramina, or socabon, 
 which is rendered in English by the mining term adit, corresponding to the American term tunnel, in the sense 
 used in the Sutro Act. The royal ordinances promulgated in May, 1783, of New Spain, title X, contain seven¬ 
 teen articles, relative to this and kindred subjects, in great detail, and almost completing a system. By article 
 2d, it is ordered that all veins requiring draining, and whose situation will admit of it, and when, in the judg- 
 n eit of the professor of the district, advantage will result from it, the owners shall be obliged to make an adit 
 sufficient for clearing the w'orkings. Article 3d contains the principle of the Sutro Act. When several mines 
 can be cleared and kept in order, and each, singly, cannot bear the expense of the construction of an adit, 
 it shall be made and paid for by all together , the expense being apportioned among them, according to the benefit 
 each shall derive from it, when ascertained, it being arranged according to what the poorest mine can pay as 
 the work progresses, so as not to suspend the work, and all shall be assessed, and regulated by the mining 
 deputation and its respective professor. An individual, not being an owner, may denounce several mines for the 
 purpose of constructing a tunnel, in case the owners refuse, the work to be planned and directed by the professor 
 of the district, never to exceed two varas, or six feet in width, and nine feet in height. If the adventurer, in 
 the progress of the work, discovers new veins, he will be rewarded as such, under the ordinances; and if already 
 known, then on e pertencncia in each vein. Abandoned mines through which the tunnel passes may be denounced 
 as in this act they may be acquired by its terms, together with half of the metals he takes out of occupied 
 mines. But in case of such denouncement, the constructor pays all the expenses. One or more owners of a 
 mine, may, in like manner, construct a general countermine alone, or in partnership with an adventurer, subject 
 to the same provisions. When mines which require draining do not admit of countermining, by means of an 
 adit from their situation, a general or continuous shaft, called a tiro, to draw oft' the water by means of ermines 
 
or machines, maj'be constructed upon the same general principles, under the author it} - and direction of the 
 proper officer. ( Hallcck' s Collection Mining Ordinances , 246-51.) The old mining ordinances of Spain, prior to 
 the compilation of the New Code of 1584, and subsequently inserted in the law of the Indies, and made applica¬ 
 ble to New Spain, in force till 1783, provided for contraminas. Laws 79, 80, 81, 82 of these ordinances, relate 
 to the subject, and will be found, with comments thereon, in chapter 26 of Gamboa, 2d vol., 295. They are 
 similar in principle to Law X of 1783. But it is remarkable, that the four laws of 1584, had none corresponding 
 to them in the older ordinances, as Gamboa tells us. (2 vol., 299.) 
 
 In the French mining code the tunnel is called areine, and corresponds to the Spanish contramina. The law of 
 1810, art. 45, and other articles, regulate their construction, but iu less detail, and with less reference to relative 
 responsibility, than the Spanish code. [De Fooz by Ualleck, 148.) By an ancient custom of Liege, an assess¬ 
 ment, as perpetual as the benefit, called the cens d’areine , was imposed upon the owners of mines benefited by a 
 general canal, and, like the droit de tirage, was a real or immovable right. Id. chap, i, §3. 
 
 By the Gold Field Management Acts of New South Wales, 16 Viet., No. 43, (1852,) the commissioner having 
 the authority in any district may permit persons, by written license, without a fee, to employ themselves iu cut¬ 
 ting or making tunnels, for the purpose of directing water courses, or carrying away superfluous water from 
 auriferous lands. 
 
 There is no provision in these acts for payment by those whose lands are benefited by the drainage in the 
 latter case, and is left bj' implication to rest upon private agreement. 
 
 It is not difficult to extract from the common law, a principle sufficiently broad to compel pro rata payments 
 by the owners of mining claims benefited by a general enterprise, having for its object a system of drainage and 
 working common to a number of mines, so situated as to receive the benefit, iu the nature of a lien upon the 
 mines or their products. There are analogous rules, applied to real property, which could be extended without 
 much violation, so as to embrace the principle, upon the well known rule, that the common law expands and 
 adapts itself to new conditions of society and property, for protection and security, and, in some cases antici¬ 
 pating legislation. There is no doubt that where parties avail themselves of the advantages of the work, an 
 implied obligation would result, to be enforced as a contract. 
 
 Iu the absence of legislation to regulate the working of the mines in our State, there is no statutory obligation, 
 in the nature of a contract in invitum, which the law makes for a party, as in the Sutro Tunnel Act, where a 
 majority of value which agrees to pay binds the minority which refuses, like the system of grading and sewerage 
 in cities. 
 
 Extract from the Report of Surveyor General of Nevada, IIon. S. H. Mar- 
 
 lette, Esq., for 1805. 
 
 GREAT SUTRO DRAIN TUNNEL. 
 
 Some facts concerning this grand enterprise will be found in the report of the County Surveyor of Lyon 
 County. That its construction is an absolute necessity, must be considered by all who believe that we have 
 not already obtained the cream of the Comstock Lode. The tunnel projected by A. Sutro, Esq., is intended 
 to drain the Comstock 2,000 feet below the Gould & Curry croppings, nearly 1,200 feet lower than the Gold 11 ill 
 and Virginia tunnel, and the same distance below the present bottom of the Bonner shaft; more than 1,550 feet 
 lower than the Latrobe Tunnel, and about 550 feet below the surface of Washoe Lake, and nearly 1,200 feet 
 below the present workings in the Gold Hill claims. * * * * * * s 
 
 The quantity of water that is now pumped up from the mines cannot be ascertained ; no record is kept; nearly 
 every mine of note has its pump, which usually stands idle part of the day; in the deep and more extensive 
 works, the pumps work night and day. The Best & Belcher and Hale & Norcross, each, during portions of last 
 summer, pumped 15,000 gallons of water per hour. The Gould & Curry pump has a capacity of 25,000 gallons 
 per hour. 
 
 “For a long time, the works of the Ophir and Mexican mines were flooded in spite of all the efforts of powerful 
 pumps. Such has been the case with other mines. It has been estimated, and I think without extravagance, 
 
that at 1,800 feet the quantity of water in the Comstock Lode will be 480, oOO gallons per hour, and the cost of 
 pumping it up would be at least $4,000,000, of which expense about one-fifth would be the interest on cost of 
 machinery.” * ® * * * * * * * * “ 
 
 VENTILATION. 
 
 Good ventilation is very important. In illy ventilated mines, the workmen are sickly 7 ; the heat, foul air, and 
 mud interfere with their work, and the moisture causes the wood to rot with fearful rapidity 7 . I have been fre¬ 
 quently in mines surveying, when the air was so bad that it would take days to recover from the ill effects of 
 inhaling the foul atmosphere but for a few hours perhaps. What then must be the effects resulting from weeks, 
 months, and even years, of breathing such pestilential vapors. Surely 7 , such trifling with human life should be 
 avoided. 
 
 In 1864, nearly 16,000,000 feet (board measure) of timber, at a cost of nearly $640,000 was used for the Com¬ 
 stock mines, and there are now probably 50,000,000 feet (board measure) within the same. It has been said that 
 more has been used in the Gould & Curry 7 mine than in building Virginia City. 
 
 Whether this 50,000,000 feet of lumber, with the 15,000,000 to be added annually, is to last eight or ten years, 
 or rot in three or four, depends on good or bad ventilation, and with this tunnel it could be far better than 
 without. It has been estimated that four-fifths who die in mines are victims of bad air. 
 
 From the Report of John Day, County Surveyor of Lyon County, to the 
 Surveyor General of Nevada, for 1865. 
 
 The greatest and most important enterprise to the county (and State) is “Sutro’s Deep Drain Tunnel” to the 
 Comstock. The starting place of the tunnel is about three and a half miles northerly from Dayton, between 
 Corral and Webber Canons. The distance from mouth of tunnel to the Savage works is a trifle over four miles, 
 but as the Comstock dips to the east, it will probably be cut in three miles and a half. » * * 
 
 It is of public importance; it is, in fact, a mining necessity, and the energetic projector, I am pleased to say 7 , 
 is sanguine, and laboring night and day for its success, and it is to be regretted that the work is not progressing 
 to-day, for the cost of pumping increases with every foot of descent. It must be very rich ore indeed to pay for 
 going down much deeper. When the tunnel is completed, the pumps will be discarded, and the outlay for pump¬ 
 ing go into the pockets of the stockholders instead of floating down Six-Mile Canon. 
 
 In the Sixth Annual Report of the Gould & Curry Silver Mining Company 
 for 1865, its President, Alpheus Bull, says : 
 
 “Drainage by the natural flow of the water whereby the expense of pumping would be saved, and good ven¬ 
 tilation whereby the timber would be preserved and the efficiency of the workmen in the mine greatly increased 
 are so important that they warrant me in urging upon your attention the proposition of the “Sutro Tunnel 
 Company,” which offers to run a tunnel from the mouth of Webber Canon to strike the Comstock Lode one thou¬ 
 sand nine hundred feet beneath our croppings, on condition that the mining companies will pay a certain sum 
 of money, to be agreed upon, for every ton of ore taken from the mines after the tunnel has drained them. 
 
 I am heartily in favor of this company doing all it can consistently to encourage the execution of this enter¬ 
 prise, which, in my opinion, is of the utmost importance for the profitable working of all the mines on the Lode.’ 
 
Extract from the Report of S. P. Dewey, Esq., President of the Empire Mill 
 and Mining Company, San Francisco, December 19, 1866. 
 
 SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 I deem it my duty to bring to the favorable consideration of the stockholders of this company, that great, and 
 (for the interests of the Washoe Mines) indispensably necessary work, “the Sutro Tunnel.” I may truly say it is 
 the one great prospective want of those mines , and should receive at our hands every possible aid and encourage¬ 
 ment. iVb time should be lost in urging the commencement of the work , as experience has shown that with the in¬ 
 creased depth which our mines will have reached before tbe tunnel can possibly be completed, the expense of 
 mining through independent shafts will have become so large as to consume all and more than all the product. 
 The result is, therefore, inevitable, the Sutro Tunnel, or some similar work must be constructed, or the mines must 
 be abandoned at a depth of 1,800 or 2,000 feet. 
 
 Were that work constructed to-day, the expense to the companies running through it, under the terms of the 
 contract already entered into, would not be more than fifty per cent, on present cost from their lower levels; 
 while at the depth at which that tunnel will strike the ledge, the difference would be immensely greater—prob¬ 
 ably not more than ten to twenty per cent, on the cost of working through an independent shaft. 
 
 The President of the Savage Mining Company, Alpheus Bull, Esq., says, in the 
 Annual Report to that Company for 1866: 
 
 “The importance of affording drainage to the mine at a great depth, if it can possibly be obtained, cannot be 
 too highly estimated. The Sutro Tunnel Company is the only party who proposes to undertake this important 
 enterprise, and your Trustees have entered into a contract with that company for the purpose of effecting this 
 great object. It is much to be desired that success will attend the effort, for it is, in my opinion, a work upon 
 which depends the future value and profitable working of the mines of the Comstock Lode. I recommend that 
 this contract be ratified by the stockholders at their present meeting.” 
 
 Extract from the Report of the State Mineralogist of Nevada, 
 
 R. IP. Stretch, Esq., for 1866. 
 
 SUTRO DRAIN TUNNEL. 
 
 The main features of this enterprise are now so well known to the public that it is not necessary to repeat them 
 here. A sketch of the enterprise will be found in the Annual Report of the Surveyor General of Nevada for 
 1866, p. 56, and the publications of the company give all the minutiae of the contemplated operations. The 
 section of the Comstock Lode, and the topographical map of the country beneath which the tunnel will pass, 
 are valuable additions to our knowledge of these mining districts. Of the immense value of the Sutro Tunnel to 
 the mines on the Comstock Lode there can be no doubt, and it is gratifying to find that the unwearied efforts of the 
 projector are likely to be crowned rvith success. Probably no mining locality possesses greater facilities for deep 
 drainage; indeed, Nevada is admirably situated in this respect, its mineral-bearing mountain ranges being 
 usually lofty and precipitous, with an average width at the base of from ten to twelve miles only. 
 
 In the “Seventh Annual Report of the Gould & Curry Silver Mining Company, 
 San Francisco, 1866,” the President of that Company, Mr. Alpheus Bull, says: 
 
 “Believing it to be of vast advantage to the future of silver mining in Nevada, I recommended a year ago, 
 that the Trustees of this company be authorized to enter into a contract with the Sutro Tunnel Company, so as 
 
to aid in the accomplishment of that undertaking : by means of it to secure deep drainage and good ventilation 
 to the mines on the Comstock Lode. This contract was duly entered into and properly executed ; but, for reasons 
 unnecessary to detail, the funds have not yet been obtained on the part of the “Tunnel Company:” hence, the 
 Work has not been commenced. 
 
 Parties chiefly interested in this enterprise are now soliciting the mining companies with whom they have con¬ 
 tracts to become interested in the “Tunnel Company,” and are urged to do so by having presented to them the 
 prospective benefits they are expected to derive from it. It appears to have been forgotten by the projectors of 
 this tunnel, that it was in view of these prospective benefits that this company engaged and bound itself in a con¬ 
 tract with the Tunnel Company, which, for extended liberality, I consider is entirely unprecedented. At the time of 
 making this contract I was conscious of the onerous conditions the Company was assuming ; but determined, 
 notwithstanding this, that the Tunnel Company should be clothed with such benefits, and should present so 
 bright a prospect of a successful career, that there would be no hesitation on the part of capitalists in embarking 
 readily in the adventure, and thus secure its accomplishment. 
 
 That I have not been mistaken in my estimation as to the magnitude and great liberality contained in this con¬ 
 tract, a late exposition on the part of the Tunnel Company affords abundant evidence. In a pamphlet issued in 
 September last, it is shown with convincing evidence, that the revenue to be derived from it will be nearly 
 §2,500,000 per annum, while, at the same time, they will derive from the sales of other property, over §3,000,000. 
 With 1 his enormous exhibit of ultimate profit, (and, in my judgment, not overestimated, if the lode proves to be 
 continuously mineral-bearing,) it is remarkable that the Tunnel Company should fail to command the confidence 
 of capitalists where capital abounds; the mining companies cannot afford to furnish the requisite means in a 
 country where capital is scarce and high priced. 
 
 From the “Daily Union,” Virginia, Nevada, February 7, 1865. 
 
 a great project. 
 
 Senate bill No. 130, introduced by Senator Winton in the Senate on the 23d ult., having passed both Houses 
 was, Friday, signed by the Governor and has become a law. This bill provides for constructing a mining and 
 draining tunnel at a point to he selected in the foot hills of Carson River Valley, near Dayton, between Corral 
 and Webber Canons ; running thence in a direct line to the Comstock Lode. Also for the sinking of shafts along 
 the line of said tunnel, and for the development of other lodes through which it may pass. The necessity of a work 
 of this character will be apparent to all w ho know the great difficulties that are multiplying in the continued 
 extraction of ore from the claims on the Comstock Lode, which difficulties must continue to increase as work 
 progresses. This tunnel will be, when it reaches the Comstock Lode, 3| miles in length, by actual survey, will 
 strike the said lode at a depth of (2,000) two thousand feet, draining all the intervening mines and developing 
 a large scope of country, supposed to possess great mineral wealth, and enable the work upon the principal mines 
 in Virginia to proceed without embarrassment for many years. This enterprise commends itself to the good 
 wishes of the citizens of Virginia and of the entire State, and its importance can scarcely be over estimated. 
 
 From the “Advantages and Necessity of a Deep Drain Tunnel for the Great 
 Comstock Lode,” San Francisco, February, 1865. Page 19. 
 
 The necessity of completing this tunnel, without delay, must be apparent to every one who reads these pages 
 attentively, and gives this important subject the attention it deserves. No time ought to be lost to commence 
 operations at once, and to push the same with the greatest energy, day and night, until completed. By the time 
 this work can possibly be finished, the decline of our mining interests, and all other interests in Nevada , will fairly 
 have commenced. If this matter is delayed until the mines cannot be worked any deeper by machinery, the 
 country will go to ruin, waiting for a drain tunnel to be completed. 
 
209 
 
 Much has been spoken and written about the importance of a rail road across the mountains; it has been the 
 subject of discussion in the newspapers, in the halls of the Legislature, and in Congress, for a number of 3 -ears 
 past. It is certainly a subject of great interest to the people of Nevada and California. But this tunnel is of still 
 greater importance , for ive venture to say , that bid few people would be in Nevada by the time a railroad is finished , if 
 this tunnel is not constructed. 
 
 From the San Francisco “Daily Evening Bulletin,” March 9, 1865. 
 
 THE PROJECT TO DRAIN THE COMSTOCK LEDGE. 
 
 Adolph Sutro, well known in this city, and who for some j'ears back has been engaged in mining operations 
 on the Eastern Slope, has just printed a pamphlet, for private circulation, entitled “The Advantages and Neces¬ 
 sity of a Deep Drain Tunnel for the Great Comstock Ledge.” We have already called the attention of our 
 readers to this project. There is something magnificent in the scheme, and there is no doubt that it will prove 
 of immense benefit to our mining interests. * * * ® * * * * * 
 
 The object of this vast undertaking is the drainage of the entire Comstock Ledge, without which the mines are 
 worthless. By means of pumping, mines exceeding 1,800 feet in depth may be drained, but the expense is 
 enormous. It is claimed by the projector of this tunnel that the same work can be accomplished at far less cost 
 by his scheme, which also has numerous other advantages to recommend it. He enters into elaborate calcula¬ 
 tions tending to show that the cost of pumping the estimated water on the ledge from a depth of 1,800 feet, 
 would amount to from $4,000,000 to $5,500,000 per annum. 
 
 Mr. Sutro urges, that no time ought to be lost to commence operations at once, and push the same with the 
 greatest energj^, day and night, until completed. * * ® * * * * * 
 
 From the “Daily Union,” Virginia, Nevada, March 10, 1865. 
 
 SUTRO’S DRAIN TUNNEL. 
 
 Most of our readers have, doubtless, heard of the franchise granted by the Legislature of this State to A. 
 Sutro, Esq., of Dayton, for running a drain tunnel from a point about three miles north of that town to the 
 Comstock Lode in this citj’. It is one of the grandest projects ever undertaken on this continent , and its importance 
 to the people of this State, and the owners of the Comstock Lode in particular, cannot be over-estimated. As 
 the mines reach a greater depth the expense of drainage, by pumping increases so rapidly that it would, proba¬ 
 bly, in five years from now, absorb nearly all the proceeds of our best mines, which now go to the payment of 
 dividends. Hence, it is a necessity of the State , as urgent as the necessity to have a railroad to tide-water, to have 
 a deep drain tunnel for the Comstock Ledge, such as Mr. Sutro proposes. We have received a prospectus of this 
 project, which presents all the data and information upon which it is founded, and we propose to give a brief 
 synopsis of the same, to convey to the public some idea of the character and importance of the undertaking. * * 
 Mr. Sutro proposes that the parties to be benefited by the drainage of their claims shall pay, from the time 
 they begin to derive a benefit from it, (after its completion,) a price not to exceed two dollars per ton on every 
 ton of ore raised and sent to the mills. This, together with such discoveries as he may make ou the route, and 
 the water draining from the tunnel, will constitute the remuneration or return for the investment. For the sake 
 of the interests of the State, as well as of Mr. Sutro, we wish the scheme entire success. 
 
From the “Daily Alta California,” San Francisco, March 12th, 1865. 
 THE GREAT DRAIN TUNNEL FOR THE COMSTOCK LODE. 
 
 The Question of the Comstock Drain Tunnel will soon be submitted, in a practical form, to the companies which 
 own claims on the Comstock Lode. Mr. Sutro, who holds the franchise for the tunnel, and owns the land where 
 the mouth should be, is now here for the purpose of making a contract upon which he can go into the European 
 money market and obtain the funds necessary for the work. We understand that he will probably issue a circu¬ 
 lar to all the companies interested, requesting each to select one person to represent the company in a meeting, 
 which will appoint a committee to examine the question of drainage generally, and his proposition especially. 
 This request can scarcely be denied by any company, for the importance of drainage is universally admitted. It 
 is estimated that, so soon as the tunnel becomes a certainty, the market value of the Virginia and Gold Hill 
 mines will advance at least twenty per cent., the total advance being more than the entire expense of the tunnel ; 
 and, if rich deposits should be found in a claim, at the depth of 1,800 feet, the value of that claim would imme¬ 
 diately be quadrupled. 
 
 The tunnel would in so many ways, reduce the expenses of timbering and mining, and increase the facilities 
 for extracting ore, and by strengthening confidence, encourage new workings, that the amount of mineral 
 reduced would be doubled. The magnitude of the undertaking would be eclipsed by the splendid results. 
 Washoe, which is already the greatest of silver mining districts, would rise to still higher eminence in the world 
 of enterprise, industry and finance. 
 
 From “Virginia Union,” April IOtii, 1865. 
 
 SUTRO’S DRAIN TUNNEL. 
 
 The importance of the commencement as well as the completion of this great undertaking is acknowledged by 
 every one, and particularly by such as are acquainted with the mines around Virginia, and the immense sum it 
 costs to pump out the increasing quantities of water. That excellent paper, the Mining and Scientific Press of 
 San Francisco, speaks flatteringly of the enterprise, and urges the mining companies interested to lose no time in 
 accepting Mr. Sutro’s liberal proposition. 
 
 From the “Union,” Virginia, Nevada, June, 1865. 
 
 SUTRO’S DRAIN TUNNEL. 
 
 In a conversation with Mr. Sutro, yesterday, we learned that he is getting his great enterprise into pretty good 
 shape, many influential parties having taken hold of the matter. He may, however, have to go East before 
 perfecting arrangements so as to commence work. This immense and extensive tunnel will be some four miles in 
 length, and will tap the Comstock ledge at the depth of 1,800 feet from the surface, a depth which can, from 
 present indications , never he attained in any other xoay , for, aside from the great height to which everything would 
 have to be hoisted, it would be a matter of impossibility almost to raise the water to that height. In fact it 
 could not be done without an expenditure equal to the product of the mines, unless the ore was far richer than 
 any discovered. By means of this tunnel the entire ledge could be drained, and far more cheaply and com¬ 
 pletely prospected than by any other possible means. At the depth of five or six hundred feet the ledge is said 
 to have become poor, but that is all nonsense. Even if such were the case, it would surely be best to try if it 
 cannot be found far richer at a greater depth. The sooner the tunnel is finished to the ledge the better. 
 
From the “Evening News,” Gold Hill, Nevada, June 29th, 1865. 
 
 THE GREAT TUNNEL. 
 
 The great tunnel project of Mr. Sutro, we learn, has a fair prospect of being carried out. The necessity of 
 such a great work is evident. The cost of freeing our mines from water is already enormous, and is increasing 
 with every foot of depth which is acquired below the present level; and yet, we are only comparatively a short 
 way down. Unless some such drainage as that proposed by Mr. Sutro, is provided, our mines will have to be 
 shut up after they have been worked down 800 or 1,000 feet further, if not before. With such a work a3 he 
 proposes to construct, completed, the mines on the Comstock Lode can be nearly as easily worked to that depth 
 below the level of the tunnel, as they can be worked from the surface without it, in all not far from 3,000 feet. 
 
 From the “Daily Union,” Virginia, Nevada, July 16, 1865. 
 
 SUTRO’S DRAIN TUNNEL. 
 
 That our prosperity and the prosperity of the people of this State, and even the support of a State Govern¬ 
 ment, in a great measure, are dependent upon the success of this or some similar enterprise, there can be no 
 doubt in the mind of every intelligent, reflecting person, who has given the subject the least thought. * * * 
 
 From the “Evening News,” Gold Hill, Nevada, August 24, 1865. 
 
 THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 The Sutro Drain Tunnel is in a fair way to be soon commenced .—Nye County Ntws. 
 
 That’s so. We saw Mr. Sutro in Virginia City, yesterday,—had a talk with him on the subject of his great 
 Comstock Ledge Tapper, and he gave us to understand that his drain tunnel will shortly he commenced. This 
 will no doubt be the greatest enterprise ever undertaken in this State, and will enable the companies located on 
 the great Comstock ledge, to bring forth millions of dollars in silver where they are row only getting tens of 
 thousands. Almost every day’s developments in our Gold Hill mines demonstrate that the deeper they go the 
 richer is their silver harvest. But the time will come, ere the snows of many winters, when our present most 
 flourishing mines will find their machinery inadequate to contend against what we all must know is an immense 
 subterranean bod 3 r of water in the lower depths of the Comstock. Hence, we consider, that the sooner the great 
 Sutro Tunnel is commenced and prosecuted to completion, the better it will be for the development of the hidden 
 wealth of the Comstock ledge. 
 
 From the “Daily Alta California,” San Francisco, October 24, 1865. 
 
 THE BLUNDERS IN WASHOE MINING. 
 
 Common as blunders are in all occupations, it would be difficult to find any branch of business in which so 
 much money has been squandered and so many mistakes committed, with good intentions, in a short period, as 
 in Washoe mining. The public character of the mining companies, the vast quantities of silver which some of 
 them obtained, and the importance of the labors of all to the prosperity of the coast, threw a strong light on 
 their transactions, and called general attention to matters, that would have remained unknown or without in¬ 
 terest, under other circumstances. When we consider that the Gould and Curry mine has yielded $14,000,000 
 and the Opbir about $7,000,000, we cannot be astonished if people look with curiosity at the management of the 
 corporations which own them. 
 
Willi the trustees of most of the companies, the main object was not to develop the mine, but to make money 
 out of the stock. The affairs of the companies were kept secret, the Superintendent was instructed to take out 
 poor ore, or rich ore, as bulling or bearing was the policy ; he was told to write little in his official reports, and 
 much in his private letters; assessments were levied, or dividends promised, not with regard to the wants or 
 capabilities of 1 he mine, but to the interest of the trustees, and so on. All this was sharp practice, confessedlj' 
 in violation of the good faith that the trustee should hear to the stockholder. And yet, pernicious as it was, 
 it probably did far less evil than the bad management which was well meant. * ® ® * ® 
 
 From the “Daily Evening Bulletin” of San Francisco, October '-8, 1865. 
 
 THE IMPORTANCE OF DRAIN TUNNELS IN MINING. 
 
 One of I he most important lessons of mining experience is that deep mines which contain much water must, if 
 possible, be drained by tunnels, or adits as they are called in England. Every author of note who has treated 
 of the working of metalliferous deposits repeats the lesson, and refers to the ruinous results of neglecting it. 
 Every old and large mining district has impressive examples. Mines full of water, and mines abandoned because 
 the pumping costs too much, are among the commonest sights. It is so congenial to greed , and so convenient for 
 follg and carelessness to consume immediately the entire yield of a rich deposit of ore , that the error of depending on 
 pumps is and will be committed over and over again. The cutting of a drain tunnel requires confidence in the 
 permanent productiveness of the mine, capital, and a willingness to invest it on the probability of large but not 
 immediate profits. It implies a sacrifice of something in the present for the sake of getting twice, thrice, tenfold 
 as much in the future. In those places where mining is conducted in the most economical and most intelligent 
 manner, we find drain tunnels used most extensively, other things being equal. In some districts the veins are 
 in extensive flats or in low valleys, so that there is no possibility of constructing drains; in others, the lodes are 
 dry, or the quantity of metal is too small to pay for tunnels. Of ail silver mines, those in Germany are worked 
 with the most care, and there we find relatively the longest adits. One fourteen miles long has been run to drain 
 the Harz silver mines in Hanover, to a depth of 1,200 feet, though the yield is only $500,000 annually. The 
 Government of Saxony lias approved a plan recommended by the ablest engineers of Freiberg to drain the mines 
 there to a depth of 2,000 feet by a tunnel twenty-four miles long. The work has not yet been commenced, hut 
 another is under way to he eight miles long, and to strike the lode at a depth of 1,500 feet. 
 
 The engineers complain that the delay in commencing the deeper tunnel is unwise and grossly wasteful. And 
 yet the total yield of the Frieberg mines is less than $1,000,000 on the average of years. Cornwall has many 
 long adits fur draining, of which the most remarkable is that opening at the village of Ferney Splat. It is five 
 miles long and drains the vein to a depth of 420 feet. Some of the Cornish mines, however, are not rich 
 enough to pay for extensive draining, and are therefore abandoned when the water becomes troublesome. 
 
 In Mexico, notwithstanding the immense veins of silver ore and the inestimable benefits that would be derived 
 by running deep-drain tunnels, little work of that kind has been done, and Humboldt, Ward, Villefosse and 
 Duport, all lament the blind folly and negligence of the mine owners. In the three districts of Real del Monte, 
 Zacatecas, and Guanajuato, the loss for want of drain tunnels cannot be estimated at less than $100,000,000. 
 The Real del Monte, one of the richest mines in Mexico, lay valueless for a long time, simply because of bad 
 management in the drainage. The Tlalpajahua mine remained unprofitable for years because of the difficulty of 
 pumping, and Ward advised the company to devote all their funds to the completion of a great drain tunnel, 
 which they had commenced but did not push rapidly. It was to be a mile long, and was to strike the vein 400 
 feet below the old works. This adit was considered absolutely necessary for the proper management of a claim, 
 which, under the most favorable circumstances, could not he put in the first class of mines. We read without 
 astonishment that the rich and abundant ores of Bolanos yielded no profit to the mine owners in 1795, when we 
 learn that 5,000 mules were constantly employed in hoisting the water. Steam pumps are costly enough, but 
 [he employment of 5,000 mules in drawing up water in buckets from a depth of 600 feet is almost incredible. 
 
There is no reason to wonder at the proverb that “it takes a mine to work a mine,” with such economy. A vast 
 saving in the cost of drainage might be made at Zacatecas by a tunnel four miles long, to strike the vein 1,350 
 feet below the surface. The works are farther down, but by the adit more than 1,000 feet of hoisting and an 
 immense waste of money might be saved. The miners, however, cannot unite their forces to do that which all 
 admit ought to be done. M. de Villefosse, in speaking of their conduct, uses ilie same tone of condemnation 
 adopted by other authors writing of other mines which have been mismanaged in a similar way. 
 
 Intelligent men who understand arithmetic, however, need not study the success of Germany or the loss of 
 Mexico to comprehend the advantages of drain tunnels. The water, which if pumped out from a deep mine, 
 must be lifted, not by the single pound, but in a solid column of 1000 feet high or more, thus demanding vast 
 power in the machinery as well as strength in the pipe, will transport itself if only a tunnel with a small descent 
 be placed within its reach. The pump is an endless expense, surrounded by possibilities of accidents that may 
 do great injury to the mine; the tunnel once completed, instead of being an expense, renders great benefits by 
 facilitating ventilation, preventing the accumulation of foul air, saving the lives of the workmen, protecting their 
 health, increasing their capacity for labor, preserving the timber, offering a cheap means of extracting the ore, 
 and filling the minds of the mine owners with satisfaction for having adopted the most intelligent plan of arrange¬ 
 ment, and having done what they ought to do. 
 
 The lesson taught by all other mining countries is instructive for us. We have one of the greatest metallic 
 lodes of the world, and now without exception the most productive. We refer to the Comstock Ledge. It has 
 already yielded $35,000,000, and it will continue to yield its treasure as long as men will work at it. It is of 
 great width, and the rich ore is porous, so that it contains in its depth large quantities of water. The companies 
 engaged in mining there have been compelled to pump at great expense. Several of them have spent more than 
 $5,000 per month to keep their drifts dry, and others have not been able to succeed with all their efforts. The 
 expense and trouble, and danger from bad ventilation, as well as insufficient drainage, must rapidly increase 
 with the increasing depth, unless a drain tunnel be cut, and for such a work, fortunately, the formation of the 
 country is favorable. A tunnel four miles long can be cut from the mouth of Webber Canon, to strike the Com¬ 
 stock Lode 2,000 feet beneath the surface of the Gould and Curry croppings. It can be cut, and it must be cut. 
 The productiveness of the Comstock Mines, their value in the near future, and their profits in the remote future 
 depend upon that work. Everybody admits these facts ; but people are disposed to procrastinate. They hesitate 
 about commencing the work, or committing themselves to any plan. They act as if they wanted to sell out their 
 stock and let somebod}' else bother with the drain tunnel. This will not do. The work must be undertaken, 
 the sooner the better, and the public opinion of stockholders should urge the trustees to take prompt and ener¬ 
 getic action. 
 
 From the “Daily Evening Bulletin,” of San Francisco, October 31, 1865. 
 
 THE NECESSITY OF A DRAIN TUNNEL ON TI1E COMSTOCK LODE. 
 
 The Comstock Lode can and must be drained and ventilated by a deep drain tunnel. In regard to the feasi¬ 
 bility, there is no room for doubt. The mines are situated in a range of hills three miles and a half from the 
 valley of Carson river, and 2,000 feet above its level; the rise from the river to the croppings being gradual, with 
 some intervening hills and canons. Some of these canons, which occur at intervals of about three-quarters of a 
 mile, are respectively 443, 980, 1,360 and 1,436 feet above the river, and from them shafts could be sunk for the 
 purpose of hastening work on the adit. The tunnel would run through rock soft enough to be picked three- 
 fourths of its distance. Longer, deeper, more difficult and more expensive tunnels have been cut, and this can 
 be cut, too. 
 
 There is no question about the importance of drainage to the lode, or about its absolute necessity. If the ores 
 of the Comstock Lode were confined to the surface, if they could be exhausted within a year or two, if the mining 
 companies were organized for the purpose not of taking out bullion, but of allowing the trustees to speculate in 
 stocks, if all the preseDt proprietors intend to sell out within a month or two, if the mines are to be managed 
 with reference only to the immediate present, apd without regard for the future, then any preparation for deep 
 
 28 
 
drainage would he an unwise waste of money. But those are not the circumstances of the Comstock Lode. The 
 vein is continuous, the ore is inexhaustible, and the companies must endeavor to put their mines on such a basis 
 that they will yield a steady profit. Any other policy is suicidal. Capitalists in San Francisco as well as else¬ 
 where look to the future. The present value of a mine depends, and should depend to a considerable extent, on 
 its probable productiveness in 1810 and 1815. Men here as in older cities will willingly wait five years for 
 the profits of their investments, provided that there is a fair prospect of a return proportionate to the interval. 
 
 There is abundant evidence on a number of points to show that the present system of hoisting the ore and 
 water from deep shafts, is one of the chief reasons why some of the best mines are not profitable to-day. The loss 
 will of course be vastly greater as the depth increases. The quantity of water now pumped out of the Gould and 
 Curry mine is 75,000 gallons per hour, and some persons say that is about one-sixth of the total amount now 
 pumped up. Let us say, however, that it is one-fourth, and then we have 300,000 gallons per hour, or 7,200,000 
 per day. Every company that has reached any considerable depth has a pump of its own, and many of them 
 have never measured the quantity which they raise. The Hale and Norcross pump up about 15,000 gallons per 
 hour, and they spend $80 per day for firewood alone, about two-thirds of their power being used for pumping. 
 The Superintendent of the Best and Belcher estimated that his company spent $88 per day in pumping 15,010 
 gallons per hour from a depth of 270 feet. The Ophir, Savage, Chollar-Potosi, and all the leading Gold Hill 
 mines have large and very costly pumps. 
 
 If the quantity of water is 300,000 gallons per hour, at a depth of 600 feet, what will it be at 2.000? Three 
 times as much is probably a moderate estimate, which would give us 900,000 gallons per hour, or 21,600,000 
 gallons ( 86,400 tons at 8 pounds per gallon) every day. At the most moderate engineering estimate, this amount 
 of water cannot be pumped up 2,000 feet at the Comstock mines, where fuel and labor are dear, for less thau 
 $5,000,000 annually. A. Sutro, in his pamphlet on the drainage of the Comstock mines, estimates the quantity 
 of water 1,800 feet down at 8,000 gallons per minute, or 46,000 tons per day; but that is a very low figure, and 
 he puts the cost of pumping it up at $4,000,000. After this statement, is any argument necessary to show the 
 ruinous result of draining by pumps instead of a tunnel? 
 
 But unfortunately, there is no certainty that pumps will suffice. The mine that depends on them is never safe. 
 The machinery may get out of order, the wall of the shaft may cave in and break or disjoint the pipes or the 
 miners may strike some large reservoir of water, bidden in the vein, and then the works are flooded, and perhaps 
 vast damage is done with no possibility of prevention. Such accidents have often occurred, and the liability of 
 all mines to their occurrence causes much expense. The Gould & Curry Company, which has a pump with 
 pipes a foot in diameter, is now putting in another of the same size, not for ordinary use, but as a safeguard 
 against accident. 
 
 The system of draining by pumps prevents the development of a vein. The deepest shaft has the most water, 
 and therefore it is the interest of each company to hold back until its neighbors have gone ahead and drained the 
 lode; but as the expense of this drainage is very great, the company which is down lower than the other in the 
 same vicinity will often be unable to proceed with profit, and therefore will stop work. The question will be 
 then whether this company or that one can afford to remain idle the longer. If there were open galleries or 
 channels, communicating with all parts of the vein, there might be perfect drainage through one shaft; but it 
 frequently happens that the draining of a shaft has little influence upo'n the water in another only a few hundred 
 feet distant. This is one of many reasons why the companies cannot unite to drain the lode by pumps. 
 
 If, however, there were no water iu the lode, and if a deep tunnel were of no value for draining the Comstock 
 Lode, it would pay merely for the sake of ventilation, without which the heat becomes terrible in the deep drifts 
 the air is foul and dangerous, the men cannot do half the work, the timbers rot with great rapidtiy and the 
 expenses are sometimes ten times more than they would be with good air. 
 
 From the “Daily Alta California,” San Francisco, Nov. 6 , 1865 . 
 VENTILATION OF THE WASHOE MINES. 
 
 Scarcely a week passes that we do not hear some st atement from Virginia City about the slowness of work 
 in the mines, on account of bad air, and sometimes there is a total stoppage for weeks in the lower drifts for the 
 same reason. The same evil is felt in all tlie deeper mines, though it increases with the depth and distance from 
 
the main shaft. The hreathing of the miners, the burning of the candles, the smoke of the powder used in 
 blasting, the decomposition of minerals,‘containing sulphur, carbon and nitrogen, tend to poison the air until it 
 becomes dangerous to life in the low, narrow drifts, scarcely large enough to let a man handle his pick. Car¬ 
 bonic acid gas, the “choke damp” of the mines, is heavier than pure air, and when it once takes possession of a 
 mine, has a tendency to remain there. The closeness of the atmosphere is not merely inconvenient but danger¬ 
 ous to the miner, and costly to the mine owner, hi Devonshire fifty-two per cent, of the miners die by consump¬ 
 tion, chiefly because of bad ventilation. The figure is so large that suspicion arises that it must be incorrect, 
 but we find it reported by Scoffern, a respectable and well informed author, who tells us that one of the first 
 duties of the mine-owner, who has a permanent vein and a rich deposit of ore, is to provide abundant ventila¬ 
 tion. Tbe same author tells us that there have been instances where breathing was so difficult that a man could 
 not do one-teutli as much work as in the open air, and as a consequence the mine-owner had to pay ten times as 
 much for cutting drifts and taking out ore as in well ventilated mines. In some mines there have been relaj'S of 
 men, to relieve each other at intervals of five minutes, and if a miner attempted to stay fifteen minutes in a close 
 drift he felt like fainting. 
 
 From the “Daily Evening Bulletin,” San Francisco, Nov. 6, 1865. 
 
 “Not only the welfare of California, but we might almost say the ver} r existence of 
 Nevada as a State, depends on the permanent productiveness of the Comstock Lode. The report of the Comptrol¬ 
 ler of Nevada for the fiscal year ending May 1st, 1865 showed, that the entire taxable property of the State was 
 assessed at $29,737,376, of which Storey had $15,316,309, Washoe $2,810,800, Lyon $2,847,663, Ormsby 
 $2,088,657, and Douglas $1,174,631, a total of $24,238,061, or five-sixths of the total taxable property of the 
 State. These five counties are all in the immediate vicinity of the Comstock Lode, which furnishes employment 
 directly or indirectly to most of their inhabitants. Although tbe ore comes from a narrow vein two miles long, 
 the mills which reduce it are scattered about at distances of ten or fifteen miles, and men who dwell still farther 
 off are employed in cutting or hauling timber, hauling ore or supplies, cultivating vegetables for them and so 
 on. The production of $15,000,000 in silver, the larger part of which goes as wages to the workmen, must, of 
 course, be a very important item in a State, which has a population of only 30,000 or thereabouts. When Potosi 
 of South America yielded $10,000,000 annually, a population of 160,000 collected in the city, if the tradition 
 is to be trusted, for the place has no authentic history. It will not be easy to find any other place in the world 
 outside of Nevada, where a population of 30,000 produce $500 to the person; and this vast production, coming 
 almost entirely from the Comstock Lode, shows that the existence of the State depends at present on that lode, 
 though there are, no doubt, numerous other rich lodes, which will become productive in the progress of time. 
 But if the mines at Virginia and Gold Hill were rendered valueless now, the State would he bankrupted. Precisely as 
 confidence rises in the permanence and steady increase of the productiveness of the mines, in that same ratio the 
 value of property, the credit of the State, and the value of its bonds will rise; and as the confidence fails, so 
 will the State credit. * » * * * * 'f : * * “ * 
 
 The sound of the first pick struck at the Sutro Drain Tunnel, or in a tunnel by any other name which 
 promises to as thoroughly drain the Comstock Lode, should cause renewed confidence in every man, who identi- 
 fiies his fortunes with those of California. It will stiffen the backbone of Montgomery street; Front street will 
 get an impulse from it; the farmer will plant more fruit trees and vines, knowing that he is now secure of a 
 permanent market; the Pacific Railroad Company will have additional inducements to hurry up their work; 
 and everybody will feel more confident of the steadv increase of the population and wealth of the coast. But 
 on the other hand, if we know, that the Washoe Companies cannot work together, and that each Company 
 must depend upon its pumps, and that the companies hitherto unsuccessful are to abandon explorations, then 
 everything will retrograde. 
 
 From the “Daily Alta California,” San Francisco, November 9, 1865. 
 T1IE INEXHAUSTIBILITY OF THE COMSTOCK LODE. 
 
 One of the most important lessons of mining experience, taught by all the principal authorities, is that true 
 fissure lodes are continuous geologically and inexhaustible practically, although a point may Vie reached where the 
 
extraction of ore ceases to be profitable. A true vein, according to Prof. Whitney, is “a fissure in the solid 
 crust of the earth of indefinite length or depth, which has been filled more or less perfectly with mineral snb- 
 stances, or in other words, an aggregation of mineral matter, accompanied by metalliferous ores, within a crevice 
 or fissure which had its origin in some deep-seated cause, and may be presumed to extend for an indefinite dis¬ 
 tance downwards.” 
 
 According to the theory accepted by geologists generally, the fissure was made by some internal convulsion, and 
 while it stood open it was filled up with the veinstone, the ores coming up in yapors from the intensely hot regions 
 below, and crystallizing or condensing in the vein. This theory implies continuity in the vein, and inexhausti¬ 
 bility in the mineral. The fissure veins always have a veinstone differing in geological character from the walls, 
 which are usually distinctly marked. 
 
 Thickness of lode, steepness of dip, distinctness and hardness of wall-rock, difference in character of the two 
 walls, difference in character of the wall at different parts of the vein, occurrence of horses similar in geological 
 character to the hanging wall, and clay seams that appear to have been formed by the grinding of the veinstone 
 against the walls, are all important evidences of a true fissure vein. All these evidences are found in the Com¬ 
 stock Lode, the wall of which is a hornblendic porphyry on one side and a feldspathic porphyry on the other, 
 accompanied in places by trap. The feldspathic porphyry is found in the vicinity of most of the great silver lodes, 
 and its presence as a wall-rock is considered a most favorable indication of the continuity of the vein in Spanish 
 America. 
 
 All the great silver lodes now producing any considerable amount of metal, are considered to be true fissure 
 veins. The mines at Cerro Pasco, in Peru, have been worked since 1643, have yielded $450,000,000 and are still 
 productive. The Potosi mines, opened in 1545, have contributed $1,200,000,000 to commerce and are not yet 
 exhausted. The mines of Guanajuato and Zacatecas have been worked about three centuries, and together they 
 have yielded more silver than Potosi, and they are still among the most productive of the world. Alamos in 
 Sonora, has been an important silver mining district for two hundred years. The mine of Guadalupe y Calvo 
 in Chihuahua, though it has been worked thirty years, yielding in some years as much as $1,000,000 is not yet 
 abandoned. The mines of Sombrerete, discovered in 1670, were worked with great profit, one of them yielding 
 $20,000 per day for five years, until 1698, when they were closed by a lawsuit, and then rendered inaccessible 
 by the accumulation of water. Thus they remained for nearly one hundred years, until a bold man came along, 
 reopened them, and took out in a few years $13,000,000; and the mines there are still considered to be rich. 
 Santa Eulalia, in Chihuahua was worked for eighty years and, was then abandoned, not because of exhaustion, 
 but on account of the hostility of the Indians. Cbanarcillo in Chile, has yielded about $2,000,000 annually, for 
 more than thirty years, and no one anticipates any interruption of its productiveness in our time. Real del 
 Monte is rich to-day, though it has been prominent for its production of silver since the middle of the sixteenth 
 century, with no interruptions save those caused by water and the want of drain tunnels. The silver mines of 
 Hanover and Saxony are not exhausted, though they have been worked since the middle ages. Nine-tenths 
 of the silver yield of Spanish America and Europe comes from veins that were opened more than two hundred 
 years ago, and have been profitable ever since. Not one of them has the features of continuity more strongly 
 marked than the Comstock Lode, and few of them promise to yield more silver. Some are wider, others have 
 been traced farther, and others have richer ore, but no other has produced $35,000,000 within three years, or has 
 been worked with so much energy, or offers such facilities for deep draining, ventilation and the extraction of 
 the ore. 
 
 From the Financial and Commercial Article of the Alta California, San 
 
 Francisco, Nov. 27, ’65. 
 
 The Mining shares droop, and it has become very evident that a new shuffle must take place with the mine 
 themselves. Unless such a state of affairs presents itself at the mines as will give some public assurance of more 
 profitable operation, the Nevada companies will fall “to cureless ruin.” This matter should engage the atten¬ 
 tion of stockholders at the annual meetings now about to take place. The old system of humbugging promises 
 
on the part of some directors, who are expert stock gamblers, but utterly incompetent business men, has been 
 “played out.” Nevertheless, a handsome property exists there, and the proposition is to make it available. The 
 acts seem to be these : On a ledge running four miles are a row of mines, which have worked through a belt of 
 ore of great richness. At least one-half the proceeds has been lost by the most abominable misconduct. At the 
 depths of three hundred to six hundred feet the row of shafts work in poor ore, at such increased expense, by 
 reason of the great depth, that more than all the proceeds are used up in the operation. To sink deeper in¬ 
 creases the expense in an arithmetical progression; consequently, the ore should increase in richness to pay. If 
 ore is found at those greater depths as rich as that got out near the surface, it will not pay, owing to the greater 
 expense of hoisting, clearing water, timbering, new machinery, etc., made necessary by the greater depths. 
 Nevertheless, all authorities agree that the ore does increase in richness at great depths. Now, it is proposed to 
 organize a company which shall drive a tunnel parallel with the row of mines, and which shall run under the 
 present works at a depth of 2,000 feet, in the same way that a sewer runs lengthwise of the streets. The first 
 effect of the tunnel will be complete drainage of all the mines, so that flooding and water pumping will become 
 unknown. The next will be that hoisting ore will no longer be necessary, but as the tunnel passes through the 
 vein of each company, it will receive the ore dropped from above, and which will be carried by its own 
 weight on tram cars to the mouth of the tunnel, without cartage or rehandling. There the company owns am¬ 
 ple lands, to be occupied bv each company with its own works for the reduction of its own ores. The full cars 
 run out on one track and the empty ones return on the other. 
 
 From the “Alta California,” San Francisco, December 18, 1865. 
 
 * * * *• *- -3:- -S « 3; -* 
 
 The cutting of a deep tunnel to drain the Comstock Lode, is an enterprise to which everybody who owns a 
 share of Washoe stock should give his influence. The tunnel is a necessity. Without it many of the claims must 
 be abandoned, for the want of it many are now idle , and all are working at an unwise expense, and are prevented 
 from making the explorations which are the only means of maintaining the steady production of bullion. 
 
 ifr vfc vfc vp # % if: 
 
 From the San Francisco News Letter, April 14, 1866. 
 
 For every reason, the great undertaking of Mr. Sutro deserves our warmest support and to be strenuously 
 upheld by the companies owning claims on the Comstock Lode. The prosperity of these mines is not only of 
 vital necessity to their proprietors, but is of the first importance to the whole mercantile interests of this State 
 as well as the State of Nevada. Let their works stop, and the paralysis will extend to us here. That they will 
 stop, unless they can be kept clear of water, is abundantly proved by the Tantalus-like condition of some of the 
 mines that, with rich ore in view, cannot get at it on account of their works being flooded. The great Sutro 
 Tunnel remedies this evil, and the day that its last gallery reaches the intersection of the Comstock Lode, far 
 away below the ground, will be a day to mark with white in the calendar of Nevada, for it will be the inaugu¬ 
 ration of life, activity, riches and health, to those mines which, without it, will be decayed, dangerous, un¬ 
 productive and abandoned. It behooves us all to aid, to the best of our ability, in assisting the Sutro Tunnel 
 Company in their great enterprise; and the capitalists of New York, whose interests are so much incorporated 
 with those of our State, would do well to take the matter under serious advisement. Wall-street operators 
 may therein find it to their benefit to forward this enterprise, which has real stability and assured profit as the 
 contracts with the great companies of Nevada abundantly prove. Immediately on the completion of the 
 tunnel, these companies have engaged themselves to pay a percentage on their returns which will amply reward 
 any investor in the undertaking. 
 
From the Virginia “Daily Union,” of April 26, 1866. 
 
 Arrived. —A. Sutro, one of the principal owners of the contemplated Sutro Tunnel to the Comstock Lode, 
 arrived in town on Tuesday. He is hero for the purpose of perfecting the necessary arrangements for pushing the 
 work along. We understand that he will leave for the Bast by the next steamer, in hopes of being able to en¬ 
 list eastern capitalists interested in this stupendous piece of work, and the greatest and most beneficial work ever 
 attempted in the State, we wish him luck. 
 
 From the “Daily Union,” May 8, 1866. 
 
 A. Sutro, Esq., will proceed to London by the outgoing steamer, for the purpose of laying before the capitalists 
 of Europe the merits of the project for draining the Comstock Lode by means of the “Sutro Tunnel.” About 
 S3,000,000 will be required to carry through the enterprise. Mr. Sutro departs upon his mission with the 
 strongest indorsements of all the most wealthy and sagacious men connected with the mining interests of this 
 State. 
 
 From the “Daily Morning Gall,” May 9, 1866. 
 
 Great Enterprise.- —-Adolph Sutro, Esq., of the Sutro Tunnel enterprise, near Virginia City, will proceed East 
 to-morrow for the purpose of interesting eastern capital in his great work. It is calculated that the completion 
 of this tunnel will add fully fifty per cent, to the yield of the mines on the Comstock Ledge, besides materially 
 reducing the expenses of working them. When completed, it will be of immense benefit to Nevada and Cali¬ 
 fornia, and doubtless very profitable to those engaged in the enterprise. 
 
 From “The Daily Carson Appeal,” May 1, 1866. 
 
 SUTRO’S TUNNEL. 
 
 Mr. Adolph Sutro came here last Saturday, to get certain stamps and seals attached to the ponderous parch¬ 
 ment “Articles of Agreement” which have been drawn up between the Trustees of the great Sutro Tunnel Com¬ 
 pany and the several mining companies on the Comstock Ledge. Mr. Sutro has displayed the most untiring 
 energy and perseverance in arranging the preliminaries for the commencement of the stupendous undertaking, of 
 which he is the originator and prime mover. The parchment, to which we have alluded, is an immense affair, 
 being quite as large as the full size of the paper upon which the Sacramento Union is printed, and there are 
 more than one hundred of them. Indeed, they appear like royal commissions, bespangled as they are by seals and 
 stamps. Mr. Sutro will leave San Francisco for New York on the steamer of the 10th inst., and after transacting 
 certain necessary business in Washington, will proceed to London, in which city, as he feels fully assured, he 
 will be enabled to negotiate the advancement of the requisite capital for the prosecution of the work which he 
 has in view. He expects to raise three million dollars, and we are led to believe he will be successful. There 
 is probably no project which the State has so much to hope from as the early building of the Sutro Tunnel. 
 Once constructed, and the permanence of the Comstock Ledge, as a source of vast revenue, is established beyond 
 a possibility of doubt. Without it the business of mining at great depths will have to be abandoned before 
 the expiration of ten years. Success to Sutro is success to Nevada. 
 
 From the “Alta California,” San Francisco, of May 10, 1866. 
 
 Eastward Bocnd.— Among the passengers who leave our city to-day is Adolph Sutro, the author of the Sutro 
 Tunnel project, and the leader in the organization of the company. He goes for the purpose of obtaining from 
 the capitalists in New York or London the capital necessary for the great work. 
 
Everything that is necessary has been done here. The Legislature has granted a franchise for the enterprise; 
 the company has been formed of business men of high standing in Virginia City; the public are satisfied that the 
 plan is t!ie only practicable one for draining the Comstock Lode properly ; mining engineers and geologists say 
 the lode will pay for draining and must be drained; and the great mining companies on the lode, representing 
 95 per cent, of its value, so far as ascertained, and representing also much of the best financial and scientific 
 ability and experience of this coast, have approved the plan and accepted the contract which was drawn by some 
 of the best lawyers of San Francisco. Everything has been done after the most careful deliberation ; the magni¬ 
 tude of the interests involved forbade haste. All has been done here save supplying the capital; that we have 
 not to spare, our rates of interest are too high ; our large capitalists are too few. Gentlemen familiar with the 
 financial and industrial character of the project aud with the London money market say the money can be 
 obtained there, and we trust that their opinion will be verified by the fact, and that the enterprise will prove a 
 success to all who may engage in it, as there is reason to believe that it will. 
 
 From the Financial and Commercial Article of the Alta- California, San 
 
 Francisco, Dec. 10, 1866. 
 
 The great tunnel proposed maay months since, gains daily on the convictions of all parties. That work pro¬ 
 poses coming west four miles from Carson, to enter the side of the mountain two thousand feet deep. A drift of 
 two miles each way, north and south, will run under each mine, thereby draining them effectually, and giving a 
 downward outlet to the ore, at once abolishing all hoisting and putting an end to its expense. An idea of the 
 importance of this may be approximated : 
 
 Product of lode for 1866,. $16,000,000 
 
 Dividends paid,. $2,000,000 
 
 Assessments levied,. 1,500,000 
 
 - 500,000 
 
 Expense mining.$15,500,000 
 
 Of this immense sum. nearly two-thirds is spent in hoisting ore and water. The tunnel proposes to allow the 
 water to run off by itself from the mines, but it will be sold by the Tunnel Company for mill power. The ore 
 will descend of its own weight, and pumps, engines, reels, wire rope, iron buckets, etc., will be measurably 
 abolished, with the terrible expense of $16 gold, per cord for wood to keep them in action. The result may be 
 on the same production of ore $8,000,000 dividends to stockholders, instead of $500,000, but the production of 
 ore will be immensely greater as the depth increases. 
 
 From the “Daily Times,” San Francisco, Deo 15, 1866. 
 
 THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 Eds. Times This great enterprise has not yet been launched, although it seems next to an impossibility that 
 it should not be taken up very speedily. As our readers know, the project is to work a tunnel the length of the 
 Comstock Lode, connecting all the mines at a depth of 2,000 feet; when any one reflects upon it, he becomes 
 utterly surprised that there should be a moment’s hesitation in respect to it. The success of the undertaking is 
 guaranteed by some thirty mines, whose aggregate length is about 26,009 feet. These mines have each of them 
 been started at a venture, and the necessary money was paid in on a mere chance of finding ore. Nearly all of 
 them found it, and they have raised in the aggregate $52,000,000 of treasure out of those thirty holes. These 
 mines have been worked at great disadvantage, struggling expensively against water and the cost of fuel. They 
 have' all demonstrated the fact that the ore is there, that it grows more permanent as they go deeper, and also 
 that the expense of hoisting water and ore will increase as they go down. In this situation of affairs a company 
 comes forward and offers to give them an outlet 1,500 feet lower than their present depth, and not only to relieve 
 
them of a large, proportion of what they now expend for hoisting, and to do it on this sole condition, that they 
 will advance a small portion of the money which their reduced drainage will cost. Thus, we estimate that of 
 the $16,000,000 now annually produced, $4,000,000 is expended for fuel at $16 per cord, to drive engines and 
 hoisting water and ore, and for transportation, which would be dispensed with on the construction of the tunnel, 
 and the same service performed for $1,350,000 , effecting a saving of $2,450,000. 
 
 The Tunnel Company ask only an advance of a small portion of that money pro rata per month, as the 
 tunnel goes on. Only $400,000 is required ; the rest will be taken at the East. This is only one and perhaps 
 the least benefit the companies would derive from the deep outlet. The mines would drain themselves, the free 
 ventilation would preserve health, and save great expense in rotting timbers. The great advantages would be 
 the prospecting of the mountains at such a great depth, at such little cost. 
 
 If, as all engineers assert and experience confirms, the vein improves at the greater depths, and is struck by 
 the tunnel drifts, all the mines so tested will have a value far above the wildest calculations of the most sanguine 
 adventurers now. NEVADA. 
 
 From the “San Francisco News Letter,” Dec. 15, 1866. 
 
 WE SOLEMNLY OBJECT TO TIIE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 We have got a budget—a budget of objections—of objections to the Sutro Tunnel. We hasten to lay it before 
 our readers. It has cost us time and labor to get it together. We cannot brag much of the company we found 
 it in, but that is neither here nor there. We could say something more of the enterprise we have laid out in 
 making our collection, but we prefer not to. Its value we leave to the judgment of our readers. Without 
 intending to say that they are “rummy” objections, we may indulge in a simile. As shone Bardolph’s nose 
 when he was seen to run up Gadshill by night, so luminous shine they forth. We lay out our collection, item 
 by item. So here is our budget of 
 
 OBJECTIONS. 
 
 1. “It will drain the wells of the mining towns.” This reminds us of a little story : Once on a time a very bad 
 road connected two towns, between which there was much travel. The road was bad to begin with, and as 
 nobody mended it, and it did not mend itself, it grew no better every summer and worse every winter. Teams 
 kept breaking down on it in the most lively way, and blacksmith shops arose and thickened along the route, and 
 became a very cheerful feature of the landscape. A great complaint at last went up on the part of the traveling 
 public, and the selectmen proposed to get the road mended. The blacksmiths put their heads together and came 
 up in full force with their budget of objections. They set forth their grievances at great length, and wound up 
 with a solemn protest against mending the road. The rest of the story we have forgotten. 
 
 2. “There is no security that the work will be carried out.” Quite true, nobody proposes to enter into bonds. 
 If old Comstock had waited for bonds before he put his pick into the ground, he would have been waiting yet. 
 If we refuse to clothe and educate the boy until we see whether he is going to live to grow up, he will not be fit 
 for much when he is a man. If we will not prospect a mine until we have made a fortune out of it; if we will 
 not go into the water until we learn to swim; if we will not take the first step until we are within sight of the 
 end of our journey—then life would be a very short horse and soon curried. We have to act in all things on 
 reasonable chances. Mining is a risk of itself, and the risk is somewhat in the ratio of its enormous profits. 
 If there is a motive to begin the tunnel, how much stronger is it to finish it. Fancy it done, a glorious fact, 
 then look back and see how small such'objections will look, and how miserably paltry those will look that cast 
 them up. 
 
 3. “Some of the companies will stay out.” Of course they will. Some of them have staid out so long they 
 can't come in. That is just what’s the matter. They have lived too fast. Their parents are rich (as Billy Birch 
 would say) but they have worn out their good clothes, and got seedy and run out, and their uncle refuses to see 
 them any more. They have used up their regular allowance, and have to wait for the next quarter day—when 
 the tunnel arrives—and they will be in funds again. Meantime, all they can expect to do is to scratch round 
 and try to make a decent appearance. Their solid heaps of guineas are in the tunnel. 
 
221 
 
 4. “It is going to be a big thing for the Tunnel Company.” We wouldn't wonder. That alarming fact is 
 likely to be true. If that is proved on the company we abandon that concern to the underwriters. Of course 
 that would be a serious drawback to the chances of carrying out the project. IIow would the mines stand? 
 They are paying at Virginia $50 per miner’s inch for water, which the tunnel will furnish in abundance at small 
 cost; three-fourths of the whole Comstock.Lode, now out of ore, will be brought into ore; 4,000,000 tons of 
 ore in sight will then be profitably worked that cannot now be ; from $5 to $7 per ton will be saved on the 
 present cost of getting ore out; and the yearly production will be increased from $16,000,000 to $50,000,000. 
 These are some of the advantages the miners will get to compensate for the damage they suffer from the Tunnel 
 Company making money. Pity it will not run the tunnel on an entirely business basis for nothing. 
 
 5. “The companies have no right to subscribe.” Who says so? Who stands sponsor for this legal proposi¬ 
 tion? Not lawyers, for they laugh at it. If the mines have the right to pay for unnecessary work they have 
 likely a right to pay for what is necessary. The subscription is called a loan and this it is. But if the compa¬ 
 nies have a right to spend their money and not get it back, they have as good a right to spend it where they are 
 sure of getting it back. The money will be advanced on an existing contract, and will be pay in advance for 
 drainage and use of the tunnel. Can a mining company advance money on a contract for a steam engine? We 
 think so. But if there are attorneys at law who say not, we want them to put that down in black and white, 
 and sign it, and be sure and let us know where they hang their shingles out. 
 
 So much for our bundle of objections. We intended giving a chapter on the objectors themselves, but cannot 
 do it now. Besides, we do not know whether our readers are provided with magnifying glasses sufficiently 
 strong to follow our description. We brought several of the species under a powerful lens, and could see 
 them and their little structure quite distinctly. We will describe them hereafter if they should continue to 
 deserve as well at our hands. 
 
 From the Daily Alta California, San Francisco, Saturday, December 15. 
 
 FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. 
 
 This matter of ventilation is one the importance of which is not generally appreciated. Thus, it is known 
 that the temperature of the air increases one degree of Fahrenheit for every sixty feet of descent into the earth, 
 all over the world. Thus, supposing the temperature at the surface of a Comstock mine to be sixty degrees, at 
 the present depth of 700 feet the thermometer should mark 7 1, but tbe operations of a number of men in a few 
 feet square, lighted by a number of lamps, which consume air, raises the temperature. Accordingly, it is found 
 that the actual range of the thermometer is 85@100 in the Comstock Lode at 700 feet. Following the same 
 rule, a further descent of 700 feet will raise the temperature to 110. A descent to the proposed level of the tun¬ 
 nel will give an atmosphere of 120 for miners to work in, and few will expect much labor under such a pressure. 
 Now, it requires no argument to show that the labor of a man in an atmosphere of 100 degrees cannot be as 
 efficient as when the range is only 60 degrees, and the quantity of light that can be used is not limited by the 
 necessities of respiration. It has been ascertained by careful investigation that at 90 degrees labor is less efficient 
 by 33^ per cent, than it is at 65. In the operation of the Mount Cenis Tunnel, the first condition of its practi¬ 
 cability was to create a circulation of air. This led to the invention by which air condensed to six atmospheres 
 is forced in by pipes. This air operates the drills, and at the same time keeps up a full ventilation. Ventilation 
 in mines may be supplied imperfectly by adits, in many expensive modes. The Sutro Tunnel will supply all tbe 
 mines with air at the same temperature as that on the surface. It is computed that 3,000 miners are employed 
 on the Comstock Lode, at an average of $3£ per day, making $3,780,000 per annum. If the tunnel by im¬ 
 proving the ventilation, will add 33j per cent, to the efficiency of their labor, that item alone would pay the cost 
 of it in two years, but the saving in retimbering Ihe shafts and drifts is also an immense item which added to 
 the other considerations have maae.any further delay in the prosecution of the work suicidal. 
 
 29 
 
From the Daily Alta California, San Francisco, Friday, December 21. 
 
 FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. 
 
 A correspondent, who seems impressed with the importance, nay, the absolute necessity for the construction of 
 the Sutro Tunnel, urges the Avant of what he calls a “guarantee' 7 that the Avork ■will be prosecuted. It is rather 
 a novelty to propose that guarantees shall be given for the prosecution of an enterprise Avhich, in practical impor¬ 
 tance and lucrative results, is admitted to be one of the greatest ever undertaken. The practical point would 
 seem to be how to prevent the work from passing into hands outside of this coast. The work runs for four miles 
 through and into a mass of ore which, only punctured here and there for comparatively a feAV feet on the top. 
 has disclosed to the world a value of $130,000,000, of which $55,000,000 has been sent into the markets of the 
 Avorld. Those punctures have been made at a cost of very many millions, on the mere hope of getting the ore, 
 and without any guarantee either that the work would be prosecuted, or that, if the ore was struck, Congress 
 Avould confirm the title. In the present case, a horizontal shaft or tunnel is to be run through well known dis¬ 
 tricts, and Congress has given 6,360 acres of land to be selected, and the “title to mines” for 2,000 feet each 
 side of the tunnel. The value of this land will be several times the whole cost of the tunnel, and when the 
 $300,000 now asked for as advance expenses from the mines shall have been expended, 3,000 feet will have been 
 driven, and other capitalists will then only have to take valuable lands, and the rights they carry with them, 
 for the expenditure of the remainder of the money;—that is, they will have a property Avorth $4,000,000 put 
 into their hands for the expenditure of $1,600,000, with the prospect that the completed work will be Avorth 
 $5,000,000 in addition. And Ave are asked Avhat guarantee is there that they will take it? The guarantee is the 
 well known principle of self-interest, which is “never at fault and always effective.” When the necessity of 
 building the Erie Railroad was presented to the citizens of New York, no person supposed that it would pay as 
 a stock enterprise, but merchants subscribed on the principle that the work was a necessity to the general busi¬ 
 ness of the city. They subscribed $1,500,000 without asking any guarantee that the remaining $8,000,000 of 
 the estimate should come from other parties. The subscription started the work, and it was built. The Com¬ 
 stock Tunnel is not only a great necessity to existing interests of vast importance to the coast, and indispensable, 
 to the mines, but is of itself one of the most promising enterprises that are norv on foot. The Illinois Central 
 Railroad long lay dormant although Congress had granted it aid in the same manner that it has aided this tun¬ 
 nel. Finally, citizens of New York took hold and advanced the money to build the road for the sake of the 
 land, which has realized some $25,000,000. The tunnel is comparatively a paltry undertaking, but promises 
 much greater results. 
 
 From the “Alta California,” San Francisco, December 19, 1866. 
 
 FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. 
 
 The immense amount of bullion lying Avaste in the Nevada mines by reason of the high cost of extracting and 
 reducing low-priced ores, has long been a source of surprise and regret, but there seems to have been no ready 
 remedy present itself. The proposed tunnel offers that remedy effectually, and the saving which it will occasion 
 when approximated Avill surprise even many miners. It is not generally knoAvn that the Comstock Lode requires 
 motive potver either by steam or water; that Virginia City and Gold Hill are destitute of either fuel or water, 
 except Avhat is brought thither and sold at very high prices. The water is now pumped out of the mines by 
 engines, of which the first cost is very expensive. They are run with wood, which costs $16 per cord, and it 
 requires three cords per day to run a small engine—say $50 per day for wood. Other expenses, with wear and 
 tear of engine, interest, etc., raise it to $100 per day. This suffices to raise water 300 feet. The cost of hoisting 
 ore is in the same proportion, and both increase rapidly with the depth. At the present depth, it costs $2 per 
 ton to hoist the ore, but when it is at the pit’s mouth there are no means of reducing it, and it must be hauled 
 
223 
 
 in 'wagons, at a cost of $5 per ton to the mills, which are situated where they can use the water pumped out of 
 the mines, and which is sold to them by water companies at a rate per inch. To h. ist and transport ore there 
 costs $7 per ton. This item, with other disadvantages, makes it impolitic to disturb poor rock, or that which 
 ranges $10@$30; hut there is a great deal of this rock. In the Savage mine alone there are now exposed 
 400,000 tons. In all the mines not less than 4,000,000 tons, which is useless, but which contains, on justifiable esti¬ 
 mates, $80,000,000 of bullion. Now, the tunnel proposes to carry that ore from its present position to the mill 
 for $1—that is, it agrees to do for $4,000,000 what cannot now be done for $28,000,000. By so doing, they 
 will add $80,000,000 to the 52,000,000 which the Comstock Lode has already given to the world, and will put 
 $10,000,000. into the pockets of existing shareholders, even if not another ton of new ore is discovered. 
 
 Inasmuch as that the tunnel runs in under the mines, there will be no more hoisting, no more dear fuel, expen¬ 
 sive engines, high salaries, and costly machinery. The miners alone will dig the ore from above, which will fall 
 by its own gravity to the tunnel for transportation, which will also draw from above not only the surface water 
 which now drowns the mines, but those vast subterranean lakes in which it is known surface water has collected, 
 and which are only waiting the descent of shafts from above to defy the capacity of the most powerful machinery 
 to exhaust them. Those vast bodies of water coming through the tunnel to its mouth will leave the mines 
 completely dry, and supply power to turn all the mills at the mouth of the tunnel, and to which must be con¬ 
 veyed the ore. 
 
 From the “Daily Alta California,” San Francisco, December 28. 
 
 FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. 
 
 The Stock market w r as under bear influence this morning, and many prices receded. A number of telegrams 
 were sent down to depress certain stocks. There was again no quorum at the annual meeting of the Gould & 
 Curry, and an adjournment took place to the 15th January. Business of immense importance to the stockhold¬ 
 ers was thus laid over. This is a remarkable instance of the want of interest taken by stockholders in the 
 business of the company. Here is a property of $800,000 value in a mine which has given some $10,000,000 
 treasure to the world, and the interests of which absolutely require the attention of the stockholders. Yet 
 interest enough cannot be got together even by proxy to transact the business; yet these same stockholders will 
 grumble about the management of the mine. The same general inertness induces hesitation in acting upon the 
 Sutro Tunnel. It will take “too long.” Suppose the farmers should neglect to cultivate land on the plea that 
 it takes a year to realize, what would become of the community? A great State can be built up onlv by timely 
 forecast. W hen Mr. A'stor, sixty years since, settled Astoria on this coast, he did not expect to realize in fifteen 
 years. But the results were enormous. 
 
 From the “Daily Alta California,’ San Francisco, December 29, 1866. 
 
 FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. 
 
 The Stock market was depressed under bear influences, and lower quotations were generally made. The 
 accounts from the mines themselves, through reliable channels, were never better. The production is large and 
 satisfactory in respect of profits. The whole mining interest is being greatly developed. In this connection 
 we may notice the query of a correspondent in relation to what he calls a guarantee that the remaining subscrip¬ 
 tion to the great Sutro Tunnel will be taken up. This reminds us of the successful bet of the English sporting 
 gen eman that he would stand at a corner and offer to sell genuine sovereigns fora shilling each and that no one 
 would buy them. The fact of their cheapness destroyed confidence among those not expert in metallurgy. The 
 on y wonder is, in relation to the tunnel, that the stock is not already scrambled for at a premium What are 
 
 Sin non non “° Untam Ie f ge f ° Ur miles lon S has beeu Pictured in fifty different places at an expense of 
 v40,000,000. It has given $55,000,000 to the world, and is now giving $16,000,000 per annum Every one of 
 
those punctures has been a hazardous experiment, but almost every one has disclosed the ore which forms part 
 of the mountain. There never was any hesitation in subscribing money for those experimental mines. Between 
 that mountain ridge and Carson river, four miles off, are two other ridges known to contain ore. Now the proposition 
 is to drive a horizontal shaft through these two ridges into the Comstock ridge. TV hat is to be got by this? 1st. 
 Congress has given the company 6,500 acres of land, worth $3,000,000. 2d. Congress gives the company the 
 
 title to all the mines it discovers for 4,000 feet on every lode. 3d. All mines—and there are many, in the Silver 
 Star District, in the Flowery District, etc.—abandoned for want of means to go deeper, belong to the company. 
 1 hese land and mining grants are worth at least $6,000,000. It will be borne in mind that the existing mines 
 have spent some large sums boring from the surface a few hundred feet for the chance of finding ore, of which 
 the title is in Congress. This company bore four miles through a country known to be full of ore, and the whole 
 of which belong to them on its development. The 3 r are not boring at haphazard, but where they know the ore 
 lies. The process of opening this great tunnel, so to speak, brings them to the Comstock Lode, 1,400 feet lower 
 than the mines on its surface, which must stop sooner or later, unless they have an underground outlet for water 
 and poor ore. This necessity for their existence is offered by the tunnel. Through that will flow the water, the 
 waste rock, the poor ore and the timber, at very small comparative expense, but that expense for the mines is a 
 revenue for the tunnel. But, may say our friend, how do you know the mines will use the tunnel? First, 
 because the act of Congress makes the title of each mine subject to that condition , but chiefly because they will readily 
 pay the tunnel $5 for what would otherwise cost them $50. Thus, the drainage, transportation of ore, men, waste 
 rock, timber, etc., now costs the mines $8,000,000; at the depth at which the tunnel proposes to do it for 
 $2,000,000 per annum it would cost the mines $20,000,000;—that is to say, the tunnel will save them $90 in 
 100, and the tunnel will have a revenue of $2,000,000, or 100 per cent, per annum on its cost, supposing the 
 production no greater than now, but it may be three times as much. Thus, then, a certain revenue is provided 
 of 100 per cent, per annum, the title of all mines on a line of four miles, and 6,500 acres of selected land, worth 
 together $6,000,000, are offered to the subscribers of $2,000,000 to build the tunnel. This will make each sub¬ 
 scribed $100 certificate worth $300, and the revenue will pay on that value 3 per cent, per month up to 15 per 
 cent, per month. And our friend asks, "What guarantee have we that people will subscribe?” ! ! Truly, friend, 
 what guarantee, indeed ! 
 
 From the “Gold Hill Evening News,” of December 29, 1866. 
 
 THE DEEPEST SHAFT IN NEVADA. 
 
 For a long time past but little has been said in regard to the Belcher Mine. This mine is located a short dis¬ 
 tance below Gold Ilill, on the American Flat Toll-road. The claim was located in 1859, by Belcher & Company 
 During its early history it was a bone of contention, and was sold several times at constable sale. Finally, 
 however, good paying ore was found, and the Belcher soon became one of the favorite mines of Gold Hill. 
 
 * * * * The lower or 900 feet level is now in about 100 feet, but owing to the sharp pitch of the 
 
 ledge it is thought it will require a tunnel of 600 feet to reach the ledge, which will bring them nearly under the 
 Rhode Island Mill, on Main street, lower Gold Hill. * * * * * 
 
 By the use of machinery, excellent air is kept in the mine, although it is exceedingly warm. A double shift 
 of eight-hour men is kept employed in the lower level, it being so hot that it is impiossible to work more than a few 
 minutes at a time without stopping to rest. We are informed that it is not uncommon to see the workmen with 
 perspiration running over the tops of their boots. 
 
 From the “Gold Hill, Nevada, Evening News,” of January 21, 1867. 
 
 SOME OF THEM. 
 
 Below we give some of the benefits arising from the projected Sutro Tunnel, when the great work is done. In 
 the first place, we will make an estimate of what would be saved on freight of the ore taken out, even at the 
 
9 9 f 
 
 present time from the mines: Ophir 50 tons per day ; Gould & Curry 150 tons per day ; Savage 150 tons per 
 day^ ; Choliar-Potosi 75 tons; Imperial and Empire 150 tons; Gold Hill, proper, 200 tons; lellow Jacket 
 175 tons; Crown Point 125 tons; Kentuck 100 tons; Belcher and others in Lower Gold Hill 100 tons. 
 Thus making a total of 1,425 tons per day. The present cost of delivering this ore on the Carson river 
 and at other points where it can be reduced, will cost not less $5 per ton. But through the tunnel it may be 
 delivered for one dollar, thus saving on transportation alone $1,710,000. The next point is what may be saved 
 by using water power instead of steam in the reduction of ore, would save some $8 per ton; but to make a low 
 estimate we will place it at $5 per ton, making another saving of $2,137,500. In these two items alone we see 
 a saving of $3,847,500. We see by this estimate that the savings of one year would do the work contemplated. 
 In addition to this the amount saved in hoisting and pumping, would amount to at least double that amount 
 The great benefits arising from this tuunel are incalculable, and the sooner our mine owners wake up to their 
 interests the better. The work must be done sooner or later, at all events, and why not begin at once? 
 
 From the “Daily Carson Appeal” of January 25, 1867. 
 
 LOCAL AFFAIRS—THE GREAT SUTRO TUNNEL PROJECT. 
 
 We are glad to know from Mr. Sutro that there are encouraging prospects, that this magnificent enterprise will 
 receive, within a short time, the aid it needs to give it a start, and he confidently hopes the work to be com¬ 
 menced early in the coming summer. It is unfortunate that the State of Nevada is not in a condition to take this mat¬ 
 ter in hand , and preserve to itself a share of the profits, which it promises. Mr. Sutro will leave, on business 
 referring to the tunnel, for the Atlantic States, in about a month. 
 
 From the Special Correspondence of the “San Francisco Times,” Carson City, 
 
 January 25, 1867. 
 
 THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 *■ * * * In one way and another, a vast amount of the best sort of influence is being 
 
 brought to bear in favor of this work; and for the sake of Nevada in particular, and the country in general, we 
 must needs hope that the Tunnel Company’s efforts to raise the needful funds may be speedily crowned with 
 success; and with the progress and ultimate completion of this work, and interwoven with all its grandeur and 
 glory, should be the fame of that marvel of energy and perseverance, whose name is so ineffably identified with 
 its conception and construction. I had a talk with Sutro, yesterday, and he feels confident that the work will be 
 commenced some time during the coming summer. I believe, he has left here for San Francisco. He will go 
 East again in a about a month. 
 
 From the “Gold Hill, Nevada Evening News,” of January 30, 1867. 
 
 THE “SUTRO/’ 
 
 * * * * Really, we are more indebted to the maps and pamphlets and conversations of Adolph 
 
 Sutro for what little of true reputation we have, as a mining district, in the Atlantic States, than to any and all 
 other causes favorably combined. He has procured the lithographing and judicious distribution of a series of 
 accurate diagrams of the Comstock Lode, from which we have very substantial returns in the form of strictly 
 eorrect New York newspaper articles on the situation, development and prospective product of the mines of Ne¬ 
 vada; and following these come investments, large and intelligently made, by Eastern capitalists, whose interest 
 
it is of first importance to draw in this direction. And during the present year wc shall undoubtedly realize a 
 remarkable benefit from the same, in the form of emigration of a character most suited to our needs. So, in 
 his preliminary work, his prospecting for capital to be placed in the grand project, Mr. Sutro has done much to 
 enhance the general prospects of the country. The letter press of his admirably written pamphlet has been 
 translated into German, and affords truly excellent immigration tract-talk for our most desirable trans-atlantic 
 neighbors, of scientific mining school education. 
 
 From the “San Francisco Market Review,” of March 19, 1867. 
 
 •:s -s “The rate, at which many of these companies are going down upon their lodes, exhaust¬ 
 
 ing in some instances the entire bodj 7 of pay ore, should admonish them how soon their claims will be brought to 
 a condition when, without the aid of this tunnel, they can no longer be worked to advantage, owing to the 
 expense attendant upon drainage and the raising of their ores and debris to the surface. Even now, when but a 
 comparatively small lifting power is required, the margin for profits with some of them is quite narrow, indi¬ 
 cating a point at no great depth below present workings where it is likely to vanish altogether. The Sutro 
 Tunnel, if commenced at once, could not be carried forward to a point where it would relieve these mines of 
 their increasing burdens, short of four or five years. 
 
 * * * * ® Through the assistance of the proposed tunnel, which is to tap the Comstock Lode 
 
 at a depth of some 1,800 feet beneath its croppings, mining engineers are of opinion the various mines situate 
 along it could be worked with profit throughout their entire line, to a depth of 3,000 feet or more, a considera¬ 
 tion that should not be without weight with the present stockholders, and in which even the public to some 
 extent, are interested, the product of this vein the past year having approximated $15,000,000, constituting the 
 principal source of revenue and the main support of the State, in which it is situated.” 
 
 From the “San Francisco Times,” January 31, 1867. 
 
 AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. 
 
 In this edition of the Times is published the Memorial of the Nevada Legislature, addressed to Congress, and 
 the report of the Committee on Federal Relations upon the same, made to the Legislature. We desire to call 
 especial attention to this report, which embodies more valuable and practical information upon the subject of 
 mines, mining and minerals, than can be found in the same space elsewhere. 
 
 Notwithstanding the fact that the States and Territories of the Pacific slope have had many years of experience 
 in mining, our knowledge of the science—for a science it is—may be justly considered as being yet superficial. 
 While the array of figures and facts, presented in the report to which we have alluded, may discourage some, but 
 no intelligent man can rise from its perusal without being conscious of gaining new mental strength. 
 
 From the “Territorial Enterprise,” Virginia, of April 28, 1867. 
 
 MORE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE SUTRO TUNNEL CO. 
 
 As most that has been said in urging upon the attention of capitalists the importance of the speedy carrying 
 out of the Sutro Tunnel project has had reference to the drainage and development of the Comstock Lead at a 
 great depth, we propose to suggest a few other reasons for the undertaking of the great work—granting all that 
 has been said of the great benefit to be derived from tapping the Comstock by such a tunnel as the Sutro is 
 intended to be. The reasons we would suggest for the running of the tunnel, aside from the urgent necessity 
 
there exists that it should be run to drain and develop the Comstock, are that many other valuable leads are 
 likely to be discovered during the progress of the work, and some that are now being worked will be cut at 
 almost as great a depth as ihe mines on the Comstock. At the time the project of running the great tunnel was 
 first agitated by Mr. Sutro, little if any work was being done on the many leads cropping out to the eastward ot 
 the Comstock and on the line of the tunnel. These ledges were either not thought of then or were not consid¬ 
 ered of sufficient importance to be mentioned ; now, however, they are attracting much attention and some are 
 yielding paying ores. The Occidental, lying nearly two miles east of the Comstock croppings, has been yielding 
 paying ore for over a year—in fact at least one mill has been constantly engaged in reducing ore from the mine 
 for that length of time. Now here is a paying mine, lying midway between the mouth of the tunnel and its 
 terminus, about which nothing has been said. About half a mile east of the Comstock is another mine, the 
 name of which we do not just now remember, from which ore is being taken at the present time which will 
 mill (so say good judges) at least $ 25 per ton; and not very far from this is still another lead, known as the Palmer, 
 from which equally as good ore is being taken. At both of these mines ore is now being saved for milling. Be¬ 
 yond the Occidental, in Silver Star District, and within half a mile of the mouth of the Sutro Tunnel, are a 
 number of large leads, the croppings of which are even more promising than were those of the Occidental 
 About one of these leads—the St. John’s—we remember that there was at one time much excitement, very fine 
 ore being found iu it. None of these leads have been much more than scratched over. The Sutro Tunnel will 
 cut them all at a very great depth, and it will be more than strange should none of them prove good and exten¬ 
 sive veins. Since the great and unexpected dip to the eastward of the Comstock has become generally known, 
 and since the Occidental has proved a paying mine, work has been resumed on more old claims, and there has 
 been more well directed prospecting done in that direction than anywhere else in this vicinity. As the course of 
 the Sutro Tunnel will be directly across all the leads, known and unknown, in the section of country through 
 which it will pass, the chances are that valuable veins will be found of whose existence there is at present hardly 
 a suspicion. The above hints are certainly worthy of at least a passing thought by the Tunnel Company — the 
 Comstock Lead is, we know, the first great object, but it is not all in all. 
 
 From the “Daily Evening Bulletin,” of April 5, 1867. 
 
 REPORT ON THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 At a meeting of the members of the Mechanics’ Institute, held last evening, a Special Committee, consisting 
 of W. J. Lewis, Archibald Cooper, and P. M. Randall, made a voluminous and interesting report on Mr. Sutro’s 
 project to drain the mines on the Comstock Lode by a tunnel. 
 
 * iS *' * In the discussion which followed it was stated by several speakers, 
 
 that they considered it the most valuable document which had ever been read at a meeting of that Institute, 
 and the Directors were authorized to confer with Mr. Sutro, and make arrangements for having 2,000 copies 
 of the report printed. 
 
 From the Virginia, Nevada, “Daily Trespass,” of April 20, 1867. 
 
 THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 * * * “Manifestly, the silver was never poured from Devil’s ladle down 
 
 into the fissure. It must have worked up. Then, it must be pursued at greatest depths to get its greatest 
 wealth. To work by shaft from the surface to a depth below sea-level, is impracticable. To get in by tunnel 
 at a depth to drain and open the whole series of mines in the Comstock, the work must be a long one; must start a 
 long way off, in order to get under the base of the mountain ; must start at or near the starting point selected 
 for the Sutro, to be in line with the ComstoGk. 
 
 The Mechanics’ Institute, of San Francisco, appointed a committee to investigate and report on Sutro’ s 
 project. They report it feasible, and necessary to the proper working of this vast silver deposit * *- 
 
From the “Daily Evening Bulletin” of the 10th of May, 1867. 
 
 THE SUMMIT TUNNEL. 
 
 Tlic Pacific Railroad people are making wonderful progress on the Summit Tunnel. Some people—-even engi¬ 
 neers—calculated that this great work would require three or four years for its completion, as if it were under 
 the control of laggards. But here, and in the hands of go-ahead Californians, tunnel-time is annihilated. 
 The tunnel is 1,660 feet long. It was begun in September last—at four points—on the east and west ends, and 
 two other faces were created by a shaft in the centre. Thus there are four faces, with three sets of hands to each, 
 or twelve sets in all. Each set works eight hours, and the work goes on night and day! And now, on the 1st 
 of the present month, of all these 1,660 feet, there were but 681 feet remaining to be cut! The progress last 
 week was 60 feet, and at this rate the tunnel will he completed by the middle of August next. By measurement, 
 on the 1st instant, there were but 346 feet in the east heading and 335 in the west heading, making, as before 
 stated, 681 feet in all to cut. And so in the space of eleven months from the period of its commencement will 
 this tunnel be finished ! (Sac. See.) 
 
 From the “San Francisco News Letter,” May IS, 1867. 
 
 CURIOUS DRIFT OF THE SUTRO TUNNEL. 
 
 We turned down a leaf the other day at page 288 of H. G. Ward’s book entitled “Mexico in 1821,” and invite 
 the Nevada Mining Companies, when found, “to make a note on't.” For an English official, Ward is a little 
 frisky at times, and has a sly way of putting things about Mexico and the Mexican character that reminds us of 
 some of the best of the English humorists. But his style is only the seasoning to a ragout, mustard to roast beef, 
 sauce piquante to a very solid fare. The work is not only lively and elegant, but also statistical, and has been 
 standard these many years. 
 
 We hope nobody in the world will take the slightest offence at our saying that this of referring to the 
 Spanish style of putting the finishing touch to the greatest work ever projected in Mexico, reminds us somehow 
 or other of the Comstock people, and the greatest work ever projected for the State of Nevada or the Pacific 
 Empire. We allude to the grand canal near the city of Mexico, and the Sutro Tunnel. 
 
 The city of Mexico, it is known, was formerly, and is even now, in periodical clanger of inundation from the 
 filling up of the lake Tezcuco, which, high as the city is, is higher still. To guard against the danger, a subter¬ 
 ranean canal of over four miles in length was begun, and was wholly completed in the astonishing period of 
 eleven months. This unusual burst of Spanish enterprise is explained by the fact that the whole of this stu¬ 
 pendous labor was forced out of the Indians, who were collected in vast numbers, and treated by their masters 
 with dire cruelty. These Indians had then just been Christianized, and the most of them died in the faith during 
 the progress of the work. But for fear nothing should be left to expend their energy upon in the future, the 
 Spaniards, against the repeated protests of the engineer, Martinez, incorporated certain defects into the plan. 
 The consequence of these was, that a rainy season of unusual violence having set in, in one night the whole 
 town was laid under water, and for five years the only way of passing through the streets was by means of 
 canoes. This happened in the days of old Spain’s dominion, and such was the distress of the inhabitants, and 
 so gloomy was the prospect of making anything better than a kind of ruined Venice out of the city, that orders 
 were actually given from the Court of Madrid to abandon the town and build a new one upon another site. But 
 a dry year, and a few opportune earthquakes cracked and rent the surface of the valley, and the waters gradually 
 disappeared. 
 
 The defects in the plan were not, however, remedied; and so stands the canal, and so threatens the lake at 
 the present hour. These upposing forces have a heavy brush occasionally for the possession of the capital, but 
 there has been no general engagement along the whole line for some years past. Ward tells us of the philosophical 
 indifference of that energetic and far-seeing race to the canal apd the lake in a dry season, and the consternation 
 
229 
 
 of the Mexicans, and their spasmodic labor on the work in a season of freshet. A few thousand dollars, ho sajs, 
 would remedy the defect and suffice for completing the work, “which is now in a very bad state, hut as it is only 
 prosecuted when the danger of an inundation is imminent, and suspended in dry years, and as the last few years 
 have been remarkably dry, it is probable the old Spanish system of procrastination will be adhered to. In 
 other words, that vigorous people, having once been delivered out of a great strait by the sublimity ot luck, are 
 now trusting with true Mexican faith to the same fine piece of earthquake engineering for their next escape. 
 
 We are reminded by all this- — -but how or why in such a connection we cannot tell — -of the Comstock people 
 and the Sutro Tunnel. We feel the absurdity of the confession. We know how preposterous it is to have any¬ 
 thing American remind one of anything Mexican, and that, as a matter of course, it would be just as absurd to 
 expect the American Trustees of the richest mines now known to treat a business like the Sutro lunnel in the 
 real old Mexican fashion, as to expect to see them saunter up and down Montgomery street with serapes and 
 cigarritos, jingling spurs at their heels. It is too absurd to be thought of. 
 
 But we cannot lay a ghost so easily, and the association of ideas comes up again. The managing agents of 
 our Nevada mines are of course the most enterprising and long-headed of their class. They know what caused 
 the ruin of the most famous mines on this continent. Humboldt told us—many 3 'ears before the Comstock was 
 christened—of the follies committed with the rich veins of Mexico ; how hundreds of thousands were wasted in 
 hoisting and pumping, and hundreds of thousands in running little tunnels here and there into little claims, 
 when it was plain common sense to construct one main tunnel of sufficient length to drain and work an entire lode 
 from end to end. But such follies belong to, lo ! the poor Mexican. Our boards of Trustees are not waiting for 
 the intercession of the saints, or a ten strike in the way of a stray earthquake. So much is clear. 
 
 The Sutro Tunnel project has only been two years and a half in agitation, and, in view of the imminent nature 
 of the case, the boards have already concluded to take under advisement the question of taking into contempla¬ 
 tion the propriety of giving a serious consideration to that important matter—in the course of the next few years. 
 Now this looks something like business 1 This is what we call taking action in the true spirit of the thing ! 
 
 Notwithstanding all this right American dash, it came to pass, nevertheless, that in reading Ward's description 
 of that ever-to-be-postponed and never-to-be-ended Mexican canal, the Sutro Tunnel got into our head, and kept 
 coming back as we went on in the reading, until time and place, and subject got jumbled together, and we really 
 thought the author was giving sly digs at our subterranean canal. The sarcastic rascal had never heard of the 
 famous tunnel that is now being so vigorously handled by our Trustees, and perhaps never saw it even in a vision, 
 and yet he seems to go on and on in this strain, and it is still ringing in our head: ‘ ‘But as the construction of 
 the Sutro Tunnel is only thought of when the danger of an inundation and the exhaustion of ore is imminent, 
 and all action about it is suspended so long as the ore is in sight, and as the last year has been remarkably good 
 for those who can see it, it is probable that the old system of procrastination will be adhered lo. v 
 
 M ORAL. 
 
 Never provide against a rainy day- — it may never come. In a dry year do not dig a canal—it is not wanted. 
 In a wet year it will be of no use, as the flood has already arrived. Do not mend your roof in dry weather—it 
 
 does not leak; when it rains nobody but a fool will work out of doors. Leave your stable door unlatched _ 
 
 your horse is safe enough against honest people. But if you find he is stolen, then clap on a patent padlock 
 without delay. It you are a miner, do not provide a pump so long as water is not in your mine — you could 
 not use one if you had two. When your works are drowned out and ruined, the damage is done, and the onlv 
 way is to make the best of it. Do not build a tunnel so long as you can hoist a pound of ore— The proof that 
 you can always hoist is that you are hoisting. Nor so long as you can rig up machinery enough to keep the 
 water down. Pumping is cheaper than letting water run down hill, and the proof that you can always pump is 
 that you are doing it. Nor so long as you have ore in sight and feel happy— for what more do you want? 
 Besides, while your mine is rich and wouldn’t miss the money, you are getting on famously without it. When 
 your mine and money are spent, you will want it bad, and that will be just the time to build it. Build it then, 
 by all means, or, what is the same thing, wish you had it — wishing does that sort of jobs. 
 
 30 
 
Extract from the Commentaries on the Mining Ordinances (Ordinanzas de Mineria) 
 of Spain, by Don Francisco Xayier de Gamboa. Second vol., page 299. 
 
 “The work of Senor Gamboa, which was, previous to the year 1783, the paramount authority in all doubtful 
 cases of mining affairs, continued, after that date, to be regarded with the highest respect, and was and is still, 
 constantly referred to in the Courts of Mexico, and as is presumed, of the other new republics of America also, 
 as a great authority on such subjects.”— From the preface to Gamboa's work, by Richard Heath field. Esq., Barrister 
 at Laiv, translator of the same. 
 
 These four ordinances (which have none corresponding to them amongst the old ordinances,) are of the first 
 importance for keeping up the mining districts. They relate to adits, or coniraminas , so called, because they are 
 levels or galleries over against a mine. The pit or shaft of a mine is opened from the surface above, but an adit 
 is opened from the foot or side of the hill, and driven to communicate with the pit. The pit, therefore, descends 
 from the surface towards the centre and the adit ascends to meet the pit or pits of the mine. The arrangement 
 of these works, thus explained, is sufficiently clear and intelligible, but may, if required, be seen in various plates 
 given by Agricola. 
 
 These contraminas , or adits, which are vulgarly called canones, (levels or drifts,) are subterraneous conduits or 
 channels, and have for their principal object (amongst others) to collect together the water from several 
 mines, affording one general means of drainage for all of them, and thus rendering it practicable to work parts of the 
 vein previously under water. This is the grand object of a contramina or work of general drainage. Pits are expen¬ 
 sive works, and often become insufficent or unserviceable, either from variations in the course of the vein, or 
 from the great pressure of water in the deeper levels. 
 
 But an adit, or contramina, whilst it is a durable and permanent work, provides an outlet for the ivaters, in their 
 natural course, affords a ready ingress and egress to the workmen , for the purposes of getting out ore and rubbish at a 
 reduced expense, gives opportunities for exploring the principal vein of the mine, arid the other veins connected or forming 
 junction with, or dividing or intersecting it, and, by determining the course of the vein , and enabling the proper direction 
 to be given to the different ivorks, promotes the grand object of discovering and turning to advantage the metallic sub¬ 
 stances hidden in the bowels of the earth. 
 
 Upon these grounds then, contraminas being works of the highest importance, both for giving permanence to 
 the mines themselves, and for facilitating their present working, it is provided by the 79th ordinance (notwith¬ 
 standing the rule that no one ought to be compelled to work his own property) that such works shall be driven, 
 whenever there are conveniences for the purpose; the mine owners contributing thereto, according to the benefit 
 they may derive from them; and that if they shall not agree, the justice shall apportion the expense, and compel 
 them to make good the payment. 
 
 The first thing, therefore, is to ascertain the disposition of the ground, etc., etc. 
 
 In tlie second place, after considering the disposition of the ground, the attention must be turned to the arrange¬ 
 ments required to be made amongst the mine owners, preparatory to driving the adit. This is the greatest diffi¬ 
 culty in carrying the 79th ordinance into effect, for although it directs that adits shall be driven whenever there 
 are conveniences for the purpose, or that the owners shall be compelled by the justice to drive them ; yet the fact is that 
 the labor of these undertakings is so great, and the miners so necessitous and destitute of resources, that unless they happen 
 to be men of very ample means, they are but rarely in a situation to undertake an adit of great length, or to 
 expend many thousands of dollars in advance, upon the bare hope of reimbursement upon the draining bein°- 
 accomplished. On the other hand, if the business be made a partnership concern, the love of money becomes a 
 great bar to its success, and the profit not being of a nature to admit of easy division, it so happens that very few 
 instances occur, of agreements between different parties for undertaking these adits in concert. The miners, pro¬ 
 vided they have but some ore to work at for the time present, pay but little regard to the prospects of a greater profit at a 
 future period, and are alarmed at the idea of expense. They are satisfied with a small profit, and with the ordinarv 
 mode of drawing off the water by means of the pit, and they cannot find courage to form a combination for the 
 purpose of driving an adit, not calling to mind, that after a little time, when the works are carried somewhat 
 deeper their pits will become of but little service, whilst an adit or contramina would provide for the permanent and 
 continued working of the mine. 
 
All these causes combined, render it difficult to put the directions of the ordinance in force, and will in time be the 
 occasion of the ruin and abandonment of the principal mining districts, and indeed may now be observed to operate 
 sensibly in some of them, more particularly in the rich veins of the mining district of Guanajuato, which has been 
 the Potosi of New Spain, and in those of Pachuca and Zacatecas, which have yielded riches beyond calculation. 
 The productiveness of these veins is matter of notoriety, and has been long well established, and \ et a \ast num 
 her of their mines have been abandoned, on account of the force of the water, notwithstanding the disposition ot 
 the ground is such, that the obstacle might have been overcome, had the owners been inclined to combine in the 
 important undertaking of driving an adit, and so clearing the water from their lower woiks, which aie moie 
 liable to he embarrassed by it, in proportion to their depth. And as the source of this water, being the rain w hich 
 falls, is of permanent continuance, there is room to apprehend that the principal known deposits of treasui e w ill in 
 time cease to be worked, and that the very circumstance of there being such an abundance of mines, will be the 
 cause of their becoming altogether unavailable. 
 
 Such are the evils which may be anticipated from the non-observance of these ordinances, which are conceived 
 with every view to the public bene fit , as is evident from the clear authority given by the 82d, to any person, to dri\e 
 an adit through the mine of another proprietor, and the express direction of the 81st, that the proprietors shall 
 come to an understanding, or that the justice shall bring them to an agreement. But it is to be observed, that it 
 is advisable that the miners should bring in their contributions, whether voluntary or compulsory, when the 
 state of their mines is such as to supply them with funds for the purpose; that is to say, when they are in course 
 of prosperity, although liable from their increasing depth, to be soon embarrassed with water; for if they defer 
 it till the water overwhelms them, the circumstance of their money being spent, and the works inundated, ren¬ 
 
 ders that difficult to apply as a cure which 'would have been easy as a preventive. 
 
 We have already noticed the lamentable neglect into which the working of the mines of Spain, the fruitful 
 sources of immense treasure, has fallen. And there can be no doubt that one cause, which contributed to the 
 abandonment of the richer districts, was the embarrassment occasioned by the water, and the omission to drive 
 adits and contraminas. This was the case with the rich mines of Guadalcanal and others, belonging to the 
 crown; in which, as well as in other mines of that kingdom, torrents of water broke forth, at a time when they 
 were in most active work. 
 
 The same misfortune happened with the mines of Carthagena in the time of Hannibal; and, although one of 
 this latter alone, named Bebulo, from its discoverer, returned him 3,000 crowns a da} T , it was only in consequence 
 of an adit having been driven by the Carthagenians with immense labor, through the mountains, for the length 
 of 1,500 paces, through which the water was let off, forming a complete river, as is testified by Pliny. 
 
 Peru again, in its vast extent of surface, offers many deposits of gold and silver, as does New Spain, both in its 
 cultivated and its remoter provinces; but there is reason to apprehend, that from the non-observance of these 
 ordinances, the mining districts of the more populous and fruitful provinces will go to decay, although it would 
 be easy, and at the same time to make a considerable profit, merety by driving adits or contraminas , to drain the 
 principal districts, such as, amongst others, Guanajuato, Pachuca, Zacatecas, Tlalpujahua, and Sombrerete, the 
 known and approved richness of which promises the greatest advantages from such works. 
 
 We know that the mine of Quebradilla, in Zacatecas, when worked by a partnership formed in the year 1*741, 
 yielded in six days and a half $260,000, after which a spring of water broke out in one of the ends, with irresis¬ 
 tible force, and inundated the whole vein, which is about twenty-two varas in width ; and hence it appears how 
 advantageous an adit, or work of general drainage would be, if undertaken. And the same may be said of other 
 mining districts, where nothing but the water prevents the obtaining possession of the mineral treasure. 
 
 Considering the profit the crown derives from the duties on the silver and gold produced from the mines, which 
 profit must diminish as the mines decay, it would certainly answer to the revenue, in districts of tried and 
 approved richness, to assist the unfortunate miners, in providing means of drainage by contraminas. It has, it is 
 very true, been found by experience, not to be desirable for the crown to undertake the working of the mines, nor even to 
 take on its own account the mine, which, under the old ordinances was set apart for it, contiguous to the discoverer's mine 
 on account of the risks to which the revenue ivould be thereby exposed, and because, there being plenty of persons will¬ 
 ing to work these mines, the crown is graciously pleased to be contented with the fifth, tenth, or other proportion 
 justly allotted to it: but these reasons do not apply to the driving of an adit in a mining district of notorious richness 
 
!32 
 
 when the presence of the water is the only obstacle to the working of the mines the situation of the latter being 
 such as to afford facilities for the purpose. For in such a case there is, morally speaking, no risk at all, and the 
 crown might have the benefits of two-fifths, or tenths; one by virtue of its original right, and the other in con¬ 
 sideration of the funds expended upon the work of drainage. So that the work being performed on the part of 
 the crown and the miners together, the loss would be but trifling, even supposing it to fail of effect; but if it 
 should succeed, the advantages to both would be very considerable. Although this is a subject for the judgment 
 of the sovereign and the discretion of his ministers, we think we should be wrong did we omit to place it in this 
 point of view. 
 
 Having suggested these reasonable reflections on the important subject of executing works of general drainage 
 in mining districts of approved richness, we proceed to remark, that although it is evidently difficult, in general, 
 to accomplish such works by the exertions of a set of individuals, both from their wanting the means, and from 
 none but mine owners being willing to risk their money in adits, when there is no certain prospect of reimburse¬ 
 ment ; and that the water sometimes lies at such a depth, that it would be necessary to drive some leagues to 
 give the adit a proper slope; yet it is notorious that in many mining districts, where the circumstances are 
 much less unfavorable, a great number of whims are often employed by different mine owners in the laborious busi¬ 
 ness of draining, (raising the water through pits,) a plan which is attended with the disadvantage of leaving the 
 works always liable to be overwhelmed by a fresh influx of water, in consequence of which the jjroperty of the 
 miner is exhausted, and the public interest prejudiced by the necessity for repeated drainage. 
 
 But there are also places, where, from the disposition of the ground, adits might be made at very little expense, 
 and therefore, in these instances, it is evident that the only reason for the non-observance of these ordinances, 
 must be that the proprietors do not agree among themselves. And whether it be from the connivance on the 
 part of the justices, or from ignorance of their duty, it is very certain that they neglect to enforce the rules of 
 these ordinances, insomuch that we never recollect to have heard of their resorting to compulsory measures for 
 the purpose, or of their treating with the miners, in order to stimulate and encourage them to a better practice. 
 
 By indulging in this neglect of their duty, they do injustice to the public, to individuals, and to the rights of the 
 sovereign, ivho has made it a law, that the working of the mines shall be assisted by means of adits, as being works of 
 great importance, and necessary for giving a permanent character to this valuable description of property. 
 
 Letter from John Stuart Mill, Member of the British Parliament, etc., etc. 
 
 Adolph Sutro, Esq. 
 
 Avignon (France,) November 30, 1867. 
 
 Dear Sir: I have only to-day received your letter of November 27, and the papers to 
 which it refers have not yet reached me. My absence from England prevents me from having the interview 
 which you propose; but since you appear to wish for my opinion on the influence, which the increase in the pro¬ 
 duction of the precious metals exercises on the price of commodities, I can at once say, that I consider that in¬ 
 fluence to be very great, and greatest in the places in which the general rise of prices has hitherto been the lowest. 
 
 I am dear sir, yours, very faithfully, 
 
 J. S. .MILL. 
 
United of gVmmra: 
 
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