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The Sutro Tunnel

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Mining Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
The Sutro Tunnel
SOLD
85.00USD+ (17.85) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2016 Dec 09 @ 18:53UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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The Sutro Tunnel. Report of the Commissioners and Evidence taken by the Committee of Mines and Mining of the House of Representative of the United States, in regard the the Sutro Tunnel together with the Arguments and Report of the Committee Recommending a loan in the aid of the construction of said work. U.S. Congress. House of Representatives, Published by Government Printing Office., Washington: (1872). 1st edition. Hardbound, green leather with engraved lettering and image of miner. Pages are gold edged. Very good condition, edges of cover a bit worn.



Excerpt: ...after undergoing patient investigation, and after all these points were familiar to all of us. Q. If you add to the expense of the transportation of the ore through the tunnel that of transportation of debris and timber, lumber and miners, would it be any economy to work through the tunnel, rather than to pay the transportation on the ore to the Carson river and the mills where they now exist? A. I cannot answer that any better than it is answered in the report. There are certain matters of expense, as, for instance, that of debris, which it is impossible to submit to positive calculation. As we have stated in our report, the amount of debris varies in the different mines, and in the same mines under different circumstances. When miners are working on a bonanza the amount of debris is inconsiderable; where they are prospecting it is all debris, and it would be very easy to say that the amount of debris in all the mines is equal to that of all the ore taken out in a year, or that it is twice as much, or three times as much, or a quarter as much: and I am no more willing to give one of those numbers than another. Q. Now, General, I believe we have talked about ventilation as much as I want to. I will ask you about the matter of drainage. Supposing these main shafts, in all the principal mines on the Comstock, should be below the tunnel level before the tunnel reaches the Comstock, of what considerable advantage will the tunnel be in the way of drainage? A. It will save the raising of water an average of perhaps some 1,650 or 1,700 feet, depending upon the level of the tops of their shafts. Q. The value of that water, when raised to the surface, will be so much loss to the mining companies? A. I should presume so; but it would be used. State: Nevada City: Sutro Date: 1872 FHWAC#: 39577