Show the nevada british mining company limited BY WILL C HIGGINS there is hardly a mining camp in nevada whose early history dates back to pioneer times whose mines were more prolific than were those of cherry creek in white pine county in the eastern portion of the state and yet this magnificent old camp notwithstanding its splendid production of the precious and baser metals in the past is still in its infancy as far as extensive development and deep mining is concerned and the opportunities offered here for safe and profitable mining operation are of the most flattering and enticing nature it is not positively known and no one can really tell just how much the mines of cherry creek district have produced since general with his army made his camp in egan canyon in the closing of the sixties but the grand total is var variously lous estimated at from fifteen to twenty million and the 0 old and dismantled mi mills ils and reduction works scattered throughout the district from coco mongo to star gulch and even out on the broad plain of steptoe valley bear silent testimony of the days when mining along the egan range was vigorously and profitably y prosecuted notwithstanding the long distance from railroad communication and base se of supplies in those days in this district there were such noted producers as the egan the Coco mungo the teacup the mary ann the exchequer and the star all of which are still rated as being propositions of excellent merit and promise while throughout the district there are a number of comparatively new enterprises inaugurated and 41 4 ZIF j dal T 1 J A 1 P AF ott 1 W 4 ro i 2 w x 1 hoisting plant and dump nevada british managed by men of mining experience from the outside concerning the ultimate and successful outcome of which ihre there can be but little doubt the nevada british company numbered among these is the nevada british mining company ltd whose property is located two miles north of cherry creek on the east slope of egan range and overlooking the great steptoe valley the property of the company also is but three and a half miles in a direct line Aine from cherry creek station on the nevada northern railroad which connects with the main line of the southern pacific at cobre holdings of the company the nevada british company owns a group of six claims phot aholo by h till ivin C J higgins iggins three of which are patented en ed these three are the chief of the hills mascot and the west star extension the group within its boundary lines covering 1800 feet of the extension of the star para parallel alel veins the possessions of the company adjoining the great star mine on the west and overlooking the star hoisting plant and workings formation and geology the formation and geology of the nevada british ground presents a most interesting study inasmuch as there is such an in dimate association between rocks so favorable for the existence of minerals the country rock on the surface is quartzite slate and shale cut by parallel porphyry dykes having a northerly and southerly strike the quartzite and slate cap a bedding plane of syenite granite at a depth of about feet as demonstrated in the deep workings on adjoining property the main veins are parallel fissures existing about twenty five feet apart these fissures have a strike easterly and westerly with a slight dip to the south crossing the chief of the hills claim diagonally and on through the foggy claim sulphides sulp hides and these go very high in silver with a small percentage in gold equipment and improvements the nevada british equipment is of the very best and the improvements are of a most substantial nature for mine opera N ARI Z view from west showing droppings Crop pings of gold vein nevada british photo by will C higging in a southwesterly and northeasterly direction there is a contact vein between slate and quartzite the th e slate being beidl the hanging wall of the vein and the quartzite the foot this vein on the surface is about five feet wide the gray eagle claim of the star mines owned by the glasgow western exploration company covers the northern extension of this vein and there thirty y years ears ago and within with in but a few feet irom from the point where the vein enters into the chief of the hills claim considerable work was performed and many thousands in high grade gold ore taken out and shipped on the dumps on the gray eagle there are several hundred tons of ore which was mined many years ago which could be profitably marketed today without sorting the ore is a quartz carrying gold and silver in a chloride state this is called the gold vein in that section and it is strong and continuous being traceable through the property of the ne vada british company for two thousand four hundred feet ands and it will be cut by a short drift to the west from the double compartment working shaft now being sunk by the management character of ore the ore in the parallel fissures above water level which is reached at a depth of about feet is a chi chloride oride carrying gold and silver at and below water level sul aphides replace the chlorides and the sul aul aphides run heavily in their lead contents steel galena and steb nite also occur in the tion a hoisting plant has been installed consisting of a 40 horsepower fairbanks morse gasoline engine and a 3 drill ar a r compressor of similar make these are placed on solid foundations of cement in addition there are two ingersoll sergeant 0 4 j 41 interior view of engine house nevada british photo br alvill C hiotis Hig machine drills and a 50 gallon capacity cameron sinking pump A well equipped assay 0 office has been provided which includes one of the celebrated keller assay balances the hoist house is substantially built and nearby Is the blacksmith shop the boarding house and office building is a well constructed two story edifice situate within fifty yards of the hoist the company has an exceptionally good team and wagon and at the mine a big stock of mine timbers and an ample supply of gasoline and coal have been put in the dump facilities cili ties are such that they cannot be crowded for room for fifty years to come mine development in the development of the nevada brit ish the management started a double compartment part ment incline shaft in february of the present year this shaft was started on one of the parallel fissure veins already alluded to and was sunk on ore to a depth of seventy feet at which point the dip of the vein changed almost to the perpendicular di the shaft ho however wever was continued on its regular course on the hanging wall side of the vein to a depth of feet where the ore was again encountered as here the fissure had resumed its regular pitch on the foot level a drift has been run to the west on the vein for a distance of thirty three feet the whole of the workings being in low grade ore on this level the vein shows six feet between walls the values ranging from 12 to 15 per ton in gold and silver the shaft has now attained a depth of feet at the present time work is being confined to the sinking of the shaft which will be dropped to a depth of GOO feet or 0 o the star level without stopping to prospect the ground on the different levels on the star tunnel level which it is claimed is headed towards and into the holdings of the nevada british company it is alleged that the ore body is from eighteen to twenty feet in width and that this mammoth shoot of ore has been uncovered 1 nevada british ground on this level nearer to the surface the company or even expects to open up a large body of high rade orade o and in milling illing ore ali which ich will place the t enterprise upon a shipping and dividend paying naming basis another contract for feet of shaft work was recently let by the coni company pany english capital interested the nevada british company while an american Amei ican corporation has been practically financed by english capital and the control is in english hands the company has already expended about in mine development and equipment and the treasury is in good condition with ample funds on hand for all needs for several months to come while treasury stock is in good demand in Bin england fingland gland and in eastern business centers ig k 4 armi w A A alfred f red fletcher president british mining co the affairs of the company are in excellent condition and are being looked after by M managing caging director J W walker an experienced perien Perlen ced and capable colorado mining man inan whose successes in the mining industry have been numbered by the score the president of the mr alfred Vl fletcher etcher a prominent and successful english business man is putting in his time at the he mine and is looking after the financial end d of the of enterprise in the operation the fhe mine every bill is promptly paid and oo 00 debts are incurred every expense is carefully guarded and every expenditure galls calls for some definite and desirable result the e president of the company draws but a nominal al salary while manager walker who ho is heavily interested in the company asks but for half pay so sanguine are these officials as to the ultimate successful result of 01 this enterprise which judging from the location of the companas comp anys property the favorable formation and close proximity to one of the greatest mines in eastern nevada should eventually take rank as being one of the notable wealth producers of the west the nevada british mining company has a capitalization of shares of a par value of 1 each the officers are alfred pletcher fletcher president and treasurer A F dotterer vice president W F fletcher secretary and J W walker managing director the stock of the nevada british company is listed on the salt lake stock exchange |