Short View

MINING NEWS OF AMADOR COUNTY The Defender a Good Producer.— To Institute a Large Tailings Plant at Sutter Creek— The Sand Pile. Mine. Defender.— This mine in Pioneer district continues to make a One record. Tho mill is kept running steadily, the output leaving a net profit of- from $1500 to $2000 monthly to its owner. Recently W. A. Clark, sen of Senator Clark of Montana, was negotiating for the purchase of the property, but the negotiations fell through owing to some misunderstanding iD regard to the time of payment. From an inspection of the mine the parties expressed themselves as well satisfied with tlio prospects, and there was no contention about the price. It seems the intending .purchaser wanted the privilege of sinking another 100 feet aud prospect the ledge at that depth before being required to make payment. F. B. Joyce, the owner, who is not particularly anxious to sell, concluded that this was unreasonable, and the sale fell through. Horn. — Geo. W. Horn, tho superintendent of this property, was in Jackson Saturday,' on his way to San Francisco to attend the annual meeting of the company, which takes ■ place in a few days. It is expected that arrangements will be made at the meeting of stockholders to resume work at the mine. Nothing has been done for two or throemonths. owing to lack of funds. Mr. Horn is a caivful manager, and adopts the wise policy of not attempting to do any work unless he has the money in sight to pay the employes. He expects that by extending the . tunnol another 100 feet at furthest, the ore body disclosed by tho shaft above will be reached. New Method of Working /Tailings — E. J. Harrah and H. H. Harrah of Oakland, of tho firm of E. H. Harrah & Co., have been in Suttor Creek, Amador county, this week, making arrangements for the working of a large body of tailings on the dump at the chlorine plant. They have purchased the 25,000 tons as well as tanks for the working, and will commence operations very soon, somewhat on the principle of cyaniding, although entirely a new process of their own. The Messrs. Harrah are at present engaged in placing the large tanks and putting in necessary machinery. Previous attempts have been made to work these tailings, but each was a failure. — Call. Sand Pile Mine.— The big cyanide plant for the treatment of the immense accumulation of sand and tailings at this property, near Forest Home, in this county, is nearing completion. This plant is the first attempt on a large scale to introduce tho cyanide system in the extraction of gold from slimes and fine sulphurets, the escapes in this case from the Plymouth mills, into this county. The outcome of the venture is awaited with considerable interest. It is said that before the present extensive plant was started, a practical test on a small scale was made, with satisfactory results. Tho plant now nearing completion is expected to start up ;-.boui the middle of this month. It consists of six large vats, each of the capacity of 240 tons. The auriferous' bearing sand will be subject to the action of the- dissolving fluid for several days, but tho output is calculated at 240 tons per day. The works have been constructed at a cost of between $30,000 and $40,000. The contract for the delivery of 240 tons of sand, to the cars has been awarded to a Plymouth man at 10 cents per ton — or $24 per day. It is estimated that the accumulation of sand to be treated is in the neighborhood of three million tons, sufficient to keep the works running to their full capacity for twenty years. From careful assays, the tailings are said to carry at least one dollar per ton in gold. If 40 per pent of this' value can be saved, there is a good margin of profit in the enterprise. When in full running order the plant will give employment to about 20 men.