History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

748 AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES.
developments. That as a rule " it requires a mine
to develop a mine," of whatever nature, is, however,
no less true of Utah than of other mineral sections.
Of mining at Carson Valley and other districts in
Nevada which were formerly portions of Utah, mention
is made in my History of Nevada. It is worthy
of note that from the tailings of the Raymond and
Ely mine, near Pioche, W. S. Godbe and his asso-
ciates had extracted bullion to the amount of $750,-
000 up to the close of 1884, and it was believed that
the value of that which remained in the pit exceeded
$1,250,000. The tailings were worked by Russell's
leaching process, the distinctive feature of which is
the use of sulphate of copper as an extract solution.
By this process, which has now been in use for several
years, it is claimed that a very high percentage of
metal can be extracted, and that ores of low grade can
be profitably worked. 77 At an earlier date Kustel's
process of leaching chloridized ores with a solution
of hyposulphide of soda was somewhat in favor, and
it is the opinion of many practical miners that the
leaching process will eventually be substituted for
the usual pan amalgamation. 78
At the close of 1883 there were seventeen smelting
and reduction works in Utah, producing more than
2,000 tons of bullion per month, and twenty quartz-
mills, with at least 350 stamps, the cost of a chloridizing-mill
being $3,000 to $4,000 per stamp, and of a
gold-mill perhaps $1,000 per stamp. 79
All of the
77 Godbe's Statement, MS., 8-9. Mr Godbe is of opinion that the leaching
process will, when its merits are better known, be of vast benefit to the
mining world.
78 In 1871 Joshua R. Nichols, who came to S. L. City with the exclusive
right for Krom's patent separating and concentrating machinery, organized a
company for the introduction of this process in connection with smelting,
amalgamation, and chlorination. Mr Nichols, a native of Onondaga co., N. Y.,
followed at Detroit, Mich., the several occupations of farm-boy, errand-boy,
clerk, and store-keeper until 1865, when he engaged in the railroad-supply
business until July 1869, being then appointed assistant superintendent on
the Union Pacific. Removing to Utah in 1871, he became engaged in mining
and railroad enterprises. Nichols' Alining Mack., MS.
79 The Pioneer quartz-mill of 15 stamps, for the reduction of silver ore, the