CLOSING ARGUMENT Of ADOLPH SUTRO, on the Bill Before Congress to Aid THE SUTRO TUNNEL, Delivered Before the Committee on Mines and Mining of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, Monday, April 22, 1872.
Washington, D.C. M'Gill & Witherow, Printers and Stereotypers. 1872. 1st printing. 96 pp. 8vo. 8-5/8" x 5-1/2". Blue, cloth-covered flexible boards, with gilt stamped title lettering & miner image to front cover. Red edgestain. Gilt bright. Minor wear. A Nr Fine copy. Item #38773
"The Sutro Tunnel is a drainage tunnel connected to the Comstock Lode in Northern Nevada. It begins at Dayton, Nevada, and connects ~ 3.9 mi NW to the Savage mine in Virginia City, Nevada. The Sutro Tunnel pioneered the excavation of large drainage and access tunnels in the US.
The tunnel was proposed by Adolph Sutro, a Prussian Jewish mining entrepreneur, in 1860. He promoted the drainage tunnel to allow access to deeper mineral exploration in the Comstock. Flooding and inadequate pumps had inhibited some exploration until that time. By 1865, Sutro's idea had gained the approval of the state and US federal governments.
Sutro formed the Sutro Tunnel Company, selling stock certificates to raise funds for its construction, which began in 1869. Financing also came from local miners motivated by the prospect of improved mine safety. This motivation was further advocated by Sutro after the Yellowjacket mine disaster where dozens of miners were burned to death because they could not escape.
The main tunnel connected to the Savage Mine in 1878, the North and South branches were completed in 1879. Water was released from the mines on June 30 of 1879." [Wiki].
Price: $125.00