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CHAPTER XLIX.

ESMERALDA COUNTY.

BY M. B. ASTON.

[From The History of Nevada, edited by Sam P. Davis, vol. II (1912)]

            The first attempt to organize into a county unit any part of Esmeralda's territory was by the Territorial Legislature of Utah in the act of March 3, 1832, whereby seven counties were created, at least on paper, out of the present State of Nevada, at that time a part of Utah. Beginning at the north, these divisions were Weber, Deseret, Tooele, Juab, Millard, Iron and Washington Counties. They covered the immense area from the 37th to the 42nd parallel of north latitude, with Utah and California as east and west boundaries. Parallels of latitude separated the seven elongated quadrangles, each being about fifty miles in width, except Juab, which was only about thirty-six miles from north to south, and included all of what is now Storey and the southern end of Washoe County, or the greater part of the scant population of the entire region. Millard extended nearly to the southern limit of Walker's Lake, while the remaining territory to the south was divided equally between Iron and Washington Counties. So Esmeralda was later to possess certain parts of Millard, Iron and Washington. The line between the last two counties passed not far from the present towns of Silverpeak and Diamondfield. Thus, had the original county division persisted, Goldfield would have been in Washington County and near the border of Iron. The Territorial Legislature of Utah went further, electing judges with four-year terms to preside in the newly created counties; Anson Call for Millard County, Chapman Duncon for Iron and Washington. The wise legislators either anticipated a mighty influx of settlers or thought to organize the Indians, there being an utter absence of white men in the two southern counties.

            The territory destined later to constitute Esmeralda County was again considered by the Legislature of Utah, when, on January 27, 1854, Carson County was carved out of the former divisions by the following

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act: "All that portion of country, bounded north by Deseret County; east by the parallel of longitude 118; south by the boundary line of the Territory, and west by California, is hereby included within the limits of Carson County, and until organized, is attached to Millard County for election, revenue and judicial purposes." Of course Millard County as here referred to meant the county of that name in the present State of Utah. A glance at the map will show that much of this new county covered what was later to become a part of Esmeralda.

            At length Esmeralda County was created by an act of the Territorial Legislature of Nevada, approved November 23, 1861, being one of the nine counties into which the new territory was divided. Four days later an act was approved locating the county seat at Aurora. The boundaries established by the creating act of November 25, were as follows: "Beginning at a point where the thirty-seventh degree of north latitude intersects the one hundred and sixteenth meridian, and running west along said thirty-seventh degree, to the California line; thence along said line, in a northwesterly direction, to the summit of the divide, between the east and west forks of Walker River; thence along said divide, in a northerly direction, to the headwaters of Deseret Creek; thence following down the middle of said creek, to a point to where it debouches from the mountain ; thence following the base of the mountain, to the west branch of Walker River; thence across said river, to the base of the mountain; thence following the base of the mountain in a direct line, as near as may be, to Mason's ranch; thence due east to the one hundred and sixteenth meridian; thence south along said meridian, to place of beginning." Now that we have traced our county through the Legislative enactments of two Territories, and find it at last established with the seat of justice whence its affairs were to be administered for more than a score of years, let us go back to view the conditions that made the county possible and laid the foundation for after events before resuming the consideration of shifting lines and changing county seats.

            From early August, 1860, E. R. Hicks, J. M. Corey and James M. Braley had been working their way slowly south, between the east and west forks of Walker River, zigzagging right and left in order to cover the more territory. Arriving at Mono Lake, they turned their course sharply to the northeast and prospected the country both east and west

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of Walker's Lake, without making any satisfactory discoveries. A council was held near the lake and the decision reached to abandon their search in that section and go to the Coso country, nearly one hundred and fifty miles southward. And in order to take a view of the natural objects that would guide their way, they ascended a lofty mountain, since called Corey's Peak, in honor of the leader. They had pursued their chosen route some twenty miles, when the necessity of finding water caused their course to veer to the westward, where a spring was found in the hills and a camp for the night was made near by. There being game in the country and the food supply running low, Hicks took his rifle early in the morning and passed over the hill to the west of their camp, hunting rather than looking for a mine. But the true prospector ever walks with eyes on the formation at his feet, and Hicks was an experienced searcher after attractive rock. Chancing on a fine piece of quartz, he soon abandoned his hunt to return to the camp and show his find. Pannings were made with such encouraging results that the three returned to the place whence the quartz had been taken and the whole hill was found to be ribbed with veins. Coso was now forgotten. With a moderation hard to understand by present day prospectors, the three located but seven claims and hastened to Monoville, 25 miles away, to report their find. This discovery was made August 25, 1860. On the 30th of that month they returned with some twenty others, laid out a mining district ten miles square, drew up and signed rules and regulations for the government of the same, and at the suggestion of Corey, christened it Esmeralda Mining District. Esmeralda is the Spanish word for emerald. Probably Corey had in mind some beauty who answered to that musical word, as it is a common name for girls with green eyes. Be that as it may, Esmeralda soon became the popular name-word for a territorial empire. There was Esmeralda Hill, Esmeralda Gulch, Esmeralda mines, Esmeralda business houses, Esmeralda County, and later on an effort to have an Esmeralda State instead of Nevada State. The whole region was called Esmeralda in an indefinite sort of way.

            The prospectors had not over-valued their discovery, with surprising rapidity for those days, when horseback was the quickest mode of travel, samples were taken to Carson City, 110 miles away, and bonanza returns made. Monoville moved over en masse and a spectacular rush

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was on. The bunch of tents on the hill, called Esmeralda, was soon moved down into the more convenient flat in the gulch, and added to those already pitched there, started the future Aurora. So, by the merest accident, Esmeralda missed being the town's name. Though the winter was a severe one even for that altitude of one mile and a quarter, the fortune hunters began to arrive late in September and continued throughout the cold months in ever-increasing numbers, until in the spring of '61 Aurora was a thriving little city. The camp responded generously from the first in rich silver ore.

            Though the first location had been made August 25, 1860, and Aurora was 110 miles from Carson, the nearest outlet to market, the Pioneer Mill of eight stamps had been erected at a cost of $25,000 and was turning out bullion the following June. Within the same year the Union Mill was in operation, with an equal number of stamps, and had cost $30,000. Before the end of '63, seventeen mills had been erected with a total of some 175 stamps. Late in '62 the population of Aurora numbered at least 5,000, with two well-equipped fire companies of 60 members each; two military companies fully uniformed, drilled and accoutered for service, each with its own commodious armory ; two daily newspapers, ably edited and widely circulated ; a brass band of eleven pieces, and a city government in effective operation with all the accessories that go to make a mining metropolis.

            Aurora, with its mines, was a bone of contention between California and Nevada for three years, with California in the ascendant until the line separating the two States was finally established in '63, leaving the prosperous city within Nevada by some four miles. California gained the advantage by acting first. By the act of its Legislature on March 24, 1861, Mono County was created with Aurora as the county seat, the object being to give local government through county organization to the miners of Esmeralda and Mono districts. In so doing, that State anticipated the action of Nevada by eight months, and controlled the situation for nearly three years. The act creating Mono County also provided for an election of county officers on June 1, '61. This election was held accordingly and the officers were discharging their duties before Esmeralda County was created. But Governor Nye, while acting cautiously until the State line should be established, was careful to retain the claim for Nevada. Esmeralda was made Council District

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One, with one Councilman and two Representatives. As early as August 24, 1861, the patriotic Esmeralda Union Club sent six delegates to Carson City to attend the Union Convention for the nomination of a candidate for Delegate to Congress, and urged the election of members of the Territorial Legislature in accordance with the Governor's proclamation. The election was held the last day of August, John W. Pugh was chosen Councilman (Senator) and Samuel Youngs and William E. Teell as Representatives. All three participated in framing the first laws of the Territory of Nevada, and in creating Esmeralda County, California in the meantime claiming Aurora as the county seat of Mono County, and actually governing it through its laws and officers. July 8, 1862, John F. Kidder was appointed by Governor Nye as Surveyor, and so became the first officer of Esmeralda County. Nevada had begun to assert active right to Aurora and vicinity. December 22 following, William N. Dixon was appointed District Attorney. With these assertions of Esmeralda County's rights, both States to the controversy awaited the establishment of the line that would finally determine the ownership of the rich and productive mines. In June the initial point of the survey was established in Lake Tahoe, and the Governor made another move by appointing a Sheriff, Clerk and three Commissioners on June 22. In July, Chief Justice Turner, assigned by the Governor as Judge of the Second District, opened court in Aurora, while Judge Baldwin was holding court there for Mono County, California.

            In the meantime, the election day, September 2, 1863, and the State-line surveying party, consisting of the Surveyor General of California, and Butler Ives as Boundary Commissioner for Nevada, were both near at hand. Election day arrived first, and a novel agreement was reached. Each county would put up two full tickets, two Republican and two Democratic, and all qualified voters could cast a ballot at Armory Hall for Esmeralda officers, and also another ballot at the police station for Mono County officers. By this plan either county would be officered the next two years, regardless of where the invisible line now rapidly approaching should fall. September 22 the survey passed southwest of Aurora, leaving it within the confines of Nevada by four miles. Immediately two officers, who had been elected for Mono County, piled the records on a wagon and took them to the town

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of Bodie, twelve miles away, and the next year they were conveyed to Bridgeport, which had been declared the new seat of justice of Mono County. Since these records have never been transcribed, the effort to do so ending with the purchase of the necessary books, and they contain the earliest data of Esmeralda as well as of Mono County, much valuable matter pertaining to the former is in another State. Only the necessary expense of $10,000 prevented this being undertaken in 1864. Aurora was then showing signs of waning prosperity. But as a precaution against any legal question as to the election of September 2, Governor Nye, seventeen days later, appointed the elected officers for Esmeralda County, and added A. S. Peck as County Judge. On the 22nd they took the oath of office and entered upon their duties as the first fully recognized officers of the new county, now nearly three years old. The county was divided September 29th by the newly elected Board of County Commissioners into three townships, with Aurora, Sweetwater and Excelsior District as the election precincts. Without funds, the new county found itself in debt for the Court House, and in October, '65, bonds were issued bearing interest at the rate of 2 per cent. per month to meet the deficit.

            About the same time that Hicks, Corey and Braley were placing Aurora on the map, other industries were being established in two valleys at the north by the pioneer cattlemen of Esmeralda. While driving cattle through the Walker River Valley in 1854, the three Mason brothers noted the abundance of bunch-grass and white-sage everywhere, and when the dry years in California made forage scarce in that State.  N. H. A. Mason returned in search of pasturage to the region he had visited five years before. Finding his former impression of the country strengthened, he located the Mason ranch, which later became one of the Esmeralda county corners. He wintered a herd of Eastern cattle there and the following year drove thither all his California stock. The same year, '60, Mr. Mason erected what was probably the first house ever seen in the Mason Valley. In October of '59, Wm. H. Dickson located farther up the river, some fourteen miles from the lake.

            Smith Valley was settled about the same time by S. Baldwin, J. A. Rogers, and the Smith brothers, R. B. and T. B., in whose honor the valley was named. Their home ranch was located on the west fork of the Walker River, a few miles from the confluence of the two

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branches and about twenty miles south of the Mason ranch. This was in August, '59, and they had come from California to find better range for their cattle. Mr. Mason had preceded them by a few months, but they at once erected a tule domicile for the winter and so could claim the honor of having built the first house in the entire Esmeralda country, though as yet unnamed. In the summer of '60, J. B. Lobdel arrived and settled six miles south of the original Smith location. Being a farmer, with fertile soil and water at hand, he put out barley and vegetables in the following spring and was rewarded with a rich harvest, the first attempt at agriculture in that valley. Mr. Mason had experienced like success in the valley named in his honor the same season, having taken out his water from the first irrigation ditch ever constructed in either of the valleys. Later this ditch was extended and many others were built within the next few years, the fertile valleys filling up with new settlers very rapidly when the cattle business and agriculture were proven successes. Added impetus was given both pursuits by the ready and rich market afforded by the growing camp of Aurora.

            It is safe to say that neither Esmeralda nor any other county would have been created and organized out of this vast territory for years afterward had pay-rock not been found at Aurora, August 25, '60. Barring the few ranches scattered in the Mason and Smith valleys, the whole region was regarded as a useless desert waste. Until silver was discovered June 12 or 13, '59, on the Comstock lode, Nevada had about the same relation to the National Government that Esmeralda had to the Territory of Nevada before Aurora was made known. But for the treasure-hunters that streamed into Nevada on hearing of the Comstock, Aurora and other strikes, it remains a question whether even expediency in national politics could have produced the hardihood to rush this sparsely settled region so precipitately into territorial existence and through this into Statehood. The entire population of the Territory, taken by Dr. Henry De Groot soon after his appointment of July 24, '61, as enumerator, was 16,374 souls, and it may be taken for granted that a Territory seeking admission to Statehood would not leave any of its people uncounted. This was more than two years after the finding of silver in the Comstock. Whatever influence the discovery of silver may have had, Esmeralda County exerted its full

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share through the rich mines about Aurora. At that time Aurora and Esmeralda were well nigh convertible terms.

            Before taking up other camps, mostly offshoots of Aurora, or the county seats and boundaries of Esmeralda County, it is perhaps as well to say the final word of that pioneer mining camp, and its finders. Its best days were from '61 to '65. By the last year named fourteen of the seventeen mills had ceased to run; the Antelope and Real Del Monte ran some years later, and in '80 only the Coffee Mill was in operation with four stamps. Approximately $20,000 had been produced. In '80 Aurora had only 500 population, or one-twentieth of what it had in its best days. By 1903 it proudly boasted of five residents, one of whom was the faithful District Recorder, the first officer to be elected and the last to desert a mining camp. But Aurora is threatening to come back, with every evidence that the threat may be made good. The Knight Investment Company has just let to the Copper Belt Railroad a contract to deliver 2,000 tons of mine and mill machinery and equipment at Hudson, and the rest of the way to Aurora the tonnage will be transported either by freighting teams or automobile trucks. The public will have a lively sentimental reason for wishing the enterprise all success, to the end that Aurora may again enrich the world with its bullion.

            He who would find a word-picture of a mining camp need look no further than the first library containing a copy of Mark Twain's Roughing It. By substituting a few modern terms for those rendered obsolete through mechanical progress, such as auto for stage-coach, dynamo for steam engine, 'phone for messenger, etc., and calling Smith by the name of Brown, Roughing It becomes an universal history of Nevada camps. The suggested substitutions, with Goldfield for Aurora, renders further effort useless. Twain's cabin was still standing a few years back, but in a position further up the gulch than when he lived in it in true bachelor fashion with Col. Higbie in '62. It had no floor then and was 10 X 12, with one door and one window, both in the front. The walls were made of weather-boarding, and roofed with shingles. The characteristic feature of the one-room building was the flag-pole securely let into the front gable through the roof. This pole, being of hickory, was probably shaped from a wagon-tongue. From its top we may be sure floated the Stars and Stripes July 4, '62, as both its owner and the town were ultra patriotic in those warring times. Some unknown

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party carried it away many years ago and manufactured it into walking sticks that sold for fabulous prices. Mr. A. H. Finney, an old resident of both Aurora and Bodie, related the above with corroborating facts and gave me a genuine certificate of Aurora mining stock that was taken by him from Twain's Cabin nearly twenty years ago. Among many other interesting features, this "Pride of Aurora Gold and Silver Mining Co." certificate for 25 shares, declares it was "incorporated March, '63, in "Esmeralda District, Mono County, California," with "capital stock $250,000, 1,000 shares, $250 each." As number of feet was then the basis of capitalization, this was a small claim, but each foot was quite valuable. The government war-tax stamp of 25 cents is affixed, dated March 26, '63, and initialed by the secretary of the issuing company. This was six months before Esmeralda District, Mono County, California, became accepted generally as a part of Nevada. Hicks, Corey and Braley seem to have had little part in Aurora after locating it, judging by the records. Probably their best monuments are to be found in connection with the mountain peaks named after them. Corey's Peak stands near the western shore of Walker Lake, while Mt. Braley and Hicks Mountain are near the mines they discovered. Prospectors seldom profit by their finds equally with their customers, let the fault rest where it may.

            Just as the uncovering of the Comstock lode in the summer of '59 sent tireless prospectors searching for new ore deposits throughout the mountainous portions of the Territory, so the discovery at Aurora itself became a new center whence radiated these sleepless ones, singly and in groups of two or more, as the spokes from the hub. A promising location or strike, itself but the late result of a similar cause, immediately became the efficient cause of yet others in the endless chain being daily forged. So it is that Aurora now began to father numerous new camps as it had been fathered but yesterday by Virginia City. Quite as naturally new bounds must be set for the ever-

changing political divisions, the old lines being inevitably shortened, and the seat of justice gradually moved toward the geographic center as the population spread out over a greater area of Esmeralda County.

            Columbus was the first persistent mining district to organize after the Aurora excitement. This was organized in August, '64, by Mexican miners, who were soon replaced by Americans, Germans and

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Slavonians, both in ownership of the claims and control of the affairs of the district. Mineral district was merged with that of Columbus because of their nearness and the more desolate character of its location. May 22, '65, the Candelaria claim was located, and later this name was taken by the mining camp near by. In '70 the miners shook off their sluggishness and began to give promise of activity. In that year three mills were erected, two of ten stamps each and one brought over from Aurora with four stamps. By '73 the Northern Belle, which had been originally located in '65 and relocated five years later, had found so much ore that it started a 20-stamp mill that was completed two years later, only to build another of equal size the next year. Water was conducted to this mill by a fifteen mile pipe-line and ditch at an outlay of $25,000. This one company produced in excess of one and one-fourth million dollars in '77. The Candelaria mines are credited with a production of fifty-five millions, work still going on. The town never claimed over 1,000 citizens, and most of these were male, as the conditions were not inviting for residence.

            Columbus, eight miles southeast from Candelaria, took its name from the mining district and prospered because of its close connection in the early days with Candelaria, which got its water there. It started in '65 and was at its best in the five years following '70, when its population numbered 1,000. The production of salt and borax in the adjacent marshes added to its resources. It was at the Columbus marsh, five miles south, that the Pacific Borax Company began its extensive operation in 1872.

            Red Mountain district was organized the same year it was discovered, July, '64, and before the beginning of the next year had a three-stamp mill, soon followed by one of 30-stamps. Silverpeak having been discovered only a few miles away and organized, the two districts have since been generally regarded as one. Work ceased in '70, but has since been resumed, and a fine mill of 120 stamps has for many years been in successful operation, four miles from the town of Silverpeak, which reminds the visitor of a Mexican village. The main town; is Blair, near the mill that receives its ore by an aerial tramway.

            Gold Mountain district followed in '66 and was organized in September of the same year, the discovery by Thos. Shaw, who made a second and more important discovery in the Oriental five years later.

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          Some of the richest gold ore ever found in the State was taken from this mine, some rare specimens going to the Centennial at Philadelphia in '76. The gold in that district is associated with some silver values. More or less work has been done off and on in that district since its discovery.

           Palmetto district came into organic life in '66, the discoverers being T. W. M'Nutt, H. W. Bunyard, and Thos. Israel. Before the year was out a 12-stamp mill was built and put into successful operation, but the ore soon gave out and the mill was carried away piecemeal. The property, mining claims and mill-site was patented and is still owned by the original company, in which W. H. Whitney and Samuel J. Tilden were once the moving spirits. A watchman remains on the mill-site to look after the company's rights.

            Pine Grove district was another birth of the year '66, July 9. Three mills with a total of some 20 stamps were erected to treat the rock that was mostly gold bearing, with some silver.

           Montezuma district was added in '67, being discovered May 24, and organized in June by Thos. Nagle, Matthew Plunkett and a Mr. Carlyle. The ten-stamp mill erected in the fall of '70 was closed down after a run of less than six months. Considerable prospecting and mining have been under way in this district and vicinity since the location of Goldfield in '03.

            Oneota district was placed on the map by Mr. Wetherell in May of '70, though it had been known long by the Indians and eight years before part of this section had been organized as a mining district. It was again organized June 20 of the year it was rediscovered and soon the Indian Queen mine began shipping good ore to the reduction works of San Francisco and Reno. By '75 it had in this way produced several hundred thousand dollars. Then a four-stamp mill was begun and completed in June of the same year. The mine had yielded sufficient returns since to pay a large sum in dividends.

            Sylvania district, discovered in '70, was organized in '72 as Green Mountain district, but the next year changed its name to Sylvania. Smelting works were put up at Lost Springs in '75 and were operated for some years.

            Lida Valley district was brought to light by Wm. Scott in May, '71, and organized the next August 7th. In spite of the excessive freight

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rates for supplies, $100 per ton from Wadsworth, 175 miles distant, the hardy miners persisted, laid out the present town-site March 1 the following year, and began active mining. Within a few years the district had an eight and a five stamp mill to reduce the ore that the high freight rates prohibited from shipment, unless of the best grade. There was shipped some ore of such richness that the long and expensive haul made comparatively small inroad on the profits. But when this high-grade was worked out near the surface and funds were lacking to go deeper for the main ore-bodies, the miners either left the camp or remained only to do the required work to hold their claims or to await better conditions. About '07 a small mill was erected on the Florida property, but was not utilized. At present the outlook seems brighter for the old timers who have abided so long in hope. The town remains about what it was in the eighties, having lost its blacksmith-shop and gained one saloon.

            Belleville, now reduced to a village, began its existence in '73 as the site of quartz mills, being only eight miles north of Candelaria and its rich mines. It reached its zenith in '76 with a population of 500. 1 In '80 it had two mills with 20 stamps each, 300 residents, a school house 20 x 30 feet, and seven saloons.

            Space is lacking to proceed further in a catalogue of the mining districts that once filled the minds of men with visions of fortune and hope. Before passing to a recital of the successive boundaries of Esmeralda county, by means of which nearly six-sevenths of its original territory has been lost, and its business transacted in the third county-seat, it may be well to enumerate a partial list of the abandoned districts, many of which sound strange to the ears of the second generation since they flourished. Among the number may be mentioned: Desert Lake, Baldy, Cottonwood, Cornell, Tule, Walker River, Masonic, Canon, Montgomery, Van Horn, Thunder Springs, Minnesota, Hot Springs, Blind Springs, Washington, Pandet, Independentia, etc., etc.           

            Esmeralda county early began to lose its territory by Legislative enactment. Longitude west from Washington is meant in all cases. The act of February 16, '64, creating Nye county, limited Esmeralda on the east to the meridian of 40° 30', and took away the greater part of its area. A part of this domain was restored by the amending act

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of March 9, '65, by declaring the 39° 58' meridian the line. The act of March 5, '69, made the boundary between Nye and Esmeralda a line running from the intersection of the California line by the meridian of 40° 15' north to the 38th parallel; thence northwesterly to the Hot Springs on the Wellington and Reese river road; thence north to the 39th parallel. By the act of February 26, '75, the line was changed to the 40° 7' meridian, thence north to the 38th parallel, northwesterly to the Hot Springs (as before), and north to the 39th parallel, the present dividing line between the two counties. By the act of March 1, '83, several hundred square miles were detached from Esmeralda and annexed to Lyon county, by declaring a northeast and southwest straight line of division. In this manner Esmeralda lost the fertile lands of the Mason and Smith valleys, its legitimate claim to a great agricultural section. A Legislative act of the same year transferred the county seat from Aurora to Hawthorne. This was due to the condition of the mines at Aurora as well as the ascendancy of Hawthorne, gained by having become the terminus of the Carson and Colorado Railroad that was crawling along the eastern shore of Walker Lake in the spring of '81, and made the new town possible, not to mention the splendid grade completed about the same time and by the same interests between the new county seat and Bodie, 38 miles away. Bodie was grinding out its millions during this period. Hawthorne was also nearer both the geographic and population center of the county.

            By act of February 4, '07, the county-seat was changed from Hawthorne to Goldfield from and after May first of that year, for reasons similar to those that had given it to the former 24 years before. On February 10, '11, another act was approved, by the provisions of which the new county of Mineral was erected out of a part of Esmeralda county's diminished territory, again making Hawthorne a county-seat. The division was unequal, Esmeralda getting only 3,541 square miles of dry land to Mineral's 3,891, with 125 miles of lake surface thrown in. In exactly 50 years Esmeralda county has had six distinct manipulations made with her territory and three seats of justice. Starting in '61 with nearly 25,000 square miles, an area almost equal to that of either the Kingdom of Greece or the State of West Virginia,

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her one remaining consolation in being reduced to one-seventh is, that that seventh is the richest mineralized section of the State.

            The organization of the Goldfield mining district, October l0th, 1903, is the central date from which preceding and after events must be considered. It set in operation a series of influences that have been as potent on the history of Esmeralda county as was the discovery of Hicks, Corey and Braley at Aurora on August 25th, '60. The latter made possible the Old Esmeralda as the former created the New Esmeralda county. Ever since, the story of Goldfield has been well nigh the history of the entire county.

            When James L. Butler accidentally discovered rich "float" at Tonopah in 1900, numerous conditions prevailed to help usher in and support the boom years that followed : the entire country had recovered from the distressing period of the middle '90's and was financially able and in the mood for large speculation; already a reflux tide of miners had set in from Alaska; labor troubles were about to send hordes of stalwart miners trained in Colorado, and very soon thereafter the automobile began to contest the horse's prescriptive right to the public highway, and reduce the long stretches of the desert to fractions. Goldfield fell heir to these forwarding impulses more largely than did Tonopah, the immediate cause of its birth.

            The press has made such effective use of the desert that many still accept without question the suggestion that Goldfield was quite beyond the known, prior to 1902, somewhat as we are influenced through the very reiteration of advertisements into believing their claims. At that time Lida and Silverpeak, distant 30 and 25 miles respectively to the southwest and west, had about the same population as now; Tonopah was a thriving mining camp 30 miles to the north of Goldfield, with miners frequently working at Klondyke, which is almost on a direct line and midway between the two places. Since the early sixties, when the Comstockers began to prospect southern Nevada for silver and so missing the gold, searchers after mines had been for this reason passing over the gold of Goldfield, stopping at Rabbit Springs for water. Trails and roads passed and crossed within sight of Columbia mountain. One of these paths of travel about halved the present holdings of the Consolidated Mines Company, the greatest so far found in the district. In 1904, Mr.

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John Chiatovich, of Silverpeak, actually went into the courts to restrain the piping of water from Rabbit Springs to Columbia, claiming damage for the consequent loss of stock, and asserting title thereto since 1886. Of course live stock had to give way to a mining camp coupled with such hope.

            Such was the country round about Goldfield's present site when two prospectors from Tonopah, W. A. Marsh and H. C. Stimler, found themselves but a short distance north of Columbia mountain's summit in early December, 1902. On the 4th day of that month they located the May Queen, Sand Storm and Kruger claims, adding their names after those of J. L. Butler and Tom Kendall. All were recorded February 28th. They describe the location as 10 miles southerly from Klondike Well, about 6 miles easterly from the Montezuma mines, and one and one-half miles north of Cove (Rabbit) Springs. The district was denominated Grandpa in jest at Hinnepah, Weapah, and Tonopah, believing they had found the grandpa (h) of all, the old man.

            Returning to these locations, in the spring of 1903, ore was found on the Sand Storm, and the rush was on to the new section. About the first of May, Thos. Ramsey and R. C. Crook arrived in the Grandpa district, riding on a buck-board drawn by two burros, and accompanied by C. D. Taylor, who rode a pony with pick, shovel and blankets tied to his saddle. Thos. D. Murphy and A. D. Myers came about the same time. These and others prospected the country south of Columbia mountain and east of the Goldfield townsite, camping near Rabbit Springs. The whole surrounding country was called Grandpa in that indefinite way of miners and prospectors. May 21, 1903, Thos. Ramsey located the Tennessee claim, and five days later returned and took up the ground immediately to the south, calling this second claim the Berkeley, after the home city of his brother. Tennessee was adopted because of its rich sound, so dear to a miner, and for the additional reason that the locator was a Southern man. The location notice of each was signed by H. Ramsey, R. C. Crook, Thos. Ramsey, and recorded at request of H. Ramsey on July 1, following. But the work was never done on these two claims until dressed out in other names.

            Within the first few days of July, Thos. Ramsey and his partner, R. C. Crook, left for Atwood, northwest of Tonopah, on a prospecting

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trip. Tiring of this, as Crook had his mind set on Tokop and the Slate Range country, the two returned to Tonopah, August 13th, and the following day Ramsey abandoned his burros, mounted a pony and in company with Thos. Keane returned to Grandpa to see about the location work on the Tennessee and Berkeley claims. Crook soon followed. But on second thought, it was decided to let the 90 days run out and relocate them. Accordingly the Tennessee became the Mohawk No. 1 and the Berkeley was re-christened Mohawk No. 2, on August 20th and 23rd respectively. Probably the Mohawk No. 2 is the richest piece of ground ever found in Nevada, if not in the world, having since produced as many millions as the locator had fingers and toes and bidding fair to keep this up for many a day. However, four names were put on these second locations, that of A. D. Myers being added later to the three original ones on the Tennessee and Berkeley on condition that he do the location work. He did it with a will—in a few days at most—and in 1906 sold his interest, one-tenth, in same for $400,000. Location certificates were filed, October 31, on request of Harry Ramsey, the partner who remained in Tonopah to provide the grubstake, while his brother and Crook searched for mines. In September, 1903, Thos. Ramsey sold his one-fourth interest in the two Mohawk claims, with an equal interest in the Slim Jim Fraction and one-third of the Booth claim, for the princely sum of $750, the lucky buyers being James Forman and A. C. Eisen. In 1904, Crook sold his one-fourth part of the Mohawks to Nixon and Wingfield, with other property, for $5,000, and the following year Harry Ramsey disposed of his interest to the same parties at a handsome figure. Later on these two old claims became the jewel caskets of the Consolidated Mines Company.

            As a further illustration of the small valuation placed on these bonanza properties, C. D. Taylor came to where Thos. Ramsey, T. D. Murphy and A. D. Myers were working on the Combination, the first of September, '03, and offered to sell the Florence for $20, whereat Ramsey made the counter proposition of selling him thirty-five claims, covering the very heart of the district, at $20 each, or a total of $700, if his partners would agree. Ramsey did sell the Redtops, then the Alabamas, for $35 a piece. And it must not be inferred that these sales were made under stress, for the prices were then regarded as

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fair and full ; neither seller nor buyer could foretell what was to be. These instances are given as typical, showing the low estimate placed on Grandpa mining acres in the summer and early fall of '03.

            There was a space of a few weeks in July of '03 when every soul had deserted the new camp except A. D. Myers, who was living in a tent back of Jumbotown, and Wm. Beauchamp, who was camped in what later became Columbia, a mile apart. A Mr. Hart soon joined Myers, and then there were three. Early in September, as the weather became more agreeable, the pioneer prospectors and locators began to return, and others came with them. Ore had been struck on the Combination by Murphy and Myers in July and this initial strike in Goldfield proper was followed by another on the same property in August. The strike on the Sandstorm by Marsh and Stimler in April of that year is usually regarded as the first. Further impetus was given the new camp by the first lease and bond, made to L. L. Patrick on October 9th and taken up by him 17 days later. This was on the 10 claims of the Combination group and was the result of the strikes by Murphy and Myers on that property in July and August. Three years later these ten claims were sold to the Consolidated Mines Company for four million dollars and completed that powerful consolidation. In October Mr. Patrick brought Robt. Lanka from Tokop to do the assaying for the combination. He also did custom work, and was the first Goldfield assayer,

            About the first of September the small group of tents scattered below Rabbit Springs, to be near water, was moved down to the present Main street of Goldfield, between what is now Myers and Crook Avenues, and the town in this way was started. Ben Hazelton found water at a depth of 20 feet by sinking a well at the intersection of Main Street and Myers Avenue. This, with several other shallow wells, constituted the water supply until the following year, when the first water company piped water from Rocky Canyon, one mile south of town. The need of order in the arrangement of the accumulating tents caused the miners to stake off Main Street early in September. Both the lay of the land and a possible hint whence most had come determined its direction northward, pointing toward Tonopah. A little later, Elmer J. Chute, a competent engineer and surveyor, laid off several blocks and the town limits continued to extend until on

864      THE HISTORY OF NEVADA

January 1st of '04 there was filed for record the first Townsite Plat of Goldfield. This plat covered the area between Fifth Avenue on the east and Third Street on the west, and between Elliott Avenue on the south and an unnamed avenue one block north of Miners Avenue. Block one was limited by Elliott and Myers, Main and Columbia. The, town then showed symptoms of spreading southwest, the six blocks east of Columbia remaining merely skeletoned on this first plat.

            The original intention of the Townsite people was to have the streets run north and south and the avenues east and west, naming the latter in honor of the pioneers of the camp. Elliott, Myers, Crook, Ramsey and Hall were so bestowed, while the whole mining population was complimented by the name of Miners. The next year they added Fifth Avenue and Euclid Avenue pointed to an awakened ambition for the future of the city. Choice of the lots fell to the early comers, and they naturally chose the corners, some of which were awarded this wise : the Palace corner, Crook ; the Northern, Tex Hall ; the Mohawk, Murphy; the Hermitage, H. H. Clark ; the Texas, Patrick; the John S. Cook Bank corner, Chute, and the First National Bank corner, Thos. Ramsey, who felt slighted because his lot was so far out of town. The growth of the town and the increasing value of real estate are shown by one illustration. The Cook Bank corner brought $50 in the spring of '04, $5,000 the next October, and $10,000 December 2nd, following. It was worth $35,000 two years later.

            The gathering of the tents and the locating of Main Street were the first hints of a town. The first all-wood structure came September 6th. It had been built in Belmont in such fashion that by removing the bolts that held it together the whole house, 12 x 14, could be loaded onto a two-horse wagon and hauled anywhere. In this manner it was brought to Tonopah and set up as among the very earliest, if not the first, frame buildings. Harry Ramsey sent it over to the Sand Storm in August, and again removed it to Goldfield as stated, setting it up on lot four of block two. From its high social standing as a saloon in Tonopah, it was degraded in Goldfield to the menial rank of a kitchen. This pioneering shack is now on the Blue Bull property. In these humble beginnings, a fourth event occurred to make the future certain—R. A. Dunn within a few days opened the first business house, a "thirst parlor," in a half tent-half frame building on the next lot

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north. This was the brightest omen of all and must needs be suitably celebrated. Thither converged all steps the first evening and the session was soon on. A thorough inventory discovered but seventeen dollars and some odd cents of the necessary wherewithal among the whole assembled population, but it was ample if properly circulated, and this was accomplished by the simple device of tapping the money box every time it gained possession of the circulating medium. In a gathering as democratic as that the protests of the proprietor were wasted. Seeing this he made the best of it, charging the loss to discreet advertising. This saloon from that night was the club of the camp and was always popular. The function of a saloon in a mining camp is something unique, and not to be confused with that in a city.

            With the two strikes on the Combination and the evident progress of the town, to say nothing of capitalized hope, and the ascendancy gained over the original Grandpa section about Columbia Mountain, the miners, gathered along Main Street in some 20 tents, now began to agitate the formal organization of a Mining District. W. H. Harris at the same time busied himself campaigning in behalf of Goldfields as the name of the town and district. The failure of Grandpa to organize made the organization of a district imperative. All were agreed, and accordingly, on October 10th, notices of a mass meeting of the residents owning property were posted in Dunn's saloon, at Rabbit Springs, and Klondyke Well, the three best known places. The appointed time and place were 1 :30 p. m., October 20th, '03, on the southwest corner of block two, at the crossing of Myers Avenue and Main Street. Thirty-six qualified voters assembled at place designated. Claude M. Smith, formerly a California teacher, called the meeting to order and nominated Attorney R. L. Johns for Chairman. It was a beautiful afternoon to meet with the building material scattered around, offering a good substitute for a well furnished hall. Johns was elected chairman, took his seat on a pile of shingles and rapped his knuckles on a soap box table for the attention of the first meeting ever held in the district, the remaining 34 perching themselves on the stacks of lumber. As the Resolution and Minutes are the official evidences of this meeting, and tell best their own story, they are here given as taken from the originals :

866      THE HISTORY OF NEVADA

RESOLUTION

            WHEREAS, the miners and persons owning mining claims in the Grandpa Mining region, Esmeralda County, Nev., pursuant to public notice duly posted, have on this 20th day of Oct., 1903, duly assembled at Goldfield in said Mining region for the purpose of organizing said mining region into a Mining District and for the purpose of establishing such rules and regulations for said mining district as shall be deemed expedient and not inconsistent with the laws of the United States and of the State of Nevada.

            NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED by said miners and owners of mining claims, in meeting assembled as aforesaid;

            FIRST. That said mining region be and the same is hereby organized into a mining district with the following boundaries,—commencing at a certain spring known as Rabbit Spring in said Esmeralda County, thence extending five miles north from said Spring, eight miles east from said spring, five miles south from said spring, and two miles west from said spring and covering in all a region ten miles square.

            SECOND. That the name of the said mining district shall be GOLDFIELD MINING DISTRICT.

            THIRD. That the officers of said mining district shall be a President and a Recorder, who shall hold office for a period of one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified ; that all miners and owners of mining claims in said district shall be qualified to vote at all elections for such President and Recorder ; that the first election of such officers shall be held on Oct. 20th, 1903, at Goldfield, Nev., at 2 o'clock P. M. and annually thereafter at the same time and place ; that notice of said elections shall be given by the President of said district by posting notice thereof in not less than three public places in said district not less than ten days previous to such election.

            FOURTH. That it shall be the duty of said President, upon the written request of not less than five miners or owners of mining claims in said district, to call a meeting of all the miners and owners of mining claims in said Mining District ; that he shall give at least two days notice of such meeting by posting notice thereof in a conspicuous place in Goldfield ; that he shall preside over all such meetings.

            FIFTH. That it shall he the duty of said Recorder to act as the Secretary of said Mining District ; to keep the minutes of all such meetings and to attend to the correspondence of the said Mining District and to perform such other duties as are prescribed by law; that it shall be the duty of said Recorder to properly record all certificates of location, amended locations, deeds, surveys and instruments of whatever nature as shall be properly presented to him; that he shall be authorized to charge for his services the following fees: for certificate of location, amended locations, and certificates of survey (when the latter are not accompanied by nor attached to certificates of location), a fee of two dollars each that for recording deeds, mortgages, etc.. he shall be authorized to charge a fee not in excess of the fee charged by the Recorder of Esmeralda County, Nevada, for recording the same instrument ; that the fees hereinbefore named shall not include the fee or fees of said County Recorder; that the books of the District Recorder shall be the public property of the said Mining District.

            SIXTH. That the scale of wages and hours of the said Mining District shall be four dollars for eight hours' work.

            SEVENTH. That the President of said Goldfield Mining District shall appoint a committee of three, of which he shall be one, whose duty it shall be to supervise the work of the District Recorder, also to draft rules and regulations for the advancement of the said Mining District, and present the same at the next called meeting as aforesaid.

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            EIGHTH. That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of this meeting and that a copy of the minutes of this meeting be filed with the Recorder of Esmeralda County, Nevada. (Signed)

R. C. Crook, Claude M. Smith, R. L Johns, A. D. Myers, T. D. Murphy, H. O. Hall, W. H. Harris, O. Rosengreen, A. C. Eisen, J. T. Jones, S. D. Forman, H. C. Marcus, W. S. Williams, W. S. Bryden, W. A. Marsh, P. C. Kretz, Dr. Whitewolf, E. Marks, Ed Clifford, W. D. Nelligan, D. H. McLaughlin, Geo. Turner, R. McGlenn, J. W. Riggle, F. A. Montgomery, E. A. Montgomery, H. C Stimler, J. E. McLaughlin, T. Kendall, Geo. McLelland, C. D. Taylor, R A. Dunn, G. S. Phenix, Elmer J. Chute, Goe. A. Kernick, Thos. Ramsey.

GOLDFIELD, NEVADA, Oct. 10th, 1903.

            At 1 :30 o'clock P. M. a meeting, having been duly advertised, was called to order by Claude M. Smith, who nominated as chairman Mr. R. L. Johns. Mr. Johns was unanimously elected chairman.

            Claude M. Smith was nominated and unanimously elected secretary of said meeting.

            The resolution as attached hereto was read by the secretary. Mr. R. C. Crook moved the adoption of the resolution as read. The motion was carried.

            A. D. Myers was nominated for President and, there being no opposition, he was declared elected by acclamation.

            Claude M. Smith was nominated for District Recorder and elected by acclamation.  President Myers appointed Messrs. T. D. Murphy and R. C. Crook to serve with himself upon the committee as provided in the resolution.

            There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made, seconded and carried.

Respectfully submitted,

CLAUDE M. SMITH, Secretary.

            It will be seen from the Resolution that Goldfield was already accepted as the name of the town, but not yet as that of the mining district, as the Resolution had been prepared before the meeting with two references to the town of this name, while the name of the district about to be organized was left blank, and was filled in with pen and ink among the typewritten words. The original shows this to be the only written insertion. W. H. Harris, the seventh signer, had for some time been agitating in favor of Goldfields for both town and district, and had evidently succeeded in having it generally accepted as to the former, the naming of the latter requiring the approval of the meeting. Harris proposed Goldfields in the meeting and Smith seconded him, provided he would leave off the pluralizing s. This was done and so the honor of christening the new city and district is divided between the two. Mr. Harris evidently had in mind the city whence he had come, Goldfield, Colorado, but desired to make the new name distinctive and more ambitious by implying more than one field of gold. In nominating Mr. Smith for District Recorder, Mr. Murphy explained that he did so because the candidate was "too small

868      THE HISTORY OF NEVADA

to do a full shift's work," and ever since the big man and the small man have been inseparable. A greater service was rendered than could at that time be imagined ; the office paid during Mr. Smith's incumbency of three and one-half years about $1,000 per month, easily the most lucrative office in the State.

            One of the 36 signers, and a man capable of making the analysis, gives some approximations going to show what manner of men they were. Their average age was about 33 years; Harris the oldest at 60, and Stimler the youngest at 23. Seventy-five per cent. of the number were unmarried ; three surveyors, one assayer, physician, druggist, teacher, merchant, attorney, and cowboy each, and 20 miners and prospectors, with six others otherwise engaged, but likewise learning mining in connection with their regular pursuits. Fifteen States, three foreign countries, and three races were there represented. California led with seven, Colorado came second with four, and Nevada and Texas tied with three each. Nearly half were Irish. Not one man made "his mark," but each signed the Resolution with a firm, legible hand, though most had finger joints stiffened from daily association with pick and shovel. Doubtless any capable expert in the matter of handwriting would pronounce the 36 signatures a very remarkable list. And after-knowledge of these organizers of the Goldfield Mining District confirms such an estimate. The list includes many of the successful, big men of later Goldfield. Immediately following the meeting of October 2oth, the camp felt a new impulse forward. A city must be built as well as a district developed from prospects into mines, and the task was begun with a will, now that there was an organic beginning. Energy made up for lack of numbers. The work of the camp-makers was paving the way for the camp-followers sure to come when the hard places had been made soft. Of course good citizens continued to arrive as the tidings spread, and bad ones, too. The pioneers had conducted a pure Democracy as nearly as human nature seems able to permit. It was not until the arrival of the camp-followers that the merchant had a market for locks and keys, which before a twelve-month had replaced the latch and string. Limited space forbids details told in order of time. Hence, a restricted number of enterprises and institutions must suffice, and the imagination do the rest. From October 10th to the spring of '04, the little camp

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was busy, daily growing more so, preparing for the boom days of '05, '06, '07. Only 28 miners were found to eat the two turkeys the Christmas of '03; perhaps as many more had gone to Tonopah for the holidays. But the future was safe, for women had actually established residence in Goldfield before the year of '03 was out. That spring Mrs. Marsha and Mrs. Stimler had been at their husbands' camp at Columbia mountain, but perhaps the first to call the new camp of Goldfield home were Mrs. G. S. Phenix, Dr. Frances Williams, and Mrs. E. R. Collins not long thereafter.

            Late in December, Peter Samuelson found travel between Goldfield and Tonopah sufficient to put on a two-horse stage. In February he was hauling the mail, and the public demand justified John O'Keefe in starting a four-horse stage each way daily, a little later a six-horse one, and from July, '04, to September, '05, when railroads came into the two camps, two six-horse Concords went either way. These carried the Wells-Fargo Express as well as passengers. Fare, $4 each way with some slight variations. In addition, many other lines were established and the livery stables did a thriving business in special service. M'Clain and M'Sweeney had several hundred head of stock engaged in freighting before spring. J. E. C. Williams had an equally large capacity and livery as well, dozens of smaller operators transporting an immense tonnage into Goldfield. This takes no account of hundreds of individuals and firms that did their own hauling. Spanning the gap between stage-coach and railroad, the automobile made its appearance generally in the summer of '04 in the Nevada camps. Fred. J. Siebert had brought a two-cylinder Winton into Tonopah the year before. August 10th, 1904, the 16-horse-power Rambler of G. W. Richard "walked" lamely into Goldfield, making the trip from Tonopah in two hours and fifty minutes with a detour of eight miles. G. J. Packer, the chauffeur, worked days to get it out of town. L. L. Patrick first successfully made the trip in a 30-horsepower Pope-Toledo, September. By '05 they were numerous and an automobile line was running regularly from Tonopah to Goldfield and south to Rhyolite. Charles Crisman built a powerful 10-passenger car in Goldfield the winter of '06-'07 to run between this place and Greenwater. It was a success, carrying both passengers and freight, and established records yet unbroken. He covered the 30 miles be-

870      THE HISTORY OF NEVADA

tween Tonopah and Goldfield in some forty minutes and the 75 miles to Rhyolite in a little over two hours.

            Transportation was settled by the railroads, which came thick and fast in answer to the call of gold. Tonopah was reached July 4, '04, with celebration 25, 26, 27—that road was standard-gauged August 1, '05, and extended into Goldfield September 14, same year, celebrating the 14, 15 and 16. Late in '06 the Bullfrog-Goldfield road reached the vicinity of Rhyolite and was connected up with the Tidewater from the south at Gold Center October 30, '07. The L. V. & T. came into Rhyolite December 14, '06, and into Goldfield October 28th of the following year, making two railroad connections south and one north.

            In February of '04 a fourth-class post-office was established with Claude M. Smith as Postmaster, and opened in the butcher shop of E. R. Collins, but soon went into the Red Front Store, both locations being on Lot 5 of Block 2. Mr. Collins had the first store in the camp. Mrs. E. R. Collins was deputy and succeeded Mr. Smith within a few months, as he could not spare the time to run the office. In the spring of '05 the office was moved to the southeast corner of Columbia and Hall, where it remained until July 28, 1907, when it was again removed, this time to its present site on north side of Crook, between Columbia and Fifth avenue. Mr. E. R. Collins succeeded his wife as Postmaster December 15, 1905. In 1906-07 the immense volume of mail handled caused this office to be rated as first-class, the only one ever in Nevada; it is now second-class.

            Labor Organizations in the Beginning; Goldfield Early Becoming a Strongly Unionized Town.—Perhaps the incipiency of unionism had its birth in the camp through the informal action of C. C. Inman and J. P. Sanders, the first carpenters, and the first contractors, under the firm name of Inman and Sanders. Inman, finding work slack in Tonopah in the fall of '03, followed a wagonload of lumber, tools on back, not knowing definitely whither it was bound until he found himself in a place called Grandpa. When the load was deposited on the ground he seated himself thereon to await the owner, who soon appeared on the scene. Inman engaged himself without cavil to erect the shack and Sanders put in an appearance, likewise looking for a job. There and then union labor established wage and hours, appealing to the toss of a coin. Heads won and Inman proclaimed the

ESMERALDA COUNTY       871

day's wages at $6, Sanders chiming in with "eight hours." Soon thereafter the powerful Carpenters' Union was organized. Before many years had passed it had its own building and space to rent to other orders. Of course unionism is rightly found wherever two novitiates chance to meet, be it on desert or in crowded city. The Colorado miners brought their notions of unionism with them and they came early with ever-increasing numbers. In April and May, '04, 500 arrived, many with their families. They had been driven from home and came seeking the opportunity to help carve another mining empire from a new country. Probably their Local 220, W. F. M., had its beginning about the same time the carpenters were uniting into a body. It is difficult to determine just when the inception occurred, as the first meetings were informal, no records kept, and a sort of club usually preceded the actual organization. However, the Miners' Union possessed a desirable building site on west side of Main street, between Crook and Ramsey, in the first months of '04, with a rude tent-house in which they met, and with a free reading room soon afterwards. That early they were caring for their sick and dead, seeking employment for their people, giving alms, offering social privileges to the public and performing the many other functions for which they are so well known. The first day school was opened in their hall free of charge and their first hospital was opened that summer.

            Churches and secret societies vied with each other in establishing themselves in the new camp, seemingly divining oncoming events. Rev. Francis H. Robinson, a Presbyterian divine who had been active in pioneer work in Tonopah, with true missionary spirit, came early and Sunday, April 24, 1904, conducted his initial service in the home of Mrs. C. H. Elliott. The same day he organized the first Sunday school of the camp in the residence of Mrs. L. Briggs, who was elected superintendent, and May 1st the first Sunday school met in the new postoffice, which had been shifted a few feet to its second location. Rev. Father Gleason, of the Catholic faith and also a missionary, arrived in camp on Saturday, April 23, and the next day held services in the Main street office of H. B. Lind, near the middle of the block, between Crook and Ramsey avenues. He held a second service at the same place the following Sunday. People were in-

872      THE HISTORY OF NEVADA

vited to attend without regard to their religious affiliations or beliefs and the invitation was accepted generally. At the same hour of the same day Rev. Robinson and Rev. Gleason were delivering the two pioneer divine services in Goldfield. As if not to be behind in the start, Rev. Samuel Unsworth came into town May 27th, investigating the need of a local Episcopal church. It was not long before other denominations followed. The Catholic Church erected its first building at Cedar street in '05, the earliest in the camp, and began a larger one on Hall avenue and Franklin street a year later, the original building not being large enough to accommodate the worshippers. Though uncompleted, services have been held in it for the last five years. This church has wielded a powerful influence under the able pastorate of Rev. Father James B. Dermody, who may rightfully be regarded as the organizer of his people here. The Presbyterians erected their place of worship '05-'06 at the corner of Ramsey and Fifth avenues. The splendid edifice of the Episcopalians was not occupied until '07, the Christian Scientists having built theirs near the corner of Myers and Euclid in the boom days of the camp. The Methodists completed a handsome structure on the corner of Euclid and Crook in '12. Other denominations have labored in the camp from early days. Among these are the Baptists, who planned but never completed their house of worship.

            Public schools came shortly after the churches. Rev. Robinson was a pioneer not only in the pulpit and Sunday school, but he started the first day school for general instruction. On the morning of May 1, 1904 he received pupils in the Miners Union Hall, which was at that time a rude combination of tent and woodwork. Of the 17 pupils reporting for instruction seven were put in the primary class and the remaining 10 distributed between the second and seventh grades. C. C. Inman, E. R. Collins and Claude M. Smith were appointed as a school board in May and a school census taken June 3, showing 45 persons to be under 21 years of age, but seven of these too young to enter school. Mr. Smith soon resigned in favor of H. W. Knickerbocker, who was later succeeded by P. H. Toohy. In the fall of '04 and spring of '05, Mrs. Francis M. Nesmith had charge of the school, assisted in the latter year by a young lady, the school rooms being in the Ladies' Aid Hall on West Crook street. Miss Mary McLaughlin

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(now Mrs. W. D. Hatton) took charge in September of '05, and with her assistants gave a sort of peripatetic instruction as the expanding business of the town crowded the pupils from one place to another, no school building having yet been erected. A contract was let for the Cedar street school building in the summer of '05, but it was not ready for occupancy until the fall of the next year. It has six rooms and cost $10,000. Miss McLaughlin, as principal, and three teachers taught in it 1906-07. The high school building was dedicated November 18, 1907. It was completed and furnished at a cost of $103,000 and has twelve recitation rooms and a large assembly hall. The Sundog and Westside buildings, with six and two rooms, were built in 1908 at a combined cost of about $50,000, with furnishings. The largest attendance was 1908-09, 982 pupils with 26 teachers. The present enrollment is 529, with 18 teachers. These compared with the 17 of May, 1904, will index the ebb and flow of the camp's population.

            The Ladies' Aid Society was organized May 3, 1904, and at once began raising funds to erect their hall for the Sunday school, religious meetings and general gatherings. This body of women became a powerful factor for the general good, competing later with the masculine Montezuma Club.

            The Montezuma Club charter members issued their first call December 30, 1904, met January 7 and chartered their club February 10, 1905. Its first home was in the adobe building at 106 Columbia, whence it was moved in the middle of the same year to the Palace, where its influence and prosperity were greatest from 1905 to 1908; then it went into its own building at the corner of Columbia and Crook, where it soon expired for want of sustenance. Beginning with its organization, L. L. Patrick, H. T. Bragdon and J. P. Loftus were its first three presidents. June 19, 1904, the County Hospital opened a 16-foot tent near the old jail for the reception of the sick, Dr. E. J. Howland in charge. A. R. Wittke was the first resident physician of the camp. The following February the present building was put up at a cost of about $12,000, fixtures and equipment included, having a capacity of thirty patients. Almost double that number were taken care of during the trying days of general sickness. The Miners Union opened its first hospital about the same time and place and began

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and completed in 1906 and 1907 the best equipped building for that purpose in southern Nevada. It is now closed. The Consolidated Mines Company has its own hospital nearer its mines. There have been from time to time several private institutions to care for the sick. For years E. T. and G. B. Richmond, brothers, ran a private hospital, where the unfortunate were taken care of free of all cost, regardless of race, character or any other condition.

            The sore need of these institutions may be inferred and their incapacity suspected from these figures : April and May, 1905, occurred 27 and 24 deaths; November and December, 1906, 62 and 53, and in January following 40. This was the era of what the laymen call "black pneumonia." That alcoholism took a hand may be inferred from the fact that the victims were rarely women. Insufficiency of food, clothing and shelter played havoc with those not acclimated. The fuel famine occurred at this time and had its part in the loss of life and general discomfort. A poor grade of coal brought $95 per ton and nearly $150 if bought by the sack ; men fought for wood  at $60 a two-horse load, while railroad ties were sawed up and sold at 25 cents a block. All were ready to pay the price but the supply fell short of the demand. The weather was severe and the buildings less substantial than later, many living in tents.

            On March 16, 1904, arrived the most welcome guest of the camp, Florence Tidwell, the daughter of Roland and Lena Phillips Tidwell, whose home was on Lot 11 of Block 2, just opposite the present Goldfield Hotel. She was the first child to be born in the camp and the winner of a townsite lot which was never claimed. The "boys" regarded this as an event even more auspicious for the future of place than the arrival of women the year before, and made no little fuss about it. All claimed an interest in the little girl, coming early to pay homage. Sunday, October 30th of the same year, the enterprising Townsite Company bestowed a lot at the corner of Crook and Fourth streets as its award for the first wedding, Miss Evelyn Roach and Milton C. Ish winning that day, though one or more couples had been married in Tonopah previously. This was regarded as a purely home affair, Justice of the Peace Collins tying the knot that holds. The Townsite Company continued to encourage home

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industry in many other directions, making a specialty of "sooners" in all lines.

            The first death was that of Curtis Kendall, April 13, 1904. He was shot by Howard Sharp, and his remains sent to Salt Lake for burial, after the first funeral of the camp by Father Gleason. The second was a suicide by drowning in the Columbia water tank a few hundred feet below Rabbit Springs. The unfortunate was known here under the name of Byron Enright. This occurred at noon, June 17, 1904, and the remains were buried the following day after a funeral service by Rev. F. H. Robinson in Miners' Union Hall. His was the first grave. Mrs. Katherine Wadleigh's death, June 23, 1904, was the first from natural causes, followed by that of Adolph Kornbluh from appendicitis on July 22 of the same year, being the first man to die here naturally. Joseph Marsh, father of W. A. Marsh, was watching the Rabbit Springs and the Columbia water tank the day Enright committed suicide, as there had arisen some feeling between Goldfield and Columbia over the latter's having gained title to the only known nearby water supply. Hence the property needed watching, as they thought. Seeing a suspicious looking man approach the tank, Mr. Marsh armed himself with a stout stick and went to see whether he contemplated harm to the tank or merely to steal a bath, a very rare thing at that day. Approaching and not finding his man, he at length peeped over the six-foot sides and was horrified to see the struggling form at the bottom, weighted down with a large rock attached to his neck by a piece of baling wire. A sojourning physician took up a position near by and began to assert that he could revive the man. When ordered to proceed he asked for his fee first. Two swift and well directed kicks and that medico's usefulness to the new camp was over. He soon departed unregretted. Columbia made trouble under the same head. The Goldfield bunch had turned off the water in taking out the body and Columbiaites became wroth over what they regarded as an extravagant waste in a desert country. The cemetery has grown with the town, now having 740 graves, seven of these in the G. A. R. section and 114 in the potter's field. Twice as many bodies have been sent out for interment. The beautiful wild flowers of the desert are gathered each May 30th and tenderly placed on the graves of all.

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            May 6, 1904, a baseball club was organized, with Frank Lothrop as manager and Joe Duffield as captain. Early in June J. F. Bradley and Frank Horton started a gun club, ordering five expert traps, 10,000 blue rocks and 6,000 rounds of ammunition. At the same time a brass band had its beginning. Everything and everybody were organizing; the American dearly loves orders, the miners especially, as a list of secret societies will show.

            The Masonic order led the way for strictly secret fraternities. M. E. E. Wadleigh and H. B. Lind issued the first call for a meeting June 24, 1904, and four days later the meeting took place in Mr. Lind's office. Nearly all the States and several foreign countries were represented. The Masonic Club was organized July 12. It was the forerunner of the many other Masonic bodies that followed: Montezuma Lodge No. 30, F. and A. M., dispensation granted January 27 and charter June 13, 1906; Goldfield Chapter No. 10, R. A. M., dispensation, February 16 and charter, June 11, 1907; Nevada Council No. 1 (being the only one in the State), R. and S. M., dispensation granted. June 1, 1907, and charter, September 10, 1912; Malta Commandery No. 3, K. T., dispensation, January 2, 1909, and charter, August 11, 1910.

            The Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows followed hard on the starting of the Masonic Club. Both are flourishing, the K. P.'s having the uniform rank and a large membership. First meeting of the K. P.'s was in J. R. Duffield's office July 30, 1904. In the matter of holding regular lodge meetings the I. O. O. F. people antedated the Masons, their dispensation bearing date of October 2, 1905, and their charter June 17, 1906. To save space, the following list of fraternities, societies and organizations is offered, all being strong: Masonic bodies already given and Eastern Star, Knights of Pythias and the Pythian Sisters, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekkahs, Knights of Columbus, B. P. O. E. Lodge No. 1072, Eagles, Moose, Redmen, Woodmen, Goldfield Volunteer Firemen, Carpenters, Daughters of American Revolution, Ladies Aid Society, Women's Club, Foresters, Bar Association, Medical Association, Industrial Workers of the World, Western Federation of Miners (Local 220) Business Men's Association, Mine Owners' Association, Carpenters' Union and Salvation Army. This partial list comprises both active

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and defunct bodies, without any effort at classification, and in some instances giving the popular name in ignorance of the exact one. The Elks are a numerous and growing lodge, having been organized in the spring of '07 under dispensation, followed in July by a charter. Their home is the handsomest in Goldfield. They have done much good in active charity.

            From 1904 to 1908 were the leasing days, the best of the camp. Leases are great distributors. Some fifteen in the Goldfield District paid handsomely, among the hundreds let. Four of these netted near a million each within a month's time, one approximating the five million mark in gross value during its existence. As early as the year 1904 the camp yielded about $4,000,000, reaching the high water-mark of some $12,000,000 in 1910. One property has to date produced $55,000,000 gross and paid $25,000,000 in dividends, and is still performing in large figures. To operate this and other mines, mills, water lines, power and many other accessories were required. Of mills there have been twelve erected within the district to treat the immense tonnage of the mines. Most of these were constructed during the leasing period and never over half the number were active at one time. The greatest daily capacity was about 1,500 tons. Water was a problem. Many companies were formed. When the wells proved insufficient pipe lines were built. In the fall of 1904 a line was constructed from Rocky Canyon, one mile south of town; the next summer a ten-mile pipe line conveyed water from Alkali Springs at the west to the Combination Mill; in the spring of 1906 the Nevada Water Company pumped water from the Highlands Mine at Diamond-field, six miles away, and put in the sewerage system of Goldfield, while the Esmeralda Water Company put up a tank for the fire department. A more ambitious undertaking was started by the Montezuma Water Company in December, 1905, whereby water was to be brought into Goldfield from the ample supply about Lida, 30 miles to the southwest. This task was completed by the Goldfield Water Company and water turned on in Goldfield in October of 1907, flowing through 7 and 9-inch pipes. The whole line, with laterals, is 43 miles in length, with 450,000 gallons daily capacity. January 1, 1907, the Goldfield Water Company expanded into the present Goldfield Consolidated Water Company, and by taking over the Esmeralda,

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Montezuma and Nevada water companies, and the Esmeralda Sewerage and Improvement Company, it controls the water supply for the town and mills, except as to the wells. Their owners are independents and still peddle water from the early-day five-gallon bucket at to cents. While times boomed they made as high as $50 net a day to the wagon.

            To supply commercial power and lights, a strong company was organized in '04 at Bishop, California, 100 miles west. This was the Nevada-California Power Company, which has a 15,000 horse-power plant and over 300 miles of line, connecting with Goldfield, Tonopah, Manhattan, Rhyolite and other points. Its original capital has been increased from $2,000,000 to $5,000,000. Goldfield consumes 3,000 horse-power. Power was turned on in Goldfield September 19, 1905, 18 days after it had come into Tonopah. The Goldfield Electric and Power Co. was the pioneer and furnished light in 1904. Telephone and telegraph lines came early in 1904. The Western Union was first, the Postal second. Wells-Fargo Express was carrying matter in February, 1904, and had all the business until three years ago, when the American entered in competition. The first large building on Main street was the Exploration Mercantile structure, erected late in 1904, and was outdone early the next year by the Nixon Building opposite. The most expensive single building is the Goldfield Hotel, costing $400,000 with fixtures and furnishings. The city has had five big fires and many, many smaller ones, but the splendid fire-fighters have invariably prevented a wide spread of the flames or great property loss. July 8, 1904, the half-finished Nevada Hotel burned to the ground at the corner of Crook and Columbia, entailing a loss to T. D. Murphy and L. L. Patrick of nearly $40,000. Flying sparks fired the Enterprise Mercantile Building a block away and the citizens helped the fire department to fight it out, the whiskey, brandy, wine, beer and champagne stored in the place being applied both externally and internally. October 10th of the next year the St. Francis Hotel, on Main street, between Myers and Crook, took fire and threatened the whole block, but it was confined to a small area, with small loss. At daylight, November 17, 1906, the (old) Goldfield Hotel burned to the foundation, two of its guests perishing, Mr. Ellis and Mr. Heber. The Florence Mill was later totally destroyed by fire and the Con-

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solidated Mill was greatly damaged some time before. Being so far out of town the fire department was greatly handicapped, but responded bravely. If there be one organization in Goldfield that has always met requirements efficiently and fully, it is this department. It is an outgrowth of the volunteer department that organized within the first months of 1904. With limited water, at times, and a wooden town seasoned to tinder, the record is marvelous.

            The streets were graded 1907-08 at an expense of $35,000. Four years before 12-horse wagons sank to their axles on Main street. With the coming of the county seat in May, 1907, a Courthouse and Jail were started and finished in November at a cost of $158,000, including fixtures, furniture and other appurtenances. Goldfield has had many banks, of which but two survive, the John S. Cook & Co. and the First National. Births and deaths are as follows: The State Bank and Trust Co. opened for business July 26, 1904 in a small corner of W. S. Elliott's saloon, T. B. Rickey, President, and G. W. Richard, Cashier. It was a branch of the mother institution at Carson City and allied with a similar one at Tonopah. It closed October 23, 1907, and has so far paid about 25 cents on the dollar. It was the first bank in Goldfield.

            The Nye and Ormsby Co. Bank, also a branch of the home bank of Carson City, with another agency at Tonopah, opened August 15, 1904, in J. D. Lothrop's store, nearly opposite the State Bank and Trust Co., with John S. Cook, Cashier. It too closed October 24, 1907, but opened the next January 2 and remained open until February 23, 1909, and then closed finally. This paid 72 cents on the dollar. The third to open was the Goldfield Bank and Trust Co., December 15, 1904, with J. R. Boal as Cashier. Its location was Main street, near the Hall corner. It failed utterly May 24, 1905. The Nye and Ormsby Co. Bank opened a branch at Columbia on the last day of December, 1904, but soon withdrew it. Arthur G. Raycraft was Cashier. What has proved to be the strongest bank of all was opened with John S. Cook as Cashier on January 26, 1905. This was called the John S. Cook & Co. Bank, and had $50,000 capital. About March of that year Messrs. Nixon and Wingfield bought it in and the capital was increased to a quarter of a million. This institution proved a very Rock of Gibraltar when other banks were crashing about it in

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the panicky days of October, 1907. It is among the living, Mr. Wingfield having succeeded Senator Nixon as its president several years ago. March 8, 1908, the First National was established, L. L. Patrick and W. B. Hamilton as President and Cashier. Its capitalization was $125,000. This also abideth with us.

            It was a great mistake to forget the stampedes to booming camps. Passing by the ephemeral rushes to new strikes of almost weekly frequency, the annual ones will illustrate. Cuprite, Stonewall, Gold Crater and others earlier in '04 played introduction to the first genuinely big boom, Bullfrog. This began with the summer find of Cross and Harris and culminated the following spring, when there were literally 75 miles of dust to the south of Goldfield. One hundred wagons were counted on this road within twenty-four hours, all going south—more than one to the mile. The lame, the halt—all were on the way. Not to be outdone, one man piled his blankets, water, food and tools, about 100 pounds weight, on a wheelbarrow, and pushed it into Rhyolite on schedule time.

            While Bullfrog was still booming, Manhattan broke out and this drew from Goldfield the population it could ill afford to spare in the fall of '05 and spring of '06. The earthquake chilled its fever, through cutting off the California capital, but it is now reviving. Walker Lake Reservation was thrown open November 29 of '06 and thither hied the restless who "got in bad" at the previous strikes. They came back.

            Greenwater held the center of the stage in 1906-07, and was replaced by the spectacular Rawhide rush of 1907-08, the last to date, except smaller ones. Hornsilver, 30 miles southwest and once Lime-point, arrived in April of '08, but before the country had sufficiently recovered from the panic to give it a chance to show what it might have done under favorable circumstances. It was during the stampede to Rawhide, when it was at its height, that a childish hand scribbled on a Goldfield church door, "Church closed—Krist gone Rawhide," and some wag wrote below, "never to return."

            In addition to mining, Esmeralda County has few industries. The promising coal field at Coaldale deserves mention, along with the gold and silver. Fuel has been dug there for years, but not until the last year or so, since the grade has improved with depth, could it be made

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commercially profitable. Borax and salt are still collected in several localities when the plants are in operation. The cattle and sheep business flourish when water is pumped to the surface for their use. A little dry farming at Pigeon Springs gave gratifying results, though done on a small scale. Politics have been reduced to a science and so should be classified as among the active pursuits of men without business of their own sufficient to engross their energies. Such suffer less than their constituents. From the first the best talent has been engaged in development enterprises, to the great prejudice of the public weal.

            Many enterprising geniuses find profit in dealing out liquid refreshments at all hours of the day, frequently combining this pursuit with the kindred dance hall and games. It is to be suspected that the two former serve as bait for the latter, enticing the victim into the net and putting him in the proper frame of mind to separate from his lucre. Less flourishing than in the boom days, all of these means still reach the desired end with satisfying certainty. But in the hey-day of the camp the gambler had the most cunningly devised device ever thrown off by the human brain, when considered in all its ramifications. As soon as the unwary, or initiated, for that matter, had gathered in response to beckoning lights, glowing warmth, the mocking feminine voice or more often the persuasion of the decoy—as soon as the proper temperature had been reached and the throng was like ants in a formicary, the play was on with the percentage against the visitor, of course. There were two kinds of operators behind the game—the old-timer who played for the sake of the game, and the designing gentleman, who played for the gain. He got the latest news of the new strikes, the first news, and so could have the refusal of investment with the other fellows' money. When the genial prospector had been thoroughly stripped he was treated as the farmer's cow, urged with a kick to new pastures to replenish the supply, only to return to the milk gap in due time for another milking. It was hugely profitable.

            It now remains to relate in brief the salient facts in connection with the most unfortunate event of Goldfield's history, the lamentable labor troubles of 1906-07. Space forbids the recital of details, even if propriety would sanction the reopening of old wounds and the uncovering of ugly scars that are best forgotten. The full limits of

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this article would not suffice properly to introduce, let alone discuss, the subject to a conclusion. The whole controversy was but another phase of that world-old struggle for adjustment of the relationship of employer and employee. After-happenings have demonstrated that no final solution was made except locally.

            As many forwarding causes had united to bring Goldfield to its happy situation in the fall of '07, so numerous, untoward conditions contributed to aggravate the issue between mine owner and mine worker, chiefest among these being the panic with the consequent crashing of banking institutions and the scarcely less potent influence of the mesalliance formed between the highly-skilled miners and the ill-assorted, heterogeneous mass of Industrial Workers of the World. Almost from the outset, the contest degenerated into a fight, not between mine operator and miner, but between operator and the I. W. W. Of course, there had been from the first, as must be expected where any considerable body of men come together, more or less friction between the man who paid and the man who received wages, but all differences up to this time had been adjusted and most likely could have been settled again but for the unskilled labor that was unaccustomed to treat with its employer. The final straw was dropped when the banks went on a script basis and the operators tendered it in payment for labor November 18, 1907. Then history was made with staggering rapidity.

            At first the great unorganized body of the people tried to remain neutral, at least to conceal their sympathies, hoping to remain out of the gathering storm. They were ultimately to be the real sufferers, ground between the upper mill stone of organized capital and the nether mill stone of organized labor. The force exerted between these elements would have crushed into pulp all the ore in the district within a fortnight if properly directed. Finally excesses drove the unwilling middle-man into a partnership from which he could but at best retire badly damaged. Then the deadline was drawn for the clash.

            No well-informed man believes the rank and file of the miners desired trouble ; on the contrary, they themselves knew that many of their number had just escaped from a disastrous campaign with their families and without money, and that to a place where there

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was but the single industry of mining, upon which they were dependent by days' wage for bread. To court disagreement with their employers meant madness, and these men have never been suspected of that. In a word, the miners had been supplanted in their own hall by the very weight of allied numbers. On the other hand, the operators were dependent upon the uninterrupted production of their mines and their operation by these same miners to meet their maturing obligations, in some instances the purchase price, most of them then being men of moderate means. This was the alignment when challenges were given and accepted.

            November 18th the mine owners and operators passed and published a resolution to pay the miners with script on and after that date, and "until the present financial crisis is passed." The W. F. M. Local 220 met this by adopting a resolution the 26th with but one dissenting vote, to refuse script in payment for labor, and on the next day called out 1,200 of its members. December the 3rd the Mine Owners' Association countered by declaring all past agreements with the union abrogated because no referendum vote had been taken in calling the strike. Up to this time the honors were about even. But the union had over-calculated the strength of one element, the attitude of the Governor. He had publicly and privately often declared his adherence to the laboring man and without his intervention against them they well knew the victory was theirs. The Sheriff was their sympathizer, too, and the ordinary way of enlisting Federal aid was for the Sheriff to certify to the Governor that he was unable to control the situation with safety to life and property, and in the absence of an adequate State police force it then became the Governor's duty to appeal to the Federal Government. This was the coup that won. The Sheriff remained steadfast, but under great pressure Gov. Sparks reluctantly made the call December 4th or 5th, the Federal Government responded promptly, and December 7th three companies of the 22nd Infantry, under Col. Alfred Reynolds, detrained in Goldfield, and the fight was won for the Mine Owners' Association. Gov. Sparks arrived the 10th, Gen. Funston the 12th, and a special commission appointed by the President reached Goldfield from Washington the 15th of December. Gen. Funston immediately went into conference with Gov. Sparks and the latter's personal representative,

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Capt. W. L. Cox. The Federal Commission, consisting of Assistant Secretary Murray of the Department of Commerce and Labor, Labor Commissioner Chas. P. Neill and Herbert Smith, Commissioner of Corporations, made an independent investigation and reported back to Washington adversely to the Mine Owners' Association as to the need of troops. In the meantime, December 9th, two days after the arrival of the troops, the Mine Owners' Association, issued a statement placing the ban on the members of the W. F. M., set the 12th for reopening the mines and required all other miners to report for work that day, and made as a condition of employment the signing of an agreement prepared by the Association, the Tonopah scale going into effect. This scale was somewhat lower than the former Goldfield scale. On the appointed 12th, 56 men reported for work at the Combination mine and mill. Later, strikebreakers were imported to take the place of the W. F. M. men who were not acceptable.

            Gen. Funston returned December 19th, but Gov. Sparks remained some time, and then went home, soon to die. President Roosevelt on the 11th directed that the troops preserve an absolutely impartial attitude between the factions, and this was observed to the letter, the soldiers fraternizing with the miners and citizens on the friendliest terms, no one doubting that they would do their duty under orders. On the 17th the President informed Gov. Sparks by telegraph that the troops had been here ten days and no need of their presence appearing, he would therefore order them returned to their former station December 30th, unless the State of Nevada showed in the meantime its good faith by taking steps to police its own territory. Accordingly, the Governor issued on December 30th a call for an extraordinary session of the Legislature, to convene January 14th following. To influence the President to retain the troops in Goldfield pending their action, a Memorial and Joint and Concurrent Resolution was passed by the Senate and approved January 17th, and a Joint and Concurrent Resolution was passed by the Assembly and approved February 1st, bearing the same import as that of the Senate. On January 29th the so-called Nevada Police Bill was approved.

            The troops remained until toward spring, when the State Police assumed their functions for several months. In the meantime the mine owners organized a compact body of secret service men, the

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nucleus of which came into existence during the troubles of the previous years, to take the place of the State police, when they should be withdrawn. Their main function being to protect the largest bodies of high-grade, they became a needless expense with its practical disappearance, and so they, too, have been greatly reduced in numbers.

            To-day nothing but wounds and scars remain of that needless strife, and the memory of it alone should conjure both capital and labor to avoid the like again. The innocent suffered most, as might have been expected, and no principle was finally settled.

            The bituminous coal fields of southwestern Nevada, located near Coaldale in Esmeralda County, were discovered in the early 80's by a German prospector named William Groetzinger, operating under a grub stake agreement with William A. Ingalls, then a merchant of Candeleria, Nevada, and now Sheriff of Esmeralda County. Later, other entries were made by Clay Peters and William Wilson, both of whom, including Ingalls and Groetzinger secured government title by patenting the locations after having done a considerable amount of preliminary work in the way of developing the discovery. These titles were afterwards acquired by L. K. Koontz and associates, of Goldfield, Nevada, and Pittsburg, Pa., who after the expenditure of no less than $50,000 in development have succeeded in proving up a limited area of semi-bituminous coal, good for ordinary commercial purposes, and have placed several cars with satisfactory results in the local market of Goldfield, Tonopah, Blair, Millers and Mina. The veins are dipping to the east so far as developments show and while there appear to be about five different strata, yet only two have thus far been developed to commercial importance, showing from four to six feet of marketable product. The coal is comparatively free from an excess of ash and sulphur and has improved materially with development as depth and pressure have been attained.

            Developments thus far show that this coal deposit may become an enterprise of prime importance in reducing the cost of fuel for local domestic purposes, and as it appears to have a fair coking quality, it may constitute a factor in the economic reduction of the vast metalliferous ores which abound in the vicinity, by smelting or roasting. The property is owned by the Nevada Coal Co. and a part of it is

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under lease to the Nevada Coal & Fuel Co. on a royalty basis. It is situated on the Tonopah & Goldfield Railroad and can be reached by a switch about a mile and a half long. The veins are somewhat deceptive at their outcrop, both as to quantity and quality, as they have been subjected to disintegration and expansion by exposure, but almost invariably assume a normal condition by a few hundred feet of development work. The State may well congratulate itself in having a possible fuel supply within its borders and so readily accessible, for should the deposit respond to future development as well as it has in the past, whereby an estimate of 50,000 tons of commercial coal is exposed by superficial development of only 3,000 feet, it is not unreasonable to suppose that 10,000,000 tons would be a fair estimate of the possible contents of the territory.

            The allotted space has been exceeded with the merest fraction told, the enforced topical method pursued scarcely erecting enough sign posts to point the way. However, with here and there a lapse into reminiscence, the periods of discovery, organization, expansion and ultimate concentration, through which Goldfield has passed, have been indicated with more or less emphasis. The effort is in vain unless it has been made clear that both the city and the mines sprang from the co-operating brain and brawn of a poor but brave and hardy pioneering stock. Outside capital and tenderfoot both arrived after the merit of the camp had been demonstrated, the miners' wives preceding them. Nor could a graver notion be formed than to account the camp-builders ignorant or uncouth. After-years have not improved the original breed. Goldfield had more college and professional men in 1905 than any other city of its size in the country ; they had left the drones at home. A mining camp offers the sharpest intellectual competition. "Wildcatters" were recruited from the newcomers rather than from the old-timers. The apparent lawless, openhearted abandon was a surface deception ; at the core there was womanhood and manhood of the sturdiest type. Glamour and romance there was in plenty. The lilt of hope displayed itself in every step.

            It was such a people that built a city of 20,000 within three years. Its well-laid foundation withstood the combined attack of a panic and a labor war. While building their city, still greater marvels were being performed in the mines that have in ten years time yielded near

ESMERALDA COUNTY 887

$75,000,000 gross, to be poured into the hungry arteries of yawning commerce, and the production goes on in goodly fashion. The prodigious achievement was wrought by the co-operation of the many. If the division of the profits has not been as even as the division of responsibility the impersonal system can be loaded with the blame.

            But behind the system is found the individual always. Every citizen is a part of that system.