Lander County
NVGenWeb
HON. M. J. FARRELL.
Was born at Mount Hope, near
Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey, March 29, 1832. He is of Irish parentage,
his parents coming from the "Emerald Isle" when they wore very young, his father
at the age of eighteen and his mother when only six years of ago. Mr. Farrell
was educated in his native State and sailed from New York for California on the
old steamer Georgia, April 5, 1853. The steamer was wrecked on her next trip. On
the fifth of May, 1853, Mr. Farrell arrived in San Francisco, and immediately
went to the mines in Nevada City, where he found a friend with whom ho engaged
in mining in Myer's Ravine, about four miles north of Nevada City. His next
anchorage was at Jones' Bar, on the South Yuba River, where he bought a flume
claim. After that he wandered through Northern California, principally in
Nevada, Sierra and Plumas Counties, as a miner, school-teacher, hotel-keeper,
butcher, and in fact, as he says, "turning his hand to almost anything," until
in 1863, he came to Nevada during the Reese River excitement, and located at
what is now Austin, in Lander County, arriving there about the fifteenth of
April. The summers of 1863 and 1864 he spent in prospecting, and the winters in
the town. In the summer of 1865 he took charge of a lumber-yard, as agent for
Hendrick & Bowstead. During the same season he furnished tools and provisions
for his brother and another man to prospect, and they discovered and located
what is now Ruby Hill, in Eureka County. These locations — about eight of them —
covered nearly all of the hill. They also located claims in Secret Canon, which
have since proved valuable. For three years Mr. Farrell and his associates kept
up the assessment work on these claims, but there being no demand for base metal
claims at that time, they were bonded to Gov. J. H. Kinkead, for sale in Europe,
which proved a failure, and Mr. Farrell turned his attention to other matters
and let them go. The claims referred to covered the ground now known as the
Eureka Consolidated and Richmond Mines, and would have proven a "bonanza" to
their owners had they continued to hold them. In August, 1867, Mr. Farrell
entered the office of the Manhattan Mining Company as Secretary, and has since
remained in the employ of that company. In 1872, he was elected to the office of
County Clerk of Lander County by a large majority. In 1878 he was elected to the
Senate of the Nevada Legislature and re-elected in 1880. He was married April
20, 1871, to Miss L. C. Peterson, of Austin, Nevada. They have no children.
"THE MAN WITH THE AX."
William Cornell, lately arrived at Austin
from Winnebago County, Illinois, labored under the insane belief that everybody
about him was awaiting an opportunity to take his life. At about 9 o'clock on
the evening of July 18, 1863, he went to his tent on Main Street, and requested
one of his partners to get him a glass of whisky, making the excuse that he had
been working hard all day and was not feeling well. This was a mere stratagem to
get possession of a knife and ax. The partner started across to a saloon, soon
after which the third partner, William Melligan, came to the tent and called to
Cornell to see if he was there, at the same time looking in through the opening.
Cornell immediately struck him with the edge of the ax. The blow was a downward
one, and inflicted an ugly gash over Melligan's left eye. On receiving a second
blow Melligan fell to the ground. The maniac then rushed out, and crossing over
to Dunham's saloon, began striking right and left with the ax at numerous
persons congregated there, who succeeded in avoiding his blows and escaping. One
shot was fired at him there. Returning to the street, he inflicted a severe cut
on the left elbow of John Capron, severing most of the supporting leaders, and
then chased a party of men into Stebbins' stone building. Passing on, he struck
a Dayton man, known as "Frenchy," the edge of the ax cutting from the left crown
to the right side of the neck, and fracturing "Frenchy's" skull, in spite of
which the latter walked up town, took a drink, and then rode horseback to
Clifton to have his wound dressed. The next victim was E. O. Anderson, from
Sweetland, California, who received a terrible cut above the left ear. The
maniac then met Charles Ludlow, and inflicted on him a dangerous gash near the
left temple; and soon afterwards struck Billy Mills, of Clifton, on the right
side of the head, laying the skull bare. Next, a barber, named Hammersmith,
saved his head by receiving a descending blow on his right hand and arm. Further
on, Mr. Powell was slightly cut in the back; and Charles Tureman only escaped
death by falling sidewise over the edge of the road, his breast pocket being cut
away by a stroke of the ax. Nearing Clifton, the maniac fortunately began to use
the handle of his ax, and knocked several persons almost senseless, but
inflicted no serious wounds. Running the entire length of Clifton, he met no
one, and started in the direction of Jacobsville. An armed party had been
following him, and picking up the wounded, but did not succeed in overtaking
him, for he had all the time been running with the speed of a race-horse. The
next morning his dead body was found about a mile down the Jacobsville Road. On
the back of his head was a gash made by the edge of his ax; his throat was cut
from ear to ear, and five stabs were found over his heart. These wounds were
supposed to have been inflicted by himself.
BATTLE MOUNTAIN.
Battle Mountain
is a station on the Central Pacific Railroad, 535 miles east of San Francisco,
via Stockton, or 474 via Benicia, and ninety-three miles north of Austin, being
also the northern terminus of the Nevada Central Railroad. A daily line of
stages connects it with Tuscarora, Elko County. The place is supplied with water
from mountain springs about three miles distant, and by a number of flowing
artesian wells. Argenta had taken a very good start, but the discovery of the
Battle Mountain galena and copper mines caused its principal business men to
remove to Battle Mountain in the winter of 1870. It was thought that Battle
Mountain would serve as a point of departure for Austin, as well as Argenta, and
have the additional advantage of being near the new mines. Among the early
residents who made this change of base were the following persons: J. A.
Blossom, lumber and coal dealer, J. W. McWilliams, engaged in merchandising, A.
Robertson, agent of Wells, Fargo & Co., L. D. Huntsman, hotel-keeper, A. Layton,
freighter, Case & Burnette, stage owners, D. McIntyre, and Brown & Sadoris,
merchants. The railroad depot building was also occupied by D. W. Earl, and
Whiitney & Co., forwarding merchants. Previous to the arrival of these parties,
the railroad station had been in charge of Daniel Regan, who had been the only
resident there for six months, and had furnished accommodations for travelers
passing to and from Battle Mountain District.
The first fire in Battle
Mountain occurred in July, 1877, most of the block between Reese and Broad
Streets being burned. It consisted of frame buildings, and the loss was about
$20,000. Blossom's brick corner building was saved, and also McWilliam's stable,
the latter being protected by an artesian well. The buildings destroyed were
insured for about two-thirds their value. In the fall of 1878, Block A was
burned, with the exception of Scott Hall, and the flames also entered the
Chinese quarter and swept it clean. Again the loss was about $20,000, and the
insurance to the value of two-thirds. The third fire occurred in March, 1880,
destroying Huntsman's Hotel and the Railroad Local Depot. Loss $15,000, well
covered by insurance. The only visible improvement to Battle Mountain resulting
from the construction of the Nevada Central Railroad has been the building of
round houses.
For forty miles each way, north and south, the country is
supplied from Battle Mountain, creating a trade of about $10,000 per month. The
business of the town is represented by the following establishments: Two general
merchandise stores, one clothing store, a livery stable, brewery, five saloons,
three hotels, one tin shop, one blacksmith shop and wagon repair shop, salt
works, one harness and shoe shop, two newspapers, post-office, express office, a
school house, the railroad depot and sixty dwellings make up the remainder of
the place. The water supply is derived from seventeen artesian wells. They are
sunk to the depth of from 140 to 160 feet, and flow from six to ten feet. The
average flow through a five-inch well is a strong inch. In addition to these, a
great strike of water was made in an artesian well belonging to J. A. Blossom,
which flows a stream through a large pipe sixty-five feet above the surface of
the ground. From this stream 150 acres of ground has been irrigated, literally
making the desert to blossom.
J. A. BLOSSOM.
J. A. Blossom was born in
Miamisburg, Montgomery County, Ohio, June 9, 1836, where his father still
resides. In youth he learned the trade of his father, that of harness maker, but
did not work at the business after he reached his majority. In 1856 he left his
home and went to Missouri, and took charge of a land office in the interests of
an Eastern company, where he remained until March, 1860, when he came to
California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and located in Tehama County. The
next year he came to the Territory of Nevada, and settled in what is now
Humboldt County, being one of the first settlers and locators of the celebrated
Humboldt mines. He was also one of the founders of Star City, on the Sheba
Ledge. During his twenty years residence in Nevada, Mr. Blossom has seen much of
the State, living at Dun Glen, Winnemucca, and other places. He was one of the
first settlers in Battle Mountain, where he now resides, and built the first
house, with the exception of the railroad station house, erected in that town.
He was also one of the founders of the flourishing towns of Galena, and Lewis,
and was the most extensive freighter in that section of the country. His mining
transactions have proved very successful, he having sold no less than six
different mines within the past five years. He has always been an active
business man, and is now engaged in merchandising, and is well known as a mining
man; is also largely interested in stock-raising. In 1879 he, under contract,
graded the Nevada Central Railroad from Battle Mountain to Austin, employing as
high as 800 men and 500 horses in the work. During the years intervening between
the years 1861 and the present time, Mr. Blossom has had many curious and
thrilling adventures, in his wanderings among the mountains in search of the
precious metal, and in fighting the "dusky sons of the sage-brush." He was
married in April, 1866, to Miss Elvira Hunter, at Star City, Nevada, and they
have three children, two sons, aged twelve and fourteen years, who are at the
present time at school at Santa Clara College, in California.
DESERTED
TOWNS AND CITIES.
In the excitement of mining rushes there are many
speculators in the crowd who are fiercely intent on becoming proprietors of
great cities, looking to the future with a happy old age made pleasant by a
large rent roll, or acquiring sudden wealth by the sale of city lots. The great
example of John Jacob Astor, who, with far-seeing sagacity, acquired much
unimproved land in the city of New York; the many landgrabbers of the cities of
the Mississippi Valley, who became millionaires, and the examples of Sutter,
Lick, Brannan, and others of California, were before them, and they wanted a
city. These speculators were exceedingly lively in the Reese River region.
Jacobsville had been taken as a ranch before the excitement began, and land
there must be purchased. The first rush was for Pony Canon. On a small level
plat of ground at the embouchure of the canon the city of Clifton was located.
Half a mile up, passing a precipitous gorge, the city of Austin was located, and
on its borders several "Additions" were surveyed, and half a mile further up the
canyon, now broadened into valleys and ravines, was built Upper Austin. These
survive.
Almost immediately following the location of settlers in Pony
Canon, cities were located in Big Creek Canon, seven miles south, in Washington
Canon, twenty-eight miles south, and Amador, seven miles north, on the western
slope of the Toiyabe Mountains. South of Austin, in the canyons of the eastern
slope, were Geneva, twelve miles, Clinton, fifteen miles, Guadalajara or Santa
Fe, eighteen miles, Kingston, twenty miles, and Bunker Hill, twenty-two miles
distant. These were all cities of great expectations.
Amador, seven
miles north of Austin, was very pleasantly located on a bench of level land at
the western base of the Toiyabe Range, overlooking the Reese River Valley. In
1863 it was a candidate for the location of the county seat, and polled 700
votes in its own favor, claiming a population of 1,500. Several very promising
mines were located in the vicinity, and large sums were expended in prospecting
them, but the results appear not to have been encouraging, as work ceased in a
few years after the discovery of the mines. The town was built chiefly of cloth,
and has gradually disappeared.
Bunker Hill. — The reader of the files of
the Reese River Reveille of 1863-65 will see frequent and favorable mention of
Bunker Hill, which appears to have been a thriving place. This was situated in
the narrow valley of Big Smoky Creek, twenty-two miles south of Austin. The town
was but a collection of miners' cabins, and as there was never a great rush,
there were no fortunes made in the sale of city lots. Numerous fine appearing
ledges with croppings bearing both gold and silver, a rapid, sparkling stream of
cold mountain water, an abundance of wood, sites for buildings and gardens, were
the attractions that brought its early inhabitants.
Canon City, situated
on Big Creek, seven miles south of Austin, contained in 1863 about fifty
"permanent" residents, had one hotel, one store, two restaurants, three saloons,
one meat market, a Notary Public and Recorder's office, a telegraph office, and
twelve houses and cabins. The city is no more; the streets are deserted, and the
houses, including the cabins, have departed. The beautiful and strong stream of
water flowing through the canon was a most attractive feature in building up the
town, the impression being that its power would be required in moving the
machinery of the many mills that must be built for the reduction of ores. The
ledges, however, proving small and less valuable than anticipated, the sparkling
waters have gone unused to their sink in the Reese River Valley.
Clifton, in 1863, numbered about 500 inhabitants, had a post-office. Wells,
Fargo & Co's Express Office, and many important places of business. Though it
cannot properly be said to be deserted, its population is very much decreased,
and its business mostly gone; it is a part of the village of Austin, and joins
it on the west.
Clinton was one of the cities of 1863 situated on the
eastern slope of the Toiyabe, bordering Smoky Valley, and fifteen miles south of
Austin. Some mines of fine promise were opened here, and in 1865 a splendid
quartz mill was constructed, but to disappoint for the time, probably to
reappear in the future and fulfill by further developments the promise of early
days.
Geneva occupied a little nook in the great Smoky Valley, where
Birch Creek, a beautiful stream, debouched from the eastern slope of the Toiyabe
Range, twelve miles south of Austin. In the hills inclosing Birch Creek were
some large and apparently very rich veins of quartz, some of which were sold to
New York capitalists, who expended large sums of money in their development, but
with unsatisfactory results. Geneva, in 1864, had some fine stone buildings, and
numerous log and cloth houses, but the inhabitants long ago folded what tents
they could, and the stone walls, the pretty vale, and the sparkling stream are
left in their wildness.
Jacobsville, the first county seat of Lander
County, was situated six miles west of Austin, was originally a station on the
overland stage line, and at one time, in 1863, had a population of three or four
hundred; also contained two hotels, three stores, post-office, telegraph office,
Court House and fifty residences. By a vote of the people of the county, in
September, 1863, the county seat was moved to Austin, and most of the residents
followed soon after. There is nothing left of Jacobsville at the present time
but a single farm house.
Kingston was not one of the earliest towns, but
followed the location of Bunker Hill. A correspondence of the Reese River
Reveille, dated February 22, 1864, says:—
From Bunker Hill I wrote you
last; two miles down the canon of the Big Smoky a lately constructed wagon road
leads to the new village of Kingston. Here improvements are making, building,
fencing, and such other as to the enterprising and hopeful promise returns in
the future. And the future, too, of Kingston, is bright, in truth, for none can
see its pleasant location, survey its unlimited water-power, backed by its
inexhaustable ledges of metalliferous quartz of extent and richness unsurpassed,
its arable and wood land without stint, its every facility and resource, none
can witness without believing it destined to eminent prosperity.
This
prosperity continued a few years; a large mill was built to be run by the power
of the stream, and a pretty village flourished. The mines not meeting
expectations, and a great demand arising for mills in the White Pine region in
1869, the mill was removed thither, and business on the Big Smoky declined.
Lander City had an existence in 1863 with several hundred inhabitants. David
K. Buell built a telegraph line to the place, and the city, as the place was
called, possessed considerable importance. It was situated at the debouchare of
Big Creek upon the plain, six miles south of Austin. The place is now known only
in name.
PRINCIPAL MINING DISTRICTS.
Amador District is a few
miles north of Austin, and was organized in 1863, but all its mines have been
abandoned with the exception of those in New York Canon, and it has been
incorporated with Reese River District. The mineral vein crosses New York Canon,
running east and west, a six hundred foot tunnel having been driven in on the
vein from the canon. Three chimneys of good ore were found in this tunnel. On
the first one an incline has been sunk to the depth of two hundred feet, to the
water level. Hoisting works have been erected over the Midas mine, and a large
amount of pay ore has been extracted.
Big Creek District is situated on
the western slope of the Toiyabe Mountains, six to twelve miles south of Austin.
None of its mines have been developed, and most of its claims have been
abandoned. Five miles north of it there is a large out-crop of antimony on a
very high spur of the mountain. One dislodged boulder of antimony is four feet
square. The country-rock is granite. The stream which gives its name to the
district is of bright, pure water, flowing with a rapid current tumbling over
its rocky bed, having a width of from ten to twenty-five feet in the canon, but
soon sinking as it enters the Reese River Valley. The water to a great extent is
now utilized for irrigation.
Battle Mountain District is ten miles
southwest of Battle Mountain Station. It includes within its limits the whole of
the Battle Mountain Range, which is twenty miles in length, north and south, and
ten miles in width. In these hills, in 1857, John Kirk, of Placerville,
California, with a party of road-builders, had a fight with the Indians, hence
the name of Battle Mountain. The valley boundaries of the district are as
follows; Humboldt River Valley on the north, Reese River Valley on the east.
Summit Springs Valley on the west, and on the south a valley connecting the
Reese River and Summit Springs Valleys. The general formation of the range is
that of a plateau, the highest elevation being at the center, from which canons
radiate to the valleys, their names being as follows: Copper Canon, Dark Creek,
Cotton Creek, Long Creek, Elder Creek, Trout Creek, Trenton Canon and Willow
Creek. The rocks of the district consist of slates, porphyries, quartzite,
sandstones, silicious limestones and granite. The limestones are confined to the
highest part of the mountains, as layers, and were evidently formed before the
elevation of the mountains took place. The metalliferous deposits chiefly extend
along the eastern and western mountain slopes; along the southern extremity of
the eastern slope, and along the northern extremity of the western slope. Their
nature is that of true fissure veins, although in most cases, the walls are not
well defined. They can be traced for distances of from two to five miles, and
generally consist of a main channel, from which branches extend on both sides.
They continue their course independent of any change in the strike or dip of the
country rock. The width of the vein varies, producing ore chambers. Slickensides
occur inside of their boundaries, as well as on the wall, and are accompanied by
a thicker or thinner layer of clay. The ore is often found in conglomerated
masses, consisting of separate angular pieces of ore and gangue, cemented by
vein matter, quartz or calcspar. Crystallized specimens of ore and gangue are
found frequently. Slate and sandstone frequently occur as the main filling of
the veins when the country rock is of these kinds. Some of the veins might be
classed as contact and some as gash veins. The minerals found are gold, silver,
copper, lead and antimony. Free-milling ores, in limited quantities, exist near
the surface. The bulk of the ores are worked by the smelting process. The
principal silver ores are fahlerz, ruby silver and argentiferous-galena; the
principal copper ores, red oxide of copper, copper glance, and carbonates and
silicates of copper. Antimony occurs as a sulphuret. All these ores are of high
grade, galena having been found assaying as high as $400 in silver per ton, and
seventy per cent. lead. The average yield of galena is about $150 per ton, when
yielding fifty per cent. lead and over. When mixed with silver ores, as ruby
silver or fahlerz, it has been found to contain as high as from $3,000 to $4,000
per ton in silver. The copper ores are of equally high grade, shipments having
been made frequently of ores of from forty to fifty per cent. Surface
indications are most numerous at Copper Canon and Duck Creek, at the southern
end of the eastern slope of the range. Galena, the principal mining camp of the
district, is at the head of Duck Creek. In its vicinity a number of parallel
fissure veins have been opened. They run in a northerly and southerly direction
and are from 1,000 to 1,500 feet distant from each other. The leading mines of
this locality, in order from west to east, are the Buena Vista, the White and
Shiloh, the Trinity and the Butte. The principal rocks in which these veins
occur, are slates of different kinds, graywacke, graywacke sandstones and dykes
of breccia, the latter probably being the eruptive rocks which caused the
fissure. These veins have been traced for from two to five miles, and show a
width of from three to twenty feet. The Buena Vista ores are principally galena,
assaying from $150 to $400 per ton in silver. The White and Shiloh vein is a
continuous pay streak 1,300 feet in length, of an average depth of 250 feet. The
width of the pay ore has averaged six feet, and the ore, sixty dollars in
silver, seven in gold and six per cent. in lead. The ores of the White Mine are
distinguished by the frequent and abundant occurrence of ruby silver and
argentiferous gray copper ore. Beautiful specimens of galena, covered with wire
silver, have been frequently found. The ores in the Trinity Mine are principally
argentiferous galena, averaging $180 in silver per ton, when containing fifty
per cent. lead and over. The width of the vein is from four to six feet. In the
Butte Mine the vein shows a thickness of from two to six feet, with a pay streak
of from six to thirteen inches of ore, averaging from seventy to one hundred
feet. The greatest depth attained is 300 feet. The ores contain less lead than
the ores of the previous-mentioned lodes, and are properly milling ores. A mile
and a half south of Galena, are the Copper Canon mines, which are owned by an
English company. The ore is shipped to Liverpool for reduction. The prevailing
rock there is quartzite, and the galena ores, when entering the formation,
change to copper, at least for the depth already obtained. A concentrating mill,
capable of working thirty tons of ore per day, is in operation within three
miles of these mines, where a good supply of water exists. The wet process of
working ore is employed. After concentration, less than two per cent. of the ore
remains in the slimes. Battle Mountain District was organized in June, 1867.
Jersey District is forty-five miles southwest of Battle Mountain Station.
Ore was discovered in the fall of 1874, by A. S. Trimble. There is a good
natural highway from the mines to the railroad. The locations are on the western
slope of the mountain. The geological formation is quartzite and porphyry. The
principal claim is the Jersey, which has been traced on the surface for a
distance of 1,500 feet. The vein is from one to six feet in width, and runs
north and south, dipping to the west. Two shafts have been sunk to a depth of
140 feet. The ore is argentiferous galena, with carbonates of lead. It assays
from $140 to $160 per ton in silver, and contains about sixty per cent of lead.
During the summer of 1876, 500 tons of first-class ore from this mine were
reduced at Omaha. The cost of transportation from the mine to the railroad was
$12.50 per ton. A small smelting furnace erected at Jersey proved unsuccessful
for want of proper fluxing material. It pays best to concentrate and ship the
ore for reduction.
Lewis District is on the northern extremity of the
Toiyabe range of mountains, about sixteen miles southeast from Battle Mountain.
Ore was discovered in the summer of 1874, by Jonathan Green and E. T. George.
The geological formation is limestone and quartzite. The principal locations are
all on the same vein, which is from two to nine feet in width, and has a course
nearly north and south. A hundred tons of ore taken from the Logan & Dusang
claim were worked at Winnemucca, and yielded $140 to the ton. Two hundred tons
from the Eagle Consolidated yielded $135 per ton. This mine has connected with
it a good ten-stamp mill with roasting furnace. The district is well supplied
with water, but there is no wood in the immediate vicinity of the mines and
mill. The ores contain a large per cent. of antimony, iron and manganese. A
short line of railroad connects Lewis with the Nevada Central Hailway at Galena,
thus giving ready transportation of ores and supplies to this rich district.
Ravenswood District is on the western slope of the Shoshone Mountains, near
the summit, and is twenty-five miles northwest of Austin. Water is sufficient
for mining purposes, and nut pine and juniper abound. Ore was discovered in
1863, and a district organized. The country rock is limestone and slate; the
mineral belt runs ten miles north and south; is two miles in width and copper
occurs more or less in all the mines, yielding as high as fifteen and twenty per
cent. The principal mine is the Shoshone, the ore of which carries a large
amount of galena, not much copper, and yields thirty dollars per ton in silver.
A number of locations yield fifteen and twenty per cent. copper, and twenty-five
to thirty dollars in silver, with some gold. Most of the claims in the district
have been abandoned.
Roberts District is about forty-five miles north
and a little east of Austin, on the western slope of the Dry Creek Mountains, on
a spur running at right angles with the main summit, and about 1,000 feet above
the valley. The lower part of the spur is a dark granite. The cropping of the
hill is limestone seamed with white spar, running in various directions. A hard,
red-covered slate is exposed in a slide a little to the east of the limestone.
Granite occurs east of the slate. The ore is found in bunches on the south slope
of the spur, which occur irregularly. In one or two places they reach the summit
of the hill. The belt of the limestone extends northward about 200 feet, and
probably 2,000 feet east and west. Ore has been found in twelve different
places, and consists of a chloride with galena and iron. The first discovery was
made in August, in 1870, but traces of old work were found. South of the spur on
which this district is situated there is a large body of very pure magnetic iron
ore. Four miles west of the district is a salt marsh in Grass Valley. Few
developments have been made in this district.
Reese River District, the
principal one in Lander County, includes within its limits the celebrated Pony
Ledge and the city of Austin, and was organized May 10, 1862, since which date
Yankee Blade and Amador Districts have been consolidated with it. All its
records have been carefully preserved. The number of locations in it is over
8,000. The veins are chiefly found in gneiss or granite, although in the
northern portions of the district they are found in slate and porphyry. They run
nearly southeast and northwest with the formation, and dip to the northeast at
an angle of about 35 degrees. The ores contain antimony, some iron and galena,
and a little copper and zinc. They arc silver bearing, although gold is found in
Marshall Canon, in the southern portion of the district at the rate of from five
to fifteen dollars per ton. The principal mines are the New Pacific, King
Alfred, Magnolia, Chase, Morris & Caple, Patriot, and those of the Manhattan
Company. Many small companies known as Chloriders are also operating. The
deepest shaft is in the Oregon Mine, and extends down 700 feet. Plenty of nut
pine is to be had at the distance of fifteen or eighteen miles. The water supply
is procured from springs in the canon, and is distributed by the Austin City
Water Company. Remoter points are supplied by local springs. Freight from San
Francisco costs sixty-six dollars per ton. The mines of the Manhattan Company
have been steadily productive for a long period, and bid fair to continue so for
an indefinite time to come. Allen A. Curtis is the agent of the company. The
King Alfred mines are the property of an English company, and have produced a
large amount of bullion. A great deal of ore has been extracted by the Pacific
Company.
The gross bullion yield of the Reese River District previous to
1865 is estimated at $2,000,000, although no exact record was kept up to that
time. Since that time the district has yielded $19,591,551.18, and now ranks the
third in the State, only yielding the palm to Eureka and the Comstock.
The principal mines of Reese River District are situated on Lander Hill, which
is a gentle ridge projecting westerly from the main Toiyabe Range, and forming a
divide between Pony and Emigrant Canons, north of Austin.
Most of the
mines on Lander Hill are owned by the .Manhattan Company, such as the Oregon,
South America, Ogden, Dollarhide, Mohawk, Freehold and Lone Star. The ledges are
well defined, but are very narrow, which objection is compensated for in a great
measure by the richness of the ore. The ores on the surface and down to the
water line are chiefly chloride, bromide of silver being occasionally found.
Below the water line only antimonial sulphuret ores exist, commonly called ruby
silver.
All the ores of the district require chloronation. The ledge of
the Oregon Mine varies in thickness from eight inches to three feet, and chiefly
contains antimonial and ruby silver. Many smaller mines in the vicinity are
worked through the Oregon shaft. The widest vein in the South America Mine
averages two and a half feet.
The New Pacific Company is an English
incorporation, and, in addition to its ledges on Lander Hill, owns property in
Yankee Blade District.
An Act was approved on March 4, 1871,
incorporating the Union Pacific Tunnel Company for the construction of a
draining and exploring tunnel in Lander Hill. Among the originators of the
scheme were B. H. Stansbury and Dr. A. Chase. A tunnel was run for a distance of
300 feet, when operations ceased for want of funds. It was afterward sold under
execution, and was purchased by the Manhattan Company. It never amounted to
anything, and, in all probability, never will, as it would, if extended, reach
the mines of highest outcrop at a depth of between 700 and 800 feet, and work is
now in progress much deeper than that. It is the opinion of experienced mining
operators that there is not water enough in Lander Hill to justify such a long
and expensive tunnel as that would be, for the drainage of the depth it would
reach, and the mines can be worked to better advantage by shafts.
Sante
Fe District is eighteen miles south of Austin in the eastern slope of the
Toiyabe range of mountains. It contains some well-defined veins of quartz, the
ore of which has given good assays, principally in gold. Very little work has
ever been done in the district. It was organized on the twelfth of April, 1863,
Peter Brandow, Robert Stuart and John Reed being the discoverers of the mines.
The principal mines are the Yo Semite, Eureka, Amazon, Rattler and Hudson. The
Shoshone Canon cuts through the district, and in it flows a perennial stream of
excellent water.
Yankee Blade District is a few miles northwest of
Austin and consists of a series of canons. The formation is gneissoid, or
granite. The low grade claims have not been worked much for years. A few
locations containing high grade ore are being developed. Ore was discovered in
June, 1863. The district, of late years, has been incorporated with Reese River
District.
Extracted, 2021 Aug 27 by Norma Hass, from History of Nevada, published in 1881, pages 469-476.
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