The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1877-04-22
WEEKLY ELRO INDEPENDENT.
Its History ira Brief.

ty,iwns. we believe. organized i'll 1867,
and mining was begun with prospects
quite as fair rs muny which has since
been formed, attracted the attention of
cupital, and achieved success, with no
greater recommendations in tho way Of
veal merit. Tint it has not proven n
successful mining camp, thus far, can
only be attributed to combination Of
uulowurd circunlstances, which, us i'll
tho case Of individuals. sometimes
beset men of oven extraordinary capa-
city. thwurting every design. and by IL
series of unavoidable misfortunas, rend-
cring nugntory for natirne, every effort
20 improve his condition. With both
copper and ,hrgentiferous EHlenn ores
in veins and deposits scattered nil over
the district. the residents and principle
owners OF the mines, with IN abiding
faith in the intrinsic. vnluo,of their To-
cations. derived from the limited cx.
plorntions their :smnll means would
ulone ndmit Of. have continued to re-
iunin by them, in the hope that the
tide will eventually turn in their favor.
and that l. money Secking profitable
investment, may discover the desired
opening i'll that locality. But two
Legitimate mining enterprises; ono by
au Eastern and the other BY Pacific
Coast Company. have ever been started
in tho district. und there is every as
surnucu that: had they, been continued
under proper management. would hive
proven successful. The Empire City
Company, Of New York, expended con-
siderable monty i'll tho, derelopment-of
It's mines and in the erection OF fur
nncG, but, as il usually the cnsc with
those unfamiliar with tho business Of
mining. lacked tho nerve To cxpend the
balance Of tho money neccsHary TO
plucc the ,prOporty i'm a, condition 10
begin yielding returns. nmd notwith-
slunding thGt after some necessary OK
pcrimcntinS in itB manipulation, tho
gnlenn ores Emelted easily aud yielded
satisfactorily, further, FemitiHnces were
cut oil. and operations abandoned.
The mixes o: tho San Francisco Com
pHuy referred 10, were entrusted to the
management Of \. j. Roulstouc, who,
by strict economy, aud the adoption Of
II course by which their principal mine
might be most rrinitiNcly prospcc.cd.
Succc, tlcd i'll making it pay its own way,
hid MISC. With lho nshihtdnco of one
very light assthsmlnt. To erect II E!url;-
ing furnace, with engine, etc. %bilo
tho Cumpuny'b uI.,irs were thus pros
Icrpun, The Superintendent had the lnis-
fortune to meet with nu accident Which
incapHciti,lc,l him for further action :
SNd his pInce w"s supplied by gentle
IMAM who Immediately reversed the plan
heretofore pursued, aud with tho hest
of intentions, doubtless, but with u
woful luck OF Judgment. began driving
thrco tunnels simultaneously, and in
nmguratcd II system for working the lend
which might, In time. perhaps. have
added to the whine Of tho property, but
wGs entirely 10 pomdcrous for prospect
ing purposes. md nftcr the expenditure
Of several thousands, the Company
d. refused to respond to tho demand for
moro money; operations ceased; tho
money. expended. upon tho tunnels
thrown Hwny, and anything additional
ns to the value OF the mine remained an
discovered.
Little attention Ind heretofore h.en
b pnid to the copper Of the district, but
now TINT they were ngnin thrown upon
their own resources, to prevent tho
camp from FILLING into utter neglect, the
miners began opening some Of the cop
per clains. and subsequently, nn agent OF
whutwas known rs tho MmdcliT smelling
Company. Of Snn francisco. who mr.
rived hero In quest Of that metal, was
directed 10 Railront, md upon g., u
thorough examination OF tho mines, to-
tgethcr with Inducements from their
owners, nh agreement wRs made OF. tho
pRrt OF tho agent, which wnR sub8c-
.quenuy endorsed by thc company. that
u furnace for the reduction OF copper
ores by new aud very superior pro.
ccsg, Of which they owned tho .cntiro
right. should be Immediately construct
ed. Men were Immediately puL ut
work upon tho mines; contracts for
coal were let; local Superintendent
Of the co,npnuy'S afInity appOiutCd, md
tho dawn Of pr0spcrouH urn for the
camp wan thought 10 DC close at hand.
But worso disappointment was in
store, for after being from time 10 limo
deceived with false promisca, aud ill.,
Volying themselves to u great extent
upon tho ASSURANCE Of tlicsc Mchdcliff
bilks, II became apparent TINT they
were tho shubbieBt kind Of ghystcra,
md dcncrvcd nothing nj their hands
~ much ns II hoavy coat Of tnr md
feathers. 10 49,
During tho limo that Mr.. Rnulslonu
~ns experimenting tho nffnirs OF tho
WcbfOot Company, lc made II small
toBt workingof tho COPPER ORC of tho
District, and became convinced thht no
could work them probably, they bcinI,
Ola character requiring no "palcnt
process, - bud having recovered from
Tim it,iutiou y,i,;,1. -. q, TT,