Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-04-15
lEADvlllE.

rs History The silver Diseovsriss
-Lssky Aissrs-rhs Orswth Of
the Town.
Leadvills, the city Of osrbonstes, IL Q
giant wonder. A year ago last August.
Il was an old, deserted mining camp with
not more than 80 people. In 1853, -
an outgrowth OF the Pixies Peak excite
msnt. the placer mines Of California
Gulch, Stray Horse Gulch and Iowa
Gulch were discovered. From 1850 TO
1863 Sl3, 900, 900 were taken from these
mines and the population Of the mining
camp reached 10 1000. During this time
Il was one OF the toughest and widest
mining camps ever known. They mined
only for gold. and the carbonatss. which
have since become 30 valuable, were
then only dirt and greatly In the way,
getting into their sluioe boxes and ma.
king q vast amount Of trouble. They
piled them up anywhere 10 got them out
Of the way. In 1864 the placer mines
were practically abandoned, and.
although since worked at intervals TO
some extent. they have caused no great
excitement. Last year they yielded
about $40. 900 In gold, aud oan only DO
worked during the warm weather Of the
Summer.
Nr. ". II. Stephens, who was an old
miner. during the gold sIoitemsnt knsw
that these carbonates were there. but
like the other miners be considered them
OF no value. About two ysars ago he
conceived the idea that they contained
rich silver ore, and with his partner,
Mr.. Wood, began prospecting and locat-
ing the mines. But without money. or
credit, or influence. II was hard work,
aud tho Developments FASTENED very
slowly. Everybody laughed al him,
and report says that for . long time be
was unable TO pay the hands he I'm.
ploysd 10 help open the mines. Now
that he has become one OF the leading
mine owners, very wealthy. moro than .
millionaire, with untold millions yet IN.
known, he 10 naturally somewhat
rsticsnt about reoountng the history Of
his former trials. Some one undertook
to interview him. aud asked him how Il
was that he came TO discover such . rich
mining district and the value OF these
ores. His snswsr was - laconio % IL
was non.rssponsive. He replied:
when I was hunting for Il, everybody
called me . did old fool; and now.
since I have found Il. and struck II rich.
they call me q Did old hog" Among
others he located and partly opened the
since famous Iron mine. But II finally
took Chicago capital snd Chicago enter.
prise to develop Lsadvills. and but very
little was done until after Mr.. L. z.
Letter bought out Mr.. Woods interest
for $40. 900. From that time new life
possessed the mining camp. Everybody
seemed 10 think that II 20 s~agsoious and
prudent q business man a. Mr.. Letter,
Of Chicago. would Of once invest $40.
900 in the mining interest, there must
DO millions In II. And 30 IL proved.
Mines were rapidly located. rapidly
developed. and a. rapidly sold.
The Gallagher brothers, two extraor.
dinarily poor and illiterate Irish boys,
went up on the hill. sunk down . shaft,
struck mineral. named u the Camp Bird
mine, and In January. 1878, sold out for
$3.50, 900. Lieutenant Governor Tabor
OF Colorado furnished . "grub stake"
1u ~ IT, 80 serssI"
n''onis. s"o - "a - $685.,
poor, Ana sssl 49, -
sne new m iu! ~ ~. Az -.co,.J.
1ne s.vss ~. GJ,,,s p;,,.hns.
I an.y '' ,ho Vp mius,.i A. Ssnth az as
shnrt .;ms N, Tshar honoht
Is.S sno,.,.d q. sao ooo n..sn.
ou' n'o " n.,o..S. ~ NM
LOT u " 'no P'oesu ~ I.nue'
Without piati... ..s
quenaly no no oousn. y n ss ~ .au
ior szoo'Voo' paying 'o'
way. pm .,ox, LA
on'eAen DIT sh, !" 49, ~.
the mining canP' 'uouBns w wouiuay