The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-04-18
How the Comstock Lode Was Named.

The origin of the name given to
the most famous silver deposit dis
covered in the United States has
been published many times, but it
will bear repetition at this point,
because a part of the history of
mining in Nevada. Everybody con-
cedes the credit of making the first
discovery of silver on the side of
Mt. Davidson to Allen and Hosea
Grosch in 1858. So far as known
these brothers were the only geolo-
gists in the party of treasure hunt
ers who invaded that section at that
time. They made the discovery,
but were unable to utilize their find
for lack Of facilities. Before these
could be procured, both had passed
away. Hosea died first, and Allen
died on his way to California to Sc
cure mill and chemicals for work
ing the ores. Upon his departure
on this errand, he left the personal
effects of himself and his deceased
brother, with their records of claims,
in the possession of H. I. P. Com
stock. This was in the winter of
1853. Mr.. Comstock had only re-
Gently arrived with others in search
of treasure. He naturally took up
the enterprise which death had
forced the Grosch brothers to re-
linquish, and thus the discovery be-
came known as the Comstock Lode.
But for the circumstances above
detailed, that honor would have
been given to the Grosch brothers.
The year 1859 brought many new
people into Nevada in search of
mines, and quite large mining
camp was established on the eastern
slope of the Sierra Nevadas in the
vicinity of Sunrise Peak, since and
now known as Mt. Davidson. Loca-
tions were rapidly made by the new
corners, and more or less work done
in developing claims. There was not
mill in the territory at the time,
and all the quartz was pounded out
in arastras, or sent to California.
AS near as we can ascertain the
claim located by the Grosch broth
ers under the name of Pioneer, sub
sequently became the Mexican, and
afterwards the Ophir. 1t is not
claimed that the boundaries were
the same. The property, or at least a
portion of it, was worked under the
name of Ophir. The Pioneer ore
shipments from the Mexican mine
were packed across the mountains
to Sacramento, thence to San Fran
cisco by river, thence to New York
and London by way of Panama.
The ore from this mine in 1861 was
reduced by the Freiburg or Barrel
process and also by the Wakelee
process. There is a story that the
Ophir people secured some, if not
ali, their ground in exchange for a
spring near by, the only drinking
water in that vicinity. At that time
the spring had a greater value than
an undeveloped mining claim. The
Ophir mine was Incorporated IN
December, 1860.
The owners of the Ophir claim
worked ore as early as 1859 in an
arastra. The owners of an adjoin-
ing claim, which was subsequently
incorporated as Central Mining Co.
No. 1, did the same thing. 1t wss
a slow process and only the gold
was saved. The Ophir people sent
some selected rock to San Francisco
for treatment in 1859. One of these
consignments consisted of forty
five tons croppinsg. The ore was
known to be very rich. No other
kind could have stood the expense
The transportation alone cost 25c
per pound, or $500 per ton. This
YVES big item, but the cost o1
smelling was $45S per ton more
Nevertheless the profit was great, as
the Weld was $500 per ton. The
ore carried a large quantity of free
gold. That kind of ore has not
been very plentiful of late years;
nor was it 80 years ago. The Incl
dent is only mentioned to show the
character of the groupings at that
point on the Comstock Lode. With
such a show so near the surface, il
is no wonder that people went wild
over the discovery. The find caused
a regular stampede of miners from
California, many of whom found il
difficult to make more than Sc to $e
per day. Some left diggings where
they were getting an ounce OF gold
per diem, for the new Ell Dorado.
The year 1860 witnessed the erec'
ton of the first quartz mill on the
Comstock Lode. Up to that time
all the ore crushing had been done
in arastras, or hand mortars. The
man who erected the pioneer mil
is now living in this city and hls
name is Almarin B. Paul. He wor
that distinction by a scratch. Mr.
Paul visited the Comstock Lode
| in March 1860. 1t is said that ht
took in the situation at glance
At any rate he was not long in max
ing contract with the Succ0r Com
pany to crush $1,000 tons ore, ane