Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-04

many instances these towns are as
quickly deserted, but not at the COM
mand of any lady in white appearing
in her ghostly garments. There is not
better object lesson than deserted
mining town-the empty stores and
the abandoned mines tell the story of
lost fortunes and innumerable hard
ships and privations in the pursuit of
wealth. 1t also tells of blasted hopes
and ruined lives. There are in the
west hundreds of deserted towns that
were once prosperous. When the mines
were worked out, the people stampeded
as if from a plague, and good frame
residences and brick business houses
were left tenantless to decay.
Life in a mining camp or town is
more varied and exciting than else
where. A mining town of 10000 popu-
lation, which is styled city in the east,
is referred to as a camp. The popula-
tion is also more varied, being COM
posed of people of every grade in life
especially of the immoral and criminal
class. No sooner does a wandering
prospector discover a rich mine thar
others flock to his ''diggings" like
sheep in panic.
Prospecting is generally done on gov
ernment land, for, when a mine is To-
Gated, the locator can get the land at
the usual government price for mineral
land, whereas, if gold is discovered on
private land, the prospector must pay
the owner his own price, or get off the
ranch" In the Rocky mountain re-
gions nearly every ranch owner is also
a prospector on a small scale. When
his crops are Laid by" and he has moth
ing else to do, he goes out and digs for
gold. Many of them make spending
money" by this extra work. One out of
many strikes it rich," when he throws
aside his farming implements, stakes
oil q number of claims for himself and
sells others to the incoming tide of
prospectors. A town is then staked
off, and, of course, is named for the
lucky rancher. The lots at claims are
each sold at from $50 to 5000 or more,
and the plodding rancher is now
wealthy; is perhaps elected mayor, and
given the honorary title of colonel.
Within few weeks the ranch is a live
ly camp, dotted with hundreds of tents
and board houses called ''shacks," and
for three or four miles in each direction
shafts are being sunk for gold. In the
center of the district is the town, or
'.acmp," so-called because no one lives
there-they only are camping, and no
one intends to remain-after he has
made the fortune he expects to get.
There are numerous instances in Col
orado, and several during the present
boom, where ranches have been turned
into populous camps of several thou
sand people, with electric lights, opera
houses, and gambling houses, and all
within few weeks. Yet. in the greater
number of instances. the towns are the
outgrowth of mines located by pros
pectors on government lands. In each
case, however, the development of the
town is by the same process, excepting
perhaps that the rancher becomes rich
by selling his lands and organizing a
town, while the prospector is frequently
swindled out of his location by adverse
claimants. who allege prior discovery,
and often prove it by perjured testi-
mony of confederates.
While working claim the prospector
lives in 'dug-out"-a hole in the
ground, curbed as a cistern, the roof
being on a level with the ground,
through which is small door. When
he strikes a bonanza, and the crowd
hocks in, mass meeting is called,
mining district is formed and a town
staked of. The first public improve
ment decided upon is saloon; next
hotel is considered; mayor is elected,
and the man with the greatest reputa-
ton as killer Is elected as ''city mar
shall" It is soon seen that his Office is
not a sinecure. In few days the usual
country store is opened. then a black
smith shop, and, of course. several
gambling dens and the usual dance hall.
In the first stages Of the camps life the
ho Uses are tents.