The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1901-07-25
HAMiL TON, THEN AND NOW.
Rise and Fall OF a Wealthy Min
IND District.

Ing District.
During the past week we spent few
hours amid the ruins which surround
the present town OF Hamilton, a camp
now known to fame only as the
home of the Rocco Homestake mine,
but which In years gone by was a
fourishing city OF fully 10000 people.
Since May 10, 1868, when the town was
laid out by Ed Cohen, Henry Kelly and
W. II. Hamilton, 1t has.passed. through
mining camps, and from city OF up
wards Of 10, 900 in 1869 the population
has dwindled to something like hun
dred souls, with only the creaking OF
deeaylng timbers and the toppling walls
OF stone and brick buildings TO tell OF
It's former greatness.
A little to the southwest stands
Treasure Hill, on the western slope of
which once stood the hourisLing town
OF Treasure City, with population of
5000 In 1868, but which Is now marked
only by the orumbling walls of building
which could not be moved away.
Within a radius of few miles. also,
are to be seen the ruins OF Eber-
hardt, Shermantown, Swansea and
sellgman which each In It's turn, con-
trlbuted It's share toward the mineral
wealth of tho nation.
During the years following the War
when silver was needed TO bring the
circulating medium OF the country, up
to the required standard, the above
named camps honored the drafts Of
civilization to the extent of many
millions Of dollars, and many OF the
men who have since become prominent
Ia the history OF the west made their
homes there. But with the demoneti-
zation OF the white metal and the result
tant effect upon the product OF Its mines
the population of White Pine Mining
District dwindled almost as rapidly as
1t had gathered few years previous,
and the sequel Is told above.
But there are still a few OF the old
tlmers loft at Hamilton. There is
Capt. Drake, member OF the first
Board of County Commissioners, Alex
Muir, one OF the most indefatigable OF
mining men, Louis zadow, who for
more than thirty years has supplied
the people OF that district with meats
and other edibles, and Henry Bush,
who held positions Of public trust In
this State for about the same length OF
time, are still there, 10th TO leave the
old spot. And Col. Joseph Grandel-
meyer, who, 1t is related, was discoy-
cred by the advance guard of the first
army of prospectors to penetrate that
region, sitting on asnowbank on White
Pine mountain, keeping watch and
ward over an immense domain, Is still
true to his trust. As reward for his
services the President OF the United
States presented the Colonel with a
score or more of patents to mining
claims In White Pine district, from
the proceeds of which he has accumu-
lated and dlsbursed several fortunes,
and has still several others left which
are likely at any time to yield him
more riches.
In addition TO its silver, the region
about Hamilton Is rich In lead deposits,
and Il number of properties are now be-
ing opened up there which show ex-
ceedingly good values In that metal.
The most important OF these is the
Rocco Homestake, which has become
known as one OF the richest lead pro-
ducers in the world. At the present
time the Rocco Homestake, under the
superintendency of II. A. Jackson, is
shipping on an average of 800 tons of
ore every month which carries from 80
TO 20 per cent lead and about II ounces
of silver.
Owing to the arbitrary demands of
she American Smelling and Refining
company for five-year contract and
other conditions, which could not be en-
tertained by tho company, the output
OF the mine is this year being shipped
to Newark, New Jersey, and most
satisfactory returns are being received
from the shipments. In shipping this
ore to the smelter IL goes first to Eu-
reka, thence via Sacramento and Los
Angeles TO New Orleans and from
there TO Newark, New Jersey, dis
tance Of 5000 miles, and yet the net
proceeds from the shipments amount
TO $4,000 month. In the present
workings most gratifying showing Is
being made. The ore bodies are In
creaslng in size and richness, and for