The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1902-03-06
COPPER AND GOLD,
SILVER AND LEAD
Ely ls Destined to Become the
Greatest Copper Camp in
the World.
But the Output OF Gold, Silver and
Lead viii Continue to
Be Large.
Eastern Parties Seek 1nforma-
tion on Questions They Can
Not Understand.

The NEWS Is In receipt OF numerous
and constantly increasing inquiries
from the East regarding present condi-
tions in this camp and the outlook for
the future, and many of the parties are
evidently at loss to understand how 1t
happens that at one time the district
was a large producer of gold, while now
there is no record OF any bullion ship
ments from this place. The informa-
nation thus sought for may, perhaps,
be as interesting to many others of our
Eastern readers as to those who have
propoundod these questions, and the
NEWS herewith presents a statement
which we think win make matters
clear to all.
Ever since the "White Pine Excite
ment" in 1867, when the discovery OF
Treasure Hills rich silver deposits
turned the heads OF fortune hunters
everywhere this county has been rec
ognized as one OF Natures treasure
houses, and 1t is only just to say that
1
large share to the wealth OF the Ma
tion.
But that was the sil yer age, and 20
eager we're the old-time miners and
prospectors In their quest for the
white metal that little or no attention
was paid to possible gold or copper de-
| q = IA luf "a
allowed TO elapse before any systematic
effort was made to open up the real re-
sources OF tho county.
In the old White Pine district, some
forty-hve miles distant from the pres
ent sight OF Ely, the excitement was so
| great that towns OF from 500 to 10,
600 Inhabitants sprung up almost Ia a
day, but by reason of the decline in sill
| yer and the fact that the rich deposits
near the surface gave out early these
mushroom cities withered away even
moro rapidly than they sprung up and
| now the ruins OF Hamilton, once the
| county seat OF White Pine county with
a population OF nearly 10, 900 souls, IS
| all that Is left to tell Of its former great
moss. The old town now has a popu-
lation OF less than 100, while the sites
of such bustling cities as Shermantown,
| Seligmau, Swansea and Treasure City
are marked only by holes in the
ground
| From Hamilton the search for silver
was carried to Cherry Creek and then
Ward and Taylor became camps Of im-
portance. Cherry Greek has some OF
tho richest mines in the county today
and that camp win yet regain its lost
prestige, but Ward and Taylor, lying
only about twenty miles distant from
Ely, are entirely deserted, mot human
being residing in either town to extend
hospitality to the chance traveller who
may happen that way.
While all this energy was being ex-
pended in various portions OF the coun-
ty considerable quiet prospecting was
being done in the vicinity OF what Is
now tho hourishing town of Ely. In
1869 Mineral City was located In Rob-
inson Canyon aud the following year
the town was credited with popula-
ton OF 500. At that time the mines
being worked were the Aultman, Fair
view Sunnyside, Elijah, Mama, Hayes
and Sunburst. OF these the Aultman
was worked for gold alone, the Hayes
for silver aloue and the Elijah and Sun.
burst for silver and lead At this time
the existapce OF copper In this camp
was known, but little attention was
| paid to II, all comers vieing with each
other 10 tho search for the precious
metals, and in this search many were
moro or less successful.
Even at that carly date there was a
post office ut Ely alth ough II contained
but one house, but the fQct that here
was au ideal location for town gradu.
ally became recognized and on this
howell plateau, with beautiful stream OF
water running through It the founda.
tion was laid for tho coming city Of
Ely.
Mineral City, Ward, Taylor, Hamil-
ton aud Cherry Creek each contribut-
cd a portion OF its population to build
up the town of Ely and after long yoars
of patient waiting the people of this
camp are about to enter upon their re-
ward
Ely unlike some of her neighbors,
was not and Ia not a ono-metal camp.
In the early days little silver mill
was built near the present site of Lane
City through which was run several
thousand tons of ore. Although this
mill was crude aud not adapted to saw
ing auy great percentage OF tho gold
values, largo quantities OF gold orc was
passed through IT, which NOTED the
owners handsome returns.
Then tho little mill erected in Ely by
the old Chairman company, composed