Wadsworth semi-weekly dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-01-07
TONOPAh.
Thrilling Scenes in the Rich
Mining Camp.


Of excitement in many a Nevada min
ing camp, but probably never reached
the tension attained in Tonopah on the
night the leases expired-the last day
of the year 1901. At one hour before
midnight work was shut down and
Tonopah mines passed into the hands
Of the company that bought them.
When Jim Butler and his colleagues
discovered what a bonanza they had in
Tonopah, they al once cut up the avail
able mining ground into strips 100 by
SO feet and leased them to all who de-
sired to take a chance. Not a scrap
of paper was passed from Mr.. Butler.
He gave his word and informed all in
tending leasers that it vas sufficient.
It was. When he sold the mines to a
Philadelphia company he stipulated
that the leasers must not be disturbed
until the beginning Of the new year and
it vas so written In the contract before
he would sell at any price. The
company received Is per cent Of pro-
fits Of the l~easers, and although they
paid $35o,oOo for Tonopah, the pay
ments were so strung out hat the
royalties they received more than paid
for the property, until o they own the
group Of record breaking mines and are
not out a nickel.
A few days before the expiration Of
the leases word went around that ore
assaying $4,000 per ton had been
found in the Frank Golden lease and
almost a panic ensued. Lease holders
had long been working all the men
who could be sent into the workings
and not be in each others way, but
men we're urged to extra effort, prom
Used extra bonus, and for the time be-
ing Miners Union rules were forgotten
in the mad frenzy to get out every
pound Of ore possible before the bell
tapped which signified that all work
on leases must cease. There were
some exciting scene enacted and
men worked as though it were a mat
ter of life and death instead of adding
dollars to their employers pile. The
spirit spread to all branches of bust
ness, until the town Of T~onopah, to an
outsider, would have been bellved to
consist Of half crazed people.
However II o'clock finally came,
all work was stopped, nearly every
man in camp was temporarily out Of a
Job, and then Tonopah celebrated its
first New Year.
Only eight short months had passed
since the first pick was struck in the
groupings that miners had passed by
for years, AMI yet the first new year
was celebrated by 1900 people, and
they represented the energy thatin this
short time has taken over ,OOO,O 900
from the bowels Of the earth-some-
thing the Comstock did not do, nor the
mines of South Africa, nor Cripple
Creek, nor Arizona, or any any other
place. save the little Nevada camp Of
Tonopah. 1t is a glorious showing
and the whole State can afford a little
celebration over the glorious news.
1t will probably be some weeks be-
fore Tonopah will be in smooth running
order again. The new company must
fix its plans. The mines are in a
strange shape. They have been Quilted
and the work so far done will be Of
little use except as prospect work.
However things will oon adjust them
selves and work will begin at Tonopah
more Systematically. The output will
not be so large each month but the
number of men employed will continue
.ul Topooob will he ono