Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1903-01-24
WON FAME IN THE AllPAn


scheols Of his native city and IN the /
University Of Nevada. lie graduated
from the latter institution with the |
class of 1891, which had three mem. |
bers IN ALL The other two were +. |
A. Bristol. now superintendent Of one
OF the largest mines in South Africa,
and +. H. Norcross, now one OF Ne
yada leading attorneys. He taught
school for three years, and while
principal of the Wadsworth school,
was elected State Superintendent of
Schools. At the time of his election
he was only twenty-four years of age
During his four years term of Office
he was admitted TO the bar Later
he was selected by the Legislature TO
compile the laws of Nevada, which
work was completed and published in
February, 1900. He did all the work
in year, but it cost him dearly in
health, and in an effort to regain his
lost strength he took four months
prospecting trip. 1t was while look
ing after the assessment work on
claims in the Star mining district in
Esmeralda county that he first heard
of the strike at Tonopah
The news stirred the blood of the
enterprising prospector. He had re-
covered bis health by this time, and
January IA, 1901, found him in Tono-
pah with plenty of determination,
but only four silver dollars in money
There was not a completed building
in town, and only few tents. Horse.
feed, as well as food fer man, was
scarce, and after four days of short
rations Cutting started to leave camp
with his partner, Ed Brown. At the
critical moment he met IA Mr. COIN,
mining expert for Captain De la Mar.
COIN was going into Tonopah to ex-
anime the mines He had provisions,
and he invited Cutting to go back
with him. Cutting accepted the in
vitation, and later, when COIN de-
cided the mines wouldn't do, Cutting
decided to stay and see it out. That
winter was the severest ever known
in that section.
In the latter part of January, 1901,
Cutting secured his first lease, known
as No. 10, getting it from Jim Butler,
the founder of the camp. 1t was one
of the first leases on the rich Mizpah
ledge, but the bitterness of the win
ter prevented this lease from doing
any work until the first of March.
Between March LIST and December lst
Cutting, with a windass and a horse
whim, took out $500, 900 worth of ore.
In June of that year, 1901, in part
nership with b. r. Edwards of Can
delaria, he engaged in the general
merchandise business under the name
of Edwards & Cutting To-day they
have one of the largest mercantile
firms in Nevada.
His days in Tonopah brought Cut
ting a varied experience. He was
the first lawyer and the first notary
public to reach the camp, and bust
ness was sOen rushing. 1t was he
who made out the contract and deed
that transferred the Mizpah group of
mines to Philadelphia capitalists
He otficiated as parson at the first
two funerals in the camp, and ON
these two occasions he was also
pressed into service in the choir.
He built the first horse within ever
operated in Tonopah, making it out
of few mining timbers, an old
wheelbarrow wheel, an old wagon
tire, wagon axle and few stray
pieces of scrap-iron.
Cutting has never failed to improve
his opportunities To-day he is Pres
ident of the Mcnamara Mining Com
pany, vice president of the West End
Mining Company, director in the
Tonopah Midway, the Tonopah and
Great Western, the Rescue, the In
diana Tonopah Companies, President
of the Tonopah Stock Exchange, a
member of the School Board that es-
tablished the school in Tonopah one
of the heaviest owners of real estate
in Touopah town. vice president of
the Washoe Power and Development
Company of Reno, and stakeholder
in three of the largest BANKS in Ne
vada. Within the last year, in com
| pdtly WIN Ut. y. L. nuoSihS vi lono-
pah, he has become interested in the
gold mines of Pine Grove, Esmeralda
county, and with J. c, Griffin,
prospector whom he staked, he has
acquired two large groups of claims
in Lone Mountain district. AS a
matter of fact Cutting and Grifiths
were the discoveries and first loca-
tors of the latter district. Cutting
latest venture is a gold mine in Peru,
which property he is now about to
put on "a working basis.
Such in brief is the story of the
life of man who might well be called
King Midas of Nevada. The only