The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1905-06-02
GOldfieId- Wonderful Mining Camp
By IRWIN MAHON, Carlisle, Pa.
In the Twentieth Century Miner.
In the Twentieth Century Miner.

h"aSS
sixty-nine miles from Boston, and
3,O36 miles from New York, there
rests in one of the most western
states of the Union, Carson City, the
capital of Nevada.
The object of this article, however,
is not to call prolonged attention to
Carson City, but if possible to center
all interest on "Gnldfeld," the new
and wonderful mining camp of Ne
vada, and this, in the writer's opin-
ion. annot well be done, without
making some mention of the state in
which Goldfeld is located, not for
getting the attractive little capital
city, from which emanate the laws,
by which the great commonwealth of
Nevada is governed.
Official records tell us that Ne
vada was formed by a portion of the
territory acquired by the United
States from Mexico by the treaty of
Guadalupe, Hidalgo, 1t is 11O,7O6
square miles in extent, representing
70,95l,s40 acres, and according to the
census of 1900, a population of 1885.
1t is bounded on the south and
west by California, on the north by
Oregon and Idaho, and on the east
by Utah and Arizona.
At the time silver was discovered
in 1859, what is now the state of
Nevada was a part of Utah. On
March 9, 1861, it became a territory
and after some modification of its
boundaries, it was admitted into the
Union as a state, October 81, 1864.
The first settlement was made at
Genoa. at the foot Of the Sierra Ne
vada. in 1850, though as early as
1s4S, - years ago, the Mormons
travelling between Salt Lake City and
California. had established a temper
airy camp at that place. The Nor
mons, also. made several small settle
ments in the valleys along the base
of the Sierra. and until 1859, a years
ago, when the silver mines of the
Comstock were discovered they We're
the principal white inhabitants
This it must be remembered, was
at IL time. when the entire surface of
this section of the country was con
sidered by the white man generally,
as worthless. barren, rocky and
unfit for the consideration of civil
cation. But after the Mormons discov-
cred, between the parallel ranges.
valleys from five to % miles in width
all having about the same altitude
above the sea. and conditions favor
able for cultivation. with weather in
these valleys as Il rule in winter, dry,
bright and pleasant. with summer
nights everywhere delightfully."- cool.
and word was sent out to all the
world that silver had been discovered
then the people beyond the confines
of this wilderness began to think. be-
came restless, and in 1860 crowds of
all nationalities began to pour over
the Sierra Nevada from California,
and ere long had laid out and built
up several thriving towns and the adj
vance flag of Nevada civilization be-
gan to move onward and upward in a
new light.
Twenty-Five years afterwards, in
1860. when it became known that the
Comstock at Virginia City and Gold
Hill had produced over 5000, 100000 in
silver and gold. and the product in
the precious metals of all Nevada mad
reached the enormous sum of $780,
100000 then another and q greater
strange new light encircled this far
away region. and it became one of
the great magnets of the 10Th century
in attracting attention to the broad
Ian Is, and vast mineral and metallic
wealth, of all our great empire in
the west. Cities began To appear and
state after state rounded into form.
strange voices through the heavy res
lilodi'h VI otNdiH 'hSiuVo. 'Ht Inv
click OF the telegraph We're heard. for
ests melted away. and in their stead
great schoolhouses. fins churches and
fair homes with fruitful fields APP
pearcd. and each and every year since
that time the greetings to the adj
vance flag of American civilization
have grown deeper and stronger. wild
cr and brighter until today with the
opening of the 2oth century, we sa-
Lutte it with honor and pride beyond
the confines of more than one CONT
nent
The mineral and metallic wealth
of our western world during the cen
fury just past. was the greatest factor
in our expansion. When the century
began, but a few people occupied a
small fraction of Mother Earth along
the coast of the eastern sea; but AT