Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-12-08
NEEDED MINING LEGISLATION.

been recorded in the records OF Chur-
chill county, about four thousand no
tices of mining locations. This covered
all the time since Churchill County was
organized, and represented a number OF
good sized mining booms, especially
during Comstock days, and the times
when silver was worth above adollar an
ounce. The price OF silver has had
much to do with prospecting for silver
ore in this state, and that has always
been and still is a large factor in the
mining industry of the state.
When the price OF Silver declined,
the industry began to diminish until
mining in the whole state was at a very
low ebb. The discoveries at Tonopah,
Goldheld, Bulllrog and other southern
districts gave a great impetus to pros
pecting, and from those camps pros
pecting has been carried on, gradually
widening the range OF territory covered
until today scarcely a section Of the
state can be found where there is not
NiS ANBA NGNAAAblN1 u 9CiA AhiAAAAiS totII
pany, or some independent outfit, scan
ming the lodges everywhere for their
treasures. About three years ago a
man of long experience in mines came
into Churchill county from Tonopah,
and located a number Of claims about
midway between what are now the sites
OF Fairview and Wonder. lie expended
considerable money and much time in
seeking for ore in his claims, and made
one shipment which gave a substantial
profit. He invited a prominent mining
man from Tonopah to examine the prop
erty, which was done, and this miner
encouraged more extensive work.
After much effort, people were found
able and willing to put money into the
the development Of the property, and
this negotiation was III progress when
the float was found which led to the
discovery OF the rich lodges in FairvieY.
The history Of the primary locations at
Fairview is replete with many instances
illustrating the necessity for combining
the number OF locations allowed to one
owner in a district. One honest pros
pector located three claims in the very
midst of what is now recognized as the
best ground in Fairyiew, went out to
earn enough money to complete his
state work and returned only to find
his ground had been claimtd by adjoin-
lnU lnpat nrG Vrhn hatin, N, =,
procure surveys promptly, had surveyed
his entire locations except a small frac-
ton. 1t would be a beneficial law
which womld c|onfine the number of
locations to one owner to what he could
handle, and require him to remain, or
leave a representative on the ground.
At the first location Of Wonder. the
necessity for this was further illustrated.
In at least one instance, one man went
through the coutry occupied in not
prospecting-but in erecting location
monuments, or in the parlance OF the
campaigning it. These things are
familiar history to the early pioneers. of
both camps.
One year ago there was not an ac-
tive camp where mining was regular
ly carried on in the county. Today,
there are over hall dozen camps where
men and money are being employed de-
yeloping mining ground, aud great loads
OF ore being freightea forty and sixty
miles for shipment to the smelters. The
writer has a specimen OF ore from a
Fairyiew mine which runs over $25 900
to the ton; from Wonder one which ex-
eeeds - 800 per ton; from |. Y. l.. can
yop m which goes better So 900 to the
ton, and many samples representing av-
Qrages above 800 pei ton. There is a
specimen Of copper in Fallon, produced
from a Churchill county mine, which
assays about 70 per eent. copper, and
numerous samples showing lead and
other fluxing ores, from great deposits,
which run uniformly from $40 to 500
to the ton. There is an especial signif-
canoe in this variety Of ore sproducedi in
this county.
There is at least II smelter project
on foot for this vicinity, and the extent
and variety of the ore bodies of high
premium grade for ~luxes, seems to in
sure the establishment of reduction
works within the county, large enough
and enough OF them to treat all the ores
produced. The transportation problem
becomes M of relatively small conse-
quence when the way is found to reduce
ores at home, but the loss to the rail
roads, which have been too slow to
grasp their opportunity has always been
in proportion to the ~community's gain.