davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

when The stream bed in Robinson can
yon is dry as a powder horn.
Salt Lakers Invest.
The experience of the Chairman peo
pie was repeated on tho opposite side
OF the canyon, and little nearer Ely,
on the Robust group of the Ely Mining
and Milling company, where line
milling plant using the cyanide process
has been erected. Here also the copper
sulphides were encountered and the mill
was shut down three or four years ago.
Recently, however, this group was com
1T on the east and owned by d. {,
Mcdonald of Ely, Salt Lake men head
ed by Senator kearns and David Keith,
became interested IN the combined
group, which is now called the Nc
Donald Ely. and two shafts are being
put down, neither of which, however,
has yet reached a depth Of 100 feet.
Both porphyry and lime. crop, heavily
in this property. superintendent Nc
Donald has unbounded confidence in
the value Of the ground as copper
proposition, believing the great body
Of copper sulphides which IS now we'll
demonstrated a short distance west Will
be encountered hero at a depth easily
workable.
lnere are seNeGal Dig copper COHpdu-
les at work in the copper zone and it
is chiefly due to the active development
work of two of them, the Giroux and
the Nevada Consolidated. that the pres
ent prominence of the district is due.
They were the pioneers in extensive
development and both own large areas
of very desirable ground. The Nevada
Consolidated alone owns over 1000 acres
of ground, including the famous Ruth
aud Copper Flat groups. Both have o1-
tensiee workings. 1t was officially
stated some time since that the amount
of ore then blocked out and measured
and awaiting extraction in the Ruth
alone was 100000 tons, and it is
said here now that this amount has
been increased ia 94.000,000 tons. Can
YOU comprehend that and grasp what
1t means2 At price of eighteen cents
for copper, with the orc going two and
u half per cent (Which is probably
rather under than over the mark), there
is now measured up in the Ruth ore
ageregating $2l6.000,000. On The dump
at the Ruth is 10000 tons of ore all
taken out in the course of development
work. This is said to be the largest
ore dump in Nevada at this time. The
Ruth mine was located by D, c. Nc
Donald OF Ely when his daughter Ruth,
now nine years old, was very young,
and was named in honor of the little
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

maiden. The Ruth claim was sold by
Mr.. Mcdonald for Il small sum, The
postoGice at Copper Flat Is Ruth, called
over the summit. 1000 feet from the
Ruth. tho Nevada Consolidated Is sink
ing the Star Pointer SHAFT very large
shaft containing four compartments and
q manway. This shaft win be connect
ed with the Ruth by q tunnel on the
G00foot level, and through it will be
taken out the 24,000,000 tons of ore
from tho Ruth. This Is the largest
shaft in the district, being five and one
half by twenty-six feet inside. 1t IS now
down 40 feet and is being sunk at the
rate of seventy feet per month. y
United States geological survey monu-
ment near the mouth OF the shaft shows
the elevation above sea level at that
point to be 713S feet.
In Development Period.
In the matter Of copper every com
pary or individual operating III the
district is now going through the de-
yeiopnent period when of necessity, as
g. matter OF business, the progress OF
the underground work, and especially
tho character OF the ground explored,
is kept secret to a great extent. This
rule seems to have been departed from
in the case of the Ruth more than with
any other mine IN the district.
On tie Copper Flat group of the Ne
yada Consolidated there are two princi-
pal shafts. ono of which Is down GOO
feet. practically the entire distance in
ore and the bottom of the body has not
vet been reached. The shafts are 500
feet apart. 1t is said that drifting and
crosscuttiug have developed the ore
body at this point to q width of 2400
feet and tho breasts OF all the workings
are still In ore. 1t certainly looks like
fit companion for the Ruth. in devel..
opiug and proving its great gt; area Of
ground the company IS employing SIX
Shafts equipped with hoists, and many
smaller workings.
The Nevada Northern railroad, Just
completed from Cobre to Ely, distance
OF 14l miles has been built by the Ne
yada Consolidated, and will be extended
on up the canyon west of Ely to Copper
Flat and probably still further.
The plans of the Nevada Consolidated
are Oh a gigantic scale, as they must of
necessity be TO handle the stupendous
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

and through narrow valley between it
and the Duck Creek range. The late
magnificent sulphide showing in the
copper zone has led TO the suggestion
that the capacity of the smelter might
be increased 10 10000 tons, and the ex-
cellent lead-silver developments in the
Success and other Duck creek prop
critics has suggested IN auxiliary plant
for the reduction of those ores, but
no official statement has been made with
reference to either of these, All the
Nevada Consolidated enterprises arc un-
der the general management of NJ. j..
Requa, q noted mining engineer, an able
and energetic manager and very pleas
ant gentleman.
AS to Cumberland-Ely
The Cumberland Ely under the man
agement OF George Gum, is engaged in
very extensive development work. On
the Jupiter group, southwest of Lane,
the Jupiter shaft is down 500 feet and
drifting IS in progress on what Is said
TO be fine ore body. On the Veteran
group of the Cumberland-Ely, nine
miles west Of Ely and almost at the
western extremity OF the proven zone,
tho Veteran tunnel IS into the mountain
1000 feet, most Of the distance in ore,
and the breast Of the tunnel is now IN
tale that fairly bristles with native
copper. Here has been found the rich
est ore on the belt, some Of it. going
So per cent copper and even higher.
A shaft has been sunk in the tunnel.
While details are not given, the showing
here is said TO be very fine.
The Cumberland Ely is exploring
through a half dozen or more shafts IN
addition to those mentioned, and it is
intimated by those in close touch with
the affairs Of tho company that the re-
suits are more than satisfactory. The
Cumberlapd-Ely has large holdings IN
the heart of the territory and IS r9-
puted to be closely associated in its
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

railroad communication and not near
the line of any road now projected. lt
is naturally tributary 10 Salt Lake, but
in order chat its business shall not be
diverted 1T is necessary that some more
direct way of getting TO the mining,
smelling and business center of tho
tntermountain country be provided.
Such road would meet this require
nent, would prove of iucalculablo bene-
it to Salt Lake and would be a God
end 10 the country penetrated by MAX
ing possible the enormous mineral de-
velopment of which the country is capa-
bic, but which, without such road,
can be at best but partially realized.
Such road would be the best feeder
Salt Lake City has or probably ever
will have. If extended l50 miles west
or southwest OF Ely ii would bring to
Salt Lake all the business of eastern,
central and southeastern Nevada as nat
urallv as water flows down hill II is
not necessary to dwell on the details,
but the Commercial club and business
men of Salt Lake can find no other
subject just now more worthy of their
consideration than that of securing the
construction of this road either as an
independent line or as branch Of an
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

rich to stand the long haul and heavy
freight charges to Salt Lake, and still
pay profit. But tho charges We're
enormous and the orc had to be pretty
good 10 stand it A pioneer in the
camp informed the writer that on one
occasion 1T cost him %46S for wagon
haul and railroad fare on car of orc
from Ely to Salt Lake via Wells and
the Southern Pacific. Most of those
who remained divided their time be-
tween trying TO earn a living for their
families and prospecting in other parts
of Nevada, and in adjoining States. As
no new inhabitants came the places
made vacant by death or by removals
to other localities remained untitled.
Tire ashen pail of decay, neglect and
hopelessness euveloped everything
Streets once bustling with life were
deserted and desolate. Most Of the
houses that remained standing were
vacant, grim, silent and ghostlike re-
minders OF busy past 4 system of
holding claims by common courtesy
grew up and prevailed FOR years
Some of tho old-timers" held on
through every Encouragement. With
some it was because they had faith III
all they possessed of this world IS goods
because there was nobody to buy, An
instance illustrating tho latter condi-
tion is that of a bachelor assayer and
prospector here, who some years ago
endeayored to trade his cabin and lot
on the main street of Ely for the light
team and old wagon of wandering
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

tach much Importance to II because of
tho generally evident low grade of the
ore, tho remotepesS of the district and
the consequent inability to handle the
orc In sufficient quantities to produce
q profit. But the copper element would
not down and kept intruding itself
TO the detriment of operations for the
more precious metals.
The first attempt at copper smelling
in this district was made by A. D..
Compton on Il small scale. He had no
fuel but wood and was unsuccessful,
While the presence OF copper IN the
district must have been known through
out most of its history il was not unJil
n few years ago that its extent, vaue
and possibilities began to be realized.
and it required the extensive develop
ment work Of the Giropy and the Ne
vada Consolidated to open the eyes even
of people who considered themselves
familiar with the district TO tho stu
pendous magnitude of its copper ore
bodies and the untold millions they will
yield the men who have the foresight,
the means and the energy to possess
the ground and wrest them from the
bosom OF mother earth.
The Chairman mine at Lane, three
miles up the canyon from Ely, was one
of the first to get into the copper sui
by G. d. Lane, noted California mill
ing man, but had not been successful
owing 10 the failure TO recover the
values of the ore by the cyanide pro-
cess. Later the Chairman Mining COM
pany purchased the property and
erected {; large null, but at. a depth of
$50 feet the copper sulphldes were en-
countered and tbe mill and other gold
equipment was a veritable white ele-
phant. Recently the entire Chairman
property, including mill-site and cleo
tric light and power plant in the town
OF Elv, with valuable right to the
waters Of Murray creek, was purchased
bv the Nevada Consolidated ut price
said TO have been 100000, which was
but a fraction of its cost.
Water is water in Nevada and the
principal value of the Chairman prop
erty to the Nevada Consolidated is
nrcbably in the Murray creek water
| right. Murray creek heads in the
mountains off to the southwest and
comes into Robinson canyon at Ely.
| II is fed by springs and carries strong
how of water even in tho dryest season
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

ore bodies already developed in the
holdings of the company. These plans
have several times been enlarged and
their scope extended as the exploration
of the original ground and the acquire
ment Of additional territory made Ger
tain volume of ores at first undreamed
Of. 1t is now the plan TO build a smelt-
er with a capacity of 10000 tons day
ut McGill's ranch, on the opposite side
of the valley and about fifteen miles
northeast of Ely. In fact, the work Of
grading for the great plant is now in
progress, in charge of Corey Bros. of
Ogden, and sixty carloads of machinery
and material for it are now standing
on the side tracks Ut Cobre or unloaded
IN temporary yards; there awaiting the
completion Of the tracks of the Nevada
Northern TO tho smelter site. The
smelter site is on an S00-acre tract of
land purchased Of W. n. McGill, on
which there is spring flowing 500
inches, or sixteen cubic feet of water
per second. An additional and abundant
supply of water has been secured from
Duck creek, which flows TO the north
out of the rugged LABEL Creek range
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

gathering shadows among the pines on
the further slope.
These activities brought in their
wake other people than those engaged
in the actual work of delying in the
earth for gold and silver and thus grew
up the many thriving camps through
out this region. Some of them are now
but memory and the very mention of
the name comes as a voice from the
past. Others long dead have taken on
new life and hope and now face the
future with confidence.
Originally Gold Camp.
Among all these the position of Ely
is unique. Originally gold camp, in u
region of silver aud silver-lead mines,
it has remained for the development Of
Its vast copper deposits to bring it
to its present prominence and un-
doubted future greatness The early
prospector in this country was looking
for silver and gold He did not care
8 rap for copper and paid no attention
to it except as an indication Of miner
alization that might lead to what he
was looking for. Even those who recog-
nlzed the copper groupings and general
surface showings in evidence every
where all over the district did not at
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

miner who happened along The outfit
was worth perhaps $50, but the owner
refused to trade. The bachelor has
now been offered $500 for his lot, but
does not want TO sell, and the story goes
that he has been put on easy street
by the sale Of copper claims. Most of
the old-tImers who held on through all
the period Of depression had claims in
the hills, and where these were To-
Gated IN the area now covered by the
copper development they have become
worth "all kinds OF money Most
of these persistent people who retained
their holdings in tho old camp are now
rcapinc their reward. A few are veal
thy. sope are well-to-do, and many have
d few thousand dollars TO their credit,
while an occasional one has retained
an interest in his holdings and is devel-
oping them with outside capital, with
every promise Of success and an ample
fortune for himself.
Robinson Canyon.
Robinson canyon, IN the mouth of
which Ely is located, takes 1T name
from Thomas Robinson, who came here
III tho late sixties, prospecting for gold,
Of which there were many surface show
ings in the canyon He located just
below Ely and worked here for con
siderable period In April, 1867, ne
fled the first claim in what has since
been known as the Robinson mining
district. Along about that time there
were three Robinsons, not related, op-
Grating in White Pine county. Eugene
located at Seligman and 'JohuHy'
held forth in Robinson canyon and else
where at various times.
Later came that character Of the
early days, 'rBuckslSin' Watson, also
IN quest Of gold. he located the Joan
na, q gold producer, about two and a
half miles up the canyon, where the
hillside has caved Just east of the
Chairman canyon, and built small
stamp mill, the first in the district. The
Joanna was prosperous and Watson
spread out IL all directions He located
some Of the ground now owned by the
Cumberland-Ely the Eureka on Copper
hat. now belonging to the Nevada Con
so!idatcd, and the Pilot Knob and
Brooks mines, now among tho hold
lngs of the GirouX Consolidated. lie
became involved in litigation over the
.loanna mine and died poor, about the
time lie had won the suit. Contem,
porary with and following these come
man others, the remains of whose work
dot nearly every hillside from the
mouth OF the canyon TO Copper Hat, a
distance of seven miles or more, Shal-
low workings, Characteristic of the
methods then pursued, are TO be seen
on every hand, while here and there
may be seen the remains Of cabin Oh
! a primitive mill, silent but eloquent
witnesses Of the toll and activities ot
| u generation Of hardy men, most OF
whom have now crossed the great di
! vide. and have been engulfed In the
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

existing road or Of one now under con-
struction. IF il can be accomplished it
will be the greatest thing that has
been done for Salt Lake for many
day.
Story of Ely.
The story of Ely-tbat is, of Ely of
the past, before the dawn of the copper
era-was that Of hundred other old
mining towns throughout the Western
country. except that in the case of Ely
placer mining was not an important fac
tor and the silver ores were not so
phenomcnally rich, hence the rush of
The boom days was less pronounced and
the succeeding collapse less complete
than iu many other places. While Ely
was dead for many years previous to
the discovery Of the copper sulphides
it did not 90 wholly out of existence as
did many other once prosperous towns.
1t early became the county scat of
White Pine county, and when the col
lapse came following the reduction in
the price of silver, Ely, because of that
fact and because of its better loca-
tion and the more permanent character
Of its ores, held out better than any
other place in the county But that is
not saying much when places like Ham
ilton, forty miles west, and Ward, tf-
teen or twenty miles south, each at one
time containing several thousand pco-
pie, practically went out of existence.
Ely declined until the census OF 1900
showed population of but EOS.
There was, OF course, mining carried on
all the time. largely IN desultory way,
the chief dependence being in the gold
production, although there were occa-
sional tnds of bunches of high grade
silver and silver.lead ore sufficiently
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

pioneer in extensive copper de
work, and now has the deel
and probably the most exten'
ings in the belt. There are
forty shafts on the property
tive underground work is be
cuted through ten OF them WI
III depth from 375 to 1000 fe'
OF these are connected by up
workings, most of which arr
ore bodies of vast but as vel
tained extent and running ab
cent and more in copper in q
carrying gold values ranging I
TO $3.50 per ton. In endea'
deal with such bodies of ore a
encountered figures seem mad
the totals are SO vast as to I
comprehension. 1t is stated
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30
w. S, MCCORMICK.

'Thcre is no doubt that Ely will
bc a great low-EraGe copper camp.
The great deposits of low-grade ore
means wholesale mining and slnelt-
ing. The miners OF orc will have to
erect some large concentrating
plants for ore treatment, and as
there is an abundance Of water along
Duck creek, 7 ta,-e il that at this
point these mills will be erected.
Geographically, and in every other
way, the busireGs OF thai part Of
Nevada belongs TO Salt Lake
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30
CHARLES s. SCHEU.

''I was in Ely twelve years ago,
and though struck at that time by
the undoubted resources OF the dis
trict, I felt that it was practically
useless to make All effort 90 develop
them. Conditions for copper at that
time were very unfavorabls. am
going to Ely for Railroad day to
become acquainted anew with this
great region
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

control with the Nevada Corr
A prominent mining man WI
close to tho management of y
recently quoted as saying: \
five years the Nevada Consolil
the Cumberland Ely will be-
10000 tons of ore daily, it !
intention Of the Guggenheimf
q 10,000-ton plant. On a larr
Is possible TO make small pro
per cent copper, and big mon
made on ore going as much Il
cent IN It's copper contents- j
The mines arc productive of !.
per cent copper, but the greg;
ore, from 1000 to 5000 feetlI
and several miles in length. i
copper belt, goes within a f.
3 per cent, with payable 90
present. -
Great Copper Compau;
One of the largest companiI
ing in the copper belt is II
Consolidated Mines compan,
holdings approximatine 1000 Z
solid block IN the heart of the
end of the zone. The Girou.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

that the explorations Of the
have disclosed In this groun|
most unbelievable total or II
tons of ore which can be v
a handsome profit. Over a gre
of the GirouH ground the he
Gaping which in some parts O
overlies tho porphyry conta'
sulphide ore. IS absent. This,
with the fact that the ore Is
soft aud friablc and conseque
to work, viii render the use
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30
COL. N. TREWEEK.

''L do not believe that my per-
sonal interests in the Ely district
have biased my opinion in regard
thereto In my opinion Ely Will
make the banner copper camp Of the
world The resources already de-
veloped there are wonderful IN ex.
tent, and brilliant future is ahead
of that portion Of Nevada,
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30
WILLARD 2. SNYDl

"Ely will make the greR1
most prominent copper Cant
West. It's resources are uu
and acknowledged by all VI
seen the recent development
camp. I am spending ny
there, and believe that v
chosen as choice portion
district as anyone.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-30

CAPT. DUNCAN 'VICHIE.
''Trom personal inspection of
Ely, think that the camp will
maize very fine copper producer, It
seems TO me, however, that the
ground has been covered pretty thor
ougnly.'
The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1906-12-13
uneanny Chinese legend.

There are the two celebrated tow.
ers of the imperial city, the Bell tow
er and the Drum tower. AS to the
casting OF the bell in the former there
is this legend: There had been two
unsuccessful attempts and the life OF
the founder was threatened in case of
a third failure. His daughter discov.
cred by occult means that nothing but
the blood of a virgin mingled with
the molten metal would insure sue
cess. So at the next casting she sac
riticed her life by throwing herself
into the molten metal, leaving only
one shoe behind. The casting was
perfect. But when the bell was first
struck "all were horror-stricken as,
after the heavy boom of the bell,
came a low wall, as of a girl in ag.
ony, distinctly saying the word 'heish,'
shoe. And to this day people when
they hear it. say, There's poor Ko-ai's
voice calling out for her shoe. -
Shanghai Times.