The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1907-05-21
from 81. 900 to $4,000 per tom


In the task of burrowng into the
earth only the veins carrying the
richest ore were followed, and while
it became necessary to remove the
quartz carrying lower grades, every
thing of $50 or under was cast aside
as worthless, and tossed contemporary
on the "dump." So in the course of
years of work this "worthless'' pile
attained gigantic dimensions, until
eventually there was a mountain of
over 100, 900 tons above ground. The
extent of the mining done in this dis
trict may be understood when it is
stated that in addition to the Ave
main shafts of about 700 feet depth
there were over three miles of tunnels,
drifts and cross cuts.
The good times, however, could not
last forever, and the suspension of free
coinage of the white metal practically
gave Belmont it's q~uietus. The mine
owners bravely continued operations in
the face of the new difficulties but bad
management added to their embarrass-
ments, and an old factor that had be
fore worked but little hardship now
became of utmost Importance. This
was the long haul into and out of camp.
The main source of supply was Sacra-
mento, which was 600 miles by rail.
and tn esecond available point was
Battle Mountain, 200 miles away.
leaning was expensive to a degree
that prohibited freighting except in the
old conditions, and the freight com
panies refused to reduce their rates,
because both trails were beset by many
dangers, not the least of which were
frequent attacks by Indians and hold
ups.
So the mines were closed down, and
slowly the population of the city of
5000 inhabitants dwindled away to
a few scores of people. The town and
the shines were left practically as they
stood in their days of prosperity. 1t
was too expensive to carry goods out,
and in many instances h~ouseholders
and shopkeepers simply locked their
doors, puts their trunks on the stage
and drove away from the district,
never to return. Mining machinery
of every description was left abso-
lutely undisturbod, hosting engines,
stamp mills, pumps, cables, cages, etc,
that cost fortunes for their freight
a%loney not to speak of their intrinsic
worth, were left to the mercies of
chance, after steps had been taken to
protect them against the ravages of
time. Teh great brick mill, upon
which thousands Of dollars had been
e~xpendedof no more Importance than
the cottage of the humblest miner
was barred and bolted--and the me-
chanics who had thrived with it's in
dustry, sadly sought other fields.
Then Belmont entered upon it's long
sleep--forgotten by the world-a mere
speck of black upon the maps of
Nevada. -
Two years ago a warfaring prospec-
tor wandered into the deserted town,
bringing stories of the newly discov-
cred riches of Tonopah and Goldfeld
to the few ray-beaded pionees who
had renamed to end their days amid
the scenes of their youthful activities.
His tale fell upon doubling ears. Neva-
da's glory ass mining State had died
with the passing of Belmont and the
Comstock and would never be revived!
Why, even upon the dumps Of Belmont
were thousands of tons of ore that
were richer than some of the quartz
that was being taken out Of the new
camps. The newcomer pricked up his
ears--and investigated. He descended
into the abandoned mines, took speci-
mems of the uncovered lodges and car
ried samples of the dumps into Man
haitian, where capital was quickly in
terested and expert engineers were dis
patched to verify the surprising nara
ton OF the prospector. The experts
were astnoished. Their wonderment
was that, in the changed condition of
mining and milling that this oppor-
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