The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1907-03-14
ELY, NEVADA.
Perhaps the Greatest Copper Camp on
Earth.

| taken 1TOm Inc MINING hcCOIQs VI
which w. A. Leonard, formerly editor
of the ERA, is editor and manager.
The article covers the ground well
and will be of value to those who are
interested in that section:
"Ely is the county seat of White
Pine county, Nevada, located in the
central eastern portion of the state.
1t has been habitation of the white
man since the golden days of '49, but
has only recently come into the lime
light as a result of the extensive
preparations now under way to make
it one of the largest, if not the first
largest, copper camps on earth.
The Records limited space at the
present time will not permit of an
extended description of the mineral
resources which are destined ere
many years to make this the most
populous and wealthy city between
Salt Lake and San Francisco.
1t is sufficient to say that mining
men of eminence throughout the
world all agree that the largest de-
posits of copper ore ever discovered
are now being exploited in this dis
trict, and it has been estimated that
1OO, 100000 tons of ore have already
been blocked out in the mines.
These figures are so stupendous
that they are almost beyond the COM
prehension of even mining men, who
are familiar with big ore reserves.
That such wonderful showing has
been made in comparatively short
time Is the marvel of the mining
world.
The most important factor in max
ing the ore profitable is the i'm
mensity of the deposits, and the
economy with which it can be mined,
transported and treated.
That the mineral deposits are of
gigantic proportion Is confirmed by
the fact that two of the older COM
panies are jointly erecting smelling
plant at cost of 100000 900, which,
when completed, will be the largest
in the world. This plant will have
daily capacity of $4,000 tons, and
will be increased as the demand
necessitates. The building for this
immense plant will be 1900 feet in
length-almost a mile and half. 1t
will be $50 feet wide, and when COM
pleted will be the largest building
ever erected. The structural steel
alone will cost 1915, 900. The power
plant will cost $3.50, 900, and will have
capacity of 1900 horse power, while
the round house will have stalls for
thirty-two engines. The first unit of
this plant will be in operation before
the expiration of the present year.
Ely will unquestfonable have two,
and perhaps three, new railroads dur
ing the present year, which will make
it the railroad center of Nevada.
One great advantage Ely has over
all other camps in the state is its in
exhaustible supply of good water,
which is already being used for pow
er purposes. The town will soon be
supplied with first-class water service,
and sewerage will follow.
A bill has been introduced in the
legislature authorizing White Pine
county to issue bonds to the extent of
800, 900 for the erection of a new
court house. A bill has also been in
troduced authorizing the issue of $780,
600 for new school houses. These bills
will no doubt pass, after which the
people can erect such structures as
will be needed.
The present population of Ely is
about three thousand, but it is in
creasing rapidly from day to day, and
many who are best informed predict
that it will be increased to ten thous-
and before the expiration of the pre-
sent year, and within two years it
will be the largest town in Nevada.
Forty-eight mining companies are
now operating here, and others are
being incorporated almost daily. The
market value of the shares of the
Ely companies now quoted on the New
York and Boston market is SS0,000,-
900. This demonstrates the unbounded
confidence of investors in copper
shares in camp that has not as yet
produced pound of copper.
Many vast fortunes have been made
in Ely mines, but the harvest time is
yet to come. In a few years million
aires will be as common in Ely as
they are on Wall street, and it will
all be honest money, taken with clean
hands directly from natures treasure
chest.
The fortunes of Ely have not all
been produced from the mines, as
the comfortable bank account of
many of her citizens will attest. For
tunes have been made by a phenome-
nal advance of realty values, which
have kept pace with rapidly grow
ing city. Lots which were bought
year ago for a few hundred dollars
are today in ready demand at as
many thousand. The opportunities
of the past year are as nothing COM
pared with those of the present day.
If there ever was doubt of the tu-
ture of Ely it has been dispelled by