Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-02-16
The TONOPAH Mines
SHORT ACCOUNT OF DISCOV-
cry Of GREAT REGION.
MAN WHO MADE FIND TOO POOR
TO HAVE ORE AssAYED.
NOW $tooOoO,0oo is IN SIGHT
Locator Had Much Difficulty in In.
teresting Anyone in a Great
Property.

An account of the discovery of a
great mine is always interesting read
ing. These finds are usually made by
poor men and in many instances by
mere accident. There is generally a
story of yicissitude and suffering,
struggle with poverty and other draw.
backs connected with the discovery
and subsequent development OF a rich
mine, no matter the variety OF the
metal that ii contains.
Following is brief history of the
Mispah mine at TonOpah, Nevada. This
property was discovered in May 1900
by James l.. Butler, then a resident of
Belmont, Ney, he having previously
seen the outcroppings of the vein in
1870,
Butler took samples of the ore Isl
miles south to Klondyke, which was
then producing high grade silver ore
The assayer there thought the dock OF
nttle or no value, ana as Butler was
without money did not bother to assay
it. On his return trip Butler took
| f''.N tt 81 sam bl'S bC-.R " bCllIOll anu
showed them to T. l.. eddie, who sent
them to Austin to be assayed, the re
turns from one of the samples being
$40 in silver and $2O6 in gold to the
ton.
Locate Eight Claims in September.
In September, 1900, Butler, accom-
panied by Mrs. Butler, returned TO the
property and together they located the
eight claims now owned by the Touo-
pan Mining company of Nevada. Airs.
Butler named one claim the Mizpah
and also named the camp Tonopah,
from small spring four miles north
which had been given that name by
the Indians, the word meaning water
brush"
In October, 1900, Butler returned to
the property with w. Brougher and
7. l.. Oddie, to whom he had given
an interest, and commenced work on
the property, their sole possessions be
ing small tent, a meager camp out
fit, wagon, two horses and SIS in
cash. These three men took out a
; ton OF ore which was hauled 120 miles
: to Austin and shipped TO San Fran
; cisco, realizing a little over 5000. This
. return and a series OF high assays Sc
: cured from other parts of the surface
= induced a big rush to the camp anC
many leases were granted by Butler
{ to the end of the year 1901
Total Production Is $4,50O0oo.
h The total production of this period
g was $450O,0O0. 1t was in June, 1901,
after several other capitalists had al
e tempted 10 buy the property and eX,
q perts for others had condemned it.
e that Oscar 4. Turner of Philadelphia
q took an option on the mine for $780,
900, drawing at sight on his friend,
John w WOodside of that city, for the
payment Of $4,000, which was prompt
9 Iy paid. The property was bought
l subject to the leases, and the royalty
t from shipments made by the leasers
were more than sufficient to provide
: the balance Of the purchase money be-
? fore it became due.
= On January !, 1902, the original
: eight claims located by Mr.. and Mrs
Butler passed into the hands of the
3 Tonopah Mining company of Nevada, a
3 corporation having a total capitaliza-
ton of S1,360,000, comprising 1000
600 ordinary shares of 81 each and
100000 preferred shares bearing in
terest at s per cent per annum. Sub.
scribers to this latter stock at par
. were given two shares of ordinary
$ stock for each share of preferred
r stock, making three shares for ST.
Property Steady Producer.
The property continued to be
steady producer of large quantities
of high grade ore, the proceeds from
which were devoted to the develop
ment and equipment of the mine.
. In January, 1905, the preferred stock
was paid off and in April OF that year
=, the first dividend of 25 cent a share
was paid and regular quarterly diyi-
dends of that amount were continued
until October, 1906, when it was in.
creased to 35 cents-the total amount
Of dividends paid being $2,450000.
1t is estimated that the underground
workings of this great mine, only
: opened up to a depth of 700 feet
amount to over 10 miles, while the
value of the ore blocked out is com
puted at over $100,000,000.
The company is now operating a
=, 100 stamp mill and owns many other
valuable properties in the state.