The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1908-05-05
REVIVAL OF OLD
CAMP.
(Salt Lake Mining Review.)


to be established in the state of Ne
vada It's tame is historic. It's mem
ory will ever be green in the recol-
lections of the grand old pioneers of
the state. 1t has produced in the
neighborhood of $4O,OO0,0OO. Its
splendid old mines are closed, but not
exhausted. 1t is a vetran in mining
camp history and yet, in years to come
it may eclipse its magnificent record
of the past Austin is not 'has-
BEEN by any means, for a grand fu-
ture is before it.
The town of Austin was plated in
the early part of the year 1863, and
ever since it has been the center Of
supply and outfitting point for very
wide scope of country.
The extensive and rich silver mines.
located in Reese river mining district,
were the immediate cause of the up
building of the town of Austin. and
at one tine it boasted a population of
from 10000 to $1,000. Now the SEN
sus shows about 900 souls. The out
put of the mnies at Austin has been
great. and yet this production was
from limited area-a patch of dirt
not exceeding 1000 square feet and
an average sinking depth of 500 feet.
In the early days Ausin vas on the
main travelled old overland stage road
connecting Salt Lake and Virginia
City and Sacramento. after the com
pletion of the Southern Pacific railroad
Austin was connected with the line
at Battle Mountain by etage.
In 1880 and 1881 when the perma-
nency of the mines was assured the
Nevada Central was built from Battle
Mountain to Austin, distance of 80
miles and prosperity continued up to
and including 1887, when the leading
properties of the district having chang
ed hands, legal complications arising,
which continued through a number of
years. Still. Austin is good. solid
town vet. and the commercial cen
ter of large stretch of country. The
main street of the town is lined with
good brick and stone buildings and
the business houses of the town are
big establishments, carrying large and
varied socks of general merchandise.
Secret societies are well represented
IN Austin, and tree large churches
The school system at Austin is ex-
cellent and the people are justly very
proud of it. Many large ranches are
located With ma radius of so miles
of Austin and the live stock industry
is an extensive one. Austin has
good water supply and a good water
system, and the sanitary condition of
the tow mis- excellent owing to the
fact that it has sewerage and other
modern conveniences. From some Of
tn emlarger streams in the near vi
cinity electricity can be generated for
power and light.
That the future has more rosy APP
pearance is dueto the lact that nego-
tiations are now under way to again
start up the deep workings of the
old Manhattan mine now owned by
the Austin Manhattan Mining com.
i,uv /. work - '.-an.' ~ The
.ii, u of this splendid property,
- =. no don's Lat that the his
~ the seven and eighties will
! 49,. Ted. and Austin will am,
-, INTO its ov >
v.iW.,a the h4res:i ays areovar
For facts and history relative to
the past history of Austin, the Mining
Review is indebted to T. III. Trolson,
assayer and engineer, who has been
identified with the interests of Austin
since 1873, and who has now one of
the best equipped establishments in
the west. For many years Mr.. Trolson
was with the old mining company as
assayer, surveyor and bookkeeper.
In the operation of the Austin mines
4. nal - 60 n%
nearly mile and half to connect
with the main working shaft of the
mine, and it is stated that this tunnel
cut twenty eight veins Of ore in its
course, which have never been worked
or prespected as yet.
Stokes Castle, on the mountain side
overlooking Reese river valley was
built in the year 1897 by Anson
Phelps Stokes, Of New York, at that
time president and owning controll-
ing interest in the Austin Mining CON-
pany
Stokes Castle is but short dis
tance from Austin and it is claimed
that the building Of the boulevard
leading to it cost in the neighborhood
of $4,000. The castle is built of
granite. 1t is 24x24 feet in dimension
ON the ground floor and three stories
high. Water is piped into the castle
from the Austin water system, and
the plumbing provides for hot and
cold water and baths. When first
built the castle was handsomely and
even luxuriously furnished, but it
was never occupied but for one short
month. The building and furnishings
it is stated cost $4,000. Now, how
ever, il is stripped of its furnishings
and decorations. The grand fireplaces
with their handsome CRATES are cold
and cheerless. The fine sideboards are
empty, and the souvenir seekers have
carried away all that remained Of the
former splendor. The castle, stark and
gaunt, stands as remembrance of its
owners prodigality, and can be seen
from across and from up and down the
valley for maany miles. 1t stands as
sentinel, silent but watchful, to