Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-01-24
SOME HISTORY OF
MINING IN NEYARDA

4
Mining" in Nevada, and gives the
folio wing historical sketch that
will be perus.d with interest:
Nevada had an experience that
probably no other state in the
Union. from the day of its, admis-
sion. has been forced to undergo.
At the time of its admission. in, the
year 1861. there were within Tits
borders few farms, few ranches of
any description, and but few
miaes.
The only mines worn of note
then and for many years afterward
we're those Of Virginia, in Storey
county. and ~railrOading was entire
ly confcd to not more than one
trunk line.
When the great boom of the
Comstnck Lode had subsidized, and
| prospecting wasat a stand still no
railroads being huilt, save those to
traverse the br 9TH of the state,
for interstate purposes: no ranches
or farms springing into existence,
10y reason Of having no market:
with very little taxable property
with its borders; its already
limited population ever decreasing,
Nevada found itself ~wavcring be-
tween the uoint OF sink or swim
with regaru to the matter of longer
maintaining Statehood. The
struggle lasted probably over a
period Of twenty years.
1t may be tru~thfully, said that
the Cum5tock Lode furnished, the
principal part Of all the mining
that was being done for many years
in thi, state. In 1859. the year of
the discovery Of gold at Virginia
City, the total output at that place
was $50. 600. The increase during
each succeeding - ar , aid not he
described as being that Of a steady
pave. hut rather by leaps and
houndS. until we find after a lapse
Of eight years, in 1877. the total
prrdurtiuu of gold and silver on
the CoustDck Lode reached the
enormous SUN Of $3lI7O,SOl.
inclusive Of mill taiiings, for thai
yetr alone. All these years OF
continuous operation hogan to tel
on the frS known and immensely
rich deposits. referred In as tn,
]bp0anzls Of the Comstuck mines
As the principal part Of the state.
mining activity was conferred there
with the eud Of the great bonanza
DO sight, with a Noticeable fallinj
IF in annual production, Ncvadi
became les, inviting or attractiv,
to Tho prospcctor or the home
seeker as the years rolled by. anC
thus marked The beginning Of the
period Of depression with which il
struggled as hcrcInhcforc referred
to.
with the opening Of the camp.
Of Tonnpuh and Goldfrld. eacf
showing signs Of pcTmancnCy quite
as great as that of tn" histori,
Virginia City. and numerous other.
If lesser note in many dIfferenr
sections I've the state, Nevada
aLain took on 81 nc@ impetus
aw Ike from it, dorrnncy, received
an Infusion Of new life and once
more seemed to have taken III
place in the galaxy of states. II
may be well to mcntion that the
total output Of the state for the
year 1899 vas taken from the Off
rIa . ccords of the several mining
companies inclusi,c Of that OF
tho C"mstock Lodc, is placed al
$3,7lO, 1870. The Comstock contri,
Lutcd $3d2, 5000 of that amount
inclusive Of mill tailngs
That year marked the ending q,
the period Of industrial depression
within the state If Nevada. viii
each succeeding year came immens,
increases IN It's annual metal pro,
dnttion. OccasioLci ty rew strike,
that seemed 10 be Of such remark.
able frcQuc cy until It's production
OF valuable metals in the year 1909,
or ten years later reached the
cnormuS sun If $50, 079. 932 as
before mentioned, or over eight
tim s the total production Of 1899.
Nor vas that all. It nearly doub.
led its population in these years"
EA.A e.. r-H