The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1914-04-18

oche district was part of that coun-
ty, 1t was but natural that an effort
should be made to remove the seat
of county government to a point more
accessible to vastly preponderating
majority of its inhabitants than the
little settlement of Hike. in the Pah-
ranagat valley, where it had at first
been established by the Nevada legis-
lature in 1866. This early-day county
seat removal campaign caused far less
discussion and disagreement than one
of more recent date. Its wisdom.
viewed In the light of the interests
of the whole county. was apparent
even to those who opposed it. Ac-
cordingly, in March, 1871, the county
records were temporarily removed
from Hike to Phoebe, to remain there
three months pending an election
which should finally decide the loca-
ton of the county seat The election,
held in May, 1871, was carried in ia
vor of Phoebe, as against Hike, by
vote of SIS to 122. Phoebe has re-
manned the seat of Lincoln county
ever since and, it is safe to say, will
always so remain.
Meanwhile, the development of the
Phoebe mines was going on apace.
New strikes were made almost every
day. Many of them of phenomenal
richness. Many of the old producers
are now little more than names and
memories, yet it is well that even
these names should be preserved.
Among the more prominent, accord
ing to Colonel Abbott, were the follow
ing: The General Washington. usu-
ally known as the No. g. which was
ing company; the Washington and
Creole, noted for the stone forts which
were erected on them to house sup
plies and fighting men while their re.
spective owners were contending with
on another for the possession of the
properties, but afterwards merged,
through compromise agreement, as
the Washington and Creole; the old
Panacker, denatured at a later date
as to it's spelling and called the
"Panaca" the Silver Peak. Boston,
Desdemona, Richmond, Banner, No. g.
Alps, American Flag, Bowery, Colum,
bus, Condor. Nightingale, Excelsior
Chapman, Barton, Lafayette, Caroline,
Wide West, Ingomar, Romeo, Moltke,
Amador, Ivanhoe, HUM and Hunt
Newton, Booth, Vermilion, Peavine
Hoffman, Page and Panaca. Orient
Summit, Santa Clara, Chief of the
Hill. Louise, Mocking Bird, Spring
Mountain, Newark, Oneida, Koh-inoor
Stirling. Orleans, A-elissa, Lillian Hall
Very many of these stocks were regu
change, where they WED with the
l"Comstocks' in the interest taken in
them.
In 1871 the formal incorporation oil
the Raymond & Ely company took
place, the purpose of the incorpora
ton being to take over the Burke
mine The company however, branched
out extensively, acquiring many other
claims Raymond and Ely also made
heavy individual investments. G. w
Lightner. formerly president of the
famous Ophir mine at Virginia City
was installed as superintendent fol
the Raymond & Ely company under
the new organization. Lightner start
ed vertical shaft on the Panaca
claim, which had been purchased by
the company. The first 100 feet o.
sinking was attended by no startling
developments. Then in July, 1871, the
shaft broke into one of the most ia
nous bonanzas known to the history
of mining in the United States. Ray
mond & Ely stock, as quoted on the
San Francisco exchange, went soaring
within year from $21 per share t.
S145. Meadow Valley, on the othel
hand, dropped during the same periot
from $22 to $3.50.
Continued development in the dis
trict rendered the mill facilities great
as they were pitifully inadequate. Be
sides those already mentioned. there
was a mill in Condor canyon. fiv'
miles above Panaca, and the Flora
Springs mill" near Phoebe. A Gus
tom mill at Silver Park, fOrty-twt