White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-30
NEVADA STATE IN THE MAKING:
TOMORROW IS ADMISSION DAY

| - -. az" hai suOWn her loyalty to
lne Union by sending more volunt GERS
than either California or Oregon, the
only Two states west of Kansas at the
time, he was satisfied that he could
rely on Nevada's vote and urged con-
gress to take action.
AS a result bill was introduced in
the senate In February, 1854. au-
! lhorlzing the people of Nevada to
frame another constitution which
would meet their wishes. This was
done and In September, 1864, the
people ratified the new constitution
and asked for admission. and October
3l,lS64. President Lincoln issued his
proclamation declaring Nevada ad-
mtted to the Union.
In 1850 congress submitted the
thirteenth amendment OF the several
states Tor ratification and two weeks
later favorable action was taken by
the legislature of Nevada, which was
thereafter known as the "bat.leborn
state. The message notifying Pres
| ident Lincoln OF the result of Ne
vadas vote on the state constitution
was the first transcontinental message
sent over the Western Union wires
and the cost of the message was over
$4,000. The cost of sending ten
word message from Gold Hill OF San
Francisco at that time was s2.50.
while 81 was the rate Tor a ten-word
message to the east.
In early days Nevada was little
known outside her own boundaries,
but with the discovery of gold and
silver the news spread rapidly and
miners and fortuneseekers from all
sections began 10 flock TO the country
The history of the Comstock and 9TH
er wonderful properties is too well
known TO need any comment. but ii
might not be amiss to make mention
6f few of the mines whose early
history Is interviewer with that of
the state
One OF the most noted OF the early
day properties was the Virginia and
California, which lt the time the
writer camc TO the state in 1874 was
being operated as Two properties, al
though actually only one and under
control OF the same interests. The
stock of each property at that time
was selling at $50 a share, but with
increasing depth values also in
creased and in the fall OF that year
the stock was quoted at s110 "A share
During the winter, when the 500
foos level was reached the stock
jumped to $500, and in 1876 the vir-
ginia stock sold at 500, while the
California was quoted at from s7O0
TO $500. making total market value
for the two mines of $3.50. 100000.
The actual profit OF the Consolidated
Virginia and California was $1O5,-
900, 900. the ore averaging between
$40 and 500 ton for five years.
values being about equally divided
between gold and silver. The increase
In the value of this stock is but one
instance OF the rapidity with which
Nevada mining millionaires were Gre
ated IN those days.
Among other great producers were
tho ophir. Yellow Jacket. Savage,
Golden Curry. Overman. Chollar. Po-
tosi. Crown Point. Bullion. Belcher.
Sierra Nevada. Hale and Norcross
Many lawsuits naturally resulted
from the great value of the properties
involved. and decisions in these cases
were eagerly watched. For a num-
her OF years more than one-ffth OF
the output of the mines was expended
N prosecuting or defending lawsuits.
Over 81 .0O0. 900 was spent by the
Ophir and Moscow in the litigation of
one suit. though the latter property
was worthless and the only question
involved was that ot boundary. "A
suit brought by the chollar against
the Potosi cost both parties to the lit
igatIon 81, ,300, 900 before II was final
ly settled by a consolidation of the
two properties.
The heat in number of the mines
was almost unbearable as depth was
reached, the temperature ranging
from so degrees at 100 feet In depth
tn 120 degrees at 1000 feet. Miners
could only stand the work for a few
minutes at time until their shoes |
were filled with perspiration. In the
Julia mine the heat was so intense |
that the water was scalding hot and |
even with the use OF revolving fans
miners were known TO drop dead from |
heat. Tons OF ice were used daily !
and picks could only be handled with |
gloves, while cloth dipped in ice
water was wrapped around the drills |
to keep the hands OF the miners from |
being burned.
In 1877 a hot spring was uncov-
cred In the Savage mine and the va |
por from the water, at n temperature |
OF 157 degrees. was let into the in
cline. In the Golden Curry mine In |
1878 a miner by the name OF Brown |
fainted when the temperature reached |
1873 degrees. He was carried TO the
surface but lost his memory and
failed to recover the use OF his facul-
ties for many years Mine accidents
were frequent during the early op-
erations OF the Comstock until the
Deideshelmer timbering system was
adopted. after which there were but
few accidents.
Petition to Probate the Lewis VIII
netition for probate OF will and /