White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-03
(By Il. L. MILLER.)
PARTTWENTY

of the county migrated from one
samn 10 another, always keeping
within The county limits, and their
names are linked with the history OF
a number of camps. Among these
Is the name of Joseph Carothers. one
of the earliest comers to the county,
who located at Shermantown in 1868.
Mr.. Carothers' chief distinction. how
ever, probably rests in the fact that
he may we'll be called the father OF
TAYLOR.
Along In the early sos. when Ward
began 10 decline, Taylor first came
into prominence. The Monitor, Ar
gus and Hixon mines were all dis
lowered and located about the same
Vine. These three properties, l be-
neye. were the only ones of promi-
nenee i'm the district, but their output
was sufficient 10 establish Taylor as
a steady camp for a number of years.
The writer's memory is not clear re-
garding the first loeators OF the
camp. put | believe that the first
prospecting was done by representa-
tiyes of the Martin White company,
sent by Superintendent Sweetapple OF
that oncern The name of one OF
these ~locators was probably Taylor,
who gave his name TO the camp
However. beyond making some loca-
lions which never PANIED out. moth
Ing further was done by the Martin
White interests.
". G. IYoI.s, representing himself,
Robert Briggs and W. y. MoGill. To-
Gated the Monitor mine. The three
PARTNERS uncovered a body of exceed
ingly high grade ore. and while none
of the men had much money the ex-
cellent showing of the mine was all
that was needed and they had no
difficulty in raising capital TO finance
the constr uetion of a mill. Hip
Brothers advanced needed supplies
and In a short time after they had
made their first location they had
constructed a small quartz mill. run
by water from Steptoe creek. nine
miles from Taylor. and the stamps
were busy pounding out the silver
metal. The three partners operated
the Monitor mine and mill at a good
profit and had acquired. for those
Gays. comfortable fortunes before
they disposed of their interests TO
Ensnk Drake. acting for an English
syndicate. at a figure reported around
s1s5,o00. The English company had
operated the property for only a short
Aitht III htkh-kladt JIG pih'H
ed out and this. coupled with the big
decline in the price of silver. forced
a suspension OF operations
The Hixon mine. owned by Jim
HiSon. made several shipments of
high-grade ore. but the vein pinched
o. and the mine lever reached the
stage OF a producer and its life was
of short duration.
The Argus mine. while its ore was
rot as rici, as that of the Monitor.
was in reality a more valuable prop
trty. as the tonnage mined was many
times that of the Monitor. IL was
In connection with the financing OF
the Argus property hat Mr.. Caroth-
ers came into prominence and earned
his title to being the father OF the
town. Mr.. Carothers. who was one
of the first real mining men to come
10 the camp. was beyond a doubt one
oft he greatest mining and milling
experts in the state. He made sew
eral trips east TO secure outside cap
ital for the development of the Argus
property ard was instrumental in in
teresting the heirs of the AultlEan
estate OF Canton, o.. who for an In
terest In the mine advanced the
money for the development OF the
nine n for the construction OF a
large mill on Steptoe lake. nine
miles from the mine. A. J. Underhill
of Canton was sent to represent the
Ohio interests In Nevada and had
charge of the finances OF the prop
AFty for a number of years.
= The ores OF the Taylor district
were entirely of a free-milling silver
variety. with a negligible mount of
gold aud IN fhia aanalInf TIM n ~ N
gave employment to a large number
of men. In less than eighteen
months from the time of the loca-
ton OF the Argus and Monitor mines
the camp had attracted "A population
OF 1900, its growth being phenom-
email even In those days of quickly
upspringing mining communities.
However rapid was the rise OF Tay-
Tor, It's decline was scarcely less
rapid. II was estimated that 1900
people. mostly inhabitants of Taylor,
attended the camps Fourth of July
celebration In 1888. All were pros
porous and busy, silver then being
quoted at SIZE. A little over two
years later. in November, 1890, when
the writer passed through Taylor en-
route to the A. C.. Cleveland ranch,
the only inhabitants OF the camp
were James Sylliman and his family
and John Nerzan. Silver at that time
was quoted at 81 cents.
While the name of Joseph Caroth-
crs Is lndelibly linked with that of
Taylor. he had for many years pre-.
vious been n OF the prominent men
OF the county. From the tipio he
first located at Shermantown In 1858
he was actively identified with tho
camp and was engaged In the mining
and smelling business there. enjoy
Ing The implicit confidence OF the
people and manv investors who
sought and followed his advice re.
garding the reduction of ores aud
other mining and milling problems.
Mr.. Carothers saw the rise OF Sher-
: niantown from a small camp to n
Town OF over 1000 inhabitants and
boasting five quartz mills and two
sneiters, together with a mill in
Swansea canyon. three-quarters Of a
mile west with a ngnuIattaa go WA