A group of miners (forming a mine shift) pose in front of mine headframe (shaft), Goldfield, Nevada, ca. 1905. In November, 1906, the Goldfield Consolidated Mines Company was incorporated by owners George Wingfield and United States Senator George Nixon, signaling the beginning of monopoly control in Goldfield, and the start of an adversarial relationship between mine owners and the unions.
English: A group of miners (forming a mine shift) pose in front of mine headframe (shaft), Goldfield, Nevada, ca.1905 Photograph of a group of miners (forming a mine shift) pose in front of mine headframe (shaft), and are ready to go down into the mine, Goldfield, Nevada, ca.1905. The shaft (or contraption?) is constructed of horizontal beams held up by vertical, horizontal, and diagonal beams. Ropes (or wires?) attached to several beams help provide support. More ropes and wires are routed around the contraption. A lantern hangs about midway up. Several dozen men stand, sit or lie down in front of the contraption while posing. Utility lines appear to be wired into the contraption. Other buildings are visible in the background. "In 1902 gold was discovered in the hills near Tonopah, Nevada. Soon a few tents dotted the barren hills among the Joshua trees, and the boomtown of Goldfield was born. In 1903 only 36 people lived in the new town. By 1908 Goldfield was Nevada's largest city, with over 25,000 inhabitants. Along with the influx of miners and businessmen, came the labor unions. The Western Federation of Miners, the Industrial Workers of the World and the American Federation of Labor all vied for power in the region. During the early years, the unions were able to control wages and working hours. But in November, 1906, the Goldfield Consolidated Mines Company was incorporated by owners George Wingfield and United States Senator George Nixon, signaling the beginning of monopoly control in Goldfield, and the start of an adversarial relationship between mine owners and the unions." — unknown author. Call number: CHS-5419 Filename: CHS-5419 Coverage date: circa 1905 Part of collection: California Historical Society Collection, 1860-1960 Format: glass plate negatives Type: images Geographic subject (city or populated place): Goldfield Repository name: USC Libraries Special Collections Accession number: 5419 Microfiche number: 1-111-70 Archival file: chs_Volume36/CHS-5419.tiff Part of subcollection: Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, 1860-1960 Repository address: Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 Geographic subject (country): USA Format (aacr2): 2 photographs : glass photonegative, photoprint, b&w ; 21 x 26 cm. Rights: Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California Subject (adlf): mine sites Project: USC Repository email: specol@usc.edu Contributing entity: California Historical Society Date created: circa 1905 Publisher (of the digital version): University of Southern California. Libraries Format (aat): photographic prints; photographs Geographic subject (state): Nevada Subject (file heading): Mining -- Miners Legacy record ID: chs-m2753; USC-1-1-1-2819 Access conditions: Send requests to address or e-mail given. Phone (213) 821-2366; fax (213) 740-2343. Geographic subject (county): Esmeralda Subject (lcsh): Mines and mineral resources; Miners