Mining During the Nineteenth Century

Prospector's camp - 1907 - courtesy UNLV

If mining was conducted in El Dorado Canyon prior to the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, such activity had terminated prior to 1850. Probably, a hiatus of a quarter-century at least separated the conclusion of earlier mining from the rediscovery of precious metals in the late 1850's. It was only a question of time before the mineral deposits of El Dorado Canyon would be found. The exposures are evident, even to the untrained eye. Furthermore, the sharp drop in gold production in California's placer fields after 1851 drove numerous prospectors into the deserts of California and NevadaY Before the advent of mineral prospectors into Southern Nevada, two trails were established that brought travelers very close to the site of El Dorado. These routes were the Old Spanish Trail and the military wagon road between Albuquerque and San Bernardino. The earliest of these routes to be established was the Old Spanish Trail. After Jed Smith's initial trip in 1826, individuals or parties were passing near El Dorado Canyon either by the Colorado River or through Las Vegas Valley.1s lOJohn L. Riggs, "Reign of Violence in El Dorado Canyon," Third Biennial Report of the Nevada Historical Society, Introduction written by Jeanne Elizabeth Wier and manuscript edited by same, (Carson City: State Printing Office, 1913), p. 98. Reference was taken from a note by Clark Alvord, another pioneer miner in El Dorado Canyon.

17Rodman W. Paul, California Gold: The Beginning of Mining in the Far West (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1947), p. 171. 18Leroy R. Hafen and Ann W. Hafen, Old Spanish Trail: Santa Fe to Las Angeles, Vol. 1 of The Far West and the Rockies Historical Series 1820-1875, (Glendale: Arthur H. Clark, 1954), pp. 111-119, 365-369; Fred Nathaniel Fletcher, Early Nevada: The period of Exploration, 1767-1848 (Reno: A Carlisle and Company, 1929), pp. 135-136. 12 El Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts

This traffic increased with time as the country between Salt Lake City and San Bernardino grew more populated.

Governmental surveys became active in the study area in the early 1850's. Sitgreave's Expedition of 1851 was followed by the Whipple party in 1854. Most of these early groups either crossed the Colorado River at the Mohave Villages just south of the study area, or rested there before continuing their duties. 10

None of the previously mentioned parties entered the El Dorado Canyon area during their sojourns through Southern Nevada. The earliest documented visit was by members 'of the Ives Expedition in 1858. 20 Dr. J. S. Newberry, geologist of the party, walked into the area west of the Colorado River while the vessel used by the group was undergoing repairs. Whether he used El Dorado Canyon to reach the area visited is unknown. However, it is likely because the vessel was damaged between the Mohave Villages and Vegas Wash. In this section, few avenues for westward travel from the river exist. El Dorado Canyon is possibly the easiest means of passage. While in Black Canyon, Ives had a visitor. The man did not identify himself, but a member of the ship's crew said that he was Jacob Hamlin, a Mormon Bishop and very active in relations between the Indians and the Mormon settlers. Indians were enticed into camp and stated that white men were living among the Paiutes in the Black Mountains. 21 These men were probably miners as the country had been well prospected since the early 1850's. Newberry did not locate any metallic 'ores, but did collect specimens of what was thought to be gem quality opal. They were later found to be banded onyx.

The published dates for discovery of the deposits in El Dorado Canyon vary from an unspecified date in the early 1850's to 1861. 22 Usually, these dates are tied to the activities of early settlers in the Las Vegas Valley or the garrison 'of Fort Mohave. I believe that discovery was not

'"Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of Arizona and Nell' Mexico, Vol. 17 of The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, (San Francisco: The History Company, Publishers, 1889), pp. 481-502. There is a seeming inconsistency in the treatment of Southern Nevada by Bancroft. In Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming, 1540-1888, Vol. 25 of The Works of Hubert HalVe Bancroft, (San Francisco: The History Company, Publishers, 1887), no mention is made of that portion of Nevada south of the present border between Clark and Lincoln Counties. It is found, however, in the cited work on Arizona and New Mexico. 2°Joseph C. Ives, Report Upon the Colorado River of the West, Explored in 1857 and 1858 (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1861), U.S. Government Document, 36th Congress, 1st Session, House Executive Document 90. 2lIves, Report ... , 80. Contributory evidence for prospectors in the study area before 1860 is given in Bancroft, History of Arizona and NelV Mexico, 494 . • 2Riggs, Reign of ... , 98; Lincoln, Mining Districts and . .. , 19; Don Ashbaugh, Nevada's Turbulent Yesterday . .. A SflIdy in Ghost Towns (Los Angeles: Westernlore Press, 1963), p. 47; Myron Angel (ed.), History of Nevada (Oakland: Thompson and West, 1881), pp. 489-90; James Graves Scrugham, Nevada: A Narrative of the Conquest of a Frontier Land (Chicago: American Historical Society, 1935), pp. 611-613.

El Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts 13

such a simple process. Probably, the area was prospected by parties operating from the San Bernardino area, or possibly from the southern end of the Mother Lode, beginning sometime after 1851. Prospectors were met by Lt. Whipple in 1854. As the surface deposits were high-grade silver ores, a source 'of transportation for the hand-sorted ore to reach smelting facilities was needed. Not until 1858 did a steamboat reach El Dorado Canyon. 23 The period preceding 1858 probably saw the deposits located by itinerant prospectors, but nothing could be done with the ore before transportation existed. The knowledge that a route of supply existed was the catalyst for the El Dorado Mining District. After 1858, development began and continued with many interruptions to the present.

In 1858, Fort Mohave was established on the Colorado River at the Mohave Villages. It was garrisoned by three companies of infantry under Col. Huffman.24 It was the last p'ost abandoned in Arizona during the Civil War (May 1861). One reason for placing the post in that location was the pacification of Indians so that mining could be conducted. Of the many undocumented stories concerning the discovery of El Dorado Canyon, two approaches are generally taken, i.e., disc'overy by soldiers2" or prospectors"" led by native Indians. The diversity of accounts given makes a poor case for any specific method.

An unrelated statement made by Angel (1881) may contain more evidence on the date of discovery than any of the more definite accounts given. While discussing the Mormon settlement at Las Vegas in 1855-57, he mentions that persons from El Dorado Canyon bought the improvements made by the Mormons in 1857.27 Should this be true, we know that mining development began before or during 1857.

Following the initial period of discovery and the subsequent development of steam transportation on the Colorado River, production from the deposits became the major problem. Silver ores require milling equipment together with smelters in order to produce bullion. The first mining equipment to be established in El Dorado Canyon, excepting the underground workings of the various mines, was a small stamp mill. The date and size of this mill was a matter of conjecture. All references to its use and construction are secondary. The date of construction was prior to 1864,28 while ore shipments had been made before the "'Ashbaugh, Nevada's Turbulent . .. , 47. ·'Bancroft, History of Arizona and New Mexico, 497. "Scrugham, History of Nevada . .. , 611. Supposedly, surface float ore was discovered by soldiers camping in El Dorado Canyon. They took the mat,erial into Las Vegas where a group of prospectors recognized the ore as worthwhile. The prospectors traveled to the area and staked locations. ""Mining and Scientific Press, February 16, 1867, p. 104. 27Angel, History of ... , 476.

·'Lincoln, Mining Districts . .. , 19. This account states that the mill was built in 1863; Angel, History of ... , 489. This source maintains that a 10-stamp mill was built in 1864, mainly from parts of an earlier battery; Riggs, Reigll of ... , 98-99. Riggs quotes Charles Gracey as believing the first shipment of ore from El Dorado was sent to San Franciso in 1861-62. The first mill was built in 1863-64. 14 El Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts construction of the mill. The destination of this sacked ore was San Francisco. A contemporary account in December, 1862 says: "I have deserted Fort Mohave and fixed my quarters at the silver mines. Silver has already been obtained from ten or twelve leads. The work on Mr. Vinyard's mill is going on-a capitalist (George Hearst?) has been here and purchased stock and we expect brisk times here as soon as steamboats can reach here from San Francisco. We have petitioned for soldiers to be stationed here to protect the miners."2!l

Capital came into El Dorado at this early date. George Hearst or an agent visited the camp in 1862 and bought interests in various properties. Increased production brought additional requirements for milling facilities. In 1865, the Spear Brothers began construction of a second 10-stamp mill.30 This mill was called the New Era to differentiate it from the older mill called the Colorado. Both were close to the river at the mouth of El Dorado Canyon. The New Era had a contract to crush rock for the Techatticup mine.

During the early 1860's, approximately 300-500 persons were working in the Colorado Mining District.ll1 When formal organizati'on of the miners working about El Dorado Canyon became necessary, a mining district was established and named the Colorado Mining District. Originally located in New Mexico, the district became part of the new Territory of Arizona in February, 1863. In 1866, the district was incorporated into that part of Nevada formed from Paiute County, Arizona. The mining done in the 1860's was of the individual or small party scale. The ore was a high grade of silver chloride containing as high as 400 ounces of silver to the ton, worth over a dollar an ounce in the metals market. Even discounting the costs of transportation and smelting, a considerable profit could be realized. Of prime concern to the miners, and to potential investors, was security from Indian depredations. Once the extent and richness of the surface silver deposits had been determined, it was seen that considerable investment in milling equipment must be made. The equipment required capital that could only be raised in joint-stock companies and such firms would only invest in areas where their investment was protected. Although a military post existed at Ft. Mohave, the 'only satisfactory solution was a garrison at El Dorado close to the settlement and the mills. Agitation for a permanent garrison began in the early 1860's. Letters dated December, 1862 record the petitions made for troops by the miners. By the Spring of 1863, troops had arrived:

'"Ashbaugh, Nevada's Turbulent . .. , 48. The quotation cited was from a letter between James M. Sanford of El Dorado and John Brown of San Bernardino. Brown owned the steamship line that serviced El Dorado. The observation made concerning construction of the early mill in December, 1862 would tend to confirm that operation began in 1863. ""Daily Alta California, May 28, 1866, p. 1. $33,000 was spent on the first mill in reconstruction. :I1Scrugham, Histor), of ... , I, 611. El Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts 15

"There are only thirty soldiers at the p'ost now. They came with the steamer to guard the supplies she brought a month ago."32 During the Civil War, the regular troops were replaced by members of the volunteer Army of the Pacific, raised in California and made up principally of miners. Detachments of this organization were placed at Ft. Mohave, and Fort Piute. They were allowed to prospect during their off-duty time. Many new discoveries were made because the soldierminers would travel in well armed groups and could penetrate areas that had to be avoided by the single prospector.

The Civil War had its effect on the Colorado Mining District. Some desertion was experienced at Ft. Mohave and the post at El Dorado. The miners themselves divided into two communities and moved into separate parts of the canyon, depending on their individual proclivities. The Union camp was located at Buster Falls; while the Southern forces gathered at Lucky Jim Camp a mile down the canyon."" Population grew as those seeking to avoid military service left the more settled districts looking for areas with an absence of law and order. Some 1,500 persons were in the district at that time.:14

Hostilities between the two groups were limited to imaginative verbal exchanges. The only powder burnt was in the prospect holes and stopes of the mines. Troops built a wagon road between Hiko (c'ounty seat) and El Dorado. It provided a means of moving freight to the Pioche mines.s "

El Dorado became the head of navigation on the Colorado River and all military supplies for the garrisons in Southeastern Nevada and Utah were unloaded there from steamers, then freighted to their destination. Troops remained based at El Dorado for some time after the war. Considerable location work and development was carried out. Over 760 mineral lodes and 850 mining deeds were recorded by 1865."0 The district was important enough to warrant military protection until at least 1867. On January 6, 1867, Company D, 9th U.S. Infantry, under the command of Captain Yard, arrived at El Dorado by steamer with a year's supplies for garrison duty.:l7 Typical of the military situation in the West, was the establishment of an infantry post to control mounted Indians. Although the records of the Colorado Mining District before 1875 are missing, one example of the form used in staking a claim exists. In April, 1905, while prospecting in El Dorado Canyon, W. R. Groff found the following location notice dated February 16, 1863:
:"Ashbaugh, Nevada's Turbulent . . , , 49. Ltr., Sanford to Brown (see footnote 29), dated May 17,1863. :"'Scrugham, History of . , . , I, 611; Ashbaugh, New/da's Turbulent . .. , 49. 3'Ibid. :"Aurora Hunt, The Army of the Pacific (Glendale: The Arthur C. Clark Co., c. 1950), p. 203. 3"Mining and Scientific Press, February 16, 1867, p. 104. It is also claimed that the first stamp mill erected in El Dorado Canyon was also the first mill in Arizona. :"Ibid.

16 El Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts

"Notice-The undersigned claim six claims of 200 feet each on this lode, commencing at the NE termination of the Folsom Copper Mining Company, and running in a NE direction. Known as the Grace Copper Mining Company. William Miller, Coburn & Co., Ed Waitt, M. Angel, H. N. H. Brown, Odlia Peck, Recorder. February 16,1863."38

The Colorado Mining District was known as an area where the ordinary individual could earn above the average scale for miners. A common saying was, "If you need a stake, go to El Dorado Canyon. Nobody leaves broke."39

Organization came to the Colorado Mining District about 1870. The first group to dominate El Dorado was styled the El Dorado Mining Company, and owned the Techatticup mine together with many other properties. The Techatticup had been discovered in 1863 and from the first paid well. The surface ores were the usual silver chlorides carrying considerable "ruby" or native silver. Even after the smelting and transportation charges of $150 per ton, the sacked ore paid a substantial profit. By 1870, the Company was able to make sufficient profits to construct a mill and smelter at El Dorado which handled the Techatticup ore as well as custom work. 40

The organizer 'of the El Dorado Company was John Nash. He and his two associates, Davis and Fuller, built the mill and operated it. Like other entrepreneurs in the mining field, they saw that a healthy profit could be made from processing ore as well as owning the mine. El Dorado in the 70's had a tri-weekly mail service (part of the system between Ft. Mohave and Cedar City) and at least three saloons and two general stores were in business. 41 Wheeler (1872) published a map in his report which showed a mill at El Dorado. The district was prosperous and attracted more miners since milling and smelting could be done locally.

The most memorable event of the 1870's was the use of force by the El Dorado Company to extend its ownership of the local mines. In 1873, Nash decided to "jump" the Silver Queen Mine. This property had been purchased by George Hearst in 1862, when he supposedly visited the area, and the annual work had been done by his agents ever since. The mine was located on the same vein pattern as the Techatticup. As the distribution of the Techatticup ore bodies became known through exploration, it was seen that the stopes extended onto Hearst's property. In 1873, Hearst's representative who had arrived to do the annual work was prevented from reaching the mine and run out of camp. Nash had agreed to pay $5,000 each to three men to hold the Hearst property "'The Searchlight, April 28, 1905, p. 3. ""Searchlight Bul/etin, June 26, 1908, p. 1. 'ORiggs, Reign of ... , 98-99. Fuller had been persuaded by Davis to sell his farm in the East and devote the proceeds to the mill. They built the mill and operated it for Nash. "Searchlight Bul/etin, July 30, 1909, p. 1. El Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts 17 for a specified time. One of the men was later paid. Of the other men, Nash had one killed in camp, and employed the other in the mill.42 Force and intimidation were commonly resorted to due to the lack of any law within 250 miles. Likewise, no records were kept of the mineral production for fear of taxation from the county authorities. It is estimated that more than $3 million was produced prior to 1879.

The profits made during the 1870's and the potential of the area resulted in the sale of the El Dorado Company in 1879.~3 The purchaser was a Minneapolis group called the Southwestern Mining Company. They took over the older firm's interests and introduced considerable money into the local economy. Production continued and the mills worked constantly. Angel (1881) mentions a new 10-stamp mill built at this time as well as a roasting furnace. Forty locations were made in that year. The main workings in the larger mines were getting somewhat extensive. The Techatticup was over 380 feet deep and had tunnels over 400 feet long. An indicator of the development of the area is seen in the reduction of freight rates to San Francisco from $150 per ton to $80. 44 Costs for supplies were less, but still substantial; firewood cost $10 per cord and was floated 125 miles downstream from Utah while driftwood from the Colorado could be obtained for $1 per cord. The Mormon colonists along the Virgin River supplemented their incomes by rafting cake salt to El Dorado for use in the smelters. The salt occurred in flat lenticular deposits and was readily available on the northeast banks of the Virgin River. The miners found that their ores could be worked by the patio process if sufficient salt was added during the roasting phase of treatment. The owners of the Southwestern Mining Company soon sold out to the Barker Brothers of Philadelphia, an international mining firm. Later, in order to obtain operating capital for a mining venture in South America, they mortgaged their El Dorado properties. The venture failed, and Joseph Wharton bought the Southwestern Mining Company at sheriff's sale. Date of the sale is given as 1895.4"

The mining methods employed at El Dorado were unique. Only ore with a value of $40 per ton was worked. No machinery other than those employing mechanical advantage were used. When shafts became too deep to be worked by the windlass, they were abandoned and new workings initiated. Today, the older mining areas are easily discernible because of the long open trenches and stopes. Miners began excavation of a vein at the surface and followed the ore bodies downward. Every bit of ore was removed. Water level was reached between 200 and 300 feet in most

'"Riggs, Reign of ... ,99. '"Ibid. "Angel, History of ... ,489-490. "The Searchlight, April 6, 1905, p. 1. The dates mentioned in the local Searchlight paper vary on the acquisition of the El Dorado properties by Wharton. 1895 is the latest date, and is furnished by Charles Gracey. This date is believed to be more reliable since Gracey resided in El Dorado since the middle 1880's and was Wharton's manager from 1895 until 1910. 18 E/ Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts localities. At that point, the ores turned base. Also, as the deposits became deeper, the percentage of silver decreased while gold increased. Later work was done for gold values rather than silver. The number of individuals working in the Colorado Mining District during the 1890's was far fewer than in the 1860's. However, when it was seen that freemilling gold ores were present in the area, this provided excellent opportunities for the individual or small party. Free gold requires no chemical separation to produce bullion. The individual could locate a vein of highgrade gold ore and spend years working the deposit with an arrastra. The rock floors of these grinding machines may yet be seen in parts of the district.

John Powers worked in El Dorado continuously from 1880. Working a small an'astra and feeding it by his own labor, Powers made several thousand dollars each year. Others were doing the same thing. Powers owned several of the better properties in El Dorado Canyon. The Wall Street Mine, later to pr'oduce several hundred thousand dollars in gold before 1900, was sold to the Southwestern Mining Company by Powers because he thought the surface values were low. The first round after the sale exposed an ore body that fed a IS-stamp mill for the next 2 years. Powers acted as foreman for the Southwestern group during the development of the mine. In 1888, Powers owned the claim now known as the Black Hawk. A friend wanted to work some property, and Powers deeded the claim to him. The ore was thought to average $85 per ton. When the first shipment of ore was made to the mill, the cost was $70 per ton for handling. In disgust at the unanticipated lack of profit, the miner left the area after delivering the ore to the mill. When the cleanup was done at the end 'of the processing, it was found that the ore averaged over $300 per ton. The mill kept half and sent the other half to the miner. Powers reclaimed the mine and held it until it was bonded later to the Black Hawk Company.4G Foodstuffs for the miners came from canned produce, game animals, or the farms in Las Vegas Valley and along the Virgin and Muddy Rivers. The Mormon settlers were aware of the potential market and in the 1880's began a growing trade with El Dorado Canyon. The Stewart Ranch at Las Vegas made wine from local grapes, which had a steady market. The Kyle Ranch at Las Vegas also sent produce to El Dorado by wagon. The Moapa Valley farmers sent their material by raft:17 For over 30 years (1860-97), mining was conducted in El Dorado Canyon in the manner outlined. There was considerable production, but little outside notice. This was due to the isolated nature of the camp, with approaches controlled by "hostile Indians and scarcely less dangerous Mormons."

The El Dorado area had an abnormally high silver-gold ratio. At Searchlight, the ratio of silver to gold in production assays is 1: 1. This "The Searchlight, August 5, 1905, pp. 1-4. "Francis H. Leavitt, The Influence of the Mormon People in the Settlement of Clark COlillty, unpublished Master's Thesis, University of Nevada, 1934, p. 63. El Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts 19 ratio is 23: 1 within the Colorado Mining District. It has been estimated that production from 1874 to 1907 in the district was 37,551 tons of ore with a net value of $934,015. 48 This value was mainly in silver. In the writer's opinion, this represents less than a quarter of the actual production. The reasons for questioning the reliability of the estimates are (1) they were taken fom the records kept in the county seat (over 300 miles away), (2) the individual miner rarely reported his production, (3) both major companies operating in the district falsified their records to prevent taxation, and (4) the bonanza years of the late 1850's and 1860's were exempted from the estimate.

48 Frederick Leslie Ransome, Preliminary Accollnt of Goldfield, Bullfrog, alld other Milling Districts in Southern Nevada, U.S.G.S. Bulletin No. 303 (Washington: GOY't. Printing Office, 1907), p. 65.

-Credit E. C. Braswell, Winnemucca Crew and equipment for the Quartette Mining Company Railroad between the mine at Searchlight and the mill located on the Colorado River due east of the mining district.

Early Development of El Dorado Canyon and Searchlight Mining Districts JOHN M. TOWNLEY