NEVADA SILVER. 



747 



penses of the mine, which worked 110,000 tons of ore during those 

 two years, were nearly $6,000,000. It is believed that twice as 

 much could easily have been paid in dividends, but, as the presi- 

 dent of the company said, "every shareholder was crazy and 

 wanted it snaked out at once at any cost." Gould and Curry, 

 July 1, 1863, was selling at $6,300 per foot (the old way of meas- 

 uring values) ; in July, 1864, it was worth only $900. Belcher 

 was one of the dividend mines of the Comstock, having paid 

 $16,000,000 up to 1880. It had 104,000 shares after 1869. In that 

 year prices ranged from $12 to $35 ; in 1870, sank from $36 to $1 ; 

 in January, 1871, rose to $6, and in December to $450 ; in Janu- 



Alta Mine, Mill, and Dump, Gold Hill. 



ary, 1872, sank to $6, and in April rose to $1,525, fluctuating all 

 that summer down to $1.50, up to $95, and back and forth after 

 this fashion for years. Once it rose in a month from 25 cents to 

 $113 a share. Out of 103 Washoe mines listed, only six ever paid 

 more money in dividends than they levied in assessments. These 

 six were Consolidated Virginia, California, Belcher, Crown Point, 

 Gould and Curry, and Kentuck. Some of the assessments levied 

 upon mines that never paid a cent to the stockholders remain un- 

 paralleled in mining history. Ten mines sank nearly $17,000,000 

 before 1880. Assessments on Bullion were $3,352,000; on Over- 

 man, $3,162,800. Alta, Baltimore, Caledonia, Mexico, Imperial 

 these and other non-producers are still remembered with sorrow 

 by thousands of investors. 



