GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EUREKA DISTRICT. 3 



level, or about 700 feet above Spring Valley, which divides the Prospect 

 Mountain ridge from the next succeeding one on the west. Although the 

 hill has a rather steep ascent it is by no means as rugged as many parts of 

 the mountain of which it forms a spur. 



Adams Hill is a low hill, about 6,950 feet above sea-level, and is sit- 

 uated about half a mile north of Ruby Hill, from which it is separated by 

 a narrow ravine leading into Spring Valley. It is somewhat lower than 

 Ruby Hill, and presents no particular feature of topographical interest. It 

 may be regarded as the north end of the Prospect Mountain anticlinal, and 

 slopes off gradually toward Spring and Diamond Valleys. 



Hoosac Mountain, somewhat noteworthy on account of a mine in the 

 quartzite, lies just north of the divide between Secret Canon and the main 

 canon. Its altitude above sea-level is about 8,500 feet. 



History. — Ore was first discovered in this district in 1864, in New York 

 Canon, near the present "76" mine, and a company was organized in New 

 York to work the mines, under the direction of Major McCoy, one of the 

 pioneers of this region. These discovery claims, although producing some 

 rich ore, were shortly abandoned, and the district remained uninhabited 

 until the latter part of 1868 or the beginning of 1869, at which time Major 

 McCoy recommenced mining operations on what is called Mineral Hill, an 

 elevation situated a short distance south of Ruby Hill. Subsequently, in 

 the same year, some men in his employ located the Champion and Buckeye 

 claims on the southwest side of Ruby Hill, and shortly afterwards the 

 Richmond and Tip-Top ground was taken up. 



In Nevada in those days silver-bearing lead ores unless very rich were 

 considered of little value, and although the outcrops of these locations ex- 

 posed large quantities of such ore, little interest was taken in them until, 

 after several unsuccessful attempts by others, Mr. Gr. Collier Robbins in the 

 early part of 1870 succeeded in smelting ores from the Champion and Buck- 

 eye, if not with profit, at any rate with satisfactory metallurgical results. 

 This induced Messrs. Buel & Bateman to bond these mines and organize 

 the Eureka Consolidated Mining Company of San Francisco. Furnaces 

 were then built near what now forms the north end of the town of Eureka, 

 and active operations began upon the claims of the company. 



