DEVELOPMENT. 27 



stipulated for the fulfillment of all his promises. A similar spirit, worthy of 

 emulation by all engaged in mini ig practice, was observed in other respects. 

 The Austin assayer, for example, received $32,000 for the assay which he made. 

 With the proof that considerable quantities of high-grade ore existed at 

 Tonopah a the camp soon filled up with the usual stirring, excited population of a 

 new mining camp. A writer in the Anuuai Report of the Director of the Mint, 

 on the Production of Precious Metals in 1901, quaintly remarks, speaking of the 

 conditions in 1902: 



"Tonopah supports 32 saloons, 6 faro Barnes, 2 dance houses, 2 weekly news- 

 papers, a public school, 2 daily stage lines, 2 churche?, and other elements of internal 

 prosperity. It is a very orderly community, and there has been but one stage rob- 

 bery thus far." 



In the center of the town the Fraction shaft, starting in unmineralized soft 

 volcanic rock, sunk down and encountered some rich ore at a depth of several 

 hundred feet. This fired the imaginations of the prospector and the promoter with 

 the idea that ore underlay the surface formations everywhere and was to be had 

 for the sinking. Claims a long distance away from the real discoveries were in 

 demand, though they showed no surface indications. To hold these claims, samples 

 assaying something in gold and silver were diligently sought for, and in some cases 

 it was only an obliging or careless assayer that saved the day. Companies were 

 organized, treasury stock was advertised and sold, and shafts were started in many 

 different places. Four out of five of the shafts or tunnels that were actually begun 

 were desperately forlorn hopes, to speak conservatively, while many companies, 

 especially some who were a considerable distance from the discoveries, may safely 

 be classed as swindles. Others again aid this included most of those near the 

 camp proper were the honest investments of earnest men (PI. III). 



In the winter of 1902-3 rich ores were discovered in the ground of the Montana 

 Tonopah shaft, which had been sunk several hundred feet through the overlying 

 barren andesite. Later on, other shafts also encountered ore at a considerable 

 depth, notably the Desert Queen shaft, the North Star, and the Tonopah Extension. 

 These, however, are all close to the original discoveries, and no important finds have 

 been made in the outlying territory. On this account, in the summer of 1903, a 

 decided dullness set in. Many of the most important prospecting and exploration 

 workings were closed down on account of lack of funds or too faint encouragement, 

 and the era of reckless and feverish investment and activity was closed, at least for 

 the time being. 



"The name ia Indian, and means water brush, a desert shrub whose presence points to moisture in the soil 

 beneath. 



