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. Ore was first discovered in this district in 1864, in New York Cañon, 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 the region. VI Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, 1879 From this discovery dates the beginning of the prominence and prosperity of the district. Cornish miners discovered a promising outcrop about 2 1/2 miles west of Eureka which they named Ruby Hill. The Jackson Company also built a small furnace and produced some lead bullion.Īll the locations up to the summer of 1869 were in New York Canyon. Robbins, as agent for the Buttercup Company, built a small "draft furnace" which was partially successful and subsequently a larger furnace. Meanwhile, the Tannahill Company, an Eastern corporation, had done a little work, but ultimately ceased operations. This furnace was only moderately successful. Stetefeldt, M.E., a small furnace for the reduction of ore. Little was done in the district until the Spring of 1869, when Major W.W. They had intended to follow the old road, through the pass across the Diamond Range, some three miles north of the present location of the town of Eureka, but some of the laggards of the company, deeming the canyon leading to the south the easier passage, took that direction, and found some rich mineral "float" in what is now called New York Canyon, just south of the present town. Silver ore was first discovered in this locality by some members of the Leathers' party from Austin, on their way to White Pine, in the latter part of 1864, or early in 1865.
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The territory now known as Eureka County was formerly a portion of Lander, the "Mother of Counties." The Legislature of 1874 cut off from Lander a narrow strip, running north and south, and formed thereof the present county of Eureka. It is the second town of importance in Nevada.
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It has nowhere a grade of over 100 feet to the mile, and is reported to have cost something more than $1,000,000.Įureka, which, in the year 1869, had but one or two log cabins, has now a population of 5000 to 6000, with two daily newspapers, two lines of telegraph, a railroad, and many fine buildings. This road was built and equipped without aid from either State or county.
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The town of Eureka is situated in the county of Eureka, in the eastern part of the State, ninety-one miles south of Palisade Station, on the Central Pacific Railroad, with which is is connected by a narrow gauge railroad. OK, so Eureka isn't a ghost town per se, but it's one of Nevada's most significant mining areas and there is a ton of stuff here, not to mention the remains of several minor mining camps. Take US 50 east from Fallon for 180 miles Eureka (including Vanderbilt, Ruby Hill, Geddes, Pinto, Napias)