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Mina
Mina was founded as a railroad town in 1905. The railroad is long gone, but at one time a local shuttle called the "Slim Princess" allowed Native Americans to ride free of charge atop the railcars, and passengers and crew would shoot wild game from open windows. The train moved slowly enough that hunters were able to retrieve their game and reboard.
Belleville
Belleville was founded in 1872 with the construction of a twenty-stamp mill to serve the Northern Belle Mine at Candelaria. Another twenty-stamper was constructed a few years later. Its first bullion bar shipment of $9,200 was made in April 1875. The town was famed for a "Wild West" atmosphere. Murders, drunken brawls, and practical jokes were commonplace. When the Carson and Colorado Railroad reached the town in 1882 its population was 500, and the town was served by a doctor, assay office, express office, telegraph station, livery stable, school, two hotels, restaurants, and blacksmith shops as well as by seven saloons. With water being piped to Candelaria this allowed the ore to be milled nearer the mine, and Belleville was deserted by 1892.
Mina was founded as a railroad town in 1905. The railroad is long gone, but at one time a local shuttle called the "Slim Princess" allowed Native Americans to ride free of charge atop the railcars, and passengers and crew would shoot wild game from open windows. The train moved slowly enough that hunters were able to retrieve their game and reboard.
Belleville
Belleville was founded in 1872 with the construction of a twenty-stamp mill to serve the Northern Belle Mine at Candelaria. Another twenty-stamper was constructed a few years later. Its first bullion bar shipment of $9,200 was made in April 1875. The town was famed for a "Wild West" atmosphere. Murders, drunken brawls, and practical jokes were commonplace. When the Carson and Colorado Railroad reached the town in 1882 its population was 500, and the town was served by a doctor, assay office, express office, telegraph station, livery stable, school, two hotels, restaurants, and blacksmith shops as well as by seven saloons. With water being piped to Candelaria this allowed the ore to be milled nearer the mine, and Belleville was deserted by 1892.
Rock lined underground culvert
The mill ruins have a medieval-look. The curved stone walls seem unusual.
Candelaria
Beginning in 1880 the area began to prosper. The big producer was a mine called the Northern Belle that produced $15 million in silver. But there was no water. Water was transported from a spring nine miles away and cost a dollar a gallon. Whiskey was less expensive. Even the stampmill operated without water creating an atmosphere of dust, which settled in the lungs of the miners, causing many to die of "miners consumption." In 1882 a good water supply and a spur of the Carson & Colorado railroad came to the camp. In its heyday, Candelaria could boast of two hotels, stores, lawyers, three doctors and countless saloons. The financial panic of 1893 caused many mines to close down. Most of the people deserted the town but a few remained. The following seven years proved difficult for the remaining citizens—now a dry, wind swept, desolate place, bitterly cold in winter and unbearably hot and dry in summer. But still some remained hoping beyond hope for a recovery that never came.
Our time was cut short here. It was cold, windy and hailing.
Sunrise Valley RV Park 775-573-2214 Long pull thru sites $35.00 w/t site #7 Wifi terrible
ReplyDeleteCurrently the only gas station in Mina is out of business. Closest gas is in Hawthorne 34 miles away. Lots of mines and ghost towns to see in this area.