The rich ledges around what would become Candelaria had been known from the 1860’s. But with water eight miles away at Columbus and fuel eight miles away in another direction, literally nothing was happening. But that changed in 1870.
But in 1870 three important mills were built in Columbus. The first was Colonel Samuel Youngs. It seemed to stop milling sometime around 1872.
The Sweetapple & Hazeltine was the second. It commenced operations in 1870. It lasted until 1879.
The third (which opened a few months before the Sweetapple & Hazeltine) was the Columbus Mill & Mining Company. This mill was in operation from 1870 to 1874. Like the other mills, the ore at Columbus was only valued at $10 a ton That was too low of a grade to keep mills operating. However, Candelaria didn’t have water and needed a place to mill its ore. Some of the Candelaria ore made it way to this mill.
This company also had its own mine that produced a significant amount of ore from a group of mines: Baluarte, Major Tompkins, Platina, Black-Metallic, and General Thomas. From 1871 to 1875 these mines produced over $2,000,000.
The Reese River Reveille reported in 1873 that the Columbus Mill & mining Company was running steadily as twelve tons per day with an average value of $100 per ton.
But in 1874 the wheels came off the bus. On July 16th the Columbus Mill & Mining Company declared bankruptcy!
It would be reopened in November of 1875 as the General Thomas Mill. It is not known when this mill closed its doors, but it certainly didn’t last more than a year or two.
1. “History of Nevada, 1881” by Davis
2. “Nevada’s Metal and Mineral Production” University of Nevada Geology and Mining Series Number 38, 1943
3. “Reports of Cases Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Nevada, 1879-1880” Volume 14, 1911
4. “Nevada Ghost Town and Mining Camps” by Paher
5. “Candelaria and its Neighbors” by Shamberger
But in 1870 three important mills were built in Columbus. The first was Colonel Samuel Youngs. It seemed to stop milling sometime around 1872.
The Sweetapple & Hazeltine was the second. It commenced operations in 1870. It lasted until 1879.
The third (which opened a few months before the Sweetapple & Hazeltine) was the Columbus Mill & Mining Company. This mill was in operation from 1870 to 1874. Like the other mills, the ore at Columbus was only valued at $10 a ton That was too low of a grade to keep mills operating. However, Candelaria didn’t have water and needed a place to mill its ore. Some of the Candelaria ore made it way to this mill.
This company also had its own mine that produced a significant amount of ore from a group of mines: Baluarte, Major Tompkins, Platina, Black-Metallic, and General Thomas. From 1871 to 1875 these mines produced over $2,000,000.
The Reese River Reveille reported in 1873 that the Columbus Mill & mining Company was running steadily as twelve tons per day with an average value of $100 per ton.
But in 1874 the wheels came off the bus. On July 16th the Columbus Mill & Mining Company declared bankruptcy!
It would be reopened in November of 1875 as the General Thomas Mill. It is not known when this mill closed its doors, but it certainly didn’t last more than a year or two.
1. “History of Nevada, 1881” by Davis
2. “Nevada’s Metal and Mineral Production” University of Nevada Geology and Mining Series Number 38, 1943
3. “Reports of Cases Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Nevada, 1879-1880” Volume 14, 1911
4. “Nevada Ghost Town and Mining Camps” by Paher
5. “Candelaria and its Neighbors” by Shamberger