Truckee River Coal Ledge
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Crystal Peak City was laid out in 1864 (the same year as our document) by the Crystal Peak Company that owned the lumber and mining interests ten to fifteen miles to the west. The town was located in a grassy nook between two jutting hills making it a splendid site. In 1868 enjoyed a great prosperity. 1,500 residents called the city home.
And with the coming of the Central Pacific Railroad, the first transcontinental railroad, they were busy supplying the wood for building the tracks and firing the engines. But with all the joy; came great sorrow. For a few miles to the east the Central Pacific established Verdi, Nevada. In 1869 the post office was moved to Verdi and by 1880 only a scant few residents remained. Very few people today would even know that there was such a vibrant community that no longer exists. But they would be more surprised to know they mined coal! Yet coal would be almost as valuable as the silver they were taking out of the Comstock by the train loads. Coal could power the mills. Coal could power the train engines. Coal could make a huge economic impact. So buying ten feet of a coal ledge in 1864 was potentially a great financial windfall. Unfortunately the coal in the area proved to be much newer than the coal fields back east. The coal contained willow leaves, grasses, and sagebrush. The coal was just to thin and of such poor quality to be used. But we do know from articles in the Reno Crescent in 1869 that the coal was given every opportunity. FEBRUARY 20 1869 RENO CRESCENT A locomotive:- came down from Verdi on Wednesday last using for fuel nothing but Crystal Peak coal. JANUARY 30 1869 RENO CRESCENT Crystal Peak Coal Docter Harrison, of Crystal Peak, has revived his coal mine; neighbor Borowsky has, we think, an interest in the mine, he brought us a piece of coal a few days since which he took from the mine himself. We tried a part of it in our stove, it burned nicely. The locomotive "Industry" gave it a trial lately, and the engineer in charge pronounced it superior to the pine wood of Crystal Peak for steam making purposes. Borowsky informs us that where they are working in the tunnel, the tunnel is surrounded on all sides by coal, and they do not know the extent of the vain. A richer quality of coal is beginning to appear in the tunnel and all those interested in the mine wear a "eureka" expression on their continence. May there smiles broaden, may they each enabled to keep a coal yard if they want to, may they deal so righteously on earth that no cinders will adhere to them beyond, and may they be finally dumped in Paradise. That makes the locomotive "Industry" the earliest CPRR coal burner. This document above pertains to the selling of ten feet of the Truckee River Coal Ledge, situated on Dog Creek, Crystal Peak City, Washoe County, Nevada Territory for $50.00. It is signed with a hand written seal. Crystal Peak was a long way from any major populated area and the residents probably had to improvise a lot. This is one example. Of all the people listed on this document, I could learn very little. They must have entered into Nevada history and disappeared just as quickly. The witness George Mason was listed in the Utah Territory census of 1860. He was born about 1836 in North Carolina. His occupation was listed as teamster. George C Cabot was the Washoe County Recorder. He was an original officer in the Reno Mason’s in 1865. * “History of Nevada 1881” Thompson & West * “Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps” by Paher * CPRR Discussion Forum online |
(Above) At the request of the Wells Fargo Company, this deed was officially entered into the records on December 5, 1864 five months after the transaction. (Why Wells Fargo requested this is a mystery?) W. Glengall Kelly sold the property to George Wilkinson
(Below) One of the few remains of Crystal Peak City may be these oxen shoes from the Crystal Peak blacksmith shop. These shoes were much larger than the ones used by the immigrant wagon train oxen. Authors collection. Dug by Keith Mulcahey in the 1950’s. |