Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads (1860-1910) Section 4: The Mining Boom

Chapter 14: The Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads Western Crossroads

(1860-1910)(1860-1910)

Section 4: The Mining BoomSection 4: The Mining Boom

Gold and SilverGold and Silver

► The first promising mining The first promising mining discoveries after the discoveries after the California Gold Rush took California Gold Rush took place in Colorado. place in Colorado. Prospectors found gold near Prospectors found gold near

Pike’s Peak in late 1858.Pike’s Peak in late 1858. By early 1859, thousands of By early 1859, thousands of

people had flocked to people had flocked to Colorado. Colorado.

Many prospectors left in Many prospectors left in disappointment by disappointment by midsummer. midsummer.


► The Carson River The Carson River Valley was another Valley was another center of mining center of mining activity in 1859.activity in 1859.


► In addition to gold, In addition to gold, the region contained the region contained the Comstock Lode, the Comstock Lode, one of the world’s one of the world’s richest silver veins. richest silver veins.

► Over a period of 20 Over a period of 20 years its mines years its mines yielded about $500 yielded about $500 million worth of million worth of precious metals.precious metals.


►Some miners went south to Arizona, Some miners went south to Arizona, where Hispanics had been mining where Hispanics had been mining silver since the mid-1870s. silver since the mid-1870s. They introduced new They introduced new

mining methods, mining methods, including the patio including the patio process, which used process, which used mercury to extract mercury to extract silver from ore. silver from ore.

Northern VenturesNorthern Ventures

►Some miners went as far north as Some miners went as far north as British Columbia. British Columbia.

►This movement had This movement had

important consequences important consequences

for Russia and the United for Russia and the United

States.States.


►Russia, at that time, owned Alaska, Russia, at that time, owned Alaska, and offered to sell it to the U.S.and offered to sell it to the U.S.

►U.S. Secretary U.S. Secretary

of State William H. of State William H.

Seward negotiated Seward negotiated

the purchase of the purchase of

Alaska in 1867.Alaska in 1867.


►Seward believed the price, which Seward believed the price, which

came out to less than two cents came out to less than two cents

an acre, was a good deal.an acre, was a good deal.►Many Americans, however, considered Many Americans, however, considered

Alaska worthless, ridiculing the purchase Alaska worthless, ridiculing the purchase as “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Ice as “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Ice Box.”Box.”

►Seward remained confident, however, Seward remained confident, however, that the purchase had been worth it. that the purchase had been worth it.


► In 1896, prospectors discovered gold In 1896, prospectors discovered gold in the Klondike district of Canada’s in the Klondike district of Canada’s Yukon Territory, which bordered Yukon Territory, which bordered Alaska.Alaska.

►This led to the This led to the

Klondike Gold Klondike Gold

Rush. Rush.


►Gold discoveries in 1898 and 1902 Gold discoveries in 1898 and 1902 attracted even more settlers. attracted even more settlers.

►Today, there is something under the Today, there is something under the ice of Alaska that some might say is ice of Alaska that some might say is even more valuable than gold…what is even more valuable than gold…what is it??it??

Question 1Question 1

►How did mining bring more people to How did mining bring more people to the West?the West?

Life in Mining CommunitiesLife in Mining Communities

►Mining communities sprang up Mining communities sprang up overnight wherever news of possible overnight wherever news of possible wealth brought prospectors together. wealth brought prospectors together.

►Prospecting was typically not a family Prospecting was typically not a family enterprise – most camps consisted enterprise – most camps consisted almost entirely of male residents. almost entirely of male residents.

The SettlersThe Settlers

►Mining camps drew a wide range of Mining camps drew a wide range of settlers. settlers. The mix often included U.S. citizens, The mix often included U.S. citizens,

miners from the Cornwall region of miners from the Cornwall region of England, and Irish and Chinese England, and Irish and Chinese

immigrants.immigrants.

The SettlersThe Settlers

►The atmosphere was one of intense The atmosphere was one of intense competition. competition.

►The competition often led to The competition often led to discrimination. discrimination. Miners in the Cripple Creek camp in Colorado Miners in the Cripple Creek camp in Colorado

forcibly excluded eastern and southern forcibly excluded eastern and southern Europeans as well as Hispanics.Europeans as well as Hispanics.

Most Chinese miners left the Rocky Mountain Most Chinese miners left the Rocky Mountain camps because of hostile treatment.camps because of hostile treatment.

InstabilityInstability► Western mining camps Western mining camps

were some of the most were some of the most violent places in the violent places in the U.S. during the late U.S. during the late 1800s.1800s.

► Tensions between Tensions between ethnic groups often led ethnic groups often led to fighting, gamblers to fighting, gamblers and swindlers swarmed and swindlers swarmed in, and conflicts over in, and conflicts over claims set off brawls.claims set off brawls.

InstabilityInstability

►Deadwood, South Dakota, gained a Deadwood, South Dakota, gained a reputation as a particularly tough reputation as a particularly tough town.town. It became the final resting place of Wild It became the final resting place of Wild

Bill Hickok, who was shot dead as he Bill Hickok, who was shot dead as he played cards. played cards.


►The absence of law enforcement The absence of law enforcement sometimes led people in mining camps sometimes led people in mining camps to form vigilante committees to to form vigilante committees to combat theft and violence. combat theft and violence. Vigilante committees often used violence Vigilante committees often used violence

to resolve problems, however.to resolve problems, however.


►Stability came as the camps grew into Stability came as the camps grew into towns. towns.

►The camps attracted businesses eager The camps attracted businesses eager to feed and clothe the miners. to feed and clothe the miners. Cooking, cleaning, and providing lodging Cooking, cleaning, and providing lodging

were profitable, along with being a saloon were profitable, along with being a saloon and storeowner. and storeowner.


►The few children living in the camps The few children living in the camps hunted for gold dust after the miners hunted for gold dust after the miners had finished for the day. They also had finished for the day. They also sold fresh food to the miners.sold fresh food to the miners.

►Prosperity brought law and order and Prosperity brought law and order and the establishment of churches, the establishment of churches, newspapers, schools, and even newspapers, schools, and even theaters and music groups.theaters and music groups.


►Denver and Boulder, Colorado; Carson Denver and Boulder, Colorado; Carson City, Nevada; and Helena, Montana all City, Nevada; and Helena, Montana all began as mining camps.began as mining camps.


►Besides mining, how did people in the Besides mining, how did people in the West earn a living?West earn a living?

Mining as Big BusinessMining as Big Business

►The era of the lone miner did not last The era of the lone miner did not last long.long.

►Within a few years after a strike, most Within a few years after a strike, most of the easily accessible mineral of the easily accessible mineral deposits were “worked out.”deposits were “worked out.”


►Mining ore deposits deep below the Mining ore deposits deep below the Earth’s surface required resources and Earth’s surface required resources and technology far beyond the means of technology far beyond the means of the average prospector.the average prospector. Therefore, mining became dominated by Therefore, mining became dominated by

large, well-financed companies.large, well-financed companies.


►Mining companies relied on Mining companies relied on technological know-how rather than on technological know-how rather than on guesswork or luck.guesswork or luck. College-educated geologists and College-educated geologists and

engineers located the ore and instructed engineers located the ore and instructed the companies how best to extract it.the companies how best to extract it.►Major ores were copper, iron, lead, and Major ores were copper, iron, lead, and

zinc.zinc.


► Companies used two methods to reach the Companies used two methods to reach the ore. ore. Hydraulic mining – water shot at high pressure Hydraulic mining – water shot at high pressure

ripped away gravel and dirt to expose the minerals ripped away gravel and dirt to expose the minerals beneath.beneath.►This method was This method was

very harmful to the very harmful to the

environment, as environment, as

displaced soil clogged displaced soil clogged

rivers and caused rivers and caused

flooding.flooding.


Hard-rock mining – involved sinking deep Hard-rock mining – involved sinking deep shafts to obtain ore shafts to obtain ore

locked in veins locked in veins

of rocks.of rocks.


►The work was dirty and dangerous. The work was dirty and dangerous. Temperatures in the mines could reach Temperatures in the mines could reach

150150°° F. F. Poor ventilation led to respiratory illness. Poor ventilation led to respiratory illness. Cave-ins, rockfalls, and the use of Cave-ins, rockfalls, and the use of

explosives sometimes caused injury or explosives sometimes caused injury or death. death.

Injured workers rarely received Injured workers rarely received compensation.compensation.


►Miners soon grew dissatisfied with the Miners soon grew dissatisfied with the wages and working conditions.wages and working conditions. In some communities, miners formed In some communities, miners formed

unions, which battled for compensation unions, which battled for compensation from injury or death and fought to from injury or death and fought to increase wages.increase wages.


►Mining increasingly Mining increasingly became the task of became the task of large companies, large companies, which would greatly which would greatly affect the landscape affect the landscape and environment of and environment of the West.the West.


►How did the methods of early miners How did the methods of early miners differ from those who worked in differ from those who worked in company-owned mines?company-owned mines?

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Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads (1860-1910) Section 4: The Mining Boom