Comstock PP Notes

Comstock

First silver deposit found in U.S. in 1859
Created Virginia City NV
Grew the Port and city of San Francisco
1859-1878
Comstock bought the mines from the death of the Grosh brothers who never realized the wealth of the mine





1877 peak year: $14 Million in gold and $21 Million in silver
Virginia City became a center of economic wealth and importance

Comstock
Dug down to 3200 feet
Used tunnels to excavate
Surface digging was too difficult
Ore was soft and could be lifted by shovels
Dangers of cave-ins
Collapsing tunnels
Flooding
Comstock
Advanced mining technology
Square set timbering
Development of hoisting cages
Use of compressed air in drills and fans was pioneered
Wire rope was created

Comstock
Loads were shipped out first on mules and horses, then via RR to SF
The wealth of the mines allowed SF to boom
Why NV is often called the ‘Silver State’

Comstock

Yielded $400 million in silver and gold
Created Industry and growth
Men like Hertz became millionaires
Virginia City was the most important city between Denver and SF
At its peak it would host 30,000 residents
By the 1950s about 500 people remained