chapter 18 section 1 mining booms. pike’s peak or bust colorado rockies in 1858
TRANSCRIPT
1858 servants made less than $1.00
a day
Foreign investors
$20.00 a daypanning for
gold
underground lodes – rich streaks between layers of
rock
Comstock Lode
A rich lode of silver-bearing ore on the banks of the Carson River in Nevada.
Henry Comstock
•Henry Comstock owned the land
•Henry sold it for $11,000 & 2 mules
•Worth hundreds of millions in gold/silver
•Mining companies purchased the land
BOOMTOWNS:• Built around mining areas• Wild and lawless• Vigilante groups ruled• Few women and children• “busted” when all ore had been mined• ( 30,000 to 4,000 inhabitants) ghost
towns
Life of a miner*vigilantes ruled the towns*lived in boomtowns that were filled with violence (stealing and cheating were common) *Worked from daylight until dark*extravagant living and gambling (food, lodging, clothing)*fortunate miners - $2,000 a year*Women – sewed, cooked, entertained, started schools, churches, businesses - brought stability
Government & the Railroads
subsidies
Rail networks
wanted free land
Towns offered
cash subsidies
20 – 80 miles wide
of land
130 mill. acres