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Boomtowns to Ghost Towns: Mining in 19 th -Century America

US History: Spiconardi . Boomtowns to Ghost Towns: Mining in 19 th -Century America. Comstock Lode. In 1859, two men found gold on the land of Henry Comstock Comstock soon discovered silver was also in the lode Silver was actually more valuable at the time

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Boomtowns to Ghost Towns: Mining in 19 th -Century America

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  1. US History: Spiconardi Boomtowns to Ghost Towns: Mining in 19th-Century America

  2. Comstock Lode In 1859, two men found gold on the land of Henry Comstock Comstock soon discovered silver was also in the lode Silver was actually more valuable at the time Comstock Lode becomes one of the richest silver mines in the world

  3. The Mining Process

  4. Mining Process

  5. Life in the Boomtowns • Most prospectors in lived in tents • As more and more prospectors came out west, stores, hotels, and buildings emerged • Tent towns soon became boomtowns

  6. Life in the Boomtowns • The Prospectors and Miners • Almost 50% of the miners were foreign-born • Foreign born miners faced discrimination • Chinese were prevented from claiming abandoned mining sites. • Chinese and Mexicans were only allowed to perform the dangerous labor of going into the mines

  7. Life in the Boomtown • Women • You might not think women were involved in the rough world of mining towns but… • Opened restaurants to feed the miners • Laundry service for miners • Rented rooms to miners • Often women made more money than their prospecting husbands • Women were seen as voice of morality • Had to “Christianize” the Chinese, unmarried mothers, and Indians

  8. Problems • The Expense • Equipment costs more than the value of the mined precious metals • Some prospectors borrowed money thinking they could repay loans • The Danger • Climbing Mountains • Walking across deserts • Excavating 3200 feet below ground

  9. Ghost Towns • Once all the precious metals had been mined, boomtowns were deserted and turned into ghost towns • Can you think of industries and cities today, in 2009, that have gone from boom to ghost?

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