Mountain City Ranger District heritage overview

2007·3.1 MB·English

by  Kumiega, Karen

Historic, archived document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

Mountain City Ranger District
Heritage Overview

USDA Forest Service
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Prepared By
Karen Kumiega
2007

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction..........................................................................................................................1
Environmental Overview...................................................................................................4
Present Environment............................................................................................4
Paleo-Environment...............................................................................................9
Native American Occupations.......................................................................................17
Prehistory.............................................................................................................17
Ethnographic Overview....................................................................................24
Historical Overview..........................................................................................................32
Early Exploration...............................................................................................32
Early Settlement..................................................................................................33
Grazing.................................................................................................................34
Mining Districts..................................................................................................38
Aura Mining District...................................................................................40
Edgemont Mining District........................................................................42
Mountain City Mining District..................................................................43
Alder Mining District..................................................................................47
Island Mountain Mining District..............................................................48
Charleston Mining District........................................................................53
Hicks Mining District……………………………………………..54
Gold Basin Mining District.......................................................................55
Telephone Mining District........................................................................57
Independence Mining District..................................................................58
Timber Production and Mills...........................................................................58
Power Plants........................................................................................................59
Transportation....................................................................................................60
Designation of the Forest Service & the Mountain City District..............61
Civilian Conservation Corps............................................................................65
Desired Future Condition...............................................................................................66
Research Contexts............................................................................................................68
National Register Considerations....................................................................68
A Framework For Assessing Historic Site Significance..............................69
Prehistory.............................................................................................................70
Ethnography........................................................................................................75
Exploration & Early Settlement......................................................................76
Nevada Ranching, Farming & Irrigation.......................................................79
Forest Service Development & Administrative Sites..................................84
Mineral Extraction/Townsite Development................................................85
Historic Transportation Routes.......................................................................85
References Cited...............................................................................................................91

Cover Photos:
Island Mountain Chinese Community, Frau Hilda Matthey Photographer. Circa 1903
Mountain City Ranger Station, 1920, Unknown Photographer.
North Fork Drainage, Independence Range, 1966, George Gruell Photographer
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List of Figures

# Description Page
1 Mt. City Ranger District Location Map............................................................2
2 Humboldt National Forest Staff, Circa 1910..................................................3
3 Mt. City Ranger District heritage Overview Map............................................5
4 Geology Map..........................................................................................................7
5 Vegetation Map......................................................................................................8
6 Paleo-Environment and Archaeological Study Locations..........................12
7 The Neothermal (Postglacial or Postpluvial)................................................13
8 Aboriginal Western Shoshone Territory........................................................25
9 Gamedrive on the Jarbidge District................................................................28
10 Map of Pinyon Locations..................................................................................29
11 Map of Mining Districts in Elko County.......................................................39
12 Historic Mining Communities.........................................................................41
13 Mountain City and Rio Tinto, 1934................................................................46
14 Mine in Hammond/Coleman Canyon, Circa 1903.....................................50
15 Hong Lee in Front of His Store......................................................................51
16 Hydraulic Mining in the island Mountain Mining District, Circa 1903....52
17 Remains of the Dexter Power Plant, 2006....................................................59
18 Head of Trail Creek............................................................................................61
19 Syd Tremewan and Clerk in Forest Service Office, 1908...........................62
20 A. W. Garrison at McAfee Ranger Station, 1907.........................................63
21 Meadow Creek Ranger Station, 1911..............................................................63
22 Map of Forest Service Administrative Sites..................................................64

List of Tables

1 Pluvial Lakes…………………………………………………………10
2 Proposed Tule Valley & North fork Humboldt River Area Sequence..17
3 Regional Chronological Comparison……….…………………………18

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