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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 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Boomtowns to Ghost Towns: Mining in 19th-Century America
Boomtowns to Ghost Towns: Mining in 19th-Century AmericaUS History: Spiconardi
Comstock LodeIn 1859, two men found gold on the land of Henry ComstockComstock soon discovered silver was also in the lodeSilver was actually more valuable at the timeComstock Lode becomes one of the richest silver mines in the world
The Mining Process
Mining Process
Life in the BoomtownsMost prospectors in lived in tentsAs more and more prospectors came out west, stores, hotels, and buildings emergedTent towns soon became boomtowns
Life in the BoomtownsThe Prospectors and MinersAlmost 50% of the miners were foreign-bornForeign born miners faced discriminationChinese were prevented from claiming abandoned mining sites.Chinese and Mexicans were only allowed to perform the dangerous labor of going into the mines
Life in the BoomtownWomen You might not think women were involved in the rough world of mining towns butOpened restaurants to feed the minersLaundry service for minersRented rooms to minersOften women made more money than their prospecting husbandsWomen were seen as voice of moralityHad to Christianize the Chinese, unmarried mothers, and Indians
ProblemsThe ExpenseEquipment costs more than the value of the mined precious metalsSome prospectors borrowed money thinking they could repay loansThe DangerClimbing MountainsWalking across desertsExcavating 3200 feet below ground
Ghost TownsOnce all the precious metals had been mined, boomtowns were deserted and turned into ghost townsCan you think of industries and cities today, in 2009, that have gone from boom to ghost?
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