A burro-drawn wagon hauling lumber and supplies into Goldfield, Nevada, ca.1904

Abstract

Photograph of a burro-drawn wagon hauling lumber and supplies into Goldfield, Nevada, ca.1904. A pack of 20 burros, adjoined with harnesses, pull two wagons fully loaded with lumber and other supplies. Its drivers, two men on horses, follow closely by its side to gear burros. Other burro carts or wagons are heading in same direction. At left is a single story building displaying signs that read: Nevada Exploration Co. and the Orlanda rooms. At left are other houses, buildings or stores that line street. Numerous tents are visible in distance near base of mountain (or hill?) just beyond buildings on right.; 1902 gold was discovered in hills near Tonopah, Nevada. Soon a few tents dotted barren hills among Joshua trees, and boomtown of Goldfield was born. In 1903 only 36 people lived in new town. By 1908 Goldfield was Nevada's largest city, with over 25,000 inhabitants. Along with influx of miners and businessmen, came labor The Western Federation of Miners, Industrial Workers of World and American Federation of Labor all vied for power in region. During early years, unions were able to control wages and working hours. But in November, 1906, Goldfield Consolidated Mines Company was incorporated by owners George Wingfield and United States Senator George Nixon, signaling beginning of monopoly control in Goldfield, and start of an adversarial relationship between mine owners and unions. -- unknown author.