3
Whereas Eddy wanted to finance expansion with cash
flow, the other Directors wanted to borrow money and
build a mill. Divergent views caused Eddy to resign from
his positions. The mine was sold and a 10-stamp mill was
constructed. However, the new owners failed to make pay-
ments and the property was reorganized in 1906 as the Tom
Reed Gold Mines Company.
The Tom Reed and Gold Road mines produced ore
steadily during the next decade and the settlement near the
Tom Reed acquired its official name of “Oatman” in 1912.
Its namesake was Olive Oatman, whose family had been
massacred nearby in 1851. Olive had been a captive until
her rescue in 1857.7
1913–1933
In 1913, a new shaft was sunk at the Tom Reed. A cross-
cut was driven, but it missed the vein. Two practical, but
experienced miners, G. W. Long and T. L. McIver, studied
the Tom Reed’s underground workings and theorized about
the structural controls of the vein. They noticed that the
rock on the sides of the projected line of the vein differed
slightly, suggesting existence of a fault fissure.8
They then bought claims on ground well to the north-
east of the Tom Reed, incorporated the United Eastern
Mining Co., and began sinking a shaft in November 1913.
Their money ran out when the shaft reached 40 feet and
work stopped. In June 1914, W. K. Ridenour bought
stock in the new company at 25 cents per share and rec-
ommended the investment to friends. By December 1914,
about $14,000 had been raised, but more was needed.to
continue development.
F. A. Keith became interested and approached Seeley
W. Mudd and C. H. Palmer, Jr., respected Los Angeles
mining engineers. Altogether, $50,000 was raised and in
March 1915, a crosscut at 465 feet went through 25 feet of
ore assaying $22.93 per ton (1.1 opt Au at a price of $20.67
and excluding minor silver credits).
TOATMAN IN 1921
Figure 2 was photographed in 1921 from a location north
of the United Eastern, looking south over the eastern part
of Oatman. Near the center of the right-hand edge of the
photograph, a tower supporting the aerial tramway from
the Big Jim is visible.
By 1916, an orebody estimated to contain $6 million
in gold had been blocked out. A 200-ton mill built and
soon expanded to 300 tons, and a new shaft was sunk.
7. Malach, Ibid, p. 15.
8. Ransome, ibid, p. 6.
Through 1920, the United Eastern had produced 37,138
tons of ore at an average gross value of nearly $22/ton with
a total operating cost of about $8.50/ton. By the end of
1921, dividends totaling $3,959,700 had been paid!
Since the United Eastern orebody had been found
without a surface outcrop, many miners and the inevitable
promoters assumed that a shaft had to be sunk to 300–
500 feet to gain access to new veins. A prospecting boom
naturally followed with the sinking of numerous shafts,
most of which had been abandoned by 1922.
Nonetheless, there were some successes during that
period. Around 1914, the Tom Reed Company had begun
developing its Black Eagle claim at the extreme southeast
end of a long strip of surface that overlaid proven mining
ground.
During this period, other mines in the district, includ-
ing nearby Union Pass area, shipped ore to the Tom Reed
and United Eastern mills. These included Arabian, Banner,
Frisco, Gold Crown, Gold Dust, Gold Ore, Gold Trails,
London, Midnight, Old Western, Orphan, the Pioneer
Group, Oatman United, Ruth, Sheep Trail, Sunnyside,
Telluride, United American, and Vivian.
The Big Jim claim was located on September 2, 1908,
by S. S. Jones and others.9 While it showed no indications
of a vein, it was on unlocated ground near a producing
mine (Tom Reed) and might therefore have some specula-
tive value.
The Big Jim mine was developed in 1916 and the Big
Jim and United Eastern Mining Companies jointly operated
9. Ransome, Ibid, p.6.
Figure 2.
Whereas Eddy wanted to finance expansion with cash
flow, the other Directors wanted to borrow money and
build a mill. Divergent views caused Eddy to resign from
his positions. The mine was sold and a 10-stamp mill was
constructed. However, the new owners failed to make pay-
ments and the property was reorganized in 1906 as the Tom
Reed Gold Mines Company.
The Tom Reed and Gold Road mines produced ore
steadily during the next decade and the settlement near the
Tom Reed acquired its official name of “Oatman” in 1912.
Its namesake was Olive Oatman, whose family had been
massacred nearby in 1851. Olive had been a captive until
her rescue in 1857.7
1913–1933
In 1913, a new shaft was sunk at the Tom Reed. A cross-
cut was driven, but it missed the vein. Two practical, but
experienced miners, G. W. Long and T. L. McIver, studied
the Tom Reed’s underground workings and theorized about
the structural controls of the vein. They noticed that the
rock on the sides of the projected line of the vein differed
slightly, suggesting existence of a fault fissure.8
They then bought claims on ground well to the north-
east of the Tom Reed, incorporated the United Eastern
Mining Co., and began sinking a shaft in November 1913.
Their money ran out when the shaft reached 40 feet and
work stopped. In June 1914, W. K. Ridenour bought
stock in the new company at 25 cents per share and rec-
ommended the investment to friends. By December 1914,
about $14,000 had been raised, but more was needed.to
continue development.
F. A. Keith became interested and approached Seeley
W. Mudd and C. H. Palmer, Jr., respected Los Angeles
mining engineers. Altogether, $50,000 was raised and in
March 1915, a crosscut at 465 feet went through 25 feet of
ore assaying $22.93 per ton (1.1 opt Au at a price of $20.67
and excluding minor silver credits).
TOATMAN IN 1921
Figure 2 was photographed in 1921 from a location north
of the United Eastern, looking south over the eastern part
of Oatman. Near the center of the right-hand edge of the
photograph, a tower supporting the aerial tramway from
the Big Jim is visible.
By 1916, an orebody estimated to contain $6 million
in gold had been blocked out. A 200-ton mill built and
soon expanded to 300 tons, and a new shaft was sunk.
7. Malach, Ibid, p. 15.
8. Ransome, ibid, p. 6.
Through 1920, the United Eastern had produced 37,138
tons of ore at an average gross value of nearly $22/ton with
a total operating cost of about $8.50/ton. By the end of
1921, dividends totaling $3,959,700 had been paid!
Since the United Eastern orebody had been found
without a surface outcrop, many miners and the inevitable
promoters assumed that a shaft had to be sunk to 300–
500 feet to gain access to new veins. A prospecting boom
naturally followed with the sinking of numerous shafts,
most of which had been abandoned by 1922.
Nonetheless, there were some successes during that
period. Around 1914, the Tom Reed Company had begun
developing its Black Eagle claim at the extreme southeast
end of a long strip of surface that overlaid proven mining
ground.
During this period, other mines in the district, includ-
ing nearby Union Pass area, shipped ore to the Tom Reed
and United Eastern mills. These included Arabian, Banner,
Frisco, Gold Crown, Gold Dust, Gold Ore, Gold Trails,
London, Midnight, Old Western, Orphan, the Pioneer
Group, Oatman United, Ruth, Sheep Trail, Sunnyside,
Telluride, United American, and Vivian.
The Big Jim claim was located on September 2, 1908,
by S. S. Jones and others.9 While it showed no indications
of a vein, it was on unlocated ground near a producing
mine (Tom Reed) and might therefore have some specula-
tive value.
The Big Jim mine was developed in 1916 and the Big
Jim and United Eastern Mining Companies jointly operated
9. Ransome, Ibid, p.6.
Figure 2.