Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada
The lure of striking it rich has always been a powerful motivator, driving individuals to brave harsh conditions and take immense risks. In the early 20th century, the Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada, became a focal point for this fervent pursuit of fortune. The promise of gold drew prospectors, investors, and dreamers to this arid landscape, resulting in a flurry of mining activity and the birth of boomtowns like Rhyolite. While many ventures ultimately failed, their stories offer a fascinating glimpse into the realities of mining speculation, the challenges of resource extraction, and the ephemeral nature of boomtown economies.
One of the defining characteristics of the era was the pervasive practice of leveraging proximity to successful strikes to attract investment. As the saying went, the key to success in the mining game was getting in on the "ground floor." The Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada became a prime example of this phenomenon. Eager prospectors would rush to the site of a new discovery, stake claims as close as possible to the source, and establish companies with names that echoed the original strike.
Between 1905 and 1910, the Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada saw this strategy employed with remarkable frequency. A staggering 90 companies incorporated with "Bullfrog" somewhere in their name, hoping to capitalize on the district’s notoriety. While a few of these companies operated near the Original Bullfrog Mine, and most were at least within the district’s boundaries, their primary objective was to entice stockholders by advertising their proximity to the significant find. These were some of the many Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada.
Individual Mines and Their Fates
Several mining ventures emerged within the Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada, each with its unique history and eventual outcome.
Big Bullfrog Mining Company
The Big Bullfrog Mining Company, situated south of the Original Bullfrog Mine, traces its origins to August 1904 when Montillus "Old Man" Beatty, a local rancher after whom the town of Beatty was named, located the Mammoth claim. Beatty quickly sold his claim to a group of San Francisco financiers, who formally incorporated the Big Bullfrog Mining Company in 1905. Despite possessing only one claim, the company adopted the standard organizational structure of the time, issuing 1,000,000 shares of stock and initiating development efforts.
By the end of 1905, the Big Bullfrog Mine boasted a 16-horsepower hoisting engine and a 2-horsepower blower engine for ventilation in its 120-foot shaft. Local newspapers in Rhyolite reported that the company was "exhibiting good ore," fueling investor optimism. Early 1906 saw continued progress, with the discovery of ore assaying as high as $180 per ton. In March, the company announced the uncovering of an ore body worth $14 a ton, raising hopes that the Big Bullfrog would become a profitable venture.
However, the devastating San Francisco earthquake in April 1906 brought operations to a halt. Work did not resume until mid-September. While the company reported "satisfactory progress" for the remainder of the year, no further significant ore bodies were discovered. By March 1907, the lack of new discoveries led to a decline in stock prices. After 1908, the Big Bullfrog Mining Company disappeared from the historical record, becoming another failed venture in the Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada.
Bullfrog Apex Mining and Milling Company
The Bullfrog Apex Mining and Milling Company was incorporated on August 4, 1905, by promoters J.J. Fagan and E.L. Andrews. The company claimed ownership of 15 claims, but only one, the North Bullfrog, was ever actively worked. A significant problem arose when it was discovered that the North Bullfrog claim overlapped the Delaware claim of the West Extension Company. Despite knowing about this conflict, the Apex Company proceeded with their operations, beginning work on the claim in the fall of 1905.
In a competitive environment, the Apex Company encountered encouraging ore values, leading to adequate stock sales. Confident in their claims, the promoters applied for a patent, prompting the West Extension Company to file a lawsuit. While the legal dispute lingered in the courts, both companies continued developing their shafts and tunnels. However, when the Apex Company discovered a vein of gold assaying at $251 per ton, the legal battle intensified, negatively impacting the company’s stock. By May 1906, Apex stock had fallen off the trading board. Ultimately, the Apex Company lost the legal battle over the disputed ground and ceased operations, marking another failure in the Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada.
Bullfrog Extension Mining Company
On August 25-26, 1904, prospectors located two claims, the Delaware #2 and the Last Chance, on the north and east sides of the Original Bullfrog Mine. These claims, along with the Bullfrog Extension #1 and #2 located southeast of the Original Bullfrog, were incorporated in February 1905 as the Bullfrog Extension Mining Company. Backed by San Francisco financiers, the company commenced mining operations in May 1905.
A six-man crew began sinking an inclined shaft, reaching a depth of 75 feet. The company purchased new equipment and erected a frame office building. By January 1906, the company confidently advertised a "magnificent quartz" ledge on its property, estimated to be worth $500,000. However, the San Francisco earthquake and fire in April 1906 halted operations, and the mine remained idle until June.
Although the company’s stock reached an all-time high that same month, operations ceased again, resuming only in late October. By the end of 1906, despite continued exploration, no significant discoveries had been made. Throughout the first part of 1907, the company attempted to find traces of the Bullfrog ore on its property. Despite promising initial signs, they failed to locate any rich ores. Later that year, the Panic of 1907 further impacted the company, causing their stock to fall to an all-time low.
The mine remained idle throughout 1908, but in 1909, funds were raised for one final attempt to revive the company’s fortunes. Unable to operate independently, the company advertised for lessees in June. While a lessee was successfully attracted, the new promoters failed to attract investors, and the property remained idle throughout 1910. By September 1911, the company had finally given up hope. The gas hoist and gallows frame were dismantled from the Bullfrog Extension property and shipped to Rawhide for installation on a promising mine in that district. Another casualty of the Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada.
Bullfrog Fraction
In December 1904, Len P. McGarry, a mining promoter, stock dealer, and president of the Bullfrog West Extension Mining Company, noticed a 1.7-acre parcel of unclaimed land between the Bullfrog claim of the Original Bullfrog company and the Delaware and Ethel claims of the West Extension. McGarry promptly located and recorded this ground as the Bullfrog Fraction claim. He then sold it to outside mining promoters instead of his own company.
The new owners had barely begun work when the Bullfrog Apex Mining Company disputed their claim, leading to a series of lawsuits. The Rhyolite Herald accurately predicted that the struggle would be lengthy and costly for all parties involved. Despite the legal battles, the Bullfrog Fraction continued to develop their claim, finding promising ore leads.
As their claims grew more valuable and the court battles became more complex and expensive, they realized they could no longer protect their claim independently. In November 1906, they sold the Bullfrog Fraction to the West Extension Company, ending the life of the Bullfrog Fraction as a separate entity.
Bullfrog Red Mountain/Rhyolite-Bullfrog
The Bullfrog Red Mountain, later renamed Rhyolite-Bullfrog Mining Company, had a weaker claim to the "Bullfrog" name, as its four claims were located almost a mile southwest of the Original Bullfrog. Organized in early 1905, the company reported finding ore worth $47 per ton. However, their development efforts were unsuccessful.
By the time Red Mountain was organized, approximately 75 other companies in the district had already used the Bullfrog name. This, coupled with its remote location, hindered its attempts to sell stock. Initial development ceased with the San Francisco earthquake. In 1907, the mine was sold to a new group of promoters, who renamed it the Rhyolite-Bullfrog Mining Company.
A flurry of development work followed, including the construction of a camp building, boarding house, stables, a blacksmith shop, and a superintendent’s office. Despite heavy promotion, the company attracted few investors, and little work was done between 1908 and 1910. The mine was sold in 1911, and although the new owners attempted to mine the claim, they were unsuccessful, marking another failure in the Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada.
Bullfrog West Extension Mine
The Bullfrog West Extension Mine, from the outset, possessed a better chance of intersecting the Bullfrog ledge than most other mines due to its location and the timing of its operations. By 1906, many mines surrounding the Original Bullfrog were showing signs of decline, and the Original itself had lost the rich ore ledge that had fueled the initial boom. By process of elimination, it seemed likely that the Bullfrog ledge would pass through the West Extension property.
In May 1906, after only a few months of exploration, the West Extension reported finding signs of the Bullfrog ledge. Within months, the mine reported ledges averaging $50 per ton, with some rich pockets yielding higher values. In September, the company decided to shift from exploratory mining to large-scale development.
New equipment was installed, and the workforce was increased to ten miners. The company purchased the Bullfrog Fraction claim and announced plans to sell 150,000 shares of Annex stock. By the end of 1906, the West Extension appeared to be one of the most promising properties in the Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada.
The mine continued to prosper in early 1907, gaining recognition throughout Nevada. Rumors of a proposed milling plant circulated. In May, the West Extension won its lawsuit against the Bullfrog Apex and was finally free to develop its mine and ship its high-grade ore. However, the company did not ship its ore, continuing development work for several months before suddenly shutting down the mines. The company claimed the shutdown was temporary, intended for surveying the mines and deciding on the construction of a mill. However, investors were unconvinced, and the stock price plummeted.
The mine reopened in late August and appeared to be doing well until the end of the year when property taxes were not paid on time. Questionable financial decisions followed, including merging one of its subsidiary mine stocks into the parent company, announcing a reduction plant that never materialized, and granting a lease on mining rights to another organization. Yet, financial reports looked promising. By March 1908, new ore bodies were reported, and three shifts were working continuously. Plans were made to construct a custom mill at Beatty, but by fall, the decision was made to build the mill at the mine site. As 1908 ended, the West Extension seemed poised to become a major producer in the Bullfrog District, but signs of financial difficulties persisted.
During the first months of 1909, the West Extension’s future remained uncertain. The mine lay idle as directors debated their next steps, with a reported $50,000 worth of ore untouched on the dump. By fall, creditors filed lawsuits to recover debts. The company underwent a private reorganization and replaced its president, without explanation. The Bullfrog Miner expressed public bewilderment at the inaction, given the company’s reports of readily available ore that could liquidate all debts. Still, nothing happened.
By the end of 1909, the inevitable outcome became apparent. The Mining World assessed the West Extension as a promising property, but "one in which lack of ample capital is holding back work, while the absence of milling facilities is keenly felt. Much of the ore on this and other properties are too low to warrant shipping to smelters."
By 1910, the West Extension appeared to be a dead mine, but locals resisted acknowledging its failure, as it would imply the failure of the entire district. The year ended as it began – with no work being done on the property. By April 1911, plans were made to auction the West Extension estate to satisfy creditors. In December, the Mayflower Leasing Company executed a long-term lease with the West Extension and bought the mine outright in January of the next year.
The Mayflower began production and made regular bullion shipments. However, the ore was depleted by the next year, and the West Extension Mine was shut down. It remained idle until 1929 when it and the Original Bullfrog Mine were bought, sold, leased, and operated intermittently through 1978, though there was never again any significant production.
Today, the remains of the West Extension Mine are scant and difficult to distinguish from the Original Bullfrog Mine, especially as they were owned and operated as one entity starting in the 1930s. Dotting the area are remnants including shafts, dumps, and collapsed timber, offering a poignant reminder of the boom and bust cycle that defined the Mines of the Bullfrog District, Nevada.