Show SALE OF THE APRIL FOOL ferguson district in lincoln county nevada was discovered early in the year 1892 bythe by the ferguson brothers and their associates who were engaged in a prospecting expedition in this far off and desert spot within the environments of the battle born state the boys were looking for deposits of silver bearing ore and succeeded in locating the monkey wrench claim so called from the fact that tb alie e only prospecting pick the party could boast of was vas an old monkey wrench vr ench and it was for this reason that the camp was known for a long on time as monkey wrench district it was not for very long however that the new camp was destined to esbine baine as a producer of the white metal as it soon sprung into prominence because of its rich ledges of gold bearing rock the first discovery of gold quartz being made one morning by one of the ferguson boys who while out hunting for his horses found some good looking float in following up the find the magnolia gold mine was was f found in a saddle on the top of the divide on a spur of foothills jutting out into the valley intelligence of the discovery of gold in this locality traveled rapidly and widely and within a few short days many fortune bunters were headed that way among them being three hardy prospectors wil son reeves beeves and ellis who located the april fool on the first day of april besides which th they ey located what is now the de lamar mine mine which is probably the greatest gold producer today in nevada a state of wonderful mineral possibilities the first work done by the wilson party part y in the development of the april fool comprised an open cut in the hillside and on the ledge a few hundred feet up the mountain from the site of the mill a picture of which embellishes this article in the little littie group of pinion pine trees a short distance above the open cut just mentioned the tent of the party was pitched and it A was here that the writer of this article partook of the hospitality of the trio of ragged and sunburned prospectors a few days after they had made their important discovery and even then they were sacking quartz which glistened with the yellow metal and ore that was so rich in horn born silver that it could be cut with a knife numerous tempting offers were made to fo the prospective bonanza but with wealth galore in sight the owners persistently refused all proffers and proceeded to open up the mine in a thoro thorough and systematic manner they were willing to sell adjoining ground however and this was purchased by captain J R delamar the millionaire mine owner and under hs his direction it was not long before the delamar became known as 1 oneff the richest producers of tle the HOW metal on the pacific slope in the meantime work progressed in the operation of the april fool and at regular intervals rich gold ore from the mine found its way in carload lots to the salt lake market later on a small stam stamp P mill I 1 was put in and bullion as well as gold quartz figured in with the consignments consign ments to the metal marts of the world As tinge time passed on chan changes cles were noted in the ownership of the five claims embraced in the april fool grou gro u p frank wilson the recognized leader of the enterprise iacre increasing asing his holdings while for a time bastain bap captain tain delamar was the owner of a small interest in the property reeves and ellis caf parting ting with their interests until finally mr wilson VV ilson was the largest holder bolder W J dooley one of the ar 4 41 0 57 APRIL FOOL milr AT DE AMAR LAMAR I NEVADA leading citizens af the new new camp identified as an owner in the mine which about this liine time formed the basis for the incorporation of the april fool mining company captain delamar having disposed of his interest to mr wilson it was then with everything at his command and with almost hb absolute solute control that mr wilson began to show his generalship and with an energy and ford foresight sight that was commendable he began a series of improvements which have since made the april fool the second largest gold producer in nevada the little mill loov gageway ga to a ten stamp plant with machinery equipment sufficient to justify the installation of ten stamps more at any time while cyanide works also kotake care of the tailings the two mills wa with necessary out buildings office tramway and settling tanks being first class and up to date in in eveaj ever respect as can readily be s seen een by the accompanying illustration tra tion which fails to show the ten miles of pipeline pipe line cons constructed by the company which taps the springs owned by the association thus supplying the plants with water for milling purposes at a comparatively small expense time aritt an dime line again during the past few years overtures have been made by capitalists for purchase the or of the april fool mine and holdi holdings n A but but it was fiot not until lately that I 1 any proposition would be entertained by the company for the disposal of the property in fact it was only recently that certain well known promoters were able to secure an option on this bonanza which was turned over a a few days ago to A H of butte who made a payment of on the mine the balance due said to be many thousands more to be paid within the next sixty or ninety days while it is also claimed that thai the real purchaser is W A dark clark the montana mining king who is also interested in in valuable utah mines the history of the april fool from the date of its discovery to the present time is an illustration of what pluck will do as it has made of frank wilson a rich man who today stands high in mining circles in this western country the mine has also made fortunes for others and under the management of mr clark will doubtless soon become a formidable rival of the great delamar mine |