Chapter 13Chapter 13Settling the WestSettling the West

Section 1Section 1

Miners and RanchersMiners and Ranchers

Growth of the Mining IndustryGrowth of the Mining Industry

Industry in East needed the West’s Industry in East needed the West’s gold, silver, and copper.gold, silver, and copper.

This brought settlers to the West’s This brought settlers to the West’s mountain states.mountain states.

Growth of the Mining IndustryGrowth of the Mining Industry

Placer MiningPlacer Mining – – using simple using simple equipment like equipment like picks, shovels, and picks, shovels, and pans to mine pans to mine shallow deposits of shallow deposits of ore by hand.ore by hand.

Growth of the Mining IndustryGrowth of the Mining Industry

Quartz MiningQuartz Mining-Digging deep -Digging deep beneath the surface to mine the beneath the surface to mine the deposits of oredeposits of ore

Pulley System used in quartz Pulley System used in quartz miningmining

Construction of dams and bridges Construction of dams and bridges to expose riverbedsto expose riverbeds

The Big Strike in NevadaThe Big Strike in Nevada

Henry Comstock – Henry Comstock – 1859 he staked 1859 he staked claim for a silver claim for a silver mine in Six-Mile mine in Six-Mile Canyon, Nevada.Canyon, Nevada.

Became a Became a boomtown boomtown overnight. overnight.

Six Mile Canyon, NevadaSix Mile Canyon, Nevada

Several years later, the mines ran Several years later, the mines ran out of silver & it became a ghost out of silver & it became a ghost town.town.

Crime in BoomtownsCrime in Boomtowns

Vigilance committees formed to track Vigilance committees formed to track down & punish wrongdoers.down & punish wrongdoers.

Other BonanzasOther Bonanzas

Mining also helped the growth of Mining also helped the growth of Colorado, the Dakota Territory, and Colorado, the Dakota Territory, and Montana.Montana.

It spurred the building of railroads It spurred the building of railroads through the Rocky Mtns.through the Rocky Mtns.

Denver became the supply point.Denver became the supply point.

Ranching and Cattle DrivesRanching and Cattle Drives

After the Civil War, After the Civil War, Americans built Americans built large cattle large cattle ranches on the ranches on the Great Plains.Great Plains.

The Texas The Texas Longhorn was the Longhorn was the only breed that only breed that could survive the could survive the harsh climate of harsh climate of the plains.the plains.

Cattle IndustryCattle Industry

Industry grew in because of the open Industry grew in because of the open range – vast areas of grasslands range – vast areas of grasslands owned by the fed. gov’t. owned by the fed. gov’t.

Beef prices soared after the Civil Beef prices soared after the Civil War.War.

Long DrivesLong Drives

1866 – first long drive across the 1866 – first long drive across the Great Plains to the railroad in Great Plains to the railroad in Sedalia, Missouri.Sedalia, Missouri.

Sold for 10x the price at the railroad Sold for 10x the price at the railroad than in Texas.than in Texas.

Major Route was the Chisholm TrailMajor Route was the Chisholm Trail Most cowboys were former Most cowboys were former

Confederate soldiers.Confederate soldiers.

Chisholm Trail – Texas to Abilene, Chisholm Trail – Texas to Abilene, KansasKansas

Reasons for the end of the long Reasons for the end of the long drivedrive

Invention of barbed wire.Invention of barbed wire. Investors from the East & Britain Investors from the East & Britain

caused an oversupply of animals.caused an oversupply of animals. Ranchers went bankrupt.Ranchers went bankrupt. Harsh winters of 1886-1887.Harsh winters of 1886-1887.

End of Section 1End of Section 1

Section 2Section 2

Farming the PlainsFarming the Plains