Pieces of rich float led him to outcrops which he staked as the Tombstone and Graveyard claims. He returned with Richard Gird in February, 1878. The Graveyard claim proved disappointing, but farther northeast the Lucky Cuss and Toughnut deposits were discovered. Two other propspectors discovered the Grand Central, and after a dispute, part of this was relocated by Schieffelin and Gird as the "Contention". Development work began in the summer of 1878.
By the end of 1879, Tombstone had become on of the most famous mining camps in the west. (The "big bonanza" in Virginia City, Nevada took place in 1873). By 1881, Tombstone was the largest city in Arizona, with 600 dwellings and a population of 4000. About 650 men were working in the mines.
Water was first encountered in July of 1881 at 520 feet depth in the Sulphuret shaft. In April, 1882 the Grand Central shaft had reached the water level. Cornish pumps were installed at the Grand Central and Contention shafts. 1882 proved to be the most productive year for Tombstone.
The year 1886 was disastrous. In May, a fire burned the Grand Central hoist works and pumps, leaving only the pumps in the Contention shaft to handle the water. In 1887 the Emerald mine was a major producer.
In 1888 the price of silver was 94 cents per ounce (down from 98 cents in 1887). By the end of the year only 400 men were working in the camp and water was encountered at 700 feet in the Emerald Mine, and stoping below water level was not attemped.
In 1890 the price of silver rose to 105 cents per ounce and many mines resumed operations, shipping higher grade ore. In 1892 the price of silver droped to 87 cents beginning a decline to 63 cents by 1894. The Emerald Mine closed in 1892, most other mines were turned over to lessees. Lessees wored the Tranquility and Silver Thread until the end of the century.
A project began to mine below water level and by August 1902, the Pump shaft had reached the water level. Old levels of the Grand Central, Contention, Emerald, Lucky Cuss, and Silver Thread were reconditioned. Pumps were installed first on the 700, then on the 800 foot levels, moving 2,300,000 gallons per day by 1905. Two or three railroad car loads of silver-lead ore were shipped daily to the El Paso smelter. By 1906 the Pump shaft extended to the 1000 foot level.
The year 1909 was disastrous. Due to bad fuel, the 1000 level pumps were submerged, but were eventually recovered. On January 19, 1911 pumping was ceased. Pumps were abandoned on the 1000, 800, 700,and 600 levels. Mines were turned over to lessees.
The Gadsden purchase took place on December 30, 1853 The Comstock Lode was busy from 1859 to 1878 The Civil war was from 4-12-1861 to 4-9-1865 The Tombstone deposits were discovered in 1877
The bonanza years at Tombstone were 1879 to 1886. The two biggest years were 1881 and 1882 Pumps were installed at Grand Central and Contention in 1883 Fire burned the Grand Central Pumps in 1886
Silver was $1.29 up to the Civil War Silver was demonetized in 1873 (the mint would no longer buy it at a fixed price). Silver was $0.98 in 1887 Silver was $0.94 in 1888 Silver was $1.05 in 1890 Silver was $0.78 in 1892 Silver was $0.63 in 1894Falling silver prices along with water in the mines and trouble with the pumps spelled the end of boom times in the Tombstone district.
At least part of the trouble with falling silver prices was due to the mines themselves. An abundant supply of silver in a market where the price was not fixed by the mint led to falling prices. Plain supply and demand.
For a time (in 1890) the government stepped in with the Sherman Act to purchase silver and to try to keep the price from plummeting.
Tom's Geology Info / tom@mmto.org