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Daily Inland Empire Newspaper
The Daily Inland Empire was a short-lived but significant newspaper published in Hamilton, Nevada, during the late 1860s and early 1870s, a period marked by the White Pine mining boom. Operating from March 27, 1869, to November 9, 1870, the newspaper served as a vital source of information for a burgeoning mining community. This report examines the newspaper’s history, its role in Hamilton, its publishers, and its legacy, drawing on historical records from the Library of Congress and other sources.
Background and Establishment
The Daily Inland Empire was established in Hamilton, Nevada, a town founded in 1868 during the White Pine silver rush. Located in White Pine County, Hamilton grew rapidly as prospectors flocked to the region following significant silver discoveries. By 1869, the town was the county seat, boasting a population of several thousand and a vibrant economy driven by mining. The need for a local newspaper to report on mining developments, local events, and political affairs led to the founding of the Daily Inland Empire.
The newspaper began publication on March 27, 1869, under the partnership of Ayers & Putnam. It was published daily, except Mondays, reflecting the fast-paced nature of the mining boom. The Inland Empire also appeared under the title Inland Empire from May 18 to at least December 18, 1869, indicating a brief variation in its masthead. The newspaper was published in political opposition to the White Pine News, a rival publication initially based in nearby Treasure City and later moved to Hamilton.
Publication Details
- Publication Period: March 27, 1869 – November 9, 1870
- Frequency: Daily (except Mondays)
- Volume Range: Vol. 1, no. 1 (Mar. 27, 1869) to cessation on Nov. 9, 1870
- Publishers:
- Ayers & Putnam (1869–early 1870)
- G.A. Brier and C.A.V. Putnam (1870)
- George W. Cassidy (1870)
- Political Affiliation: “Independent” (1869–early 1870); “Democratic” (1870)
- Suspension: April 17, 1870 – October 4, 1870
- Archival Notes: Description based on Vol. 1, no. 69 (June 16, 1869); some issues are available through America’s Historical Newspapers and on microfilm at libraries like UNLV.
The Daily Inland Empire was a typical frontier newspaper, featuring four pages of local news, mining reports, advertisements, and national stories. Its political stance shifted from independent to Democratic in 1870, reflecting changes in ownership and the contentious political climate of the era. The newspaper’s rivalry with the Republican-leaning White Pine News fueled editorial battles, adding to the lively discourse in White Pine County.
Role in the Community
The Daily Inland Empire played a critical role in Hamilton during its brief existence, serving a community of miners, merchants, and speculators. Key aspects of its coverage included:
- Mining News: The newspaper provided detailed reports on silver discoveries, mine operations, and economic developments in the White Pine region, essential for investors and workers alike.
- Local Affairs: It covered town events, legal disputes, and social activities, offering a glimpse into daily life in a boomtown. Advertisements for saloons, general stores, and assay offices highlighted Hamilton’s commercial vitality.
- Political Commentary: As a Democratic-leaning publication in its later months, the Inland Empire engaged in political debates, particularly against the White Pine News, which supported Republican interests. This rivalry reflected broader tensions in Nevada’s mining districts.
- Regional Connectivity: By reporting national and territorial news, the newspaper connected Hamilton’s residents to the broader American West, despite the town’s remote location.
The Inland Empire was a voice for Hamilton’s diverse population, documenting the optimism and challenges of a mining boomtown. Its daily publication schedule underscores the urgency of communication in a rapidly changing community.
Challenges and Decline
The Daily Inland Empire faced significant challenges, typical of frontier newspapers. The newspaper’s suspension from April 17 to October 4, 1870, likely resulted from financial difficulties or logistical issues, such as a shortage of paper or labor. The frequent changes in publishers—Ayers & Putnam to Brier & Putnam, then to Cassidy—suggest instability in management or funding.
The newspaper’s decline was tied to the broader fortunes of Hamilton. By late 1870, the White Pine mining boom began to wane as easily accessible silver deposits were depleted. The population dwindled, and businesses struggled, reducing the need for a daily newspaper. The Inland Empire ceased publication on November 9, 1870, outlasted by its rival, the White Pine News, which continued in Hamilton until 1872 before relocating. The Inland Empire’s demise marked the end of an era for Hamilton’s early press.
Archival Preservation
Surviving issues of the Daily Inland Empire are preserved in limited quantities, reflecting the rarity of frontier newspapers. Key archival details include:
- Library of Congress: The Chronicling America project provides metadata and some digitized issues, with MARCXML records available for researchers.
- UNLV Libraries: Microfilm holdings include issues from March 27, 1869, to November 9, 1870, with gaps for May–September 1870. Some issues, such as June 16 and September 21, 1869, are accessible through America’s Historical Newspapers.
- Nevada State Library: The newspaper is part of the state’s microfilm collection, available for on-site research.
Researchers can access these materials through library subscriptions or in-person visits, though incomplete runs and fragile originals limit availability. The Nevada Digital Newspaper Project, led by UNLV and the Nevada State Library, continues to digitize historic newspapers, potentially increasing access to Inland Empire issues in the future.
Legacy
The Daily Inland Empire remains an important historical artifact, offering insights into the White Pine mining boom and the life of Hamilton, Nevada, during its peak. Its pages capture the excitement, ambition, and volatility of a frontier mining town, as well as the political and economic dynamics of the era. The newspaper’s rivalry with the White Pine News highlights the role of the press in shaping public opinion in the American West.
Hamilton itself declined rapidly after the 1870s, suffering a devastating fire in 1873 and losing its county seat to Ely in 1887. Today, it is a ghost town, with only ruins remaining. The Inland Empire’s brief run encapsulates this fleeting moment of prosperity, preserving stories of a community that thrived and faded with the silver boom.
As part of Nevada’s rich newspaper heritage, the Daily Inland Empire contributes to the state’s historical narrative, documented through efforts like the Nevada Digital Newspaper Project. Its surviving issues are a valuable resource for historians, genealogists, and those interested in the American West, ensuring that Hamilton’s story endures.
Conclusion
The Daily Inland Empire (1869–1870) was a product of its time, born from the fervor of the White Pine silver rush and extinguished as Hamilton’s fortunes waned. Despite its short lifespan, the newspaper played a pivotal role in documenting the rise and fall of a Nevada boomtown. Through its coverage of mining, politics, and community life, the Inland Empire offers a window into the challenges and aspirations of frontier society. Preserved in archives and microfilm, its legacy continues to inform our understanding of Nevada’s mining history and the vibrant press that chronicled it.
Sources
- Chronicling America, Library of Congress
- UNLV University Libraries, Nevada Newspapers on Microfilm
- Nevada Digital Newspaper Project
- Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records
- Lingenfelter, R.E., The Newspapers of Nevada: A History and Bibliography, 1854–1979
Zebra Tailed Lizard ( Callisaurus draconoides )
The Zebra-Tailed Lizard is a medium sized lizard which features a long black and white striped tail and commonly found in California, Arizona and Nevada. Additional coloring includes two rows of brown / bray spots down the middle of the back, and is often marked with cream colored spots. The males boast belly bars which range in color from blue to yellow and orange. The females belly bars are often much more muted or lacking completely.
This animal is commonly between 4 and 6 inches in length from snout to vent and its regenerative tail may double to overall length of this animal. The female lays a clutch of up to 15 eggs, however the more common number is between 2 and 8 eggs. A healthy population will host between 4 and 6 lizards per acre, however the number seems much higher when they are darting around you in the Mojave, Great Basin or Sonaran deserts
The Zebra tails are frequently found at elevations up to 5,000 feet. The are usually found in areas which have sandy soils and open spaces in which they can run. An ambush predator, the lizard will often lie in way for its dinner to walk by and is known to feed on bees, wasps, beetles, caterpillars, ants and grasshoppers. Additionally it is known to consume other small lizards and spiders.
Very tolerant of the high heat of the desert in which it lives, the feisty lizard is known to be active during the high temperatures of the summer sun when most animals seek shade and go underground. These lizards are know to alternately stand on opposing feet and alternate between then two stances as a means of protection from the harsh landscapes in which it lives. During the cooler nights, the lizard may burrow down into fine sane, however is also known to sleep on the surface on warm nights.
When spotted by a predator, the reptile will curl its boldly stripped tail over its head which may serve notice to the predator that it was spotted. When needed a quick burst of speed will serve as the best prevention to being a meal to larger animals.
Morning Star Mine
Located in the Ivanpah Mountains, the Morning Star Mine is a gold / silver mine located near to California / Nevada border near Mountain Pass. The mining district enjoys amazing views and lots of wild life and wild flowers during the spring of each year, which are easily accessible from a grade dirt road. Numerous lower traffic side trails will allow access of other places to explore.
The location was first worked in 1907 and was known as the Clansman mine. Operations were initially quite small and in 1931 only two miners were on location. In 1937 the owner J. B. Mighton and Brown optioned the property to Richard Malik, who worked the location significantly until 1938.
Erle P. Halliburton worked the mine with ten men, starting in April of 1939. Halliburton known today, as the founder of his name sake company, Halliburton Oil. Mr. Halliburton made his fortune in Duncan Oklahoma where he borrowed a wagon, a team of mules and a pump, he built a wooden mixing box and started an oil well cementing business. The Halliburton efforts at this site where forced closed in 1942 by the War Productions Board order to close gold mining for the war effort.
Following Halliburton’s death in 1957, the property was acquired by the Vanderbilt Gold Corporation in 1964, where upon the location was drilled and sampled. Fifteen years later, in 1979 the company finally complete a capital raise the in Morning Star mine was again on operation as an underground mine utilizing trackless mining equipment and the ore processed in nearby Vanderbilt, California. Due to the time period, this was probably the Goldome Mill and not within the town of Vanderbilt.
After just three years of operations, mining operations were again halted in 1983, due to the dropping price of Gold, however underground explorations continued with long hole drilling and testing. From 1984 – 1993 saw increased gold and silver production to the amount of about 75,000 tons per month. Water supply problems plagued the operation, however, with the price of gold between $350 and $500 per once the Vanderbilt operation made a return.
The mine was finally closed in 1993 after the gold prices dropped and several environmental violations and animal deaths caused by cyanide poisoning. With the creation of the Mojave Nation Preserve in 1994 from the California Desert Protection act, the NPS inherited an environmental problem and it slowly continues to clean up the site. At this point, access to the location is blocked with a locked gate. It was noted that several building and a milling foundations remain from this relatively modern mining endeavor.
Resources
Black Tailed Jackrabbit ( Lepus californicus )
The Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), a swift and adaptable lagomorph of the American West, is often mistaken for a rabbit but is technically a hare, known for its enormous ears, powerful hind legs, and distinctive black-tipped tail. This species thrives in open, arid environments, where its speed—reaching up to 40 mph (64 km/h)—and evasive maneuvers make it a master of survival against predators like coyotes and eagles. With a mottled gray-brown coat providing camouflage against dusty landscapes, the black-tailed jackrabbit plays a key role in ecosystems as both prey and herbivore, influencing vegetation dynamics across its range.
Classification
The Black-tailed Jackrabbit is classified within the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Lagomorpha, family Leporidae, and genus Lepus. Its scientific name, Lepus californicus, reflects its association with California, though its range extends far beyond. It is one of several North American hares, distinguished from true rabbits by its larger size, longer ears, and precocial young (born fully furred and mobile). Subspecies include variations adapted to different regions, such as L. c. californicus in coastal areas and L. c. deserticola in deserts. Fossil records trace its lineage to the Pleistocene, highlighting evolutionary adaptations to open habitats post-Ice Age.
Physical Description
Adult Black-tailed Jackrabbits measure 47–63 cm (18–25 inches) in body length, with ears extending 10–13 cm (4–5 inches), and weigh 1.4–3.6 kg (3–8 lbs), with males typically larger than females. Their fur is grizzled gray-brown on the upper body with white underparts, providing effective camouflage in scrubby terrain. The namesake black tail is white underneath, flashed as a warning signal during flight. Oversized ears, richly vascularized, aid in thermoregulation by dissipating heat, while large eyes positioned on the sides of the head offer nearly 360-degree vision for detecting threats. Long, powerful hind legs enable explosive leaps up to 3 meters (10 feet) high and 6 meters (20 feet) long, complemented by furred soles for traction on varied surfaces. Juveniles resemble adults but are smaller and fluffier at birth.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, species assessors and the authors of the spatial data.
Behavior
Black-tailed Jackrabbits are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, active during dawn, dusk, and night to avoid midday heat and predators, though they may forage diurnally in cooler weather. They are solitary except during breeding, maintaining home ranges of 0.1–1 square km (25–250 acres) that overlap with others. When threatened, they rely on speed and zigzag running patterns to evade pursuit, often freezing in place first to blend into surroundings before bolting. They spend much of the day in shallow depressions called “forms,” often under shrubs for shade and cover, emerging to forage. Communication is limited, involving thumping hind feet as alarm signals and scent marking with chin glands. In extreme heat, they pant and use their ears to cool blood; in cold, they huddle to conserve warmth. Populations fluctuate cyclically every 7–10 years, influenced by food availability, disease, and predation.
Food Sources
As herbivores, Black-tailed Jackrabbits have a diet dominated by grasses, forbs, and shrubs, adapting seasonally: green grasses and herbaceous plants in spring and summer, and woody twigs, bark, and dried vegetation in fall and winter. Favorites include alfalfa, clover, sagebrush, and mesquite, with agricultural crops like wheat and lettuce targeted in farmlands, sometimes making them pests. They obtain most water from food, rarely drinking, and can consume up to 1 kg (2.2 lbs) of vegetation daily. Their caecotrophic digestion—re-ingesting soft feces (cecotropes)—allows extraction of additional nutrients like proteins and vitamins from low-quality forage. This adaptation is crucial in nutrient-poor arid environments.
Breeding
Breeding in Black-tailed Jackrabbits is promiscuous and occurs year-round in southern ranges, peaking from December to September in northern areas, triggered by rainfall and food abundance. Females, or does, reach sexual maturity at 7–8 months, males slightly later. Courtship involves chasing and “boxing” displays where pairs rear up and strike with forepaws. Gestation lasts 41–47 days, with litters of 1–8 leverets (average 3–4), born in shallow forms lined with fur. Precocial young are born with open eyes, full fur, and mobility, weaning at 3–4 weeks and independent by 1–2 months. Females can produce 3–4 litters annually, leading to high reproductive rates that offset heavy predation.
Habitat and Range
Black-tailed Jackrabbits inhabit open, arid to semi-arid landscapes including desert scrub, prairies, grasslands, farmlands, dunes, and shrub-steppe, preferring areas with short vegetation and minimal dense understory for easy escape routes. They avoid closed-canopy forests and high elevations above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). Their range spans the western United States from central Washington eastward to Missouri, southward through the Great Plains and Southwest to Baja California Sur and Zacatecas in Mexico, with introductions in some eastern states. Populations are non-migratory but may shift locally with food availability. Human activities, like agriculture, have expanded suitable habitats, though habitat loss and fragmentation pose threats in some areas.
Classification
Las Vegas Bay Campground
Las Vegas Bay Campground is one of several campgrounds in Lake Mead National Recreation Area and its situation on top of a bluff offers great views of Lake Mead and the Lava Butte Wash wildlife refuge
The first come, first serve campground offers 84 sites with plenty of sites for RV, trailer and tent camping. No Hook ups. The campground is secluded enough to enjoy a peaceful campout under the stars. There is no lake access, however the nearby Las Vegas Wash offers trails for hiking and picnic areas.
This campground is at low elevation in the Mojave Desert, which means possible freezing temperatures in the winter months and hot, Hot, HOT in the summer months. The spring and fall should offer the best weather, but regardless of time of year, plan ahead. Due to record low water levels, access to Lake Mead is several miles from the campground.
Campground Summary
| Name | Las Vegas Bay Campground |
| Location | Lake Mead, Clark County, Nevada |
| Latitude,Longitude | 36.127401, -114.868940 |
| Elevation | 1,277 Feet |
| Number of Sites | 84 |
| Amenities | BBQ Grills, Campground Host, Tables, Water, Dump Station, Fire Pit, Fire Rings, Firewood Available, Grills, Pets OK, Restrooms (Flush Toilets) |