Diamond Range Charcoal Kilns, Eureka Nevada!


Diamond Range Charcoal Kilns, Eureka Nevada!
	These photos were taken June, 2006, on my first trip to the Diamond range. Thanks to Jim O'Neill, I have documentation on at least three kilns that are still visitable. Here is the southern most kiln from Diamond City. The other two are north and south of the Phillipsburg Mine north of here. These kilns were built around 1888 to furnish charcoal for the thirteen smelters working around Eureka at that time.
The large Italian population of charcoal burners in the Eureka area were to receive 27 cents per bushel for charcoal. This kiln would produce 1400 bushels a charge. The inside measurements were 23.5 feet wide, 25,5 to 26 feet tall, and the walls at the base were 24 inches thick. By 1881 the entire area visible from here was denuded of trees. It took five acres of trees for each charging of the kiln.
	There is a great amount of history located on this range. Diamond City just north of here as some ruins left. There are stone foundations of smelters and several other camps, such as the one up at the Silver Bell Mine. I hope on our next trip to find the kiln up Water Canyon that we missed the first time, and the ruins of the other just south of the Phillipsburg Mine.