Rodman W. Paul (1912–1987)

Sweeping history of the interstitial West, from the Gold Rush to the various trusts and Teddy R. Reads as organized lecture notes, but well done. Not much narrative linking it all together. Fantastic detail and references though, to the various factions and claimants duking it out. Miners, loggers, ranchers, homesteaders, interstitched by the railroad, and so much corporate history and shares and dividends... Great detail throughout.

Claimed from a box of books liberated from Aunt Brenda's, show more finally put it to the test a decade later. show less

What makes this Yale Professor Rodman's book so classic is the reference footnotes to 19th century newspapers and other documents, showing superb scholarship in the post-WWII period when it was written. This isn't just a romantic history, the details of mining methods and economics over years, often presented in charts, is excellent. The index in back is complete. I first read this text as beat up 3rd 1967 reprint sold used for $3.50, but I realized the value and bought a First Edition show more hardbound copy. This is a must have in the California History or Western Mining History Library. show less

This is a survey of the mining activities in the Far West during that time period, from the California gold rush through the Black Hills rush. It describes the challenges in mining and processing the precious metals from the early placer work through the deep drift mining later in the period. It also discusses the social aspect of these "rushes" regarding the mining camps, ghost towns and the eventual establishment of more permanent settlements. It is not an anecdotal history by any means, show more there are little references to individuals, rather it is a high level look at how the settling of the west was greatly influenced by the mining activities. show less