Legend has it that Jim Butler was camping around Tonopah Spring in May 1900 when his burro wandered off. While chasing it, Jim picked up a rock to throw at it and discovered some promising-looking ore. He continued on his journey to Southern Klondike in Esmeralda County and when he got there he showed the samples to others, who showed little interest. After returning to his ranch in Monitor Valley near Belmont, Butler told a young attorney named Tasker Oddie, who had just been elected Nye County District Attorney, about his discovery. Tasker had a friend, Walter Gayhart, who taught chemistry in Austin and he enlisted the teacher’s help in assaying the sample. The ore valued at more than $200 a ton and the rush was on!

History tells us that the mines in this district produced in excess of five million tons of ore. At today’s market the precious metals produced would be valued in excess of $1,200,000,000.