Frisco

Frisco is a ghost town<ref name="legends">Template:Cite web</ref> in Beaver County, Utah, United States,<ref name="legends" /><ref name="notarianni">Template:Cite web</ref> It was an active mining camp from 1879 to 1929.<ref name="notarianni" />

History

Frisco developed as the post office and commercial center for the San Francisco Mining District, and was the terminus of the Utah Southern Railroad extension from Milford, Utah.<ref name="legends" /><ref name="notarianni" /> The Horn Silver mine was discovered in 1875<ref name="legends" /><ref name="notarianni" />, and had produced $20 267 078 worth of ore by 1910.<ref name="notarianni" /> By 1885 over $60 000 000 worth of zinc, copper, lead, silver, and gold had been transported from Frisco from the many mines in the area.<ref name="legends" />

With 23 Western saloon|saloons, Frisco was known as the wildest town in the Great Basin. Killings were common, and drinking water had to freighted in. The population reached 6000 in the early 1880s.<ref name="guide">Template:Cite book</ref>

Frisco's fortunes changed suddenly on February 13 1885, when the Horn Silver Mine caved in completely. It was an unconventional mine, an open pit Template:Convert deep braced with timbers, and could have collapsed at any time.<ref name="dreams">Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1905 a Latter Day Saint ward was organized, but in 1911 with the closing of many of the mines, so many church members had left that the ward was discontinued.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

Elevation 6500 feet.<ref name="buchanan">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Coor dms<ref name="buchanan" />

Dangers

While Frisco is relatively flat and easy to manuever through, there are a lot of dangers present. Certain mines are known to have Hydrogen Sulfide, a sour gas that can kill with a few wiffs. Luckily, it smells terrible and you know its there. Present are shafts, portals, old structures, barbed wiring, and very loose rock. Present conditions inside the mines are unknown. Please read Mine Safety located under Rules and Regulations.

More Reading: http://www.legendsofamerica.com/UT-Frisco.html

Excerpt from Some Dreams Die by George A. Thompson, Dream Garden Press, Salt Lake City, ©1982 and 1999

"Murders were daily fare at Frisco. Two men killed each other over a 50¢ bet! As many as a dozen men were killed each night. If you doubt it, count the crosses on boothill! Finally, it got so out of hand that city fathers hired Marshal Pearson from Pioche, Nevada and gave him a free hand in cleaning out the outlaws and murderers. Pearson made his policy clear the first day. He would have no jail, make no arrests and there would be no bail or appeals. Outlaws were given two choices, get out or get shot! Some didn't think he meant business, but they changed their minds when he killed six men his first night on the job! He still had to convince a few, but most got the idea and left for easier pickings. Frisco and the San Francisco Mountains were named for St. Francis, Patron Saint of Wildlife. It was a good name, for Frisco certainly had plenty of wild life!"