The Catwalk and Gold Dust Trails in Southwest New Mexico
author: O'Connor, Michael
source date: 2012
availability: web

In-depth blog post on the Catwalk's mining history. Covers James C. Cooney's discovery of copper, silver, and gold ore at Mineral Creek while on patrol from Fort Bayard in 1875; Cooney Camp swelling to 300-400 miners; John Lambert discovering the Confidence, Bluebird, Blackbird, and Redbird mines near the boom town of Mogollon (population 3,000-6,000); the Confidence Mine yielding about $1,200,000 and mined to 1,030 feet depth; John T. Graham building the Graham Mill in 1893; the 4-inch water pipeline later replaced with an 18-inch pipeline elevated 20 feet above the creek; Pelton water wheel creating 350 HP backed by a 300 HP Corliss steam engine; mill capable of 75 tons per day; the mill ceasing operations permanently in 1913; the CCC rebuilding the catwalk in 1935-1937; the National Recreation Trail designation in 1978; $1.5 million steel catwalk installation in 2003; Billy the Kid's stepfather William Antrim as town blacksmith; Billy the Kid's first jail escape in Silver City.