The Nevada Mining Association (NvMA) is marking its 109th anniversary this March. Reflecting on the year 1913, when the association was founded, several notable events took place in Nevada and across the United States.
In Nevada, the Tonopah area experienced a peak in production, extracting $10 million worth of gold, silver, copper, and lead—equivalent to over $250 million today. A sudden cloudburst led to a flash flood in Goldfield, causing damage estimated at $100,000 at the time ($2.5 million today). During this period, due to the gold standard, gold was priced at a fixed rate of $20.67 per ounce.
That same year saw Nevada pass its first law specific to motor vehicles, establishing a license fee of 12.5 cents per horsepower. Additionally, Nevada State Route 1 was designated as the state’s first highway and runs along parts of what is now Interstate-80.
Nationally in 1913, Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as the 28th President of the United States. The country saw significant constitutional changes with the passage of the 16th Amendment instituting federal income tax and the 17th Amendment mandating direct election of U.S. senators.
The Lincoln Highway construction was completed as America’s first paved transcontinental highway; it traverses what is now Highway 50 through Nevada. Ford revolutionized automobile manufacturing by introducing a moving assembly line for producing Model T cars more efficiently and affordably.
In sports that year, the Philadelphia Athletics triumphed over the New York Giants in baseball’s World Series.
The NvMA invites everyone to join their celebration from September 3-5 at Lake Tahoe.
