Question

A Californian prospector would discover some rich ore. The news fell among excited seekers after wealth like sparks in gunpowder, and in a few days the wilderness was disturbed with the noisy clang of miners and builders. A little town would then spring up, and before anything like a careful survey of any particular lode would be made, a company would be formed, and expensive mills built. Then, after all the machinery was ready for the ore, perhaps little, or none at all, was found. Meanwhile, someone reported another discovery, and the seekers abandoned the young town. Why were mining towns built? (paragraph 3)

Answer 1

Mining towns were built in response to the discovery of rich ore, driven by the excitement of prospectors and the promise of wealth. As news of mineral finds spread quickly, it spurred a rush of people seeking fortune, leading to the rapid establishment of towns. These towns catered to the influx of miners and builders, providing necessary infrastructure and services. However, the haste in which they were constructed often meant that they were established without thorough exploration of the mining sites, leading to situations where, once the initial excitement fizzled out or a new discovery was made elsewhere, these towns would be abandoned when no significant ore was found.