From Eureka, head south on US 50 for 32.1 miles; turn right on White Pine County Road 5 and go for 3.4 miles; keep left to continue on White Pine County Road 9 for 3.6 miles; continue straight on NF-623 for 6.3 miles
This cold, high-altitude (about 8,500 feet) camp on Babylon ridge formed in 1869 during the excitement of Hamilton and lasted until about a month, never having amounted to much. Much commotion was generated, in the usual fashion of the day. Mines in the area seemed to have been worked for longer than the town ever existed. Ore was milled in Shermantown, about two and half miles to the south. No records of any commercial buildings or anything else other than some tens and a few crude dugouts ever materialized here. Major mines include the Rocco-Homestake and the Ne Plus Ultra.
On Thursday last, some miners working in one of the old locations on the Base Metal Range [now knowns as the White Pine Range], come upon a mass of ore ricaling in purity and value the best of Treasure Hill. The ore found was brought to town, and assay proved to be worth from $2,000 to $3,000 per ton. The story of its discovery soon became noised abroad, creating great excitement, and on Wednesday a great rush of prospectors, speculators, surveyors, and town loccators commenced for that locality. This rush continued through the week, and every day hundreds made the trip to the new discovery. The Point is about one and half miles northeast of Treasure City, although by the road leading there it is about three miles. The locality is known under the various names of Northern Light Hill, Chloride Flat #3, and Base Range, but a town has been laid out and named Babylon, and such in the future we will designate it. It is a favorable location for mining, and should its rich developments continue, we may expect to see another glorious Babylon arise as our neighbor.
-San Francisco Examiner, March 13, 1869
A town has been laid out on one of the old loations of the Base Metal Range, White Pine, where rich discoveries were recently made. It will be named Babylon
- San Francisco Chronicle, March 15, 1869
-San Francisco Examiner, March 22, 1869
And that was about it for the town called Babylon.
BABYLON.-- This new town, situated in the foothills of the Base Range, which a few weeks ago made pretensions of being a substantial (asnd as appeared) successful rival of Hamilton, has, to all outward appearances, "tossed the sponge" and now all things there in the way of "city" improvements are as lifeless as an Egyptian mummy-- in a word. "Babylon (stocks) is falling." Some of the mines, however, over in that vicinity are looking well, and several of them, among which may be mentioned the Homeward Bent, are extracting a large amount of excellent ore-- suitable, indeed, for milling. Much prospecting is going on, and we hope to be enabled to chronicle many valuable strikes in that locality
-San Francisco Examiner, April 30, 1869
Mining, however, continued. Pay up, Stinson, you cheapo!
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE
TO F. E. STINSON: You are hereby notified that the undersigned has expended $400 or more in labor and improvements upon the "Bull Terrier" and "Bunko" mines, situated on Babylon Hill, White Pine Mining District, County of White Pine, State of NEvada. Said work was done in order to hold said claims for the years 1888 and 1889 under the provisions of Section 2324 Revised Statutes of the United States. Your proportion of said sum expended as a co-owner is $200; and if after ninety (90) days after the publication of this notice you fail or refuse to contribute said proportion of expenditure as a co-owner your interest in said "Bull Terrier" and "Bunko" mines will be forfeited and become the property of the subscriber under the provisions of said Section 2324Revised Statutes of the United States. A. B. Lockwood. Hamilton, January 16, 1890.
-White Pine News, March 22, 1890
P.J. Donahue, the well-known mining expert, who recently made an examination of the Rocco-Homestakemine for local shareholders, informs the Mining Review that he is highly pleased with the physical condition of the property and its future outlook. The Rocco-Homestake mine is located near the old mining camp of Hamilton, in White Pine County, Nevada, and is now being operated by a company of the same name with offices in Eureka, Nevada and at San Francisco, California.
Mr. Donahue, in his examination of the Rocco-Homestake, took thirty samples of ore from the different workings of the property, an average of which, by fire tests, disclosed values of 66 percent lead, 12.3 ounces in silver, and 20 cents in gold to the ton, some of the ore going even higher that this in its lead contents.
-Salt Lake Mining Review, April 30, 1901
The mine watchman ended up with the mine.
SMITH'S HOMESTAKE MINE SOLD BY THE SHERIFF
To satisfy a judgement of $1,633.33, the property of the ROcco-Homestake Mining Company, in Swansea Canyon, near Hamilton, was sold at sheriff's sale yesterday afternoon and bought by Gust Simon, who held the judgement. For a number of years this company paid only the bullion tax in White Pine county, and was the source of considerable revenue to the county. It was originally owned by Rocco Kragnaz, one of the old times of this section, who worked it for a number of years and then sold it to Eureka parties, among them O. J. and B. L. Smith, who are under indictment for violating state banking laws. Owing to the lack of money on the part of the Smiths, the mine was gutted and no development work prosecuted, and as the machinery was not heavy enough for deep working, it became necessary to close down and Gust Simon was placed in charge as watchman and it was for this service he received judgement.
-Tonopah Daily Bonanza, July 15, 1910
THE NE PLUS ULTRA
(Expositor, Ely, Nevada)
E. L. Talbot of Park City, Utah, went to Hamilton by train and stage and expects to return to Ely in about a week. Mr. Talbot represents the Bamberger interests and his mission to Hamilton is to examine the Ne Plus Ultra mines, owned by the White Pine Lead company, which is controlled by the Bambergers. The Ne Plus Ultra is situated in Rocco Canyon, adjoining the Rocco-Homestake and has been one of the important lead producers of the White Pine mining district. The Ne Plus Ultra has been developed by a shaft 400 feet deep and has produced a large amount of high grade ore averaging 60 per cent lead and about 15 ounces silver.
Salt Lake Mining Review, July 30, 1911
Things started slowing down and we can't find any mention of wither of thse two mines producing anything after the 1920's.
In the lead-silver belt production has never stopped since its discovery and the camp is noted for its high-grade lead carbonates and galenas. The princeipal mines working the belt are: The McEllin; the Nevada Lead; the Jennie A; the Roosevelt: The oro: the Great Valley; the Letha and the Rocco-Homestake. They are all taking out ore and shipping
-Salt Lake Minig Review, May 15, 1925
None
The road here is full of delightful washouts, engaging ruts, and captivating rocks that are sure to capture your attention, if not your oil pan. We noticed one dugout which may or may not be one of the original dwellings here- the remaining structures standing and fallen were most likely built and Maintained by the mining interests that stayed on ever after the town become a fond memory. There are also a couple of cabins down the road a piece.