A small borax operation was briefly located here, beginning at least from 1887 until around the turn of the century.
Congress was discussing import tariffs and immigration, and the Columbus Borax company responded with some of their concerns.
Reply of Columbus Borax Company, of Calmville, Nev., manufacturers of borax, boracic acid.
(Established in 1887. Capital invested, $100,000.]
We manufacture principally concentrated borax; we also manufacture boracic acid. We produced from 1887 to July, 1893, about 50 tons of concentrated borax per month, and are, since January, 1894, turning out about 30 tons monthly, the value of which is 7 1/4 cents per pound in New York city. We manufactured in 1889 about 20 tons boracic acid, which sold at 10 cents per pound, as the quality was not first class. We shut down work in July, 1893, and did not resume until within a few weeks, as, on account of the stagnation in business, sales fell off and the stock on hand was enough for the reduced demands. As to output of goods now, compared with 1892, we do not manufacture as many goods on account of stagnation of trade, which, in our opinion, is caused by the tariff question. We have not yet reduced the wages of our men. We board all our skilled labor, also our teamsters, and as our works are in the wilderness, we get all our supplies from San Francisco, pork and beef excepted. The rate of freight to our works from San Francisco is 3 1/4 cents per pound, no matter what the article may be. Concerning the effect of immigration. If the Chinese were driven out of the country we would have to stop work. Our labor is 12 per cent skilled. We employ about 50 men. Two women as cooks (they are the wives of the fireman and engineer). We pay common laborers (Chinese) from $1.50 to $2 per day; the white men from $3 to $5 per day. Our book-keeper, chemist, and superintendent from $1,000 to $2,000 annually, exclusively of free board and lodging. Work 58 hours per week. As to the character of foreign competing articles, little borax Is imported, but boracic acid is imported to a large extent. We export in small quantities to Mexico, Cuba, and Central America and sell at full market prices.
-COMMITTE ON FINANCE, UNITED STATE SENATE, Opinions of Collectors of Customs Concerning Ad Valorem and Specific Rates of Duty on Imports, 1894
With more than 50 people living here, they talked their way into getting a post office.
A Post office has been established at Calmville, Esmeralda county. with John C. McMillen as Postmaster. Now, whar are Calmville?
-Walker Lake Bulletin, January 10, 1894
A new post office about sixteen miles southeast of Candelaria has been named Calmville. The name is in keeping with the times in southwestern Nevada, says the Belmont Courier.
-Nevada State Journal, January 25, 1894
The Carson Appeal says that a gentleman who has recently been in Calmville, Esmeralda Co., says that white men can get work down there at $2 per day and board, in the borax works. Chinamen are now employed, but the managers prefer white men, and would discharge 30 Chinamen and put white men in their places on application. Some energetic man should make inquiries and take 30 laborers to Calmville, to work in the place of these Mongols.
-Silver State, March 31, 1894
The location is approximate.