HISTORY (p 2)
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The lack of readily available potable water was a constant problem.
The high mineral content of the local water made it useless for
all but laundry and other cleaning. Even gardening was unsuccessful.
Throughout the history of the community, drinking water was imported,
first by mule and wagon, and eventually by rail. Water was stored
in tanks near the company store, piped twice a day through two taps—one
of which was located outside the sheriff’s office—and
sold to local residents. Sometimes guards were posted at the taps,
which were turned on for two hours each morning and evening. Archival
sources indicate that men did quit mining and railroad construction
jobs and leave the district because they were not able to obtain
good drinking water.
In spite of this significant difficulty, growth continued, albeit
briefly: the 1910 U.S. census lists the population as 1,118 persons
in 327 households. At least 247 adult women resided at Silver Bell
in 1910, and there were hundreds of children. Anglo, Mexican, Papago,
Chinese, and Japanese individuals were present, though the community
was totally segregated. Other occupations not gleaned from business
directories but listed in the census report include grocer, butcher,
restaurant keeper, boardinghouse keeper, musician, stableman, servant,
laundress, teacher, carpenter, teamster, photographer, and prostitute.
The company also maintained a hospital and attendant personnel at
this time. Additional amenities established around 1910 included
two firehouses and a movie house. Strikingly, a 1911 business directory
seems to indicate that many of the private businesses soon left,
presumably as a result of sudden depopulation tied to the declining
fortunes of Imperial.
Bankruptcy forced Imperial to lease its holdings to the ASARCO
in 1911. ASARCO began optioning Imperial claims in 1915, ultimately
acquiring all of the company’s assets—including the
railroad and the smelter at Sasco—by 1919. Under ASARCO’s
early tenure, Silver Bell again served as the company headquarters
and workers’ community. Its population temporarily rebounded
to 1,200 in 1920. Although the Sasco smelter closed in 1919 (after
only about four years of renewed operation), the electrical plant
continued to supply power to Silver Bell and the mines. The post
office, which had also closed in 1911, was reopened in 1916.
This revival also proved to be brief. After the price of copper
dropped in 1920, ASARCO shifted its focus to other operations. It
ceased mining activity at Silver Bell entirely by 1930. During that
decade about 500 people lived in Silver Bell; by 1931, the population
had further declined to about forty-five people, only ten of whom
lived within the company-owned camp limits. The railroad continued
to provide mail, supplies, and limited passenger service until late
1933, when it was dismantled and sold. The Sasco smelter was also
demolished at that time. The post office closed for good in 1934.
By 1954, Silver Bell was completely abandoned.
ASARCO faired better than Silver Bell; the company continued to
consolidate all of the major holdings in the district, including
those once held by Oxhide. In 1952 ASARCO began open pit operations
in the region. In 1954, it founded a new town site—also named
Silver Bell—four miles to the southeast.
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