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1950 Map of New York Butte

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of New York Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Inyo Mountains dominate this 1950 survey, showcasing a high-altitude mining landscape defined by steep ridges and deep canyons. Prominent summits like New York Butte and Keynot Peak overlook a network of industrial operations, including the Black Warrior Mine and the Bonham Talc Mine. The eastern slope descends sharply toward the Saline Valley (Depression), where the dry bed of Salt Lake sits in isolation.

Industrial infrastructure is particularly evident on the western face above the Owens River. Researchers can trace the path of the Southern Pacific railroad as it skirts the edge of Owens Lake, passing through the small rail sidings of Swansea and Dolomite. The presence of several Tramway (Abandoned) lines and the Estelle Tunnel Tramway near Cerro Gordo Pk reveals the mechanical efforts required to move ore from remote claims like the Belmont Mine down to the valley floor during this era.