Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch

History of Mexican Mill, Dam & Ditch
In the spring of 1860, a small mill was constructed on the Carson River near Empire. The mill was enlarged and became known as the Mexican Mill, or the Silver State Reduction Works. It stood where the Empire Ranch Golf Course is currently located. The mill was damaged during a flood in the winter of 1861-1862. The mill was repaired and expanded. After this expansion, it became the main mill for reducing Comstock ores.

The mills' motive power was furnished by water brought in the Mexican Ditch. The ditch ran from the Mexican dam, four and one half miles to the mill. The ditch was 10 feet wide across at the top, 4 feet at the bottom, and 4-1/2 feet in depth. It was able to supply 4,000 cubic feet of water per minute. The breast wheel was 28 feet in diameter, the largest on the coast, and furnished 200 horsepower. The fall of the water was 22 feet and it ran 44 stamps, crushing 75 tons of ore daily, double the amount of any mill then operating in the territory.