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Show 287 after a more familiar Golden Gate in his home state. Other White Mountain place names have long ago been erased from the maps of Utah and Nevada. Before the results of the Wheeler survey were incorporated into the maps of the Great Basin, a few more of the White Mountain terms were in use. A. L. Bancroft's 1873 "Map of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona" was probably using local information when it included the Desert Swamp and White Mountain Cave in their proper locations. This may have been the last published usage of the term "White Mountain." The White Mountain Expedition was the largest expedition ever promoted by the Mormon church. Despite a staggering outlay of time, talent, and manpower, very little was gained of material value. Only the miner and stockman have made this region pay. In later years George W. Bean recalled: "We became well acquainted with south-east Nevada, but it was left for others to discover the rich 26 mines of Pioche and Frisco later." The White Mountain Expedition walked right over the ground where these rich loads were eventually discovered, but mineral wealth meant little to the Mormons in I858. Their wealth laid in other spheres. Building up the kingdom of God was their first priority, and finding Brigham Young's refuge was their immediate goal. |