Cornucopia. (April 24, 1876)

Letter 30

CORNUCOPIA.
The Universal Complaint Prevalent—Business Men Despondent—
Aurora District—Bull Run Valley—The Mines—An Accident.

THINGS ABOUT TOWN.

Cornucopia, April 19, 1876.

Cornucopia is still here, but we do not know whether the outside world is living or not. Looking around the town in the morning after getting your eyes opened, on the street you see Judge Bassett—for what I do not know. Savage swears like a trooper in Flanders. The Blonger boys at The Palace say they never saw such times. Hogle shook the mud off his feet, and left for Palisade; and A. A. Goff, his Lieutenant, says it is terrible to sell bacon and beans for cash. Meacham says there is not half the mail received that he would like to distribute to his many friends. Truett says the sale of goods is dull. Saloon keepers refuse liquids without money in sight on the bar; so many go dry, unless they go to the creek, and take snow water which flows down our main street. Fordham does not care, he has plenty of grub left, and is waiting for July or August. I tell you it is terrible, John Barrett has even to sell wood for $18 per cord, and Madden, of the Fashion, whisky at twelve and a half cents per drink, and no cash at that. Dutch Henry, as he told me before, “walked out,” and as he told me on his arrival here the last time, “walked in.” His results will probably be improbable, unless he starts that store at Aurora District with $20,000 for which he has got backers; says he has good backers for this project, and told me to write it down.

THE WEATHER AND ROADS. Yesterday, after having had a few days good weather, there was a change, and we had a splendid shower of snow, but the temperature being warm, the snow runs off rapidly, consequently the streams are high. To the north, Bull Run Creek is impassable, and toward Elko and Tuscarora—Wells, Fargo. & Co.’s route by Woodruff & Ennor; they came in four days behind time; got in on a “buck board,” with four horses attached to it. The Lovelock boys got in with freight ahead of them the day before from Winnemucca. The mail stage does a little better, as they do not have to cross the south fork of the Owyhee, but at the present writing God only knows when they will be here. One calamity after another befalls this section. One of the abutments of Winter’s Owyhee bridge has succumbed to the high water, and before that most feasible route to the railroad is opened we will have to wait awhile.

LATEST NEWS FROM THE AURORA DISTRICT is very encouraging. The Aurora Mining Company, one of the first locations, undoubtedly has a good mine. Their shaft is down twenty-five feet on the main ledge, which is eight feet wide, and the average assay is over $300 per ton. There are many other ledges that look well. The Antelope and the Pride of the West are good mines, and some of the owners are now making arrangements to have their ore hauled to Winnemucca for reduction. Quite an accident occurred at Power’s place, at the crossing of the Owyhee, yesterday afternoon. Jack Way and the Walsh brothers were going over to the new mines to work, and had along with them provisions etc. They arrived at the river, but could not cross with their wagon by fording, so they loaded their valuables in a boat and started to make the opposite shore; but, when in mid stream they upset, and lost all but their lives. Although they thus lost temporarily, they have not lost their hopes in the mines. The difficulty between the two districts, Walker and Aurora, has been settled. The miners met, and by agreement named it Aurora District; and gave the camp the name of Walker City. Richard Hazelton was elected Recorder for the new district. All official communications should be addressed to Richard Hazelton, District Recorder, Walker City, Aurora Mining District, Elko county, Nevada.

THE FARMERS OF BULL RUN are hurrying in seed wheat in anticipation of the erection of the mill of Davis & Ham, and next fall they expect to rival, if not excel the flour products of Paradise Valley.

Something may occur in the Leopard after they have got their $50,000 assessment worked out. Undoubtedly the Hussey on the 400-foot level has got a splendid three foot solid vein. Jewel, of the Panther says it is as good as he desires.—S. M. H.

Originally published in the Silver State on April 24, 1876. (link)

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