Letter from Cornucopia. (November 4, 1875)
Letter 12
LETTER FROM CORNUCOPIA.
General News—The Mines and Prospects—Markets—Personal Matters.
Cornucopia, Oct. 31, 1875.
Editor Silver State: I must say that I have been a little remiss in my talk with you of late, but my only excuse is that there is such a lack of news worth publishing that I was ashamed to send you any hash. But to-day, TO KEEP UP THE LINK, I thought I would send you a few lines. The weather is very stormy; night before last it commenced raining, and rained very hard until about 9 o'clock the next day, when it changed to snow, and left us about four inches before it stopped. The ground is now covered with snow. This somewhat retards building. The workmen on Meacham and Mosher's [Moser] fire-proof buildings have to lay for two or three days. To-day it has cleared off, and old settlers say that after this storm is over we will have a month or six weeks of fine weather. I hope so. Improvement, by the way of building, goes along steadily.
THE MINING COMPANIES have paid off their employes, and times look propitious. The Leopard mine is getting better everyday, as I am told by men of veracity. Their mill is reducing about twenty tons per day, with a net profit of two thousand dollars. Why its stock should go down is a query to people here. The other mines are being steadily worked. Arrangements are now being made for the speedy improvement of the Monarch, South Leopard and "K. K." mines, which will probably be consolidated. Which done, and incorporated in one company, and improvements vigorously worked, as the intention now is, will, I believe, develop itself into one of the richest mining companies in the State. Every prospect shows that these mines are rich, and I believe that another year will demonstrate that this mining district is a Cornucopia indeed.
People here appear to have an abiding FAITH IN THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF THIS CAMP. Meacham is putting up a fire-proof, so is Mosher, and both are getting in large stocks of goods. L. I. Hogle is now completing one of the finest saloons in the State. There is nothing in Winnemucca that will compare with it. He has also a large clothing and provision store on the same street opposite, where most all the necessaries of life can be obtained as cheap as anywhere on the Pacific Coast. In fact all dealers here sell at about the same rates that they do on the railroad. Provisions are not high; flour $6.50 to $7 per hundred; beef is cheaper than any place in the State, and better cannot be found; best of steaks 12½c per pound; and goes by the quarter at 8c; mutton in proportion. Hay $40 per ton; barley 6c to 6½c per pound.
So, you can see that, although we are in an out of the way place, we are not excessively charged for our necessaries of life. Our mails come regular every other day. The mail last night brought us the GLOOMY INTELLIGENCE of the great fire in Virginia City, and there being many old Virginians here it is the town talk this morning, every one expresses commiseration and sorrow for the sufferers by the calamity, and hope the fire fiend may be stayed from us; because if it should break out here now it would leave nearly a thousand people shelterless.
Marker arrived here the other day with the Winnemucca express; but it appears there is nothing regular about it, and people begin to think, notwithstanding all the hurrah made by Winnemuccans, "it is a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal." Why they should have thrown away a good opportunity for trade surpasseth the wisdom of our people.
Of personal notes I have but little to say. Johny Barrett says he is a widower, and runs the blacksmith and wood trade more furiously than ever. He is the real irrepressible Johny. Law business is pretty good. Our Judge managed to send a client of mine to the Elko jail this morning. Charley Cochran has turned over a new leaf at his restaurant, and now gives the best of grub and has the most accommodating waiters. All Winnemuccans coming here hungry will do well by calling on him, provided they have got coin. Walsh is erecting a fine two-story building on the corner of Main and Ella streets, which will be as fine an establishment of the restaurant and hotel character as there is in the State. It is clouding up and we are going to have another storm, so I must close. If anything occurs of note I will let you know.—S. M. H.
Originally published in the Silver State on November 4, 1875. (link)