Letter from Cornucopia. (January 13, 1876)
Letter 16
LETTER FROM CORNUCOPIA.
A Reply to the Post—A New County Talked of—The Only Safe Route—
Mining Prospects and Bullion Yield.
Cornucopia, Jan. 8, 1876.
Editor Silver State: As stated in my last “in the course of human events I approach you again.” Truly there is a dearth of news here; but I will try and do my best for your columns.
The Elko Post has in its two last issues been ADVOCATING FOR THE WINNEMUCCA ROUTE. The last you will see in the Elko Post dated January 1st, 1876, under the head of “Going for it,” which is an attempted slur, not only upon you, but upon me. What the post means I do not know; but I can imagine that ere long the citizens of the northern portion of Elko County will not depend upon Elko for their legitimate business. We may have a new county, with Cornucopia as a county seat, then bid adieu to Elko, the place of the cormorants, who live off the products of the citizens of the northern portion of the county. The Post can wail and abuse, but their [sic] or its votaries will go the wall next summer. The Post, with its system of autocratic prescience, proposes to dictate to the northern portion of the county what every woman, child, man, and mill company in that region shall do for their salvation.
A. Littlefield is small, but ours is a greater “field,” and we do not propose to be dictated to by the two-penny-a-liner of the Post. That OUR CAMP IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BEST on the coast next summer there is no doubt. The Leopard shipped a little over $85,000 last month. They shut down twenty-four hours for repairs, but are in successful operation now, and will probably continue so all winter, notwithstanding what the croakers may say. All we want is a good outlet during the year around. At present our express and mail is “quien sabe;” it may come on time or not, simply as the weather permits. You may canvass this portion of country and every ninety-nine persons out of a hundred will tell you that WINNEMUCCA IS OUR ONLY SAFE POINT. Take it the year around.
I obtained some items the other day in relation to the LEOPARD MINE from and old and experienced miner, George W. Tucker, who informs me that the mine is prospected to a depth of 187 feet, and that in their tunnels, drifts, etc. they have at least one thousand tons of good ore in sight. The claim is bounded on the southwest by a change of formation from what it used to be, and they are now running southeast and northwest. It is bounded on the west by an iron formation.
The HUSSEY MINE is located on the northwest end of the hill and is now down to the depth of 347 feet, and develops a large body of ore bearing southeast. Along the line of the Leopard and Hussey comes in the Consolidated Cornucopia on the southeast, which bears the same character of ore as the Leopard and Hussey, and is worked to the depth of 116 feet, and is now in good sulphuret ore and everything proves the fact without doubt that it is a good fissure vein. Other mines might be mentioned, but I will defer to it some other time.
CONSIDERABLE FREIGHT IS ARRIVING from your place, and some teams have gone to Paradise for flour, barley, etc. On Friday night and Saturday morning we had the worst snow storm of the season; but it is now quite pleasant. The greatest desideratum at present is to get wood from the mountains, which are covered with snow; but it can bought in town for $25 per cord, and what with that at that price and sagebrush I think we can winter through.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S passed away pleasantly, no fights or quarrels having taken place. The New Year’s Ball at Walsh’s new hotel was a grand success in every respect. The music furnished by Holman’s band was superb, and seventy-four couples tripped the light fantastic to its mellifluous strains.
At present times are extremely dull, but we think the worst has passed and we will be happy next summer and reap our long hoped for reward.—S. M. H.
Originally published in the Silver State on January 13, 1876. (link)