Cornucopia. (May 6, 1876)
Letter 31
CORNUCOPIA.
Times Brightening—A Relic of ’49 —Bridge Completed—
The Mines—Outside Districts—General News.
Cornucopia, April 30.
With the incoming of good weather times look a little brighter here; prospectors are quite busy; but, before I go to general news I will give you A REMINISCENCE OF A KEEPSAKE. Yesterday I met “Old Park,” of Park’s Bar, an “old ’49er,” and from way down in the bottom of his trunk he fished out a pocket comb, which he had purchased in 1849 for $4. It is an old one with many of the teeth gone, but the same relic has untangled the locks of such men as Governor Bigler, M. H. Latham, Joe McKibbin, Col. E. D. Baker, and Harry I. Thornton long years ago. I passed it through my hair, and then returned it to its owner, who cherishes it highly as a remembrance of old times. If he goes to the Centennial he will take it with him.
THE OWYHEE BRIDGE is done so that teams can cross with loads, and some freight is already arriving from Winnemucca. Lew Willard starts in the morning for your place to see about getting in the Leopard freight for their furnaces and hoisting works.
THE MINES. The Leopard mill is already repaired and ready to start up as soon as they can get the ore down from the mine and get the furnaces completed. The hoisting works are going to be of considerable power—sufficient to do all necessary work to the depth of 1600 feet at least. Work goes steadily along on the Hussey and Panther with good results. The Monarch, by some called the North Leopard, is now being worked by Jim Coffman and others, and they say they have a splendid ledge. I must mention the Tiptop, the Constitution, and the Black Diamond as mines deserving attention. Late developments show that these mines are genuine, and will equal the Leopard, at least experienced miners claim so, for they are thought to be on the mother vein.
THE BLUE JACKET MINE in Bull Run District, is now attracting considerable attention. This mine is about twenty-five miles north of here in a nice location, where there is plenty of wood and water. The principal owner is a Mr. Blythe, who has paid close attention to it for the last six years. In the lower works, about 400 feet from the surface, they have a five foot ledge, which will work from $250 to $500 per ton. They have a good ten stamp mill in fine working order, and during the summer you may expect to hear good results from it.
AT MOUNTAIN CITY considerable work is going on. Chas. Ripley and Judge Sinclair are paying their attention to that section with good prospects. Across the river (Owyhee) from that place Ripley has a gravel claim, which will pay $20 per day to the man. I heard from Aurora District last night, and learned that most all the miners are diligently working on their claims; some already sacking ore to ship to Winnemucca for reduction. So far as developed there was never a blighter prospect for a new camp.
THINGS ABOUT TOWN. Business being quite dull many are cleaning up their houses, painting, etc.; others go a fishing over into Independence Valley, on the Owyhee, where salmon trout are caught. J. M. Clark was out the other day and brought home twenty-four fine fish. He eat [archaic past tense pronounced “et”] all he could and deposited the balance at Johnny Fordham’s fish market. Johnny got away with them. They are delicious eating; but one must not eat too much of these delicacies. Carl York got hold of one, and he says he eat as long as it tasted good; but it made him sick. Charles Cockran [Cochran] opens out his restaurant at the old stand to-morrow, and will be pleased to attend to the wants of his Winnemucca friends. Jack Small is keeping hotel and has one boarder, a small one at that. The Democrats held their primary last night, resulting in the election of S. Moser, Thomas McAvin, and Bob Hughes as delegates to their County Convention. The roads are drying up fast, and we anticipate quick time soon from Winnemucca to this place by freighters and travelers. A petition for a daily mail from Winnemucca here has been circulated and numerously signed. I hope some attention will be paid to it.—S. M. H.
Originally published in the Silver State on PUBDATE. (link)