Letter from Cornucopia. (August 16, 1875)
Letter 6
LETTER FROM CORNUCOPIA.
More Mills Wanted—Bull Run Valley—Tuscarora District—Jumping Lots—Water Scarce.
Cornucopia, August 12.
Editor Silver State: Since your last published from "J. F." little has transpired. Times are quite dull, although the work on the Leopard new mill goes steadily on. They have now the foundation works nearly completed, and judging from the way they have commenced they will, when the same is in running order, have (for the same capacity—30 stamps) as complete a mill as there is in the State. The mine warrants the construction of such a structure for reducing ores and probably more, One great desideratum of this place is A CUSTOM MILL. There are hundreds of tons of rich ore on the dumps of other mines, which would yield prolifically had the owners a chance to work them. The owners of the Leopard have all the mineral they desire to work, and they will construct a mill of working capacity only to suit their own wants—not what they might do—hence, outside mines owned by poor miners have to wait. A good custom mill would cure this, and treble the bullion yield of the district. Of the proof of this assertion it only needs to refer to the daily assertions of some of the best miners in the camp. It is the day and night talk. All hope that some competent party or parties will come here and investigate the matter, believing that by so doing they will find indisputable evidence to warrant the investment of money in the erection of such a custom mill.
THE TOWN GROWS apace as fast as lumber can be obtained. Water is growing scarce, and the only supply now obtained is that which comes from the gulch up and down which Main street runs. This can be remedied in time, as good water can be brought from the Owyhee by ditching, fluming and piping. The Tuscarora district is now amongst prospectors acquiring considerable notoriety, and many are turning their visionary eyes of wealth that way. The ranchers of Bull Run district are quite jubilant, the crickets avoided them in their march, and the citizens (not the crickets) are going to have a good crop of hay, barley, vegetables, etc. George Goltman has a fine ranch. He is now securing his hay, of which he will have a good yield, and can dispose of the same here at good prices. Bull Run as an agricultural district in the State may rival Paradise Valley. The merchants whom I might mention L. I. Hoyle [Hogle], A. D. Meacham, Reeves & Co., Woodruff & Ennor, etc., complain of hard times, but at the same time they appear to be selling lots of goods. On the water question I forgot to mention that Reeves & Co. and associates commenced digging a well on Ella street, between upper and lower town, for water—hope they will get it, but quien sabe. Reeves is indomitable, and if any one can get water he will.
I said the town was quiet, but I forgot to mention that we had A SHOOTING SCRAPE the other day about a town lot. Old Dad Summers got away with it by shooting off a finger of one Hugh Donahue. Tom Laswell and Freeman say that Old Dad may have the lot, and Donahue is nursing his finger-stump, under the care of Dr. Endicott of your place. Laswell and Freeman, don't understand me to call jumpers, they were only condoling Donahue, the jumper, for losing his finger. A citizens' committee was appointed, and in all probability acts of lawlessness and violence will be looked after in the future.
There is great inquiry for the Silver State here every mail night, and I can hardly keep a copy of mine long enough to read myself. But this communication is getting long and I must close, but not without mentioning the death of the infant daughter of A. B. Chapman, an old pioneer of this section of the country, and an old pioneer of California. Most all turned out to the funeral. And although the flower was cut off in its bloom, yet let it be remembered that Christ said "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven, and blessed them."—S. M. H.
Originally published in the Silver State on August 16, 1875. ([1])
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