Cornucopia. (February 29, 1876)
Letter 23
CORNUCOPIA.
A False Report Corrected—The Elko Road Almost Impassible—Hurry up That Bridge—The 22d.
Cornucopia, Feb. 24.
Since I wrote last I have found a few items which I send you. Look in your Elko Independent of the 20th instant, and see what an article is published against the interests of this place. Why, the Independent tells the whole Pacific coast that the Leopard mill has shut down—states it emphatically—and without any qualifications whatever, and I am told by a citizen of this place, who has just come from below, that it is the general talk all along the line of the railroad that the mines at this place have “given out,” “petered,” ‘“gone in,” and the camp gone to “h—l generally.”
This is far from being the truth, for THE MINES NEVER LOOKED AS WELL as they do to-day. True, times are hard; but where are they not? If the Elko press expects much support from this place in the future they must not make public such assertions as was published in the Independent of the date above referred to. If they continue to do so we will have to look to the State for our news. In fact, I may say, they get later news in the State than they can in the Elko papers, although (as charged) Winnemucca is seventy-five miles further away. For instance, we, through the State, got the news of the arrival of Froman with the prisoner who stole Polson’s mules long before the Post or Independent mentioned it.
It is a paramount fact now, that if the present soft weather continues we can get NO MORE FREIGHT FROM ELKO before the middle of June next. The only resource is Winnemucca. Why, it is hard now for the stage to get through, so the driver that came in to-day told me a few minutes ago. The climate is warm, and the snow is melting fast and I am afraid that if you people of Winnemucca do not hurry up the bridging of the Owyhee will be impossible until the water falls, for this weather continuing the river is bound to raise, and during high water nothing can be done towards bridging. I wish the Secretary of the Bridge Committee at Winnemucca would send up plans and specifications for the bridge parties here wish to see them.
THE 22D passed off quietly. In the morning the flag was hoisted on the public staff, and bunting was displayed at many private buildings, and the day culminated in a grand ball at Walsh’s hotel. Everything now bids fair for an early spring, the snow is fast disappearing, and as fast as it goes grass springs up. The ranch men and farmers at Bull Run are expecting propitious times in this Centennial year.
OUTSIDE DISTRICTS. Mountain City, situated about thirty-five miles north of here, has a prospect of resuming something of its pristine glory. Old “stand byes” say they have good ore there. The Blue Jacket mine, in Bull Run District, it working steadily, and turning out quite a quantity of bullion. Smith Van Drillen [Van Dreilin], “stage man,” takes a load of the stuff from there this week. The Aurora District is prospecting well, and will create quite a stir when good weather comes.
Teams are coming in over the WINNEMUCCA AND PARADISE ROAD most every day, and make reasonable time. There are but few bad places on the route, and they can be easily fixed, so Jim Coffman tells me, he has been teaming from Paradise most all winter, and ought to know.
THE TOWN IMPROVES, although dull times. M. K. Truett has already commenced getting the material on the ground for his fire-proof store, which he will immediately erect on Ella street. But enough at present. Yours.—S. M. H.
Originally published in the Silver State on February 29, 1876. (link)