Letter from Cornucopia. (July 15, 1875)
Letter 3
LETTER FROM CORNUCOPIA.
The Mines—The Town and Things in General.
Cornucopia, July 12.
Editor Silver State: Cornucopia is still struggling to maintain her existence. Her Leopard proves more meritorious by each day’s development. The other mines surrounding it in the same formation as prospected, show the same character of ore. The Monarch, owned by Judge Sinclair and others, it is thought by many, will in a short time rival the Leopard in richness. They are still at work on the Hussey, but are working no ore.
Many prospectors are on the hills surrounding this place every day, and fetch in good specimens of croppings. Time will only tell what the future will bring forth. Very rich ore is being taken from the Leopard, and it grows better and better as it goes down.
As to the town, I will say it is growing very fast. Since I have been here about thirty houses have been erected, including wood and canvas, and I really think the thing is being overdone. Money is scarce, and a great deal of business is done on credit. This is very proper, perhaps, if I could get my proper share of credit.
The town is now of such development as to require the services of a night police, and last night there was an election held to choose one of Seven candidates in the field. Al. Cage got away with the ballots, and consequently is now chief of night police, so you may suppose Al. will be serene whether we have lunar light or not.
Business men appear to be doing very well. Brown, whilom of Sissou, Wallace & Co., at Winnemucca, is here attending to the business of Woodruff & Enner and Wells, Fargo & Co. A. D. Walsh of the Cornucopia Restaurant, is dealing out immense quantities of bunch-grass fed beef to hundreds daily, supplied by the market of Greyson & McLaughlin. Of places of amusement, Billy Allen of your place, has his dance house running, and since his new musicians arrived, Howard and Holman of your place, he has crowded houses every night.
The Justice’s court here is quite busy, its attention being called upon most every day to adjudicate cases of differences. By the way I ought to mention that in the mercantile business Reeves is improving, and although a new comer, I guess is doing as well as could be expected, but I cannot mention all in one letter. Advise no one to come here without he has means to establish himself in permanent business and intends to stay. For working men there are enough here for the present.
The place is so healthy doctors cannot thrive. Winter will be on soon, then we shall look to Winnemucca for our outlet, if we get out at all, and Winnemucca can gain a great deal by helping hands, and if she does the people here will try and get in provisions enough to last the winter while the good season lasts, and thus bury themselves up until the auspicious spring of 1876.—H. M. S. [assumed to be S. M. H.]
Originally published in the Silver State on July 15, 1875. (link)
← Letter 2 Contents Letter 4 →
Commentary
Don't try to fool us, S. M. H., we know it's you.