upheaval sometime. Within a mile or two of
the town, north, a good view of the Thousand
Spring Valley is obtained with its pasturage and
hay lauds. Tecoma has two or three stores,
saloon, dwellings, etc., and will soon have a
smelting works. It has a population of from 50
to 100 ; and the most of its business is with the
mines and cattle men. Stock-yards convenient
for shipping cattle have been erected here.
There is a fine grazing country off to the north,
where large herds of cattle are kept, and this
has come to be a prominent business of this part
of the country. As we approach Tecoma, on
our left a bluff peak with perpendicular walls
closes the northern end of Pilot Range, while
Pilot Peak towers up to the heavens at the
southern extremity. It is 20 miles from Tecoma
to the base of this peak, though it does not seem
half that distance. Tecoma is also the railroad
station for the Silver Islet Mining District, and if
the mines in its immediate vicinity are developed,
it will become a place of considerable impor-
tance. Leaving Tecoma the railroad continues
over a sage brush and greasewood plain to the
left of the valley, with a part of the old Union
Pacific grade on the right, and as we approach
the next range of hills or mountains, we have a
fine broadside view of grand old Pilot Peak, and
do not wonder at its prominence, or the great re-
gard in which it was held by the emigrants across
this dreary desert.

JUoiiteflo, — 715 miles from San Francisco,
with an elevation of 5,010 feet. At this station
is a large water-tank supplied with water from
a spring in the mountains on the right, some ten
miles away. The mountain ranges this side of
Ogden run from north to south, parallel with
each other, and the railroad crosses them over
low divides or passes, while the plains of the
desert lay between them. To our right a
point of the Pequop Range approaches the
track, and shuts out our view of the Old Pilot,
as we pass up the grade, and into the narrow
defile.

It is generally understood that the mines of
the Pilot Range are quite extensive, and that the
ore, though of rather low grade, is nevertheless
to be found in large quantities and is quite ac-
cessible. Buei City has a smelter erected which
has reduced considerable ore.

Lor ay, — nearly on the summit of the divide.
It is 704 miles from San Francisco, with an ele-
vation of about 5,960 feet. It is a station of no
particular importance to travelers. Wood and



timber, cut in the mountains for the use of the
road, is delivered here.

Too no, — 098 miles from San Francisco, with
an elevation of 5,973 feet — the western terminus
of the Salt Lake Division of the Central Pacific,
and nearly 183 miles from Ogden. Toano has
a roundhouse with 14 stalls and an adjoining
shed where two engines can be sheltered. It
has the usual side tracks, coal-sheds and build-
ings for the transaction of the business of the
company. The town has about 250 people.

The following mining districts are tributary to
this place, and transact the most of their busi-
ness here : Silver Zone, distant 20 miles, mines
mostly milling ore ; Dolly Varden, 55 miles ;
Cherry Creek, 100 miles; Egan Canon, 105
miles; Shellburn, 110 miles; Mineral City, 130
miles ; Ward, 140 miles. They are all south of
the railroad, and connected with Toano by a
good wagon road. Stages run regularly to
Cherry Creek. A great deal of freight is
carried to the mines, and ore and bullion hauled
back. The road is destitute of water for a consid-
erable part of the way, and wells, at a great ex-
pense, have been dug in some places, from which
water is sold to freighters. The ore from some
of the mines in these districts is very rich.
Twenty cars of ore from the Paymaster Mine in
the Ward District were shipped from here in
January, 1870, nineteen of which averaged about
1800 per ton, and one car averaged a little over
$1,000 per ton, net. Not only the Ward, but
others in this region are regarded as prosperous
mining camps. In 1875, from 800 to 1,000 tons
of base bullion were shipped from this place, the
product of these mines. The valleys south have
good ranges for stock, and some of them, as the
Steptoe Valley, produce excellent crops of small
grain and vegetables. The Toano Range of
Mountains runs from north to south, and heads
near this place. On the road to Pioche, about
ISO miles from Toano, and about half a mile
from the road, is the Mammoth Cave of Nevada.
It has been partially explored, but its extent is
not known. Beautiful specimens of stalactites
and crystals have been found here, and the
tourist would be highly interested in a visit to
this cave, which in a short time must become a
place of public resort.

North of Toano, the Goose Creek Range of
Mountains, which divides Goose Creek and Thou-
sand Spring Valley, are plainly visible. The Sal-
mon Falls copper mines, on Salmon Falls River,
are about 60 miles north, and are known to be
rich in copper.

About 20 miles south of the town, a road to the
Deep Creek Mining District branches off from
the Pioche road, and part of the business of that
mining camp is done here. The country imme-
diately around Toano is barren and desolate in
appearance — not very inviting to the traveler or
settler.



174



TMM §>g@IFIC FO&&I8F.



On leaving Toano we have an up grade to
Moore's Station, about oO miles. In the winter
great difficulty is experienced with snow over
this distance, and in the summer the route is ex-
tremely beautiful and picturesque. Just west of
the town, on the right, the low hills are covered
with a scattering growth of scrub pines and ce-
dars. The Pequop Range juts up to the town
on the south, while on the north may still be
seen the mountains of the Goose Creek Range.
The road between this point and Wells is undu-
lating, and full of short curves and heavy grades.
Six snow sheds are passed, in rapid succession.
As we look off to the right, the hill seems to de-
scend into a large valley, with a range of mount-
ains beyond. It is a dry, sage brush valley and
continues in sight until we pass Independence.

Pequop, — 689 miles from San Francisco,
with an elevation of 6,181 feet. It is simply a
side track, at which passenger trains do not stop.
Passing this, we next reach the Otego telegraph
station, which is only used in winter, to give no-
tice of snow-blocked trains, etc.

Don/ Man's Sprint/. — About five miles
from Pequop, in the low hills off to the right of
the track, is a spring which bears the above sug-
gestive title. In the spring of 1873, the body of
a dead man was found near it, with a bullet hole
through his skull. The decomposition of the
body had advanced so far that it was past
recognition, and the questions as to who he was,
and how he came to be killed, were not likely to
be solved. In short, the man and his tragic end
were wrapped in great mystery. The old adage,
however, that "murder will out," was again veri-
fied in this case. It seems that a large drove of
cattle came into this region of country, in the
fall of 1872, and that two of the herders em-
ployed — one a Mexican, and the other a white
man, were paid off near Wells, and started back
for Colorado, where they were first employed.
They camped together one night at this spring,
and the next morning one was left cold and
stark upon the bosom of mother earth, while the
other, the Mexican, went on and in due time
arrived in Denver, Col. He had murdered
his companion, robbed him of his money, his
watch and his horse, and with his plunder, with
no one to witness the deed, thought himself se-
cure. But a brother of the murdered man lived
in Denver, and hearing nothing from the absent
one for a long time, became somewhat alarmed
about him, and began to institute inquiries and
to search for his companion. His efforts were
soon rewarded, anil in a short time he heard that
tlie, Mexican, — who was known to have accom-
panied his brother in driving the herd to Neva-
da, — had returned, and had been seen in Denver.
Furthermore, it was supposed that he had not
left that city, and could lie found somewhere in
its immediate vicinity. His trail was finally
struck, and followed until he was found. His



account of the missing man was so confused, and
his different stories so conflicting and improb-
able, that he was arrested and searched. The
search revealed the watch and other trinkets of
the murdered man. which were at once recognized
by his brother. His horse; was also found. The
Mexican, now thoroughly suspected, was closely
questioned, and the evidence against him was so
strong, that, while confined in jail, he confessed
the crime. This so exasperated the friends of
the murdered man that they determined upon
vengeance, and immediately organized to secure
the death of the culprit. The villain was taken
from his cell in the jail one night, and found the
next morning hanging to a telegraph pole. Tims
was the spring named.

Otego, — station and side track, which is 688
miles from San Francisco, with an elevation of
6,151 feet. The tourist may enjoy a magnificent
view of hills and mountains, valleys and dales,
as we pass on over some of the reverse curves in
the road. The old Union Pacific grade is still
seen in patches, on our right. Pequop Range,
with Independence Valley, now looms grandly
into view on our left, as we arrive at

Independence, — 67(1 miles from San Fran-
cisco, with an elevation of 6,007 feet. We are
now crossing a low divide between the valley on
our right, above spoken of, and Independence
Valley on our left. This station is on a heavy
down grade, and trains going west seldom stop.
The water tank is supplied from springs in the
low hills off to the right, and the side track is a
little beyond it. We now pass to the right
around an isolated mountain that seems to
guard the entrance to Independence Valley, —
and I lien to the left, and as we turn to enter the
pass in the mountains a lovely view of this beau-
tiful valley is again obtained stretching away as
far as the eye can reach. It is a great stock
range, and thousands of cattle annually feed
upon its rich nutritious grasses. Turning again
to the right we enter what is called Cedar Pass.
Passing a section-house at which there is a win-
ter telegraph station for use of snow-bound trains,
we soon reach the summit of the divide between
Independence Valley, and the valley of the Hum-
boldt, at

Moore's, — 669 miles from San Francisco,
with an elevation of 6,166 feet. It was formerly
quite a town for wood-choppers and frontier
men, when the railroad was being built; but
its glory has departed and the stakes and posts
of a lew houses are all that remain to mark the
spot. Down the grade we go into the far-famed
Humboldt Valley, passing Cedar, a side track,
where a camp of wood-choppers in the mount-
ains on our left, deliver their wood.

Wells, — 061 miles from San Francisco, with
an elevation of 5,629 feet. Just as we enter the
town, we pass the mountain spur on our left,
and Clover Valley bursts into view. Its name



tse @mmwiG wmmi®w.



175



is significant as it abounds in the natural clover
so well known in the Eastern States. The town
has about 200 inhabitants, with roundhouse for
three engines, a hotel, stores, saloon, etc. The
railroad -water tank formerly supplied with water
pumped from the wells, a little west of the town, is
now filled from a mountain spring four miles
away.

Humboldt Wells as they are called, give celeb-
rity to this place. They are really springs about
thirty in number, situated mostly in a low basin
half a mile west of the station. There are no
evidences of volcanic action about them as we
could perceive, nor does a crater in this low
place seem at all probable. They are very
probably natural springs and from the nature of
the porous soil around them, they do not rise and
flow away as similar springs do in a more com-
pact soil. The water, by residents here, is not
considered brackish at all, nor is it particularly
warm, though the springs have never been
known to freeze over. They are also called
bottomless, but no accurate knowledge has yet
been published in regard to their depth. They
are simply deep springs, but the opinion is here
entertained that a lead and line would soon
touch bottom in them. It was the great water-
ing place in times of the old emigrant travel, and
at least three of these roads converged to this
point and united here. These were the Grass
Creek, the Thousand Spring Valley and the
Cedar Pass Roads. Emigrants in those days al-
ways rejoiced when they had passed the perils of
the Great American Desert, and arrived at these
springs where there was plenty of water, pure
and sweet and an abundance of grass for their
weary and worn animals. Hence it was a favor-
ite camping ground. Visitors approaching these
springs in the summer, and springing on the sod
can fairly shake the adjoining springs, a fact
that leads to the opinion entertained by some,
that they are really openings of a lake, which
has been gradually covered over by the accumu-
lation of grass and grass roots and other luxu-
riant vegetation, which abounds along and
around the basin. The fact that the ground
around these springs is so elastic, and the known
incidents in history, where luxuriant vegetation
has frequently caused islands in rivers and lakes,
confirms this opinion in our mind, and we be-
lieve a thorough investigation will establish this
theory as correct. There is then in this basin
simply a covered lake, and the springs are open-
ings to it. The conformation of the land
around the basin also tends to convince us of the
truth of this theory. The basin is the receptacle
of the drainage of a large water-shed, and there
ar-e high mountains nearly all around it. These
springs abound in fish — the little minnows that
are so common in the brooks and small streams
in the Eastern States. Other kinds there may
be, but these only have been caught. The



apertures differ in size, and the openings to
some are much larger than the openings in
others. If they were on a side-hill every body
would call them springs, but inasmuch as they
are in a low basin, they are called wells. Their
depth and surroundings also convey this im-
pression.

Mr. Hamill, a merchant of Wells, says that he
took a piece of railroad iron and tied some lariat
ropes to it (about 160 feet), and could find no
bottom in the deepest springs which he sounded
with that length of rope. He further says that
a government exploring party, under command
of Lieutenant Cuppinger, visited Wells in 1870
and took soundings of the springs to a depth of
from 1,500 to 1,700 feet and found no bottom.
These soundings were of the largest springs or
wells, and while his statement may be true, even
soundings to this depth does not render them
bottomless.

How to see them and know where they are, is
the next thing of consequence to the traveler.
As you pass west of the station, notice the end
of a piece of the old Union Pacific grade; next
the graves surrounded by painted fences ; then
off to the right a heap of stones, where the en-
gine-house was built — the engine being used to
foroe water from the well, -which is just beyond
this heap of stones, to the tank along side of the
track. The heavy growth of grass around the
place will indicate where this well is in sum-
mer, and the accumulated deposits of this grass
lias raised a little rim around this particular
well, — and the same is true of others in its im-
mediate vicinity.

Travelers will take notice that a mail and ex-
press stage line leaves Wells tri-weekly — Mon-
days, Wednesdays and Fridays — in the morning,
for Sprucemont, 40 miles, and Cherry Creek,
05 miles distant. At Cherry Creek this line con-
nects with stages for Egan Canon, on the line of
the old overland stage route, Mineral City (Rob-
inson District) and Hamilton, the county-seat of
White Pine County. At Mineral City, convey-
ances can be easily obtained for Ward's District.
20 miles distant. The Spruce Mountain Mining
District is said to contain some very good mines,
and a company has recently been organized in
San Francisco, to continue the work of develop-
ment. Sprucemont is the mining town of the
district, and is beautifully located on an elevated
bench in the midst of groves of pines and cedars.
Stages also run 100 miles south to Shellburne,
also to Bull Run.

There are estimated to be about 40 ranches in
Clover Valley, and as many in Ruby Valley.
These ranchemen are engaged in agriculture and
stock growing. They raise wheat, barley, oats,
and splendid vegetables. Wells has extensive
stock-yards, to accommodate the large shipments
of cattle, annually made from these ranches.
The valley in this immediate vicinity is th6



176



TMM &$€IFI@ F&&&ISF,



scene of the annual "round-ups," every spring.
Cedar Pass Mange is the range on our left, as we
come through by Moore's Station. West of this
range and south of Wells, is Clover Valley. The
tourist will see "Castle Peak" on the further
side of this valley as the train pauses at the
station, and this peak is on the northern end of
Ruby Range, and it is always covered with snow.
Ruby Valley is nearly due south of the " Castle "
which you see in the mountain, and is divided
from Clover Valley by a spur of this range,
which turns into it like a hook. Ruby Range is
about 150 miles long, and we only see its north-
ern extremity at Wells.

Nortli of Wells, across the first range, lies the
Thousatul Spring Valley — then across another
low divide, you will strike a valley whose
waters flow north-west through the Columbia
River, to the Pacific Ocean. Fishermen will
bear in mind that salmon trout are caught in
this valley in the spring of the year. The
stream is a branch of the Salmon Falls River,
which empties into Snake River, about 120
miles north of this station.

A proposed railroad has been talked of, to con-
nect this point with Callville, on the Colorado
River, and the route is said to be very feasible.
Wells is also the connecting point for a direct
"cut off" to Salt Lake City, should such a road
be built.

It may be well to remark here, that the mount-
ain ranges in Nevada, as in Utah, generally ex-
tend from north to south — and the only exception
to this rule, is where there are broken or detached
ranges, or isolated peaks. Leaving Wells, the
foot hills on our left, in a short distance, ob-
scure a view of the high peaks in the Ruby
Range ; but they soon reappear as we pass down
the valley, and are our constant companions, only
a short distance away, until we leave Halleck.
Retween the Humboidt River and the base of
these mountains, there is an elevated bench cov-
ered with the usual sage brush and greasewood,
while in the valley and along the borders of the
stream, grass land predominates. An exten-
sive stock-dealer, when asked about the quali-
fications, etc., for growing cattle, said that
'• there was about one acre of grass to seventy-
five acres of sage brush," and a limited observa-
tion of this part of the State, at least, proves
that he was not far out of the way. As we de-
scend the river, however, a gradual increase in
grass lands will be observed, while in places, the
greasewood which, so far as we know, is entirely
useless, grows in astonishing luxuriance.

Tnltisco, — 054 miles from San Francisco,
with an elevation of 5,482 feet. The valley seems
to widen out as we descend it, and bushes grow
in bunches along the banks of the stream as if
the old earth, under the most favorable conditions,
was trying to produce trees to beautify and adorn
these barren plains. Soon Bishop's' Valley can



be seen on our right. Looking to the left, we
see the canon in the mountain side, down which
rushes Trout Creek, when the snows are melting
in the spring and early summer. This creek
abounds in "speckled beauties," and unites with
the Humboldt about a mile and a half below
Bishop's Creek, which we soon cross, through a
covered bridge.

J>i.sfio/>'t> — is another side track station, but
on we glide through the valley as it widens out
into magnificent proportions. It is 049 miles
from San Francisco, and has an elevation of
5,412 feet. Another little creek and valley now
appear on our right, and we soon arrive at

Deeth, — 042 miles from San Francisco; ele-
vation, 5,340 feet. It is a telegraph station, and
has a few buildings around it. The valley seems
very broad as we approach this station, and evi-
dences of settlement and cultivation begin to
appear. The bushes and willows along the
banks of the stream increase, and it is a para-
dise for ducks and geese.

Halleck — is the next station, 030 miles from
San Francisco, with an elevation of 5,230 feet.
It is named from Camp Halleck, which is located
at the base of mountains, 13 miles from the
station, and across the river. A few troops are
usually kept here — two or three companies, —
and all the freighting and business of the post is
done from this station. The town itself has a
post-office, hotel, a small store and the usual saloons
where " lingering death," or " blue ruin," the com-
mon terms for whisky, is doled out to soldiers, and
others who patronize them. It is probable that
good crops of wheat, barley and oats could be
raised here by irrigating the land, but it is
mostly occupied as stock ranges. Camp Halleck
is not plainly seen from the railroad, though a
few buildings a little removed from it, will point
out its locality. A regular mail ambulance runs
daily between it and the station. Leaving
Halleck, Elko Mountain seems to rise on our
right close to the track, but the road soon turns
and we pass this landmark on our left. The
Ruby Range which we have seen away to the
left, from Wells to the last station, is now left in
the rear as we turn westward again, and pass
down one of the Humboldt Canons. The camp
is delightfully located, well watered and is sur-
rounded with thriving groves of cottonwood
trees.

/V/.o — is the next station, merely a side
track, and section-house at the head of the first
canon on the river. It is 620 miles from San
Francisco, with an elevation of 5,20 1 feet. We
are now at the head of the Humboldt Canon, the
first one through which the river passes. It is
not wild and rugged but nevertheless sufficiently
so to make it interesting. A short distance be-
low Peko, the North Fork of Humboldt comes
in. It is about as large as the main body and is
a peculiar stream. It rises nearly north of Car-



TSE @d€IFIG TQUBISW.



177



lin, some distance west of this point, and runs
to the north-east for a distance, then nearly east,
and finally turns toward the south-west, and
unites with the Humboldt at this point. The
road through this canon is full of short curves,
and winds like a serpent through the hills.
Now it seems as though the train would be
thrown into a heap at the base of the hill we
are approaching, but a turn to the right or
left saves us from such a calamity. Once or
twice before w r e reach Osino, the valley opens
out between the hills, and where the North Fork
enters there is an abundance of grass which is
monopolized by a rancheman. At the next
station,

Osino, — 614 miles from San Francisco, with
an elevation of 5,102 feet, — a mere side track,
we enter upon an open valley, and for about
nine miles pass over a nearly straight track.
The valley is all taken up by ranchemen and
farmers, and good crops are raised by irrigation.
The water is taken from the Humboldt above,
brought down in a ditch, from which it is taken
and distributed among the farms.

Elko, — 60G miles from San Francisco, with
an elevation of 5,0(33 feet. It is the regular
breakfast and supper station of the road, and
passengers get an excellent meal in a neat
house, kept by Mr. Clark, the most genial
and accommodating landlord on the road.
The table is usually well supplied with fruits,
fish and game.

Elko is the county-seat of Elko County — the
north-eastern county of the State. It has a pop-
ulation of about 1,200, and is destined to become
one of the important commercial and educa-
tional centers of the State. It has a large brick
court-house and jail, one church, an excellent
public school, and is the seat of the State Uni-
versity. This institution has 40 acres of ground
on a bench of land overlooking the city, in plain
sight of the cars on the right, just before reach-
ing the town. Its buildings have thus far cost