154

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

 

feed the stock. Wild cattle are found in
the valleys and among the hills, which
have never received any attention or care.
Stock-raisers are turning their attention of
late to this country and find it very remu-
nerative. The range is not confined to
the valley alone, the foot-hills and even the
mountain sides produce the bunch-grass in
profusion. Wherever sage-brush grows
rank on the hill-sides, bunch-grass thrives
equally well,

Osino—is 11.8 miles down the valley
from Peko—a signal station at the head of
—_ Canyon, where the valley suddenly
ends.

At this point the northern range of the
mountains sweeps down to the river bank,
which now assumes a tortuous course—
seeming to double back on itself in places
—completely bewildering the traveler.
Across the river the high peaks of the

mt ena chain rise clear and bold from the
valley

, contrasting strongly with the black,
broken masses of shattered mountains
among which we are winding in and out,
seemingly in an endless labyrinth. Now
we wind round a high point, the rail
lying close to the river’s bank, and next
we cross a little valley with the water
washing against the opposite bluffs, halfa
mile away. A dense mass of willow
covers the bottom lands through which the
river wanders. On around another rocky
point and we are in a wider portion of the
= with an seonges! strip of meadow
| land in view, when suddenly we emerge

into a beautiful valley, across which we
| speed, the road curving around to the right,
and 8.8 miles from the last station we
arrive at

Elke—tThe county seat of Elko county;
popu ation about 1,200. Elko is a regular
eating station for all trains from the East
angi West. The town formerly consisted of
wood and canvas houses—now the latter
class is rapidly being replaced by some-
thing more substantial. During the last
few years the town has improved mate-
a. The State University, which cost
$30,000, is located here, just to the north-
ward of the town. At this station—and
almost every one to the westward—can be
seen representatives of the Shoshone or
Piute Indians, who come around the cars
to beg. Any person who wiches to tella
big “ whopper” would say, they are clean,
neatly dressed, “child-like and bland,” and

erfumed with the choicest attar of roses,

utan old plainsman would reverse the

saying in terms more expressive than
elegant.

ear the town some Warm SPRINGS are
attracting attention. The medicinal quali-
ties of the water are highly spoken of. A
hack plies between the hotel and the
springs, making regular trips for the ac-
commodation of visitors,

The rich silver mining district of Cope
is about 80 miles due north of Elko, near
the head waters of the North Fork of the
Humboldt, bordering on the Owyhee coun-
try. Some very rich mines have been dis-
covered and several quartz mills erected,
in that district, but the more recent dis-
coveries are in Tuscarora district about 50
miles north, and are said to be very rich.

Stages leave Elko daily for Mountain
City—north, in Cope district—80 miles dis-
tant, and all intermediate towns and camps.
Stages also run to Railroad district—south
25 miles, and to Eureka district, 100 miles;
also a weekly line to the South Fork of the
Humboldt and Huntington valleys. Large
quantities of freight arrive at, and are
re-shipped from this station on wagons, for
the various mining districts to the north
an | south.

Another important business that has
sprung up at Elko, within the last few
years, is cattleraising. Elko county con-
tains more cattle than any other two coun-
ties in the State, and Elko ships more
cattle than any four stations on the road,
being amply provided with all the facilities
—roomy yards, shutes, etc., for a busi-
ness that is rapidly increasing, and is des-
tined, before many years, to far excee: all
others in the State.

This section is well watered by rapid
mountain streams, and the country abounds
in game of all kinds—a hunter’s paradise.
The valley of the Humboldt, for tweuty
miles above and below Elko, cannot be
ranked as among the best of 1ts bottom-lands,
though it is susceptible of cultivation to
a considerable degree. Buta narrow strip
is meadow, the remainder being higher,
gravelly land, covered with sage-brush and
bunch-grass. Without irrigation it is use-
less for agricultural purposes.

Passing down from Elko—the valley
dotted with the hamlets of the rancher
for about nine miles—we come opposite
the South Fork of the Humboldt. This

stream rises about 100 miles to the south-
east. Itcanyonsthrough Ruby Mountains,
and then follows down the eastern side
cf one of the numerous ranges, which,

 

 

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