The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-05-21
Translated for the Elko IndcprudeuII
E!ko as Seen by German Traveller.
BY ROBERT yOS sEHLAuINTEyEIr.


Thinking that the following sketch will be
read with interest by the citizens of Elko, and
especially 10y those who may perhaps rcmcrI-
Der German traveller 10y the name of Rob
ert Sehlagintevcit, Professor of Philology in
the university OF Baden. Germany. Who visit
ed Elko in July last, / translate the follow
ing from the New York Stats Zcitumg:
Among the numerous places on the Cen
tral Pacific Railroad, Elku is one oC the most
important and interesting in the Humboldt
valley Situated on the right shore Of the
Humboldt river, 5O92 feet above the level Of
the sea, it il 27i miles from Ogden in Utah
i69 miles from Sacramento in California
The name, the Specification Of which Is not
as yet designated, originated from the Sho-
shone Indians.
ElkO. where on my return trip from Cali
fornia | was most cordially received, WAS at
that time the youngest town in the United
States, and though only founded on the llth
Of January, 1862 1t contained, up and until
July, "a space of not quite six mUnths) from
1920 to . 800 iuhahit.uts.
At the time spoken of, there was not a sin
gle brick building IN Eikp, while at present II
no doubt boasts Of good many. The most
Of the houses at that period were tents; some
were nailed together from boards, while 9TH
ers consisted Of thTy" different materials
boards, willows and nlobcS The writer
no doubt meant thnt row at houses which
were bnit of sticks aud mud.
This yuung town was htil out the same rs
any older American city, in regular streets,
but these were without rLvonouts, sidewalks
or lights. Ia some remote portions OF the
town the sagebrush grew idNuriously.
Last July ElkO presented the lIyelicst ap-
pcarnnce any one can possibly imagine.
There was constant shipping, backwards
and forwards; perpetual motion, and think
II most likely that San Francisco or Sacrl-
mento in their infant days. Immediately after
the gold discovery, looked about like II,
only that in these lately named places, at that
early period ones life WIS not Slt" as 1t al
ways has been in ElkU, for the officers always
keep the town in perfect order, and know
how 10 keep the laws respected Whoever
carried weapons without permission Of the
magistrate was shown ont of town. Ii iS but
night TO take into consideration that the West.
ern American uses his revolver as the Italian
does his dagger. On my arrival in ElkO, also
was notified Of the fact that IL was forbidden
to carry weapons. but should not have vIO
lated their law any moro had they omitted
This caution, Rs in all my travels Chose n
ASIA excepted, for there IL was highly ucCcs
sary to be procaucious) pemkuifo which tn,
stnctest Judge could not well place IN th'
category of deadly weapons WINS the only
weapon ever carried. In March, 1868,
Travelled 5ii miles through Russia IN nn opoi
sleigh, aud nearly always alone, without hay
ing any other weapon than the above nance
penknifo with me.
Nowhere in America did | find n town
where people entertained such gigantic pro
lectE, and were so perfectly confident IN Tho
iuture, 0s in Elko. The general good living
combined with "A pleasant aud honHhy Chmntc-
70 Judge by the Appearance of the people, 70
travellers were struck with the many health,
iacos and rosy checks. which in tho EAstcri
otates are n rarity to meet with--rnny TO som
extent promote all this. The summers ar
warm, aud although showers are scarce, tn
ar thonRh dry, il fresh and rigorous with
lew hours exception during the day. There
no actual heat, and the nights, as in all noun
an towns, are cool and refreshing.
Were to tell you all that the people q
Eiko mean to- do, | would not be believed;
therefore content myself in saying that in Ju
~, 1869, they had on paper plan wrough
out Tor grand brick building, destined for
courthouse. IL il almost fabulous to Sc
wnot those people in such n short space (
ume have dono on this small spot Of tn
globe. About mile from the depot, on hi
situated on tho left shore Of the Humboldt M
tnteo hot springs, where i. w. Iiaumoiste
MhahenbourRh, Bavaria, together with on
o'ner German named Grocppor, have oroctc
avery commodiOus bathing house. which n
hough only nailed together from boards, [ II
writer, no doubt, IN gifted with strong imngi,
NuNe powers which woold bo n blessing f.
poor folks 60 possess. is arranged in Amer
can style, with all tho accommodations OF
Io1'a ask for. cold spring, which finds !
oed in the neighborhood Of tho hot springs.
very artistically used to cool the hot waite
principal peoulinrity Of tho Elko hotsprin
mat II you take portion Of tho hot watc
sVu Iu httie bread, pepper and salt to 1t, 80
wlll imagine you are eating beef broth;
Prove which, l satisfied myself by partakii
" on several occasions. Their virtu