The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-04-04
LETTER FROM MASON vALLY.
MASON VALLEY, EsMERALDA Co., !
March 3lst, 1871. !

MATCH 0lSt, 1911.
Where Walker river waters flow
Down from their fount of endless snow,
There is a valley rich in soil,
That yields to hands of honest toll.
\ compensation rich and rare
For such privation toll and care
Its healthfuI and its genial cline
Should be extOlled in prose and rhyme;
So he who would no longer roam,
| Would come and build a home ssweet
A rural home home of bliss
In Mason's vale of happiness!
have favored 4 Keats, a Shelly or a
| Byron. so I will not attempt further to
describe the beauties of Mason Valley
in rhyme: but glide off into the more
matter-of-fa fact field of prose. and give
a pen sketch of this valley. 1t is stu
ated in the northwestern portion of
Esmeralda county, Nevada; it is about
thirty miles long by an average width
of five miles. 1t is watered by the
east and west branches of Walker
river. the confluence of which form
main Walker, which runs through
the enter of the valley, atfording an
abundant supply of water for irriga-
ton and other purposes. The soil OF
this valley is loamy and alluvial-
! formed by the decomposition OF vege-
table matter. 1t yields abundantly to
1.-THE industrious huSbandman, and
they find a ready market for their sur-
! plus produce at the mines of Pine
Grove and Rock!and. or at Dayton,
Virginia and Gold Hill. There are
thousands of acres of rich grazing
meadows in this valley, and it was To-
Gated a few years ago for cattle ranges,
but at a more recent date it was found
to contain not only bottom lands but
thousands OF acres of rich agricultural
lands. Last wear about 1909 tons of
barley, oats and wheat were raised
in the valley besides about 10 ton of
vegetables. From present prospects
there will he nearly double the
amount raised this year that was
raise. last year. The farmers are all
busy blowing and putting in their
grain. They have grubbed of the
willows and extended their farms, and
each one seems determined to raise
more grain than he did last year.
This is the right kind of a spirit. I'M
proNementS are constantly beng
made; houses, fences and bitches are
being built, and trees tr~an~planted to
beauiifv the farms and render them
more valuable. The gentleman from
Esmeralda," Mr.. Mcleod, is the
owner of one of the finest farms i'll the
valley. II consists of fou hundred
and forty acres of rich bottom land,
situated about the center OF the valley
on the west bank of Walker river. A
natural ditch meauders through the
center, from which he can lrrigate the
entire farm, but he has expended
many thousand dollars constructing
bitches to convey wafer 10 every nook
and corner of his farm. Along these
bitches he intends to set out balm OF
gilcad and cottonwood trees for beauty
and utility. This year he will SOW
about two hundred acres of grain, and
cut about two hundred tonS of hay.
He has ono three hundred head Of
cattle. besides horses and other stock,
all of which he takes Oft the farm dur
ing the crop growing season. There
are about three thousand head of stock
owned i'll this valley, all OF which is
moved to the mountains during the
Summer. and there are many farms
owned by mel of equal industry and
enterprise with Mr.. Mcleod; so, with
the enterprise and industry of her in
habitants. together with the richness
Of her soil and the extent of her mead
ows and pastures. Mason Valley is
destined to become not only n Of
the finest agricultural and horticultur.
al portions. but II of the best stock
raising sections OF Nevada.
MANNING.