Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1874-08-11
CoMMUNsCATEp.l
FREIGHTING IN EASTERN
NEVADA.

w. L. Pritchard, from Palisade, on
the Central Pacific, to various points
in Southeastern Nevada. There
may be other lines greater in length,
but certainly there are none, on this
coast at least, which approach the
magnitude, in point of tons of mer-
schanGise and products transported,
of -Pritchard's. OF course, freight
linessby wagons only are alluded to-.
The Typography of the country over
which these ponderous vehicles
travel, which carry the miner his
supplies, and bring back the fruits
of his toll, in the shape Of cords of
base bullion, renders it convenient
to unite together in one team as
many animals as a single driver can
guide with safety, over a road COM
paratively level, or with a regular
gradient. The average number
reaches about twenty. 1t is not un-
common, however, to see as high as
twenty-six gathered together in one
string, and under command of
single teamster. These are, with
rare exceptions, mules of fine stature
and proportion. They are also
kept in excellent condition of flesh.
The wagons, too, are of the most
ponderous build. In the early days
of California, before the compl elton
of the trans-eontinental railway,
some Immense freight trains were
daily to be seen putting out from
the head of water navigation to the
mines, laden with correspondingly
large cargoes: but none equaled in
size and power sthose which now
traverse the semi-sterile wastes of
the eastern portion Of this State, and
which bear the name of their owner,
formerly yclept Nick Of the
Woods
To give the aggregate capacity of
all the conveyances employed along
the line, or the average of each,
would involve some little calcula-
ton, as well as slight acquaintance
with the teehnicaiHie of teaming.
But the following data, gathered
from source highly trustworthy,
may convey to the reader some
definite knowledge of the subject in
hand: The total number of animals
is put down at 900; freight wagons,
200; stages, 50; men, 100. The
number of miles traversed, exclu-
sive of the Belmont route, which
has lately been established, is $50.
All along this line, from the place of
beginning to the EXTREMIST point,
Phoebe, there are provided at regular
intervals of distance, ample accom-
modations for animals and men.
These in some localities were OBJ
tanned at considerable cost. The
earth in numerous instances had to
be pierced to great depth before it
II would yield the Indispensable
article. Also, the material to con-
struct the necessary shelter had to
be carried long distance. But all
obstacles of this sort soon gave way
before the indOmitable perseverance
of Mr.. Pritchard, and now the route,
together with its equipments, is un-
4uestionably unexcelled by any on
the Western Slope Of America. The
reader will understand that these
statements and figures have refer
ence to the freight and stage line
together. The latter was purchased
about four months back from Wood
ruff Il Ennor.
But the freighters and stage men
early saw that the increasing impor-
lance of the Great East {as one of
the journalists long while ago
named it demanded that steam
should take the place of muscle, and
the narrow-gauge project thereupon
mad its birth. The enterprise has
been pushed SO far forward, as we
mentioned in recent issue, as to
place twenty miles of the road in
good running order. This twenty
miles is so much cut off from
frifehard's great stage and freight
line, and ere long it will be reduced
oy twenty miles more, for large
force OF hands is vigorously engaged
IN grading and otherwise preparing
1or the rails for that distance.
Prltchard, however, will make con-
nection with each of the various
termmi as the road progresses, and
however far it may penetrate the
lntArlnr A.