Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-02-21

den. where. on the 10th Of May, 1869.
the connecting tie was laid. the last
spike driven which completed the great
overland railroad. and the dream of
years became an accomplished fact
Then comes the Great American Des-
ert, which occupies an area Of about 60
square miles-dry, sere. covered with
alkali. no living thing finding place to
exist therein. AT one period Of the
worlds history this desert must have
been portion Of Salt Lake. for salt de-
posits are largely mingled with the al
kali. and the general features Of the des-
ert indicate that such was the case.
Next comes Humboldt Valley. where
we again strike streams of water and
fertile soil--or it would be fertile with
irrigation without that | fear agricul-
tural pursuits would prove disappoint-
ing. The water is still strongly alkali.
and unfit for use.
We breakfasted at Elko. Nevada. a
brisk little western town with fine
state university and mining towns
enough scattered through the neighbor-
ing mountains to bring a good trade to
their midst. Mineral springs are but
few miles away, and who knows but in
"the by and BY" when Yellowstone
Valley, our great national park. becomes
Q fashionable resort for pleasure-seekers,
Elko may Outrival Saratoga and her
healing waters?
At Elko We met Indians for the first
time. | wish could paint their pic
lures for you, for they appeared in all
the pomp and glory Of their natural mas
tiness. Noble red men, indeed They
filed me with disgust Their faces were
begrimed, smeared with paint and tobac-
co juice their long straight, coarse
hair hung in an uncomely snarl rags
and filth covered their persons, and
while the squaws begged for money from
the passengers, the Jraves (bah , strut
ted grandly up and down the platform.
Several squaws had their papOOses strap
ped upon boards and slung upon their
backs, and nothing but gift Of silver
would tempt one to turn about and show
us the little wretches. One old squaw
was said to be century old she look
ed to be all that and more. There was
little about her that would appeal to hu-
manity, beyond what one would find
about any animal that has passed the
stage in which it is able to care for it.
self
From Elko onward for some distance,
the road runs through alternate valleys,
and cuts made through sohd rock;
streams Of water are frequent and we
seem nearer civilized life.
At Palisade, 80 miles from Elko, we
pass narrow gauge road which is COM
pleted to the mining city Of Eurcka. 80
miles south. Nearly all the product of
the rich mining country in this vicinity
finds its way to market by way of Pali-
sade, and the piles of pig bullion lying
at the station attracted more attention
than the bluffs near by.
Ten miles west is Cluro, once ia
nous camping ground Of the emigrants,
on account Of the abundant water and
rich pasturage at hand. On an eleva-
tion little further en- and at our left
We saw large cross which has this his
tory While party Of emigrants from
Missouri we're camping here. one Of their
number, a young lady, sickened and
died. Her friends laid her 10 rest. plac-
ed board to mark her grave, and went
their way without her. When the la
borers on the Pacific road reached this
spot they found the lonely grave with
only fast decaying head-board TO mark
the spot. Actuated by the spirit Of true
christian manhood. they set to work,
with trowel and mortar aud soon enclos-
ed the grave with substantial stone
wall. Later. the Superintendent Of the
division erected handsome cross above
1t. on which is inscribed the name, ''Lu-
cinda Duncan. and on the opposite side
the words, "The Maiden's Grave"
At Battle Mountain we dined. The
air is as pleasant as in May. and there
is nothing 10 indicate that winter ever
visits the place Here Indians. big and
little old aud young. in all the degrees
Of hideous flthiness crowd around the
cars. They are eyerywhere--on the
platform munehing their dinner, behind
boxes playing at cards and gambling.
at all the windows of the car-these
children Of the Government wards Of
the Nation lszY, greasy. aud what is
worst Of all. ayefse to being any other
way.
Scattered through this valley are nu-
iaerous hot sulphur springs. ] noticed
only one that was throwing up numer-
Gus JET of steam. and presume little
later il was discharging sulphur water.
strong and hot The jets are often
thrown twenty feet into the air.
At Hot Springs. Nevada. salt and bO-
rax works are both probably carried on.
Indian hunters were numerous and their
wigwams dotted the valley on both sides