Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-24
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF Ell
REKA COUNTY, NEVADA. !.
Geography.

GeOSropOy
Tho county of Eureka occupies that
portion of the State of Nevada lying
north and east of its geographical
center. 1t lies between the parallels
Of 800 I0' and 4Io, and between the
meridians of l150 AS and ll6o So west
of Greenwich. 1t is bounded as fol-
lows: On the north by Elko county;
on the east by Elko and White Pine
counties; on the south by Nye county,
and on the west by Lander county.
The Humboldt river, with a general
westerly course, flows through the
northern portion OF the county. Mag
gle creek empties into the Humboldt
from the north, and Pine creek from
the south. Fish creek rises in the
southwestern portion of the county
and flows in an easterly direction into
White Pine county, where it sinks.
There are also several minor streams
fed by the mountain springs and sink
ing In a few miles from their source.
The Sulphur range of mountains
lies partly within the county and along
its western boundary, extending from
the Humboldt river on the north to the
Nye county line on the south. On the
east OF the county lies tie Diamond
range, which, trending westerly at its
southern extremity, crosses the south
eastern portion of the county. From
these ranges numerous spurs extend
into the county. the principal Of which
Is Prospect mountain, trendiDg north
erly from the southwestern extremity
of the Diamond range.
The county lies entirely i'm the Great
RnSin Ito SVrfxaa - tftrntainntI
The Humboldt river, which is its low
est point, is 1000 feet above the level
of the sea, and the summit of Dia-
mond mountain, which towers above
the own Of Eureka, hasan elevation Of
over IL 900 feet. Prospect mountain has
AN altitude OF $500 feet. lam not aware
that the altitude of the higher peaks in
the Sulphur range has ever been de-
termined. They may be safely as.
sumed to have an elevation equal to
that of Prospect mountain.
The soil of the county is generally
barren. A good hay crop is cut in the
Humboldt bottom and in Pine and
Fish-creek valleys. A few acres of
land along the minor water courses are
successfully devoted to vegetable gar
dening. With these exceptions there
is no agriculture. There is, however,
an abundant growth of white sage and
bunch grass in nearly all parts OF the
county, affording excellent pasturage
alike for winter aud summer. The
grazing interest is steadily growing.
| A few c~ottonwoods are to be found
lslong some of the water courses; and
in some localities in the mountains
there is u growth of white pine of suf-
ficient size for mining timbers. There
Is no other timber, properly so called.
! There is, however, upon most OF the
foothills a sparse growth of nut-pine
(pinon1, mountain mahogany and
dwarf cedar, which Is used for fuel and
in the manufacture of charcoal for
smelling.
Eureka, the shiretown and the center
of the population and wealth of the
county, is situated in a canyon be-
tween Diamond and Prospect noun.
tains, at an elevation of 1000 feet above
the sea. The only other towns are
Ruby Hill (near Eureka), and Palisadc
and Beowswe, on the Humboldt; the
former near the eastern, and the latter
nea the western boundary OF the
county.