The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1878-01-06
WEEKLY Elxo IEpfpEEDERT.
.rnDAY. sAnUAnr :. is.s.


Aooub when, rms country Tor some
time past. has been greatly agitated.
were merely Of q local character. and
that the alarming reports so in lus,ri-
ously circulated. in which IL has been
sought 10 elothe ihem with the charster
Of National importance. emennted frrIn
parties either directly OF indireetlY in.
terested in fomenting discords which
might lead to difficulties Of n nature
sufisisatly severe to demapd Govern.
ment interference. and perhaps event
nate in open wal between the two ma
lions. The extreme caution manifest
ed by the Washington Government
In responding 10 the frequent applics-
tions for troops to protect the Rio
Grande border. is in evidence that the
Department was pretty we'll aware Of
tue real situation, aud TO what extent
Government interfsEence was necessary
or advisable.
Thattbs extent and Importance OF
the southern border difficulties have
been greatly exaggerated in order that
certain parties might profit by the in
sugnration of 2 military campaign.
through contracts and speculation, and
also that interruptions and designing
men might be- The better protected in
furthering tho unjust schemes which
are doubtless at the bottom Of tue
-.Lm
present troubles, there can be little
doubt.
In standardization of these views,
Joseph Loeb. a broker of Reading, but
vho, until quite recently, held the po-
sition Of Post Trader at Fort Concho,
Texas, says. in reference to tho recent
outbreak in Pecos county:
"Tho people down there are simply
resisting q measure which they consider
tyranny and an outrage. Por hund.
reds Of years the MeIicans, Spanish
aud Americans have draxn their sup
plies Of salt from tho natural salt lakes
in Pecos county, about 1GO miles from
the border. and about $50 miles from
the fort whore l was stationed. The
natives fog ahypdreds Of miles draw
their supplies from that natural deposit,
and TO procure 1t any where else would
have necessitated a journey through a
vast Wilderness, probably 700 miles IN
breadth, The firm of Foster, Ludlow
&C., Of New York very recently pur-
chased this salt lake, and they appoint
ed one Judge Howard, in that section,
az their sgent TO protect the salt. and
~ assess q royalty Of about twenty
gents upon every GanGgd (about three
bushels) taken therefrom.
This proceeding cansed an intense
exeitement among the people, and they
considered IL a great outrage and =
moustrous Infringement on their rights.
They refqseito pay the royalty or tar,
and out Of that refusal the 6rst trouble
commenced. The MeEicaas. in fact
everybody, were disposed to resist
Judge Hovard's demands. They Sc
lected Louis Cards as their leader. He
was ar Italian, q member Of the Logis-
laturO. and q great friend OF the peo-
pie, who were fairly devoted to him.
Cards called,on Howard TO intsreedJ
for the people. aud Howard Knocked
him down. Subsequently Howard shot
and killed Cards, aud this added fear
folly to the intensity OF tho feelings
and excitemept Of the people. Cardis'
friends rallied 10 ayenge his wrongs,
and Judge Howard, having escaped
from prison, was obliged TO fly for his
life, He took refuge hundreds OF miles
away, where he still remains. ut Massio.
QAe cry was vengeance for the death
Of Cards, the peoples representative,
and down With the salt assessment.
Cards followers IRE determined to
Avengc his wrongs, and tho GghG now is
between his followers apl the support
ora Of Judge Howard and his salt levy.
Judge Howard Is n San Antonio lawyer.
He went to FL Paso about seven years
ago. He is about thjrty.ive. and
speaks Spanish fiuently. Cards was q
great favorite among the people, was
their advisor in nearly all things, and
they had unbounded CONFIDENCE in him.
Uhsy elected him to represent them in
the Legislature aud commissioned him
10 relieve them OF the salt tax. He had
the contract TO carry tho mail 10 Fort
Quitnan, and | had the contract for
tha other end Of the line, IN the service
pf the Texas and California Stage Con-
pnuy. He employed q largo number OF
prn and he Influenced thousanls,
There 10 no threatened Mexican war.
The people there are only taking o
liaRd for what they call their rights, and
EstAey endcavor to Tar lbem for the salt.
"a long will the trouble continue. Ills
h4ussuou Of legal posse ssionj it mus, DO
a'teSminsd upon and, established by
military farce. There arc a few com.
PAntss hi militia in Austin, San Antonio
kad Galveston, but not sufficient to put
down tho followers Of The la,o Cards.
Who can muster q. leas. three thousand
determined men; men who are engaged
III tranapprting salt hundreds o. miles
IN esttfss, or bu~li.carts, and selling IL
tos 4 per 6'ndyd. II will require ar.
H,ntcn, and probably The best way
out Of The difficulty woull be to let the