The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-12
EUREKA, NEW.
A Highly Realistic sketch Of a Mining
Town.


Nevada Correspondent Boston TravelerJ
Eureka, to an Eastern man, Is probably one
OF the most fOrlorn, unfinished, demoralized
looking towns In the country, and before CO.
ing into details OF the manners, customs,
business, etc, Of the place, will give brief
some idea OF the situation. The town proper
is built in narrow canyon running about
month and south.
At the eastern side the mountain rises alb
ruptly above the town several hundred feet
the houses being built partly into it, each
house having storerQom dug under the hill.
On the west the slope Is more gradual, rising
into high hills some half mile out OF town
while above and beyond all, the towering form
of Prospect Mountain looms erandly up and
asserts itself the monarch OF the range. The
centre of the town is compaetly built, EXTEND
ing for about half O. mile up the length Of the
canyon, while the width Is not much over
800 feet from hill to hill Three streets run
the entire length of the town, with an occa-
sional cross street, stopping abruptly at the
foot of the mountain on the east, or stray
Cling up the sloping hills on the west side for
short distance, ending In a hog corral or
ore Dump or anything else that happens to
obstruct its further progress.
The town has outgrOwn the narrow limits
OF the canyon. and Is spreading up the slopes
and ravines on the western side, but with no
to make money, not to live; until lately very
few brought their families. They needed a
shelter, and hut was as good as q palace;
they built into the hills, and under the
hills, shanties Of logs, of lumber, OF stone,
OF everything that was handest and cheapest
Each man built his cabin where he chose !;
there was no grading, no laying of streets
no sewerage; footpathS and trails wound In
and out from one to the other, until now the
man who is highest up, the bill throws his
Stops upon his neighbours roof, or II his fire
gives out walks out OF his cabin and warns
his hands at his neighbours chimney.
The principal street Is Main street, which is
entirely devoted to stores and saloons The
buildings are mostly mere shanties, one-story
high, and each one built In size and style to
suit the caprice and business of its owner.
each property owner builds the sidewalk In
front OF his premises to suit himself, so that,
in walking up Main street you are continually
climbing up steps, the sidewalks being some
what on the plan OF teTraced garden. On
all other streets and by-ways there are
no sidewalks; you can take your choice
between the middle of the street or nearer
the fence, and navigate as best you can
between piles OF wood and lumber
everywhere. Nothing Is finished or settled.
A street Is clear to-day and tomorrow pack
train Of dozen mules comes down from the
mountains and unloads pile OF firewoOd as
high as the house right In the middle OF the
thorOughfare; house or cabin which to-
day looks as IL 1t had quite made up its mind
to stay where 1t Is, tomorrow Is seen moving
gaily down the street to some new locality.
Nobody seems to have any back yard, or IL he
has he doesn't use it; all the refuse of the
kitchen Is thrown into the street. We have
several times narrowly escaped shower-bath
from the contents OF o washbOwl being thrown
from the front door OF dwelling