Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1879-04-08
LETTER FROM BLUCHER.
BATTLE MOUNTAIN. April 5, 1879.

BATTLE MOUNTAIN. April 5, 1879.
EpIroR APPRAL: There is perhaps more
1ue in Battle Mountain than any town of its
size this side of Green River. To prove the
truth of this assertion one has only to clrcu
late around the platform at the depot of &
morning and watch game of Indian poker,
or q game of marbles on the street. Then
visit McWilliams' and interview the ranchers,
and the "natives" squatted around the stove;
and then the "Nevada Railroad office and
hear Bridges dilate upon the future of our
''city of the plain or the Office of the
Messenger, and listen to the Judge swearing
at his paper and building "castles in the air"
on that 81 600 he is going to raise out OF the
citizens, while he is putting forth an APOLOGY
to the good people who have been carrying
the establishment. Decidedly, this is a lively
point The trains are running pretty full OF
tourists, who wear Tweed suits, low heeled
and long toed shoes, thimble shaped caps or
"billy cock" hats, and who look with indlf-
ference upon our mountain ranges, slip-shod
Cinnamon, begging Indians and bull teams;
and who can see no beauty in either sage
brush OF alkali fats, nor anything picturesque
in the costumes Of the ranchers or teamsters,
who are generally found ornamenting the
esplanade in front of the Capital (Dow
Huntsman's caravansera), or lounging in
front of the express office.
1t should rejoice the heart of the verlest
old timer to see "Uncle John Gibbons" dash
in, four in hand. followed by the coaches OF
Austin and Lewis, az the last train stops and
the passengers rush out for that dollar s worth
of hash. The old English mail coaches, with
their red coated guards and muffied drivers,
were of no account when compared with these
buffalo-robed Jehu's and " shotgun mes
sengers" of the Nevada stages. They never
carried tons of bullion, nor passengers loaded
with coin, nor travelled over trackless plains
during long nights of restless vigilance. But |
even that is being played out here, and the
iron sinews which traverse our big continent,
and the arteries of wire which connect the |
great centers of civilization, are blotting out
all the features of the olden times.
We are having beautiful spring too, and
yesterday nature put on some queer shapes.
FRS: gentle zephyr, OF the Washoe type,
swept the plains and covered with a sombre
curtain the surrounding hills. Then came
heavy rain clouds and vivid lightning, and
heavens artillery rafting overhead, and then
a sweet, refreshing shower, settling down the
powdered alkai and fresheniug up the alfalfa,
which is just popping its head up in favored
spots; and clearing the saloon pavements of
chairs, and early birds who wait for lazy
,weepers-out to open doors aud shutters.
And then glides in, with shrill whistle and
bell, the long freight train, with
is heavy load of Rocky Mountain coal, great
,astings and machinery, and locked cars of {
ich merchandise from the Eastern slope,
blocking up and dividing the town for long :
lour, till it drags its unwieldy length away c
md makes room for the morning stages and c
midday passenger trains. When they pass G
Cast and West stagnation settles down upon
Battle Mountain for twelve long hours. q
BLUCHER.