The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1888-05-03

back 10 the States by returning
hunters, trappers and traders, until
the Mormons, who had settled at
Nauvoo in Illinois, on the east bank
of the Mississippi and were having
trouble with the State authorities, con-
c.uded that to realize the spirit Of
their oriental dreams. they should oc-
cupy portion of this country far to
the west and beyond the contamina-
ting influence If the despised gentle.
Accordingly, in 1876, they selected
the Great Salt Lake Valley as their
Alabama. This occupation of Utah,
anc the discovery Of gold in Califor-
mia in 1913, brought Nevada--then
Western Utah--out prominently as the
great thorough.fare for emigrants from
the States to the gold fields Of Califor-
nia.
Having an eye keen for business,
these blormsns were not slow in select
ing the most available points along
the route through Nevada for supply
and trading stations As early as
1880, stations for these purposes had
been established in Carson and Washoe
Valleys; and finding these valleys
fertile and easily irrigated, the Nor
mons established during that year sey-
eral thriving settlements in them.
Tie line of travel from Salt Lake to
these set lements was by the way OF
the Hulnholdt aud Carson Rivers. III
1851 Dir John Reese of Salt Lake ex
Piored new route, Which crossed
Reese River at Jacobs Springs, and
the Toi,abe range through Tele-
graph Canon three miles nor h of
where Austin now stands. THIS line Of
way, proving very desirable one,
Maj. Simpson. at the heal of de.
tacAment of u. Is. soldiers, with Mr
Reese for guide, explored it thoroughly
in 1852 Owing to Its feasibility, it
soon became popular, and afterwards,
Was known rs Simpsons Route.
reese River Was named in honor VI
MIR. John Reese, the pioneer Of this
part of the State.
La 1870 This highway was al rpted
by sbe i'ony Express, AN institution
which has become historical on account
Of the daring OF its riders and the reg
uiarily aud rapiiity of It's trips.
Owing to difficulties engendeied by
the breaking out OF the Civil War in
1861. the Overland Mail transferred
its stock and coaches from the over
land road through Arizona and New
Mexico, to the Simpson Route, and in
selecting stations this company located
one at Jacobs Springs, about ten
miles east II the present site of Aus
tin. This station afterwards took the
name Of Jaeobsville, aud it was the
frst permanent settlement made in
Lander County.
At this time the Overland Telegraph
line was built over this road with a
station at Jacobsville. With the
Overland Telegraph, the Overland
Mail, and numerous emigrant trains
passing through it, and occupying il, +,
the business of Jacobsville was not at
a stand.still.
The Overland Mail employed large
number OF men to attend to the sta
tions and to take care Of its stock
Amorg these men thus employed was
William III. Talcott, a native of Mary
land, who. in May of 1862, while haul
ing wood to Jacobs Station, through
the lower part of the canon in which
Austih 10 situateu, dtscofcTcu tnc
famous Pony ledge. which received its
name from the fact that the Pony Ex-
press riders, in order to shorten the
distance between Jacobsvills and the
station east of this, frequently went
through Ills canon, instead of Tele-
graph canon; hence the name Pony
canon from which Pony ledge was
named.
From this ledge Mr. Talcott took
some quartz which, when assayed,
proved to be very rich in silver. The
discovery of this ledge, and an ac-
count Of its width and richness having
been made known in Carson and Vir-
gnia cities, great excitement followed,
and in the following year--1863 3--began
the grand stampede to the Reese
River country began.
Continued.
Life up0n the Planets.