The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-23
BOOMING THE MINE.
The Most Extraordinary News
paper Ever Published.
A GOOD, IF NOT DER TRUE, STORY.
The 'Manganetus Index and the Reason For
Its Existence-The Wonderful
"Town" it Doomed.

Inc most extraordinary newspaper
have ever had any knowledge of was a
paper published up in the Sierra range
about fifteen years ago. the MangdnetuS
Inder. The publication alluded to had
mysteriously fallen into my mail box in
San Francisco for over year, and it was
always welcome arrival. 1t was neatly
printed, carried several columns of live adj
vertisements and had bright, busting air
about it that always gave me very favor
able impression of Mdngdnetus, as well as
of the man who edited the paper. He took
a decided stand on all the current topics Of
the day, and in everything happening in the
town where his paper was published he
carried candor to the verge of bewllderlng
rashness. [ never saw paper edited with
such absolute fearlessness, and often
wondered why it was that the editor was
not some time mobbed or murdered.
AT last my business took me in the vicin
lty of Manganetus, and decided to make
the editor call. 1t was fast coming on
nightfall as neared the spot where the
town was located and | Spurred my horse
up the steep mountain, thinking of the
warm bed and excellent supper L should
soon be enjoying. My mind was full of the
Slavln house, hotel of very superior ac-
w ulCu etlNcIGlSCo lipOldiiy
in the Illder, and whose royal provender
and home comforts the little paper was
never weary OF describing.
Only a mile more'' | said to myself, as
l thumped my weary beast with good
| sized stick, and after another mile | re-
peated my observation, and so the poor
horse went on checking off miles and miles,
while l persuaded myself that each mile
was the last. Strange, l thought, that |
! cOnd Sp1 M liUhtC ahead | strained NV
eyes for the welcome twinkle from cot
tage windows that in the darkness tell the
traveller of the town, but the night crept
on, little faster than the horse, and still
I was alone.
Presently came to a log cabin, and my
| heart rose as | saw the light cleaning
through the chiuks. Dismounting, [
walked, stiff and lame, to the cabin and
ham mered on the door. A little, bent-up
man, with wrinkled, leathery face, came
to answer, and as he opened the door
cautiously noticed that he had a cooked
pistol in his hand.
Seeing it l said: ''Here is civilization"
After the little man with the big pistol
had surveyed my famished face and tired
horsehe opened the door little wider, and
then, swinging it back with smile some
what apologize in its character, invited
me in.
How far to Manganetus?" l asked.
He looked at me in rather queer way
and bit his lip, as if nipping smile in the
bud.
us it far from here? Can reach It to-
night?"
siHardly think you can make 1t to-
night" he replied with tone that puzzled
me somewhat; cant you stay all night!'
he added. ''Better stay you can't posi-
bly, make ManganetuS to. night"
| accepted the invitation with alacrity.
My horse being provided for / was soon
absorbing the heat of CHEEKY fire and lis
tening to the conversation of my new &C
quaintance. He was man of very fluent
expression, and possessed wonderful
fund of information on scores of topics not
ordinarily discussed by men who occupied
log cabins in the mountains. While won
> dering who this old character could be
heard a monotonous noise in the next
room, and L certainly thought heard the
familiar sound of some one rapidly folding
newspapers.
, My ear did not deceive me, for in few
5 moments a pleasant-faced little girl ap
peared and handed my companion paper
, which he at once passed over to me. 1t was
damp from the press. and read the title
1.-THE MGngdnctuS Inder BY industry we
: thrive. Devoted to the material interests
of Manganetus Subscription s. pei
annum, payable in advance"
: MY HOSU Sullltu dS At AdnuGu Liz Gllt
paper.
''Then the town is herev' [ said lie
me go to the hotel; the Slavin house, l be
lieve. do not desire to trespasS upon TIT
hospitality of a stranger
''You will remain here, sir,'' he replied
81 blush to confess it, but this is the towl
: of Manganetus, and this cabin is the only
: habitation for twenty miles,
| stared at him IL aStoniSment.
tlVou NAV we'll % 1ly1lp6 he oontin
ued, "but | will explain. There is a groul
of mines near here which certain capital
:. lists of San Francisco are anxious to plac
> npon the London market. They have hire
me to advocate these mines, and it is par
t of my bargain to run my paper in such
\ way that the London readers will thinl
that a large towu is fiourishing here. See.
nodded vaguely, and he went on
9 my imagination is not sluggish, and S
. I manufacture all l write leave no ston
II unturned tomake the mythical city of Man
4 ganetuS a live, busting town. You wi
= find in this issue public meeting called t
discuss the question of new bridge acros
the stream that exists only in the column
of the Irlde1. Here is the wife of aprominer
mining superintendent clipping with
- member of the city council; here is run
:. away team, knocking the smithereens OIL
" of a cigar store. You will note the adve
~ tisement of the cigar store in anothe
&c column. Here is the killing of Texas Pet
and the investigation of his death by
:. coroner's jury. The cause of the Shootin
81 was dispute relative to the ownership
a mining location of fabulous richnes
There is also in another portion of I'll
paper legal summons advertised calli1
u on a co-owner Zone of the principals in tt
S affray), to do his assessment work or 10:
his interest. All my work dove tails nice
in, has plausible look, and shows no fiav
yet it is all absolutely made from who
cloth.'
is This is the most extraordinary thing
:, ever heard OFF, l said to him.
y ''This country is full of extraordina1
ay things" he quietly replied.
50 "Where does this edition goa" l asked.
ee ''Clara, bring me the mailing list''
ng glanced over the list and saw that
a. embraced the leading banking houses
London and New York, as well as the ce
be tres of finance and mining. My own nan
n was oddly enough on the list. About
IT, hundred copies were mailed, and eve
ge one went where it would do the most GOO
found that my friend edited the pap
IN and did the typesetting, and his daught
ne was learning the art.
~ have no companions except M litl
daughter-and the town of Manganetus
ri, he added with smile.
he Ipassed very comfortable night. T
roar of the wind through the pines, a
the rocking of the cabin had delicious
er soothing effect, ana lay in the warm b
~ thinking and resting until morning befo
on l slept.
lie My friend, the editor, was very talkati
a at breakfast. He never alluded to
ce name, but he told me more OF the par
and the enjoyment he had in building VI
town in the clouds from purely imagiI
tive basis.
ITO morrow" said he, ~ start out