Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-07-16
ELIO COUNTY.
Its Location and Size.
TOPOGRAPHY AND HEI1HT ABOVE
THE SEA Level.
1es Mlning and Agricultural, Re-
" sources.
a Fun Description OF the County.
A FuA Description OF the County.
(cohhUNIoArED.l
Continued from, yesterdoy.)


The valleys 30 far described form
the main part of the farming interests
In the Humboldt division. Owing to
the numerous large streams that
How from the Ruby mountains every
mile or 80, the first corners in the
county settled here in preference to
locating on other and better lands in
other places. Here, where the only
work needed to take the water upon
the land in most cases is to run a
plow furrow q few hundred yards, aud
the cost of clearing off the land is
nominal, they were able to settle on
the land late in the Spring, and have
their crops in and matured the same
season. The soil is very good, but
coarse, with gravel and boulders
underneath, and in many places the
water sinks 80 fast that nearly all of
it is wasted in trying to irrigate. The
nearer the foot Of the mountain the
coarser the soil, as a rule, and the
more waste in irrigation. While on
nearly all the streams during the
irrigation season almost half the
water disappears a short distance
above the mouth of the canyon, and
never comes to light again as far as
known. A common estimate with
many of the old settlers in the coun-
ty is that the water flowing from the
Ruby mountains across the Blk valleys
described would easily irrigate 5OO,-
QUO acres Of land in this county. This
is too large an estimate without ex-
tensive and costly irrigation works
thatcannot be put in till we have Il
larger population and more capital in
the country. However there are
good, small reservoir points IN every
valley that can be utilized with very
little cost by settlers.
SECRET VALLEY.
This valley, lying in the heart Of the
Ruby mountains at an average eleva-
ton Of 800 feet is a basin about four
miles in diameter. Although it's
waters flow into the Humboldt river
it is north extension of Ruby Valley.
There are 1900 acres under irrigation
in the, valley and about 1900 acres
more could be easily cultivated. At
it's lower end, where the valley mar
rows to canyon, is a good email
reservoir point, but there are no good
chances to store water where it could
be utilized in this valley. The water
stored in the reservoir mentioned
could only be used on lands at camp
Halleck or Star Valley.
MARY's RIVER VALLEY.
This valley is the most north -easterly
one in the Humboldt division and
also the largest. 1t embraces the
headwaters Of Humboldt river and is
six miles wide at the north between
the base Of the mountains, twenty
miles wide at the south--along the
line Of the railroad---and thirty miles
long, covering ~, 900 acres OF valley
land. Mary's river, the largest stream
Is formed at the upper end Of the
valley by numerous streams that rise
in the mountains on the west, north |
and east, and flow south along the
west side of the valley, Twelve miles |
down the valley Taber creek leaves
the mountains on the east and flows |
south very near the middle, while |
Bishop creek enters from the east,
and forms with Star Valley, the
south-oast side. There are none but |
nay and stock ranches in the valley,
no grain, vegetables or fruit being |
raised; and about one-halt Of the land |
under irrigation'is of the third group,
while all of that irrigated in the valley,
II, goo acres, is natural meadow land.
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