Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-08-18
tn n4story OF q California Mush-
room Town.

it is now Il mere memory, this deserted
city up in the Businesses of Sierra coun-
ty, but a recent visitor to its moss
grown streets has written to the Sierra
vile Mirror a description of the place
that will be of interest to many.
Meadow Lake was originally a sink
hole about seventy-five feet deep and
was about fourteen feet in diameter.
A large dam was erected below it in
1851, the water was held back and thus
the lake was formed. While building
the dam the workmen discovered that
much of the rock contained deposits of
pure galcna, and thinking they had
struck it rich" were not slow in max
ing the discovery known. About the
same time Harry Hartly. while trap
ping, discovered what was afterward
known as the Excelsior mine. In the
year 1865 the excitement commenced
and every other man met was going to
Summit City. as it was then called.
Snow was shoveled off the ground as
soon as practicable and the work of
building was commenced. In n few
months n city arose and every availa-
bic foot of ground was put into play,
The streets were necessarily narrow.
and many who could not waste their
precious time building substantial
dwelling houses lived in tents. Six
hotels were built. besides several res
taurants, churches and theater fol.
lowed. A two-story stone store was
erected by Smith &, Perkins. The odd
follows met in hall Of their own. A
furniture factory was established.
At this time the population of the
town hal reached about four thousand
and was rapidly increasing. Quartz
mills were in operation and blasts were
lToing Off in thirty or forty tunnels and
shafts all the time. making constant
roar. Several small mining companies
we're obliged to give up the fight as not
o. cent had been taken out and thou
sands put in. Still no one was dis
r0uraged, and to all doubling ears was
sounded: Excelsior; wait till the En-
celsior cleans up" and nothing more
was heard from morning till night but
The booming of blasts and the cries of:
Excelsior! Hurrah for the EXcelsiorl"
1T this mine the stamps were crushing
ore all day, all night and every day in
the week, grunting, grooming to work
out the precious metal
The road winds around the lake, the
ruins of houses become more frequent
until you emerge from the timber, and
tuc city lies before you. AS we ride
down the main street our horses step
on a board or we speak and our voices
are echoed back by the old wooden
buildings with harsh, metallic ring.
Near the center of the town stands a
tail flagstaff, bent with storm and
.%inls Sign-poles were still standing
IN front of many of the BUILDINGS. and
npcn doors reveal the contents or empti-
ness of them. On every hand lay ruins
If hundreds Of frame buildings, with
here and there whole blocks of build
logs which have heen destroyed by fire.
4 very large building, built on n
granite rock, and seeming to be in a
condition that will stand many more Sc
we're Snowfalls, attracts the eye. II
was known in the days of its erection as
.j"tfreyS' livery stable. Three stories
high, with the stable on the second
Ho0r, containing twenty stalls, it is
larger than any building of the kind il
thi.S valley at the present time. At the
back Of each stall is Il beautifully carved
rrnuty and symmetry. rs on the day i
,@ls placed in position, Every detail
shows that no expense was spared
few yards from the building is
mass of 0narried stone on which n mum
ar" of iron doors and shutters lie il
endless confusion. This is al that re
urains of the stono store of Smith
Perkins. Houses without a window
pane broken gave hint that the hunte
and small boy do not inhabit this Local
;ty. On n hill overlooking the tow
stand three houses comparatively i
good condition. The central one
highly ornamented--indeed it may b
ralied CANDY. This house was pul
1hasc:' some twenty years ago fo
twenty-five dollars, However,
proved poor Investment. Under tn
Goor of an old shanty we discovered
- e