The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-19

and raised Game generally. Shot hole
through the barroom floor while they
were at it, and had good time all
round
NO PLACE FOR SHARPERS.
When one asks who these men are,
ne learns that they are gamblers who
enliven their professional duties by
occasional "gun plays" when business
is dull. 1t may be added that Utah is
apt to prove an unpleasant surprise for
such operators. The people of the camp
generally are too jealous of the good
name of the community, and the courts
of Utah are too severe with criminals.
The legislature has just passed an act
enabling the citizens to hold an cleo
ton for Incorporation purposes. When
the town has been organized and a mu-
nicipal government established, the
"toughs" are likely to find the canyon
an uncomfortable place of residence.
Compared with other new camps, the
cost of living in Mercur is cheap. This
is due in part to the accessibility of the
place, its nearness to Salt Lake City
and its markets, and the proximity of
Utah valley and Utah lake with their
supplies of vegetables, fruit and fish.
The whole country is a, stock range,
SO meats are almost as cheap as in the
meal at the hotel for so cents, or a day s
board and lodging in a comfortable
quarter for ST. The Injuries of camp
life are SO few that a schedule of prices
is yet to be established. The most ex-
travagant thing a miner may contem-
plate is a bath, and even a drink OF
water is expensive with water at a
cent a gallon for household purposes.
WAITED TC uEpv COSTT "
Practically the entire supply of water
for the camp is in the hands of a pri-
vate corporation called the Gold Belt
Water company. Water is piped fif-
teen miles from the Ophir noun taiGs.
To get the water over the divide q
pumping station has been established
with pump and pipe capacity of 216,-
900 gallons daily The mines which de
pend upon water for the treatment of
ores in the mills are assessed SO much
a gallon, according to the value of the
ores treated, the low grade ores being
allowed schedule that will allow the
operation of mills at a profit. The wa
ter is from springs at the base OF
snow-clad mountains, so there can be
no question as to it's fitness for domestic
uses. but the rates charged have al
ready raised mutterings of protest from
the people, who can Ill AFFORD the price
Of drainage there is none in the
camp, unless one may call the roadside
ditch that runs through the camp a
drain. 1t is promised that street I'M
provements, sanitary regulations.
drainage and similar matters. upon
which the comfort of the residents de-
ponds. will be attended to as soon as
the town government is installed.
There is no question as to the ability
of the mine-owners to make it a model
camp if they wish to, and there seems
every disposition on their part to do it.
Property in the little business" strip
brings astonishing fgures-a boom
feature that may work to the disad-
vantage of the tenderfoot who invests
without very much investigation. AS
yet the buildings available for bust
ness purposes are so few that those
few bring very handsome incomes on
a basis of high valuation for the
ground.
GLIMPsEs OF THE MINES.
The mines, or rather the work going