The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-23
RESOURCES OF ELKo COUNTY.
Section of Nevada That Is Prolific in
Attractions.

The News of Gold Creek. Nevada pub
fishes the following interesting CORE
spondence from Elko:
One OF the most prominent land marks
in northeastern Nevada is the Ruby
| range of mountains, situated in the
| southeastern part of Elko county, its
| western slope being about % miles east
| of Elko. Its extreme southern end is
separated from Bald mountain by low
pass near old Fort Ruby. From this
| point its general trend is northward
for distance of IS or 50 miles, at which
point ii IS separated from the Clover
valley range by break or pass between
! the mountain ranges commonly known
altitude of the Ruby range is nearly 10 900
feet, while some of its lofty peaks reach
1000 feet or more.
Its beautiful ruby-like appearance at
sunset on the western slope gave birth
to this romantic and appropriate name
some 80 years ago.
beautiful mountain it widens out and
forms a double chain for several miles
wherein is situated deep lakes OF pure.
clear water, averaging in size from five
to 40 acres each. The depth of some of
them has never been ascertained. Some
seasons these lakes remain frozen as late
lakes are fringed with lofty pine trees
and by the middle of July grass and
variegated wild flowers are abundant and
make the scenery most magnificent.
have a grand view of the whole region
of country as far as their vision can pen
citrate. The view is most sublime and
is worth the time and labor occupied in
the trip to the temporary arctic home of
the storm king. These lakes are 1000
feet higher than Lake Tahoe and are the
highest in the world.
On the east side of this range is stu
ated Ruby valley. one of the most beau
tiful and productive valleys in the coun-
ty of F,lko. At the base of the southeast
and of be valley there <r,1
sheets of water known respectively as
Franklin and Ruby lakes which are the
recipients of all the surplus water that
runs down through the canyons from the
lofty Ruby range.
Ruby lake is the largest of the two, be-
ing about II miles long and from two
separated from the Ruby lake oy a strip
of elevated land about two miles vide
and lies north of Ruby lake. This lake
is about two and one-half miles wide,
eastern slope there are several tracts
of fire timber of tall pines and mahog-
any. generally near the summit. but so
situated that it can be reached through
the CANYONS.
Besides the natural beauty of this grand
old range. it has locked within its bosom
considerable mineral wealth. Some gold
and silver mines have been discovered
at both ends. There has been rece1tlv
discovered near Hankins ranch in one of
the neighboring canyons valuable gold
ledge measuring some four feet in width
yielding from assays taken from the ore
on the dump at random. S. to s12 per ton,
carving some q ounces of silver.
At the north end of the range a large
amount of prospecting and development
work has been done which opened up
some placer diggings and some lodges of
gold and silver, but IN to the present
time no we'll directed development work
has been performed to determine the
value OF these mines.
This mountain range on the east side
abounds in other mineral wealth besides
gold and silver. rs mica mines extend
from Cave creek northward to Secret
pass cropping out every here and there
through the crest of the mountain for
distance of some GO miles. This mineral
is sometimes called sfnglass or glimmer
and is used extensively for manufacturing
purposes. The mica obtained from these
deposits is of the best quality. The sheets
are clear and transparent, and pieces