Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1903-05-09
arm RANCHER NEIGHBORs


region is quite apparent. One OF the
most readily noted changes is the
Transformation effected by the TWEEN.
~ or more irrigating canals, taking
an enormous flow of water from the
various large streams yielded by the
High Sierra. and mainly from the
river which bears the same name as
does the one. hundred-mile long val
lev--Owens. The river, valley and
treat lake was named in honor of
Lieut.. Dick Owens, an officer OF Gen.
Fremont's exploring expeditions. 1t
has been conceded that Owens was
the first white man to get a glimpse
Of the country from its northern APP
proach, in l845. 1t is safe to say that
outside of the swamps bearing lux
urious taboose grass, the general
country was indistinguishable from
apy ordinary Nevada desert. :"
Practical diversion of the water and
cultivation of the sage lands did not
begin until the earlier half Of the six
ties, and it was still further reserved
for the latter half of the eighties to
afford demonstration of the rapid in
crease of trees, crops and verdure
effected by irrigation. An instance
in point is the now noted Rawson
ranch, which has been purchased by
Jas L. Butler and wife. 1t is stu.
ated eight miles south Of Bishop and
Is composed in the main OF sagebrush
land. Besides the mountain stream
which made it habitable in the first
instance, two large canals now con-
vey to it an increasing flow OF com
paratively warm water from the
river, constantly enriching the land
as do waters of the Nile in Egypt.
Mr.. Butler has become the owner OF
an early.settled property on Big
Pine Greek, comprising large hotel.
orchard and the central block of that
thriving village. Through pass di-
rectly east Of Big Pine, an opening
transversing the White Mountains
furnishes the only wagon road leading
to the eastern mining regions and
Tonopah. In the past two years
many choice properties have changed
hands ut Big Pine, the purchasers
being Nevada people who are in
debted to the Tonopah discovery for
the wherewith
BY reason of the railroad and good
wagon-road connections, however,
Bishop at present commands most of
the outside mining trade, which taxes
all its agricultural resources to meet.
The town of Bishop, for 1t was duly
Incorporated last week, is remarka-
BILE for steady, healthy growth. It's
quasi-public buildings are creditable
to any community, notably the fine
academy and city school structures.
The Wildasinn building, three story
structure, comprises an opera house
and a half dozen of the largest society
halls under one roof in that entire
state. All these are paying proper
ties, as well as the electric light plant.
Six church buildings are well occu'
pied each Sunday, while the three
principal and very good hotels have
steady run of good custom every
day and all the time.
All this, of course, is to a grea'
extent supported by the back coun.
try'-the big farms, of which the
town is or was part. In any direc'
tlon from hve TO twenty miles are tC
be seen fine homes on every quarter.
section, with all correlative evidence
OF the thrift and success natural &c
an extraordinarily rich agriculture
country. The surrounding noun tains
and headwaters of the streams afford
some of the best "outing" or summer
camping grounds on the coast, fish
and game in season. Each party who
may visit that section during the
coming warm months will exercise Its
influence in sending more, and wher
the various resorts are prepared foi
visitors and become better adver
tiSp1 all this saotiop of country will