Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1905-12-15

Durkeo Of Reno ut Elko and together
they proceeded 10 the State experiment
farm III LiucOln county. The trip was
without special incident until they
arrived Tuesday afternoon Mt Moapn, a
small station on the San Pedro, Los
Angeles IL Salt Lake road. Here they
were met by Mr.. Sprole and Mr.. Church,
Muddy Valley %ranchers. and taken to
the homes Of Mr.. Mills and Mr.. Church,
near the farm, where they were well
taken care of during their stay III the
valley.
The farm consists Of eighty acres,
mostly virgin land, donated to the State
by Charles Cobb, ii. b. Mills and II. j.
Church. The land lies in u compact
body, n short distance from the Logan
postoitice and is ON the main road from
Moapa to O%verton, a small town about
tive miles further down the valley. The
land slopes from east and west to East
creek. which runs nearly through the
center OF the farm, and to the south. It
is mostly covered with mesquite and
mescrew bushes and a thick, tough sod
called -Eiccatone." This sod is SO tough
that one can hardly cut through it's top
with an axe.
The valley i'll which the farm lies is
from fifteen to twenty miles wide and
about thirty tive miles long. IT was
first settlel by the Mormons IN the
early sixties, who improved the land
and raised large crops of hay and grain.
They built the town OF st Joseph, and
were getting along nicely when Brig
ham ionng several years later ordered
them u of the valley because the
survey Of the line between Utah and
Nevada threw them into the latter. The
order came when their crops were
nearly ready for a bountiful harvest.
This, however, did not affect their
the order was obeyed. Growing crops,
comfortable homes and productive
lands we're left behiud as they gathered
up their household goods and %iourneyed
to Utah. The adobe buildings left by
them nave been torn down and only the
ruins of II few foundations remain to
mark the spot where forty years ago
a thriving community lived aud pros.
pered. Part OF the and lief. by these
settlers lis now being cultivated and is
very productive.
The soil the valley CONSISTS nf sand,
black loan and clay. Some GIkali is
found on the higher land, but this ields
to proper treatment. All thr diff trent
varieties Of soil are fourd On IhC land
donated to the Siatr for an Experiment
farm. This wide range Of soils gives
the scientists 81 the agricultural expert
mcnt station Of the State university u
splendid opportunity to shoS what they
cGO do 10y scientific farming.
The soil lie rich and produces alfalfa,
wheat, oats, barley and corn %abundmmtly,
siX crops Of the former ind two crops
Of the latter being raised ON the same
ground III one Il, ason. While the party
was in the valley, Mr.. Mills harvested
his fifth crop ~ alfalfa. Apples.
peaches, npricOis, po~mcgrnnates, GI-
mOnds, tigs, grape aud other tropical
fruits produce abundnntly. Nearly
every variety OF garden truck grows md
thrivns.
Tho climate for most of tho year is
mild and pleasant, but in July and
August the mercury runs up to ZIG in
the shade, Last Friday was considered
the worst day Of the season in the valley,
but tn Il dweller in this section OF the
State 1t would have been considered Il
beautiful winter day. There was II heavy
who'd and tho air was raw, but no ice
formed III the water in the bitches o
on tina i'll vessels. Before this day the
cottonwood trcrs we're clothed in green
leaves, but tho wind sent many Of them
to tho ground. Tho trees arc full OF
buds about ready to burst INTO new
leaves.
Up to last year the people 81 the
Muddy valley were isolntcd from tho
word. All their freight WINS hauled
from Milford. 200 milce away, aud whnt
produce they had to sell had to be
hauled to distant mining campp. But
tho building Of the Clark railroad has
opened n new era Tor thcm. Tho people
OF the upper part 81 the valley are now
within fifteen miles OF Moapn. n station
on the railroad. with the increased
facilities FOR shipping their products to
market and tho wonderful productive
nose Of the coil, the people 81 that valley
have II bright future before them. This
can be seen from the following: Last
ycnr u tnnclcr near st. Thomas in the
lower end OF tho valley raised one.
twelfth Of an acre OF peas which ncticd
him SEQ. C"aninloupo' rRiacd in tho
valley lead III the market mud net $3.50
per acre. ODions, sweet potatoes, cauli.
flower, asparagus, celery, rndishos, etc
thrive and bring rich returns. Orders
arc now in for tive carloads OF canta.
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