The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-07-12
WHITE RIVER
VALLEY and
ITS PROSPECTS
Interesting Description of Several Of
Its Old Landmarks and Their
Future.

noldson is at the head of the Nor
mon colony at Preston, which has
twenty families and school pOpula-
ton of about fifty. In Preston the
residence lots contain trffie over
an acre. Nearly all the buildings
are surrounded by shade trees. The
farming land is subdivided into 5,
10, 20 and 40 acre tracts and other
wise about the same condition OBJ
tains that govern the colony at Lund.
The houses or many of them are of
adobe or brick and the balance frame
with now and then log cabin dot
ting the landscape. The houses are
all comfortable and the colony has
the appearance of being prosperous
and very happy. Bishop ArnOldSOn
like Bishop Snow is very popular and
manages his colony in a business
like manner that marks him as a
man of great executive ability.
The crops grown are principally
hay, grain, potatoes and vegetables
of all kinds. There are twenty or
thirty acres devoted to fruit cul-
ture. The principal hay grown is al
falfa, but there is much natural
meadow Bishop Arnoldson has
been at the head of the colony since
it was established in 1898. The Pres
ton lands are watered from about
| l 900 acres of spring land and from
| the White river. There is enough
to irrigate land to support double the
present population. Anyone coming
this way ten or twenty years hence
will find the towns of Lund and Pres
ton more than double their present
size and supporting the people in a
manner that but few other sections
can support them. The Mormons are
noted for their industry and frugal
habits and as work and economy will
tell in any country on earth | pre-
dict a brilliant future for White
River valley, and particularly that
section embracing Lund and Pres
ton. What land is now being farmed
is under quite high state of cul-
tivation and when there Is more re-
claimed 1t will add much valuable
property to White Pines assessment
roll. Lund and Preston show that
they have been well laid out and
plans drawn that when carried out in
their fullest detail will make of
White River valley an oasis indeed.
The Preston colony run about 500
iledu VI Cdtlic anu nave anu
work horses enough to do the work.
Ely is indebted to this rich agricul-
tural section for many of the neces-
stiles of life such as butter, vege-
tables and hay. In driving into
Preston l passed patch of dry farm
ing land on which is stand of grain
as rank and well filled as any have
ever seen. The patch, ArnOldsOn
informed me, had not had drop of
water put on to 1t artificially. The
story Is told by nature and speaks
louder than words of tongue or pen
in advocacy of dry farming. Bishop
Arnoldson, like Mr.. Harrison of
Lund, thinks that dry farming can
be made big success and that it
will be fully established in time and
that much land now idle will be
brought under high state of cul-
tivation. Bishop Arnoldson is a
strong advocate of the general gov
eminent taking hold of the dry
farming problem as well as the ar
tesian water problem in White River
valley. He feels sure it would be a
pronounced success, but says the diff
ficulty in the way of it being done by
the colonies of Lund and Preston Is
the lack of means.
Martin Peterson owns fine farm
on White river, near Preston. He
complains of the cold, backward
spring and when questioned as to
the character of the crops he was
cultivating he said: This year 1t is
principally icicles, but in ordinary
years | grow a little of everything
wanted by man or beast"
r. c. Windows is the postmaster
at Preston.
Barnes.
Barnes was formerly a postoffice
on White river, six miles northwest
of Preston, but the Office was dis
continued last March. There is moth
ing there but the Joseph Judd ranch
which has recently passed out of the
hands of Mr.. Judd, and is now owned
by G. Hermanson of Ely. The ranch
comprises about 800 acres and pro-
duces hay, grain and vegetables and
pasture. Mr.. Judd gave the post
office the name of Barnes in honor of
the first man who took water from
White river for irrigation purposes.
The Hayden ranch is twoSmiles above
Barnes on the same stream and con-
tains in the neighborhood of 800
acres. 1t is hay land and all under
fence. Two miles further UP is the
place of James Mcqueen. Mr.. Nc
Queen grows hay, grain and vege-
tables and he markets his products
largely in Ely.
Steve Williams owns $50 acres
adjoining the Hayden place which !
is great hay producer. The Will
liamS Mace Is sitnatad mn Smith