Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1911-12-08

ginning OF the progress which
has been made. The memory of
many now living extends to the
time when there was no court
house or school. no altar or
church, and no habitation of civil
lized man here.
The first meeting for the organi-
cation Of a squatter government
within the bounds of what is the
present State of Nevada was held
on November y. 1851. at Mormon
Station, now Genoa, on the western
border. The act of the governor
and legislative assembly of the
Territory of Utah, placing that
portion of the country between the
western boundary of Utah and
the eastern boundary Of California
within the limits of Carson county,
Utah, was approved by Brigham
70 ing on January II, 1854. A
number of years later settlements
were made in this vicinity.
The Territory of Nevada was
organized by act of Congress, ap-
proved March 2, 1861. In 1864.
the state was admitted into the
Union, largely at the solicitation of
President Lincoln, so there might
be the necessary number of North
ern states TO pass an amendment TO
the federal coustiturion prohibiting
slavery forever, and that moral
effect might be produced against
the aspirations and efforts of the
Southern Confederacy. Legislative
provision was not made for the
creation Of Elko county or the
building of the old court house
until March ), 1865.
1t was during the winter of
loGS-G9 that my dear departed
father brought me as a small boy
by wagon from California. The
overland raj road, the Central
Pacific, was constructed though
EIko at the time, but the con-
uection with the Union Pacific had
not been made and the last spike
was not driven at Promontory,
this side Of Ogden. until May,
1869.
At that time Elko was about half
as large as now, and was built
almost entirely of tents or new
canvas structures, excepting the
railroad freight houses and the old
depot hotel, then partly construct
ed. where the station now stands.
The first school in LamoiIle Valley
was held in alog cabin, with a 1irt
roof and without desks.
The ranchers for a few wears
obtained large prices for grain and
potatoes at Hamilton and Eureka
and mining camps in this county.
The decline of mining, smelling
and charcoal burning brought a
depression in the eighties. The
hard winter of 1889 and 1899,
after three dry seasons. destroyed
ninety per cent of the cattle and
live stock which had thriven sum-
mCr and winter on the open ranges
from the early years, and had
increased and eaten out the feed
which was Originally abundant. a
little later the planting of alfalfa
revived both the racnh and cattle
industries and there has been a
steady increase of prosperity in
the valleys and towns. This may
he greatly enhanced in the future
by crcamcries, beet sugar
factories, and farming. The
natural re ources Of the county
arc much greater than are utilized
at present in raising live stock
and agricultural products, and
may he greater than are realized.
The pure white snow that
mantle an d bcaUtify the SUBMITS
aUI canyons of the Rubies and
other mountains, kissed by sum-
MGR sunhcams, melt and flow in
crystal streams to moisten the
fertile lands below, produce
abundant harvests. and shower
blessings upon our people without
taxing them.
This splendid structure and the
fine new public school house are q
/ credit and a benefit to the com.
munity. Wa have also been proud
/ Of the county high school building,
the first erected in the state,
. q. - iii