Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-07-16
EAST HARPS ON
DIVORCE COLONY

incoming trains dump divorce col
onists and carloads of trunks at the
Reno depot, for the familiar song
'I'm on my way to Reno" has
been shevled by the action of the
last legislature, .Shen it dealt the
knockout blow, after several
rounds of a bitterly fought con.
test. in its ultimatum that no di-
vorce proceedings shall be institut-
ed in the state of Nevada under the
existing six months residences
after December 81, next thereby
limiting the time in which new
comers could begin such residence
period to June sc.
Any divorce seeker, arriving on
and after today. July l, canrot
complete a six months residence
until January l next, upon which
date the new law requiring one
years residence before inStitution
of such action becomes effective
which fact eliminates the one vital
feature of inducement to so many
to come here and take advantage
of the short residence requirement.
1t is reasonably concluded that
with other states nearer the east
having similar residence require
ment, although not providing for
as many grounds for divorce as Ne
Vada, and with two other states re-
duiring but six months residence
the rush to this state and its not
able divorce court activities ceased
last midnight. By 1914 the unique
Reno divorce colony will have pass
ed into history.
Fully 700 men and women. or
about So per cent Of the entire
population of Keno now constitute
the colony of temporary residents
Not 2 per cent of them ever remain
here more than a few days after
securing their decrces.
During the past month ana es-
pecially last week the throng of
new comers has experienced great
difficulty in securing apartments
All the hotels are crowded as are
the desirable rooming houses.
Available cottages are almost as
scarce as the proverbial hens teeth
In many cottages from four to six
Divorces are living. Some private
boarding places are housing as
many as ten of the fair sex.
There are now scores of so-called |
"divorcee nests here. Every
train the past week has unloaded
new arrivals, the preponderance of |
men and very young women SEEM
ingly well-to-do and fashionable
being noticeable. The proportion
0f men to women has increased |
largely. Baby carriages and bull
pups are playing conspicuous parts
as never before.
There is life and action day
and night. Saddle horses are work
ing overtime: the river, a turbulent
mountain stream running directly
through the center of the city and
alive with mountain trout, presents
daily scenes of big catches of the
speckled beauties; joy riding is do
ing a land office business, while the
cafes and nearby resorts resonnd
with the popping Of corks. merri-
ment and music-a veritable scene
of wine, women and song. such as
even Reno as never before witness
ed.
Over in the new $1,000 court
house within view of all these fes.
tivities the divorcee having Just
secured his much sought decree
opens bottle or several bottles
with friends and now conner in
celebration of the joyous event.
And so, from present indications,
1913 is to witness the exit Of
Reno's divorce colony to which no
more members can reasonably az
pect to be added. Elsewhere
the state the compara.