The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1914-07-11
Ely Editor Visits Eureka

large amount of money tied up in
the old smelter dumps which are
seen in all parts of the n~eighborhood
and from which the metal contents
was far from being extracted by the
imperfect metallurgical processes in
vogue when the smelters were in op-
Grafton.
The decentralization of silver was
a death-blow to Eureka's greatest
prosperity but the camp was still a
live one and maintained a good pay
roll until the washing out of the Eu-
reka & Palisade railroad by a cloud
burst four years ago.
After a long period of inactivity
the road was sold at sheriff's sale
and bought in by San Francisco par
ties who put sufficient repairs on
the property so that it could be
operated after a fashion. Two trains
a week are now operated between
Eureka and Palisade on Mondays and
Fridays and leaving Eureka on Tues
days and Saturdays. The distance
is "a miles and the schedule time is
eight hours. Mail service is main
tanned by stage three times a week
between Eureka and Palisade, one
of the very few places in the United
States where mail service by team
parallels a railroad in operation.
The railroad refused to accept the
mail contract at the figures offered
by the government but it should be
said in justice to the railroad that
the stage contractor receives a good
deal more for his work than the post
Office department could, under it's
rules, offer the railroad for the same
service.
AT the present time, there is a
deadlock between the railroad peo-
pie and the wne of the mines in
regard to freight rates on ore. Eu-
reka formerly enjoyed an especially
low rate on low-grade pres to Salt
Lake. The present owners of the
railroad say they cannot restore the
old rates on ore and operate at a
profit. The mine owners retort that
they cannot ship the grade of ore at
present produced by the Eureka
mines unless the old rate or some
thing approximating thereto be re-
stored. Attempts of the Nevada
Railroad Commission and the Inter-
state Commerce Commission to bring
the two parties together have result
ed fruitlessly. The people of Eu-
reka are at present hanging on in
the hopes that the railroad people
will get tired of operating at a loss
or that the United States Smelling
& Refining Company, which is the
principal ownero of the Eureka mines,
may become so much in need of the
particular class of ore that Eureka
produces that an agreement may be
reached.
At present an occasional a of
ore Of high enough grade to stand
transportation charges is shipped by
small owners or leasers and some ore
is being hauled to the Eureka rail-
road from Hamilton. These sources
of income and the trade of ranch
men and miners from the surround
ing country are maintaining Eureka
to-day. Nevertheless, in spite of the
towns staggering misfortunes, the
people of Eureka are far from be-
ing a melancholy or discouraged lot.
Numerous pretty residences are seen
with carefully kept lawns and shade
trees. The county is in good shape
financially and the courthouse is to
be improved and renovated this
year. Citizens subscribed literally
to a Fourth of July celebration for
which a special train will be run
from Palisade. 1t is plainly home
town." and a pleasant, neighborly
feeling is strongly in evidence. The
members of the Ely party received a
most hospitable welcome and never
were treated better-nor oftener.
The Eureka Sentinel. which for
more than forty years has chron-
icled the happenings of the camp, is
housed in a handsome brick building
on a corner one block from the
courthouse. The present proprietor,
re. A. Skiiinaa, is a son of n OF
the founders Of the paper. The
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