The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-07-28

I
been told. The truth about this loca-
ton is found in the fact that Butler
had passed through that barren and
uninhabited section of the state years
before and had noticed its attractive
appearance from a mineral stand
point He turned over to Oddie sew
eral specimens for assay, with the
promise of a partnership If Oddie
were to have them assayed and
would help him develop the property
Oddie had no money. but sought an
assayer who would take a share in
his prospects as pay for the work
The excitement of finding that the
of ore to the ton, long blackboard
ride of fifty miles to the location to
put up the claim monuments, the long
toll. the privations. the striking of
the ledge which uncovered the famous
millions-producing Mizpah are but IL
ties to the chapters of an absorbing
tale. The partners. Butler. Oddie and
Wise Brougher, came to great riches
through this mine and others suisse
quently developed by them.
eddie, having had a business edu-
cation, was made manager and took
charge OF the bookkeeping for the
hundred odd leases and prospectors
who now came in droYes across the
| sinuous trails. stuck up their tents
and built their campfires, when the
news reached the outside that a great
silver and gold bonanza had been dis
covered.
Tonopah grew into a great camp.
| Eating houses and rude hostelries
were built, dance halls and saloons
multiplied. Adventures came, gam
bling thriyed. The spectators ar
rived. In year the three agreed to.
sell part of their holdings to the
Tonopah Mining Company. eddie
continued on as manager for this and
other mines. also turning his atten-
| ton to the Belmont. He gradually
became connected with interests at
Goldfield which shortly afterward
had its period of grandeur as a camp.
Oddie's first political experience
was as rude as his first mining had
been. The job of district attorney
paid very little and there was very
| little to the job. Jim Butler had held
the office but relinquished 1t in favor
of Oddie. Previous to subsequent
more active political connections Cd
die launched another enterprise, 60
| ing into stockraising at the Pine
Creek ranch. Here he introduced the
| first herd of white-faced Hereford
cattle in that part of the state, and
| finally became known as an all
around type of Nevada citizen who
knew the state well in its various in
dustrial relations.
Along in 10000 it was suggested
that Oddie run for the upper house
of the state legislature. 1t was of
material aid and everlasting benefit
to United States Senator George S.
Nixon, up for reelection, that his
very good friend, Tasker l.. Oddie,
should run for the state senate. Cd
die filled this office for one term.
He kept on with mining interests, al
though not always successfully, but
did not quit politics
His interest in politics grew. rather
| than declined, especially snce he had
acquired some very well defined no.
tions about what the state of Nevada
needed that would be within the
power of the governor to secure. To
get these things for the state. Oddie
determined to run for governor.
The usual obstacles bobbed up on
schedule time. For one thing. his
own party organization opposed Cd
dies candidacy, having picked their
man. Another obstacle presented it.
self in the person of Denver S. Nick
erson, Democrat. most experienced
and popular politician. Nevada had
continued normally Democratic.
"Who Buys the Gasolinel-
AS a comparison, Oddie's campaign
for governor might be likened to his
experience as a beginner in prospect
| ing for silver ore. He had to learn
politics from the beginning. He had
no organization, but he had quanti-
|
to speak to. but he saw and talked
with individuals. He rode in an
automobile all over the state of Ne
vada talking up his campaign. His
| itinerary took in all the little mining
camps and ranching towns. and he
travelled from five to six thousand
miles on his way.
The enemy sought to discoun-
tenance him by rather puerile meth
DDS, since they could not make at
tacks on his personal character The
quantity of motive fuel burned in this
burning chase for votes across the
state was pointed out and the insidi-
Gus question, who buys the gaso-
line?" asked. by way of propaganda.
Oddies detractors became louder in
their hints at interests" which
needed him" and whose pockets were