White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-17
LEHMAN'S GAVE GETS
BOOST FROM UTAHN

Last Sunday s>Salt Lake Tribun
gives a boost TO the Grand Contra
highway and a description OF Lel
man cave. The writeup is in tn
Tribunes automobile section and in
Guided in the pictures is a photo
graph of the rribune-Overland path
finding car which was used last weel
to map the new Grand Central high
way from Delta to Ely. Therefor,
the article must nave originated witt
William L. Richell. the Tribune'S ac
credited pathfinder.
As Mr.. Richell has always beer
considered here in the light of find
ing and boosting any highway except
ing those whereby tourists might be
routed from Salt Lake City to Ely
his impartial survey of the Crane
Central is quite agreeable. The story
10 smartly written, giving glimpses
Of beautiful stretches OF western
landscape. describing briefly the won
derful Lehman cave and rejecting
the spirit of united effort on the part
of citizens in two commemorative
whereby the Grand Central has come
into favor as n of the main rams
continental highways.
Saying that the Grand Central
HiSuoa9 iiOIl Dtiids OlIHt " Fly e
New. has shortened the distance BY
Los Angeles considerably. the article
continues as follows.
Thousands of dollars were spent
by the good roads enthusiasts Of
Delta. Hinekley and Ely in building
the new link. As the result OF their
Efforts hundreds OF tourists are pass
ing through these towns.
Both Delta and Ely were untiring
in working for the new highway.
After several meetings the movement
was launched and today the desert
n mountain passes between these
communities can be traversed over a
highway that. with proper care and
attention. should become one of the
~boulevards of the two states.
The introduction of drainage and
irrigation into the Delta district has
transformed it from an absolute
waste into a territory of vast poten-
tial wealth. Two hundred thousand
acres of farming land are available
for cultivation. but at present only
$4,000 acres are being titled. In
ducements are being offered to pros
pective settlers. and Delta. ten a
ago considered worthless, is now
looked upon as M OF the liveliess
towns in Utah.
From Delta to Hinckley. a dis.
lance OF 6.7 miles. the road il in
splendid shape. Ten miles from
Hinckley the newly constructed high.
way is bearing up we'll under the eff
feet of the heavy tourist travel. but
shows signs of decomposition owing
to the lack of moisture. The Marjum
pass summit, 6.40o feet high. forty
FIVE miles from Delta. is in fair shape.
The road improves every mile unit.
the Simondson ranch. near the Utah
Nevada state line. is reached. For a
short distance from there on dust
binders progress slightly. but the
highway becomes better. and for
miles prior to the ascension of Sac
ramento pass. 122 miles from Delta
and forty-eight miles from Ely. it is
ia almost perfect condition. Between
connor's pass and Ely. twenty-three
miles. the road is in only fair condi-
ton owing to the lack OF rainfall.
The Grand Central route on a
whole is in Il remarkable state OF
preservation for a new road. The
SHOWS OF next winter should pack the
surface and harden the bed. The
mileage saved in following this route
and the splendid accommodations of
fered tourists in Ely and Delta are
inducements seldom equaled any.
where.
Sacramento pass. MarIum pas:
and connor's pass all afford splendid
views of typical mountain valleys
Ranches and farms, blooming onl,
where springs and small mountain
streams pierce the deserts, are ha,
yens of rest to tired tourists.
Lehman cave, a labyrinth inside
of Mount Wheeler, the highest pea
In Nevada. is one of the most won
derful attractions ever opened to the
public. Approximately twenty mile:
of winding passages, filled with sta
iactites. stalagnites, stalactitic col
umns and numerous objects that len
imagination to the vision. Pools o
ice-cold water. purified by mineral
and cooled by the innermost recesse
from which they spring, are temptini
bats when the u RACES outside.
In 1885 Andrew Lehman was rid
ing his horse at the east base o
Wheeler peak. near Baker, New. a
the state line, when the animal STUN
bled through a hidden hole. whicI
proved the entrance to the cave. TIL
horses leg was broken and it wa
necessary to dispatch the beast. Leh
nan Immediately set about explorinI
his find. Satisfied by his exploration
he obtained a permit from the stat
of Nevada to open the cave to visit
ors. charging 81 to guide them. I
conjunction with this work he opel
ated a small farm. obtaining waite
from a small stream which fowe
near by and which now bears h
name.
Years later the property WI
transferred. but public interest W;
no fostered and the fame of the ca,
declined. G.. T. Rhodes and N. Kig,