White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-11-11

"Siio iSh - va
sheep in the valleys threatens TO raise
an important question for the stock
interests to solve. 1t is that of the
range that has been held since the
state was settled by persons having
title to the springs from which such
range is reached. Developing water
in these wells has the effect of forcing
the former range occupants, gener-
ally considered it's owners. to divide
it with the sheep owners if not give it
over to them entirely.
One such we'll is being drilled in
Pancake valley on the Lincoln high
way a few miles beyond Hamilton.
The persons furnishing the money
are several different outfits of Basque
sheepmen who dubbed together for
the purpose, whose plan it is to use
the water as they + moving their
sheep south in the fall. This does
not mean that they merely stop over
night there, but if the weather hap
pens to be dry as it has been during
the last two weeks, they remain and
range their sheep in the vicinity until
snow comes SO that they can trail
them further south.
This we'll was down 270 feet We'd
nesday night and is not making rapid
Roadway. That day it made ten feet
and it probably is not more than 500
of $40 feet today. The formation at
present is a hard black shale and a
churn drill is being used. The forma-
ton is such that it forms a sort of
cushion beneath the drill. yielding
with force applied without cutting
as it should. The hole is being cased
as it is drilled. 1t is said to be as
good a formation for oil as it is for
water, and if anything better than
that at Illipah, twenty-five miles this
side of there.
The work is being done by CON
tract by Mr.. Ahlers, who has drilled
several such wells. He drilled one
not long since in Diamond valley,
going $50 feet before he struck
water.
At such depth a gasoline pump
must be employed. which will be used
in Pancake valley t. water is struck.
In some instances where range
owners are in the sheep business they
have sunk wells in the valleys ada
cent to their mountain and foothilI
ranges, thus managing to hold their
old-;ime m~ononolies. There are two
such wells in Butte valley, one owned
Nv Giannopolrs & B~rackenburg, and
the other by John Uhalde. These are
less than $50 feet deep, the water
being pumped by horsepower. Since
they already controlled the hill range
Whereabouts the only effect is that of
strengthening their hold upon the
valley also.
1t is the small ranchman and cat
tie owner who is most adversely af-
fected He has not the means to sink
wells in the valleys and hasn't the
stock to justify it eyen if he could
borrow the money. Besides cattle
are of such dubious value that upon
the face of things it would not be
justified.
But in war times when cattle were
worth big money it was done on an
extensive scale. The United Cattle
& Packing company sunk at least five
wells in the Ralston desert, east of
Tonopoh, and two in Sand Springs
valley, southwest Of Sharp, besides
laying and operating pipe lines,
which all told are some thirty miles
in length.
From outward indications there
should be slight doubt of striking
water in Pancake valley. II is close
to the west base of White Pine noun
ton, which has more or less snow
the year around. Such localities are
where artesian water is most often
proved, but Mr.. Alters says it is not
likely where he is drilling. it being
too much of a narrows in his opinion