[From J. Wells Kelly, First Directory of Nevada Territory (1862)]

WASHOE COUNTY.            95

WASHOE COUNTY.

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            BEGINNING at the north-west corner of Ormsby County, and running easterly along the northern boundary of said county, to the summit of the mountains east of Washoe Lake; thence, in a northerly course, along the summit of said mountains, to the lower end of the Big Meadows, on Truckee River; thence, down said river, to its lower crossing; thence, east along the Immigrant Road, to the summit of the mountains lying east of said river; thence, north, on the main summit of said mountains, to a point from which, running direct west, would intersect the Truckee River at its mouth in Pyramid Lake ; thence, due west, to the California line ; thence, south, to the place of beginning. County-seat, WASHOE CITY.

            This county takes its name from the aboriginal tribe who inhabited a strip of country extending along the base of the Sierra from the head of Carson River to the Truckee. This section embraced a series of valleys, of which Carson, Eagle, Pleasant, Steamboat, and the Truckee, are the principal, and, including the adjacent mountains, is still the home of this people. The beautiful name, thus belonging to the native race, came, when a new population was drawn into the country by the mineral discoveries, to be applied to the region in which the mines were situated, and should have been preserved to the new Territory since erected, as was the general expectation and desire of the people. Franktown, in Washoe Valley, was one of the earliest settled places in Western Utah, several Mormon families having located there as early as '48. It is a pleasant little hamlet, situate on the west side of the valley, and still bears the peculiar impress of its founders—each lot consisting of four or five acres, irrigated with water carried by numerous little channels through the public streets. The houses, too, built of hewn logs, wear a rude and primitive aspect, and on every hand are to be seen the evidences of frontier life.

            This county, which, as will appear from its boundaries, is of pretty good size, contains a large amount of well-timbered, and

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also of superior agricultural and grass lands. Of the former, there is not less than a hundred thousand acres, and of the latter, between thirty and forty thousand. The wood lands are confined to the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, the only timber found elsewhere being the scrubby pine, and very little of that. The forests next the valleys, and extending three or four miles back, have been mostly taken up under the laws of Utah, which make the County Surveyor's certificate title of possession for one year, after which inclosure is required to further hold the lands thus surveyed. A large number of saw mills have been erected in the edge of this timber on the numerous streams coming down from the mountains, which afford ample and never-failing water power. Immense quantities of lumber is now being cut by these mills, which will be able to keep the markets supplied for many years to come at moderate prices. To these forests, too, the mills and reduction works must soon look for fuel, unless the lately discovered coal mines shall, as there is good reason to believe they will, furnish all needed supplies.

            The chain of valleys mentioned contain a large proportion of good land. Of these Washoe, lying furthest south, is the most extensive, being twelve miles long and seven wide. It is not only a fertile but also a very regularly formed and exceedingly picturesque valley. On the west, rising by a succession of wooded ridges, is the Sierra, cut by deep gorges and broken by land-slides. On the east, is a range of bleak and naked bills, contrasting strongly with the grain fields and green meadows opposite, and the glassy lake at their foot. On the west side of the valley, running out from the forests, are long tongues of timber, or detached groves, forming natural parks of great beauty. The lake, which lies on the east side, commences near the head of the valley, and, extending north six miles, loses itself in a tule marsh, which in high water is also turned into a lake. During the wet season this lake discharges itself through a slough running off through Pleasant and Steamboat valleys toward the Truckee.

            Pleasant Valley, two miles north of Washoe, is a fertile basin about one mile in diameter, irrigated by a large stream of pure water, and hemmed in by rugged hills. An extensive garden

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has been cultivated at this spot for several years, with excellent results—vegetables of most kinds growing here as well as in Washoe with the greatest luxuriance, even melons ripening notwithstanding the altitude of the country, and the consequent early frosts.

            Following down a handsome dell, a distance of three miles, the wagon road enters Steamboat Valley, a little above the Boiling Springs, which give name and notoriety to the locality. As these Springs form one of the greatest natural curiosities in the country, we may be expected to give a somewhat detailed description of their appearance and properties, more especially as they are fast becoming the resort of tourists and invalids. They are situated near the head of an irregular valley, extending north to the Truckee Meadows, a distance of eight miles. Before reaching them, the traveler is notified of their locality by little wreaths of steam, seen while yet a half mile off, and some times to a much greater distance. After approaching quite near, a gurgling and hissing sound is heard, somewhat resembling the boiler of a steamboat. This noise is said to have been much louder at a former day, being accompanied with an additional sound like the pounding of an engine; hence the name these Springs now bear.

            At that period, it is also claimed, the chemical action of this strange laboratory of nature was much more violent than at present. However this may be, the phenomena even now are sufficiently curious to interest the most stolid, and puzzle the scientific beholder. These noises issue from a rocky mound formed of incrustations, about quarter of a mile long and six hundred feet wide, having an elevation of fifty or sixty feet above the valley.

            Running lengthwise of this mound are a number of fissures about a foot wide, but having edges so uneven that one can see, or run a stick down into them only a few feet. Gurgling up through these openings with a rumbling sound, and at short intervals, come gushes of hot water, which, remaining even with the top for a moment, sometimes overflowing a little, again subside, leaving the fissure again dark and empty. At other points, the water keeps even with the surface, boiling fiercely, while at a few it leaps up two or three feet above the

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surface, the whole while in action sending off columns of steam. The air about smells of sulphur, though this mineral does not appear to be present in the water. An analysis of the latter, made by Dr. Lanszweert, showed it to contain the following constituent salts in various proportions : soda, lime, silicia, chlorides of sodium and magnesium, and a small residuum of vegetable matter. Great medicinal virtues are claimed for this water ; and that it possesses marked curative properties In cases of rheumatism and cutaneous diseases, the large number of invalids of this class cured or greatly benefited under the care of Dr. Ellis, who has a hospital at this place, fully proves. A little town is growing up in the vicinity, where Mr. Cameron, one of the earliest settlers in the valley, has erected a commodious hotel, ample for the accommodation of a large number of visitors.

            Passing north down Steamboat Creek and Valley, a distance of seven miles, we enter the Big Meadows on Truckee River, an extent of bottom land about ten miles long and six wide. The land, all of which is now claimed, produces a great amount of grass, from which a large quantity of hay is made, and on which numerous herds of cattle feed the year round. The hills about also abound in bunch grass, making the valley of the Truckee an excellent stock range, as it has always been the favorite winter abode of the Indians. It also possesses some historic interest, as being the route followed by the early pioneers coming to California. The immigration of '46 followed up this stream, and on its head waters occurred the ever memorable Donner tragedy, conspicuous in the annals of human horrors.

            Ten miles below the Big Meadows are the Little Meadows of the Truckee, consisting of a few hundred acres of good land, and further down the rich bottom lands of Pyramid Lake. Here an Indian Reservation has been set apart for the use of the Pah-Utes, this being their ancient head-quarters and present home of that nation.

Mines and Minerals.

            The work of mineral exploration in this county has not, as yet, been very thorough; still quartz rock is known to abound

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in parts of it, and several ledges of well ascertained value have been taken up and extensively opened: while immense deposits of the useful metals—more especially lead, copper, arsenic and iron—are found about Galena, and several other localities. As early as the fall of '59, and but a few months after the discovery of the Comstock Lead, a great number of claims were taken up on the mountains east of Washoe Valley, where a district was afterwards laid out, known as the Argentine. Great expectations were entertained at first as to the results of these ledges, but with the exception of two or three, they have never as yet amounted to much. Some deep placer diggings were found in the summer of '60 at the south end of the valley, where a small number of claims paid at first large, and afterwards small wages, and have since continued to be worked. At Galena, and about Steamboat and Pleasant valleys, many quartz leads exist, some of which have been pretty thoroughly prospected, and a number of those near the former place are being worked with good results. Some prospecting was also carried on in the country adjacent to, and west of Pyramid Lake, prior to the Indian troubles ; but being interrupted by these occurrences, has never since been resumed. The indications in that neighborhood are said to be satisfactory. Galena, as the name implies, is distinguished for the sulphurets of lead abounding in the vicinity. These ores are very rich, yielding from fifty to eighty per cent. of the pure metal. As this lead is largely employed in the reduction of silver ores, it has come to possess a value it otherwise would not at this remote locality. Deposits of iron ore and litharge also exist at this point. There are strong indications of cinnabar about Pyramid Lake, but no genuine ore has yet been found in the county.

Saw Mills, Quartz Mills, etc.

            One of the first saw mills put up on the "Eastern Slope," was at Franktown, in Washoe Valley; this was owned by J. Rose, and is still running. At the present time there are about twenty mills in the county, all kept in constant operation, and turning out over two millions feet of sawed lumber per week. This sells readily at prices ranging from thirty-five to fifty dollars per thousand, delivered at the mills. These establish-

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ments, several of which have shingle and planing machines attached, have cost in the aggregate not far from three hundred thousand dollars, and may be estimated to be worth, with their accompanying water privileges and timber claims, more than double that sum. It would, perhaps, not be out of the way to say a million dollars is invested in this branch of industry throughout the county. In getting out logs, hauling lumber and in various other ways, these mills give employment to over five hundred hands.

            The largest quartz mill in this county, and, with the reduction works attached, the most extensive establishment in the Territory, is that of the Ophir Company, in Washoe Valley. These immense works, wherein every operation is conducted on a large scale, give constant employment to about one hundred hands. The buildings cover over an acre of ground, and the machinery and everything about them are of the most approved style and workmanship. One hundred tons of rock can be crushed per day, by thirty-six stamps, driven by an engine of one hundred horse power. The old Freyburg barrel process of amalgamation is employed. A large building has lately been erected, in which the "Patio process" is also used upon a poorer class of ores ; a sufficient heat to keep the mass at a proper temperature being imparted from eighty amalgamating pans placed in the same building: it is too cold here to conduct this process successfully in the open air. The ore taken from the mine of this company, situate at Virginia City, averages one hundred and fifty dollars to the ton. By selecting the best out of one hundred tons, perhaps a single ton might be obtained that would yield one thousand dollars, or more ; yet, the great mass of rock put through the mill does not exceed the above amount. The raising of this ore cost about five dollars a ton, and the hauling eight dollars, making the total cost, delivered at the mill, eleven dollars. When the projected railroad connecting the mine with the mill is completed, it is calculated that the transportation of the ores will not be over two dollars per ton, and perhaps much less. The length of this road, now in course of construction, is sixteen miles—estimated cost, six hundred thousand dollars. It will be completed and in running order in less than two years. The western terminus will

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be at the Ophir Works, with branches to other mills in the vicinity, and into the timber—the design being to bring ore from Virginia and Gold Hill to the various mills in the valley, and take back goods, fuel and lumber. Besides these works, and their valuable mine, the Ophir Company own fourteen sections of wood land and seven hundred acres of valley land adjacent to their mill. Through this runs a fine stream of water, supplying the establishment, and driving a saw mill that cuts all the lumber they require. Their preliminary outlay has, no doubt, been heavy ; yet, with an establishment of such immense capacity, and so perfect in all its parts, their income must soon be enormous, making the investment one of great profit. Mr. Hall, who has had much experience in the Real del Monte Mines in Mexico, has charge of the Patio process; Mr. Wheeler is engineer, and Captain William L. Dall is the General Superintendent of the entire works.

            At Franktown, the large quartz mill of John Dall and Company, recently completed, ranks next to the Ophir Mill in capacity. It is driven by water, and has power sufficient to drive thirty stamps, and is a very extensive and substantial edifice. A little further up Franktown Creek, Lytle, Gallaher and Company have a mill, also propelled by water, but not so large as the one last mentioned. Two or three other mills have been commenced in this neighborhood, and will soon be finished and in operation. At Washoe City, near the lower end of the valley, some six or eight large quartz mills have been commenced, and are in different stages of progress, some of them being at this time nearly complete. They will run over two hundred stamps, and will cost, with outbuildings and other necessary appendages, about three hundred thousand dollars. They will crush from one hundred and fifty to two hundred tons of rock daily, and give employment to several hundred hands. These mills are to be driven by water taken through a ditch cut from Washoe Lake. There is also a project for bringing the waters of Steamboat Creek into this point through a ditch, which, if done, will about double its present propelling power, and render it one of the greatest milling localities in the Territory. At Galena, a furnace and mill have been erected by the Galena Quartz Reduction Company. The

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latter is driven by water, with an overshot wheel twenty-seven feet in diameter. There are two other quartz mills near that place, of about the same capacity, all of which are now in operation. The first smelting establishment on this side of the mountains, was put up at this place by Mr. R. S. Hatch, in the summer of '60, at which he tested all the ores found in the neighborhood, reducing a considerable quantity from several leads. Here, by a succession of experiments, conducted with great assiduity and skill, he elaborated the process bearing his name, and which, effecting a great economy in the reduction of the precious metals, has since been brought into extensive use.

            It will thus be seen that Washoe County is not without valuable mines, nor deficient in the means for working them. With its various minerals, fine lands, timber, and water power, this county possesses the elements of prosperity to as great a degree as any other in the Territory. The area embraced within its limits contained, when the census was taken last summer, a little over one thousand inhabitants, a number that has been more than doubled since.