Newspaper Clippings, 1884 - "From Eastern Nevada"

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . August 17, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

The Impending Cloudburst -- Horse and Elephant Opera -- Some Circus Reflections -- Short Grass and a Lamb Tale -- Reese River Flowers -- Austin Agriculture -- Ground Pepper and How to Assay it-- An Absconded Medicine Man -- Politics, Matrimony, Etc.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise.]

AUSTIN, Nev., August 14, 1884.

To-morrow will be the anniversary of the fearful cloudburst and flood which so sweepingly devasted Austin in 1878. It occurred at 4 o'clock P.M. A huge, black and soggy old water-logged cloud harikaried itself upon the extensive water shed at the head of Pony Canyon, and the water it shed very suddenly and unexpectedly came rolling and tumbling in huge, tempestuous volume down Main street. Awnings, sidewalks and even some buildings were swept away by the appalling flood and disappeared down the canyon, a man and a mule constituting the list of victims, although there were many narrow escapes from death or serious injury. Now, for about a week, great, black clouds have ominously hovered and portentously thundered around and along the Toiyabe range, and each day the old Reese River pioneer has sagaciously nodded his bald pate toward the threatening heavens as he hopefully predicted the coming cloudburst. Hopefully, for there is not one of these truthful old sinners but would glory in seeing a repetition of the direful calamity they have so eloquently and exaggeratingly bragged about to all recent comers. Not that they would desire any serious damage to be done, but merely as a matter of historical and personal vindication.

COLE'S BIG SHOW.

The grand palpitating sensation of the season yesterday came and went. It came like one of those old-time cloudbursts, and its effects were somewhat similar. All day a lively flood, both human and financial, poured down the canyon to the circus ground. Everybody went -- Piutes, Chinese and all -- and the whole surrounding country for dozens of miles was numerously represented. There must have been about 1,500 people present at each performance -- afternoon and evening -- and each and all of the 1,500 consider themselves more or less humbugged and swindled. Oh for a circus or a menagerie that would come even half up to its billed promises. Oh for an impossibility. To-day the truthful old Reese River pioneer gazes despondently at the gay pictured misrepresentations of Cole's show, beautifully and plentifully adorning the entire town, and cheerfully pronounces it the best billed and the biggest bilk of anything since the flood. But Austin is ninety-three miles from the main overland railroad, and the transportation facilities of our local narrow gauge road are, of course, somewhat limited, and too much of a good thing should not be expected; therefore, only thirty-one carloads came, leaving the white elephant, the big elephant, the human fly and other heavy furniture at Battle Mountain. Yet the menagerie department was the best, for the circus was nothing new, and not up to the old regulation style. It had one too many rings, for none but a two-faced or cross-eyed man can satisfactorily watch two ring performances at one and the same time. It was the first circus I ever saw having no lady rider and no clown. Just imagine a circus without a clown -- the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. The performing "Arabs" were hard-looking sons of the desert, and probably good at "folding the tents and silently stealing away," for they didn't show themselves very good at much of anything else. "Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed;" therefore, nobody here feels very sad over this festive episode, although "Old King Cole, the merry old soul," and his"fiddlers three," left at midnight, carrying away all the loose coin in the Reese River section.

SHORT GRASS.

The hay crop throughout this section turns out good, and about up to the average, yet on many of the submerged meadows along the river the grass is unusually short, hardly paying to cut for hay. Speaking of this, Sam Fuller, a Reese River pioneer, tells an affecting tale about Somerset county, Maine, where he was born and brought up. It is a very rocky country, therefore sheep have to skirmish around lively to get a living. Sam frequently saw an old sheep lower her lamb by the tail over the edge of a rocky bluff, to pick the grass out of the crevices, the dear little creature filling its mouth and then coming up to divide with its mother. Thousands of sheep got their living and grew fat by this simple, yet very ingenious device. Sam is a democrat, and emigrated to this section a good many years ago, long before the Mormons did. He remembers Gold Hill when its peak was over 300 feet higher than Mount Davidson.

FLORAL.

This has been an extraordinary season for flowers, and everywhere on the hills as well as in the valleys many very beautiful varieties are to be found blooming amid the sagebrush. If Professor Lemmon, the botanic Vennor of the Pacific Coast, were here he would doubtless discover many new descriptions of flowers unknown to science. One very rare species of thornless cactus, owing to its peculiar shape and color, I have already named Cactii Limmonii, and then there is a pretty little yellow tulip with a sort of pouch on each leaf, a derringer pocket, as it were, in which it carries its pistils.

AGRICULTURAL.

The ravages of the pestiferous army worm have ceased, and door-yard and kitchen-garden agriculture flourishes anew. County Assessor McCafferty saved up his whisky bottles till he got enough to make a nice border around his lettuce patch. The worms devoured all the lettuce and attacked the bottles, but soon got discouraged, or drunk, and died, or evacuated the premises. When they were eating the lettuce he tried to kill them with a copious supply of salt and ground pepper, but they liked the seasoning and called for vinegar and salad oil.

GROUND PEPPER.

Speaking of this article, our mutual friend Spykens, who is fond of it, discovered that it made his steak gritty, so he proceeded to assay it. The label on the canister said it was standard ground pepper, and the result proved its correctness -- plenty of "ground" in it. He poured a half-pound can of it into a pan of water, stirred and settled it well, washing off the lighter portion, after the style of an old miner panning out gold. When the black pepper was washed off a stratum of white corn meal was reveled, which, on being washed off, left a spoonfull of sand in the bottom of the pan. Any one can easily assay ground pepper in this simple way and prove its correctness. Persons with weak stomachs should grind their own pepper.

ABORIGINAL GRIEF.

All day to-day a Piute squaw at the little Indian village on the hillside south of town has kept up a loud and dismal howling. Her husband died last night, and her grief was as sincere and demonstrative as could be desired. This made the third fatal case for the latest medicine man, and his constituency would have made his own case very fatal if they could have found him. He knew that the established disposal of the profession called for his killing, and he didn't care to wait till the boys called on him, so in the darkness of midnight, about the time the circus pulled up stakes, he waited not to fold his tent, but "silently stole away." Perhaps he has joined the troupe of performing Arabs. Anyhow, his late neighbors and friends will not enjoy the pleasure of stoning him to death -- rocking him to sleep -- as they kindly did to his predecessor, and a good opening is left for another medicine man.

PICCALILLI.

Political wire laying is now in order, also the making of slates. Would-be county officers are plenty, notwithstanding the prospective change from the salary to the fee system. The movements of some of the aspirants, both municipal and legislative, are quite interesting, and may be considered worthy of future mention.

A rancher from Smoky Valley got very much in love with the seven longhaired sisters in the side show of the circus, and wanted to marry them all. He was willing to embrace Mormonism for their sake.

The Manhattan mill and big pump are running right straight along and doing excellent work. ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday August 24, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA

Toe Primaries and Delegates - A Political Anomaly - Something About Lawyers - The Filthy Pool of Politics - Domestic Troubles - Badly Foiled Woman - Piute Jealousy - A Prosperous Community

[Correspondence of the Enterprise]

AUSTIN, Nev., August 21, 1884

August being put down as the regular cloudburst month, and no such sensational episode having thus far occurred, the old pioneers are declaring it "off" for the season; therefore the next thing in order is the Republican primary election next Saturday for delegates to Carson on the 4th of next month. Everybody does not care to go, there not being much in it, so to speak, so a Dutchman, a Cornishman and an American are decided upon to represent Austin, at least that's the way it is told to me by a political insider. It is to be hoped that all three will go, but the chances are that only one will go. Being an emigrant here, comparatively speaking, I am even more bashful politically than I used to be on the Comstock; but I humbly hope that if only one goes, it will be Cousin Jack, with the proxies of the other two in his pocket.

SUICIDAL.

One of the queerest of political anomalies consists in the fact that if a good, square English-American Cousin Jack is nominated for office, let him be ever so capable, he is almost sure to be beaten, and by his own nationality. Is it envious jealousy or what is it that induces this? We all know such to be the fact, however. Native Americans and other nationalities vote for him, but he cannot depend upon his own countrymen to squarely back him, as they naturally should. On the contrary, they just coolly repudiate him. "Its wonderful how they do it, but they do." And they know they do.

LAWYERS.

It seems natural that lawyers should dabble in politics. They always have and they always do. We have only two lawyers in Austin, and one of them has been honorably prominent in the political affairs of this county and State, while the other has been honorably obscure in that respect, yet none the less effective in his quiet way. By the way, according to the Annual Statistician, which is acknowledged standard authority in all matters of statistical or chronological record, out of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence, twenty-five were lawyers. The rest were nine merchants, three statesmen, eight farmers, five doctors, and a printer General, foundrymen, educator, surveyor, soldier, sailor and a shoemaker.

SLUMGULLION.

Well, the way filthy, nasty mud is being politically thrown by the newspapers upon Cleveland and Blaine is really discouraging to all decent aspirants for public office. It is a clear case that both should have been hanged years ago or be in the Penitentiary for life. They said the same about Grant, all three being accused of being good men among women. Meanwhile Ben. Butler's familiar cock-eyed old physiog bobs up serenely above the malarious pool, smiling at the idea that the worst that can be said of him is that he stole what spoons he could find in New Orleans. Yet it is perfectly regular and appropriate in all well-ordered old nobility families that the butler should take charge of the spoons. And they were all silver spoons, too, which circumstance indicates that Butler will stand in well for our silver interests, in case he should be elected President, perhaps only second to our worthy Senator Jones. Ah, well, this nasty mud-throwing business will soon play itself out, and after the State Convention at Carson the Republican campaign game may be considered made up, so far as leading State officers are concerned, and good, square standing in for county and legislative officers also will be in order.

A DOMESTIC EPISODE.

The other night a woman who formerly lived on the Comstock came up on the train after a little girl nine or ten years of age, which she said belonged to her. She was divorced some years ago, and the father of the child has supported it ever since, giving to the charge of his brother here in Austin, who, with his wife , became very much attached to it. The woman came with an indefinite idea of kidnapping or obtaining possession of the little one by force of arms or something, and going directly to the home of her guardian, she raised merry Gehenna and the whole neighborhood, until gathered in by our faithful Chief of Police, Joe King, and taken to the hotel. By the morning train the little one, in charge of her aunt, departed for Colorado, where her father resides with another wife and children in comfortable circumstances. When this unruly woman found next day that her game had slipped her she became much exasperated, and consulted legal and constabulary authority on the subject, but was advised that she could do nothing. By this time the little girl is happy with her loving father and out of the reach of her unnatural mother. This woman stayed here, conducting herself rather loosely, to say the least, and left for somewhere this morning. Strange to say, she had a pass from a high railroad officer in San Francisco over the Central and Union Pacific roads, and even side lines, telling everybody to give her any reasonable assistance in any respect that she should desire to ask for, and send the bill to him. She is a very pretty little woman, formerly well known at the south end of your city, and at least one of her deserted husbands will recognize her identity on reading this brief sketch.

ANOTHER DOMESTIC EPISODE.

"Christian Joe," a tall, handsome Piute, had a little trouble yesterday on the sidewalk with his buxom wife. It was apparently a fit of jealousy on her part, but the paroxysm was violent while it lasted. She made a vicious scratch or dig at his eyes, but he was too tall, so she tried to choke him to death with his neck rag, but it came off. Then she destroyed his linen duster and went for his boiled shirt, but he succeeded in twisting away and ran off up the street. She followed, and when she picked up his hat she tore it into four quarters. The last seen of her she was on his trail with tomahawk vengeance in her eye.

PROSPEROUS.

Austin is apparently as prosperous as ever at the present time. tlint has just completed and moved into his new fire-proof furniture SDre, other substantial improvements are visible, and people generally seem satisfied to get along do the best they can. The mines are doing well, and the bullion output is very satisfactory, tangible and convincing.

ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Tuesday September 9, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA

Political, Senatorial, Etc. - Active Registration of Voters - Woodburn vs. Cassidy - A Crippled Miner - Drunken Catfish - Cold Moonshine - Religious Incidentals

[Correspondence of the Enterprise]

AUSTIN, September 5, 1884

Throughout Eastern Nevada the political whirl has commenced, and the mythical pot is boiling, and now that the Republican State Convention has set forth its results and its candidates, the aforesaid pot is supposed to boil with constantly increasing ferocity until the grand general election in November. The nomination of Woodburn for Congress and Hawley for Supreme Judge was calculated upon and expected by all Republicans well posted in the inside political policy and with the available personal material of the party. Success, as before remarked, is the grand desideratum in any political party, the nomination of the strongest candidate - the winning horse - so to speak. The nomination of Woodburn as Congressional Representative from Nevada is a strong one. Others equally strong, and perhaps stronger, could have been made could they have been induced to stand in; but Woodburn is the coming man who is to warm Cassidy's jacket for him properly. Woodburn is a man in the vigorous prime of life, possessed of excellent ability as a statesman and much more than average talent and force as a natural orator. Moreover, he has already very creditably served one term in Congress as Nevada's Representative, and has not to face the Democratic objection to the third term, which most surely must set Cassidy back in case his constituency are properly consistent. As for Hawley, his record for Supreme Judge is very satisfactory and well deserving of continued indorsement; therefore his renomination was a natural consequence, as will be his re-election.

SENATORIAL.

For United States Senator for Nevada William Dunphy, the famous cattle king, will most probably be the nominee of the Democracy. He is a gentleman of fine physique, magnetic presence and good address, and cannot be said to possess "more bullocks than brains," for he is intelligent, shrewd, and in real executive ability and bold decisiveness has few superiors. Our present most worthy Senatorial representative, John P. Jones, seems to be the only man to make Dunphy or any other Democratic nominee take a back seat. We all know Jones and his brilliant record in behalf of the true interests of Nevada, and look to him to make a judicious and successful fight. He must and will do it.

REGISTRATION

Of voters is, of course, actively going forward here as well as everywhere else. Lander is considered as a Democratic county, or has been heretofore, but judicious political management, as well as natural progressive changes in the minds of the voters, may make it otherwise. The balance of power is light, and not difficult to overcome and control one way or the other, and the Democracy well appreciate this fact, although master of the situation at present. But the fact must not be lost sight of that the Democrats are registering lively, as usual, and not urging Republicans to do so too. Austin's small Democratic majority is very carefully nursed and looked out for.

A CRIPPLED MINER.

I see by the Arizona Silver Belt that John Laity, formerly well known on the Comstock, has brought suit against the South Pioneer mine, Gila county, for $20,000 damages, the result of a misfortune in the daily prosecution of his work. He and three other miners were being lowered down the shaft March 12, 1883, by an inexperienced or incompetent person in the employ of the company, when, by a wrong clutch being applied, they were allowed to drop to the bottom, 300 feet, as fast as the reel would allow them. All three were badly hurt. Laity the worst. He had one leg broken and both ankles badly dislocated and injured, making him probably a cripple for life. Laity formerly worked in Gold Hill for several years, principally in the Belcher mine, leaving there for Arizona nearly two years ago. He has many friends to wish him success in his lawsuit.

SANITARY.

Whenever any of the old Reese River pioneers, or other ancient relics, get too badly used up by a chronic overplus of whisky or rheumatism they go out to Triplett's Hot Springs, about twenty miles westward from here, in the mountains beyond the valley. There they wallow in soft, black mud and slumgullion for a week or two, or till they soak or poultice all their sins away, and come back looking happy and rejuvenated, with a new lease of life. Whenever one of these old stiffs takes his first swim in the big bathing pond all the catfish go on a hilarious jamboree for three days. Billy Tower and Uncle Isaac James, who have just returned from there, will testify to this fact.

COLD MOONSHINE.

Evening before last we had a grand moonlight excursion down to Wiggin's ranch, on Reese river, about a dozen miles from here. Two cars were loaded with about 125 people, including many ladies, and the elite of Austin. It was the finest party gracing such an occasion for a long time. There was plenty of moonlight, but it was clear and coldly beaming. The cars were well fitted with seats, and the ride both ways was very enjoyable. At the grounds was a fine large pavillion, without roof or sides but a good broad floor, and the dancers had to hop around lively to keep warm. There was plenty of good music, good eating, etc., a little side bar and a big bonfire, so everybody contrived to have a pretty good time, although the air was frosty, and overcoats, big shawls and thick wraps were in demand. There were several of the best singers in Austin among the party, and all the way home they gave a continuous grand concert, coming into town a little after midnight with a grand ringing chorus.

RELIGIOUS.

The Episcopal parsonage, or rectory, was recently sold for $550, cash, a new one in a better location having been purchased. This is the heaviest transaction in real estate for many months. Rev. Mr. Kirkbride has been appointed Pastor of the Methodist Church, in place of Rev. Hogoboom, deceased.

ALF DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday September 21, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Political Buzzing, Points and Prospects - Still Hunting- The Coming County Conventions - Contending Interests - Tariff Tribulations - Senator Jones Thereon - Cousin Jack at Home and Abroad - A Floating Population - Political Straws - Reese River Races and Rackets - The Mill and the Mines

[Correspondence of the Enterprise]

AUSTIN, September 19, 1884

About this time the ambitious aspirant for office and the wide-awake political buzzer are getting in their work very lively, in view of the equinoctial culmination of the political status to take place within the next few days. Day after to-morrow the Democracy of Lander county will hold primaries for delegates to their County Convention, October 1, and one week later the Republican primaries will be held, the time for their County Convention being fixed for October - three days behind the Democracy. This, of course, is merely a matter of political courtesy on the part of the Republicans, and a delicate recognition of the small, yet predominating Democratic majority and leadership in this county.

THE STILL HUNT

Is considered the most effectual style of political work in this section, consequently we have no clubs, spouting demagogues, or howling enthusiasm as yet, though it is hard to tell what may happen before we get through the campaign. One shabby looking person with three pints of whisky in him got on a dry goods box the other evening and undertook to expound the principles of Democracy, but the tariff proposition confounded him, and he wearily sat down, discouraged, retiring to a friendly doorway for a few hours rest and recuperation. We have a very good set of Democratic county officials, all of whom having performed well the duties of their respective offices, naturally desire to be re-elected, with the exception of Treasurer and Sheriff, both of whom modestly stand back. The liveliest contest seems to be between two powerful and popular candidates for Treasurer, and both are working hard for favorable delegates and the nomination at the hands of the convention. Both are quietly, yet very ardently, buzzing around and laying their wires, and every day or two they slip out into the country, hunting or fishing, yet bring home neither rabbits, ducks nor trout. And the only announced Republican candidate for the responsible office, while doing a goodly amount of still hunting for himself, quietly watches them both, hoping that the weakest and least popular of them may get away with the nomination. Austin being the grand metropolis of Lander county, has the lion's share of delegates -- twenty-one out of thirty-nine in the Democratic Convention and twenty seven in the Republicans, consequently Austin has the say and the sway to a majority extent. Battle Mountain, 100 miles hence at the north end, is the next point in voting importance, and has correspondingly just claims for consideration. The Democratic Battle Mountaineers ask as the hands of the Convention, first, a Commissioner; second, Sheriff; third, member of the Legislature. The same may be said of the Republicans at that end of the county. They certainly are entitled to one, if not all three of the positions, and most certainly one of the three Commissioners. Neither party has much to say about members of the Legislature as yet, and no new aspirants came boldly to the front. Some of the old ones, who have been there, signify their willingness to serve again, however, so the country is safe enough on that point, but the selection of county offices seems to be considered of paramount importance. On this special occasion, most certainly, that is an incorrect idea, for the coming Legislature has to elect or re-elect a United States Senator and make some important efforts toward tinkering up our defective State Constitution.

THE TARIFF.

This is the knottiest, most irreconcilable and least understandingly discussed of any point in American politics, and very few of our local politicians care to discuss the proposition unless it is forced upon them. In a bar-room discussion the other evening, after Blaine and Cleveland had been disposed of as usual, somebody asked old Jim Sloggers his opinion of the tariff. That solid old pioneer meditatively swallowed another glass of beer, cocked his blessed old sombrero over his larboard ear, twinkled his eyes like shirt-button holes, and sagaciously remarked: "Well now, gentlemen, this yere tariff question has allers bothered me. Old Reese and me used to talk it over nights when we first discovered and camped along the river. This State don't raise nothin' with protection 'cept silver, and that pays its own tariff. I didn't have nothin' to do with 'lectin Jones, but he's done mighty well for us in protectin' our silver agin Jay Gould, Vanderbilt and othur Greenback ranchers thar in the East. Ef they had their way, in less'n a year silver wouldn't be worth nothin' but to make tin kettles of." "Yes, yes, but how about the tariff?" Old Jim cautiously gulped down another schooner, after the style of popular lecturers taking a glass of water when they come to a hitch in the thread of their discourse, and went on: "The tariff, boys, is one of the biggest benefits to the country I know of. In seven-up we have high, low game, an' from that we have high, low tariff. Free trade is another branch of the game, got up to rope in the Britishers an' the Chinees. Ef ye conclude ter elect me ter the Carson Legislater, I shall jest go in for combinin' high, low tariff an' free trade together, an' so settle the whole racket satisfactory to all concerned. It might make old Ben Butler President next term, but thar ye have it, anyhow, an' them's my sentiments. Great food for reflection, don't ye see? Call for more beer, somebody; I'm feelin' dry." His audience admiringly, reflectively and applaudingly responded, yet no one seemed thoroughly enlightened. His views, although uncouthly expressed, are about as clear and sensible, on this subject, as those of many more pretentious and aspiring political expounders. Among the most sensible and concise expressions on the tariff question are those of Hon. J.P. Jones. He believes that everything that can be manufactured or produced at home with the same labor or advantage as the same can be produced abroad, should be protected from foreign competition by a judicious tariff, even though the money price of the home-produced article may, in consequence of higher wages, be permanently higher than the foreign article. He has always been a consistent advocate of good wages for honest labor, and the protection of our home industries from foreign cheap labor competition. On the other hand it would obviously be detrimental policy to obstruct the importation of articles or industries wherein other countries have by climate, location and other natural advantages an invincible superiority over our own in the production. He says: "No one would propose, for instance, to stimulate by tariff duties the growth of coffee or bananas in this country, or hot-house production of spice or india rubber trees. In such and in similar cases the best policy is to appropriate to our own use the special advantages of other regions, and we effectually do that by free importation, because, in fact the producers are only remunerated for their labor, and scantily at that, while we participate equally with them in the bounties of nature which they enjoy. " On the free trade proposition he says: "I am opposed to a free trade which subjects the people of this country to the very competition to avoid which either themselves or their ancestors underwent the hazards and dangers of migrating hither. I am opposed to a free trade which reduces the wages of the American laborer to the level of the poorest country in the world, whereas he is entitled to such wages as would result from the material resources and wealth of his own country.

HOME FROM THE OLD COUNTRY.

Many Englishmen from Cornwall object to being called Cornishmen, on the ground that it implies an understanding that they are not Englishmen. Yet it is only among the most ignorant classes that the idea can prevail that a Missourian is not an American. In fact, it is really an honorary distinction, for most of us would rather be called a Cornishman than a Cockney, or a Cousin Jack, than a London pick-pocket. This being essentially a mining community, the Cornish element is unusually strong, and many of our best, most loyal and trustworthy American citizens are from the Cornish part of England. They generally prefer working as tributers or leasers in these mines, taking chances on developing good "pitches," or strikes, like old California gold miners, instead of working for regular day wages -- Thus it happens that many of them simply struggle along, month after month, and year after year, just keeping their heads above water, as it were, while others, working no harder, are in prosperous circumstances, and realize small fortunes through incidental good luck. And thus it is that small parties of them frequently go on a visit to their childhood home and friends in the old country. Last February "Uncle Dick" Mitchell, Tom Eustace and others made the trip in good style, returning a few days ago with Mrs Mitchell and daughter and Mrs. Bluett, wife of Harry Bluett, formerly well-known among the mining and social fraternity of Gold Hill. Their return trip across the salt water was on the City of Rome, one of the noblest steamships of the Anchor line, or any other line. She is about 600 feet long, and carried 1,700 passengers --about the population of Austin. In fact, they describe it as like being in a big floating town, the long deck resembling a thronged street. The huge vessel ploughed through the rolling salt sea waves like ripples on a mill pond, making the trip from Liverpool to New York in seven days and eighteen hours, her best day's sailing being 430 miles. The boys had a glorious good time, were glad to get back to their sagebrush American home, and have gone to work again with renewed vigor.

STRAWS.

When they landed in New York they encountered the reality of the Presidential question, and Cleveland seemed to predominate, but outside of the city Blaine was more popular, and as they came westward the grand chorus was for Blaine all along the line. Coming through Kansas one day in order to ascertain the Presidential views of the passengers on the train, a vote was taken which resulted in 263 for Blaine and 63 for Cleveland, and none for Butler.

REESE RIVER RIPPLES.

Last Sunday we had some horse-racing down near the river, which did not exactly throw the records of Flora Temple or Maud S into the shade, but there was lots of fun.

The other day Dan Wallace, a worthy rancher and County Commissioner, received a letter from a man in Sacramento, kindly informing him that young Wallace, who is at school in that city, had broken his arm and was much in need of $150, which he hoped the father would transmit forthwith. Dan rushed to town, hit the telegraph, and found nothing was the matter with the boy. Somebody didn't pick up $150 by this ingenious little joke.

Henry Welch, Saul Rosling, Horton and other noted fishermen have distinguished themselves recently by the immense number of chubs they say they have caught in the river. They gave them all away to their friends, therefore they are not worried with bones sticking out through their skins like hogs' bristles.

Tom Triplett, out at his Hot Springs sanitarium, the other side of the valley, has invented a cage for milking unruly cows. When inside of it they cannot move, and he sits on a piano stool, reaches through the bars, and milks away in perfect comfort and security.

The Manhattan mill has shut down for a few days in order to make absolutely necessary repairs to the roasting furnace. Meanwhile, work in the mines goes right along as usual, with plenty of ore to keep the mill running when it starts up again.

ALF. DOTEN.

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

Sunday September 28, 1884

FROM EASTERN NEVADA.

Political Primaries - Cassidy and Woodburn - Cleveland Discounted Presidential Possibilities - Irish-American Sense - Some Legislative Propositions - State and County Economy - Constitutional Convention - St. John, the Evangelist - Whisky - Military Revival -Trout - Catarrh - Frost - Mashed Tomatoes - Etc.

[Correspondence of the Enterprise]

AUSTIN, September 26, 1884

Last evening the County Republican Central Committee met and selected twenty-seven delegates to the County Convention on the 4th of next month, to be voted for at the primaries to-morrow. Congressman Cassidy will be present at the primaries, though he is not liable to vote, but in the evening he will deliver his well-written campaign speech with which he has already commenced swinging around the circle among his native sagebrush. Cassidy is a good political worker, and has laid out a lively and extensive amount of work for himself between now and election day. Woodburn, however, will commence camping on his trail shortly. The published test for the democratic primaries last Saturday was merely for the voters to agree to support the nominees of the party at the coming election, but the managers evidently didn't consider that strong and perfect enough, for they asked each voter if it was his intention to support the head of the ticket and vote for Cleveland. Seven said they would not, consequently were barred out, some, of Celtic origin, declared they would not vote for Cassidy or anybody else, as against Woodburn for Congress. There were 168 votes polled, but I hear of several besides those who were barred out who would have voted had not the test been made so stringent in committing them to vote for Cleveland. That illustrious person is not a favorite with the Austin Democrats. As straws are said to show which way the wind blows, and, as there seems to be nothing against Hendricks, perhaps the result of the general election may be Blaine for President and Hendricks for Vice President. In that case Blaine should wear bullet-proof shirts and have his life insured.

CASSIDY'S CHANCES.

Our Irish-American fellow citizens are not altogether blind devotees to the Democratic party by any means. They have their eyes open and think for themselves. Many of them are Republicans or next door to it, and go in warmly for Woodburn for Congress. Cassidy has done well for his constituency and the State, but Woodburn can do fully as well or better, and Cassidy is not as popular or strong as he was two years ago. The chances are in favor of Woodburn, warming his jacket pretty effectually, and inducing him to stay at home. Cassidy can afford to rest on his well earned laurels for awhile, and "may-be-so" he may succeed Uncle Jimmy Fair to the United States Senate a couple of years from now.

LEGISLATIVE.

As before remarked, much more depends upon the judicious selection of men for the Legislature at Carson this time than is generally considered. The election of a United States Senator to succeed Jones is of course important, but beyond this comes very serious propositions of paramount interest to the already over-burthened taxpayers, principal of which is the reduction of the regular grain upon the State Treasury, and the more economical administration of State and county government. The number of officers can be reduced, deputies and other luxuries dispensed with, the county and judicial systems condensed, and the sails of the State properly timed to meet the dilapidating breezes of adversity at present prevailing and likely to continue. Another vexed and much discussed question, is regarding the advisability of a Constitutional Convention to get up a revision or regeneration of the State Constitution. There is no doubt that it needs it badly, but whether biennial legislative tinkerings by novices is better than giving the job to the best men that can be selected for that special and important duty, is a problem to be carefully considered, argued upon and properly solved. Past experience has shown the average Nevada legislator to be capable of not much beyond, 1st - Looking out for his mileage and salary; 2d - Electing United States Senator; 3d - Hatching out various bills and dead failures for the regulation of the railroads; 4th - Passing scrub relief bills for the mutual relief of both legislator and applicant; 5th - Studying how not to reduce any running expenses, State or otherwise, and 6th - Laboriously and anxiously figuring how to fill out the session to its full limit and last minute. If the State House roof needs repairing, remodeling or rebuilding by all means employ the best mechanics adapted for that particular purpose, and not Jacks of all trades, which are traditionally considered to be good at none. It may cost more at first, but will be cheapest in the end. Having expressed these same ideas editorially on the same subject three or four years ago, I can claim the jewel of consistency, if nothing else.

POLITICAL EVANGELIST.

The temperance gospel, according to St. John, seems to be obtaining considerable weight in the minds of people throughout the east, and even extends to the wicked Pacific Coast. Many a whisky-hardened old sinner has wished for a time of deliverance from the chains that bound him, and is willing to rise and follow the red cross standard of St. John for his own personal benefit and salvation. But what total destruction to the Democratic party! Republicans some times take a little good whisky, when their seductive Democratic brethren invite them, of course. St. John advises that all whisky be not drank at all, but quietly left in the drug stores, but for what particular purpose he does not say. But what an idea! The drug stores would be worse overloaded with whisky in seven days than the United States Treasury has been with silver coinage in seven years. Yet thousands of suffering wives and families throughout the Nation would bless St. John, nevertheless.

REESE RIVER RIPPLES.

A new whisky mill has opened, or a closed one revived, within the last day or two, for the especial benefit of all candidates, traveling speakers, and those engaged in the active work of the campaign. And yet many of the saloon men complain of hard times.

Our local military company, the National Guard, has reorganized lately, and will shortly bloom out with doubled numbers, a new Captain and other invigorating circumstances. The brass band of sixteen pieces connected with it cannot be beaten and perhaps equaled in the State.

A party of county officials went out in the country "fishing," they said, the other day, but they brought no fish. They said they fried and ate all as fast as they caught them. Many politicians go a fishing nowadays.

Catarrh is plenty, now, most anywhere, and lot of people are afflicted with the wearisome complaint without fishing for it. The recent frosts did injure the late wheat crop some, especially that portion of the grain that had fallen down or "lodged," but the present good weather brings most of it out all right, and the crop will be better than average.

The Fall fights culminated the other evening with a very severe tussle in a variety store. He was drunk and disorderly and tried to beat the head of an innocent drum. The Chief of Police rushed in. There was a terrible struggle, participated in by bystanders, and a general tumbledown, with a United States official underneath, with his broad back on seventy-three pounds of ripe tomatoes. Every tomato was pressed flat and reduced to a flowing stream. The prisoner was taken to the calaboose, and the grand question is who pays for the tomatoes.

ALF. DOTEN.