USA > Nevada > Washoe County > General History and Resources of Washoe County, Nevada, Published Under the Auspices of the Nevada Educational Association > Part 6
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At noon, April 15, 1884, a fire broke out in the yardmaster's office, which was in the railroad depot. In ten minutes the depot, postoffice and Wadsworth Hotel were in flames. The yard en-
gine was at Two-mile siding, the water supply came from wells, the buildings were old and dry, and nothing could be done. The fire spread rapidly, and inside of three hours four-fifths of the town was in ashes. Many were without home or shelter, and, to cap the climax of their misery, snow commenced falling, and continued far into the next day. Thus perished the old town, and the loss exceeded $100,000. The previous summer ground had been broken across the river for the new `railroad shops. Here are located the coal shed, the machine shop, the round house, the freight depot, car shop, depot and offices, ice house and library of the Truckee Division, C. P. R. R. The buildings are all models of neatness and beauty, while the brick and stone shops, with corrugated iron roofs, are the finest buildings on the line of the Central Pa- cific Railroad. After the fire business houses and residences were constructed on the new town site. E. Griswold erected a large brick store, and Wil- liam Donaldson's "Nevada House," is one of the best appointed hotels in the State. The town is lined with neat residences, lawns and trees, and bids fair to become one of the prettiest villages in Nevada. The spirit of improvement manifested by the officials of the C. P. R. R., in setting out hundreds of poplar, cork elm and locust trees, preparing lawns around their properties, building such pretty structures, etc., has communicated itself to the citizens, with the above results. The railroad company have deeded a lot to the church authorities, and the house of God is rearing its head. Provision has been made for a $4,000 schoolhouse, to be constructed during this vaca- tion, and buildings are constantly being added. The town numbers 500 busy souls, not an idle man in the place. engaged principally in railroad- ing. Wadsworth is the shipping point for the borax, salt, soda, wool, etc., of Churchill County, and the base of supplies for that place; the shipping point for trout caught along the Truckee River and in Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes, and for the stock raised on the surrounding ranges of hun- dreds of square miles. These interests support two large hotels-one kept by Donaldson & Bab- cock, and the other by the old pioneer, Bill Nich- olls. Two large grocery stores (E. Griswold & Co. and John Lee), a meat market (Dan Proctor),
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27
OF WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA.
Barnard SE
Library, Depot and Other Buildings, Wadsworth, Nevada.
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GENERAL HISTORY AND RESOURCES
two general stores, a barber shop, a shoe shop, three feed corrals (one by Andy Russell, the best place to put up; one by George Sawyer, and one by James Crosby), a blacksmith shop, and a general amusement hall. Ranches in the vicinity cut 1,000 tons of hay, and T. G. Herman has a large dairy, which furnishes the town with sweet milk and good butter. J. B. Cambers has a stage which carries the mail freight and passengers to all points in Churchill County. Wadsworth is the second town of importance in the county, and it is still growing. The people are busy, pros- perous, sociable and happy, J, H. Whited, Su- perintendent of the Truckee Division, with head- quarters at Wadsworth, has an elegant home, holds the respect of employers and employes, and his twenty years of experience in railroading en- ables him to run this part of the C. P. R. R. as the best conducted division on the line of the road. George H. Hunt, Master Mechanic, as- sisted by George Angus as foreman, keeps the machine department shining. William McPher- son, Superintendent of the car shops, has served many years in this capacity, and helps maintain the standard of excellence. The editor is in the sixth year of his residence here, and finds a charm in the library, climate, people and children, potent enough to make him wish to linger. Wadsworth is represented by $500,000 worth of property. ENGINEERS' AND MECHANICS' LIBRARY ASSO- CIATION.
On June 23, 1879, Master Mechanic George Gregg, a liberal-minded man of large brain, and one of the recognized best mechanics on the Pa- cific Coast, took the first step to found a library here. With him to think was to act, and on the 30th of June, one week later, the Engineers' and Mechanics' Library Association was organized, with the following charter members: George Gregg, James Abbay, George Abbay, Charles Archembault, Richard Atkinson, James Bird, William Bird, Sol Brown, Richard Blundell. J. F. Crosby, A. T. Clippinger, Nick Cole, L. S. Clark, M. Coyle, Tom Cullen, T. E. Cardinell, N. S. Church, A. J. Davis, Robert Drought, B. F. Dolan, Humphrey Draper, John Dunn, Martin Duxted, H. D. Esden, J. C. Erb, Ed. Farley, John R. Forrest, J. R. Garcia, W. W. Geery, J. Hutchinson, James Hulsapple, J. W. Hall, S. R.
Jenkins, Frank Jenkins, Charles Jenkins, M. Kierns, W. J. Langer, Gilbert Lemery, D. W. Leach, W. W. Mather, Matt Maisenbacker, Ed. McDarrah, P. McNevin, Charles Nevin, Warren Norris, William Northrop, Michael Purcell, James Purcell, Antone Peterson, N. S. Peck, James Richmond, S. S. Robinson, E. H. Smith, John W. Smith, John Stuber, H. Stewart, Frank Shep- herd, James Sterling, James Thompson, James Wright, George Warner, J. F. Warner, S. A. Young, L. W. Young, T. J. Yeargin.
These gentlemen met, signed the roll, and adopted the Constitution June 30, 1879. With the dues collected in advance and the donations made 200 volumes were placed on the shelves. Helped along by Gregg's untireless efforts, and many early courtesies extended by J. A. Stevens, the number of volumes grew and the membership increased. The library room was in the old round-house. When the town was destroyed by fire the library was passed, and we reach July, 1884. When the new town was laid out and the new railroad buildings constructed, the Cen- tral Pacifie Railroad Company, in token of their appreciation of the labors of their employes, erected this building tor the use of the Engineers' and Mechanics' Library Association, where it stands to-day as a reward of merit.
On entering the building we find ourselves in a large, airy and commodious room. Bookcases in black, trimmed in gold, and filled with 2,500 well selected and well bound volumes of the standard and highest grades of literature, line the sides. Two nicely ornamented steam heaters re- spectively occupy the north and south ends ot the room, while between them are two large and well- finished tables, upon which are to be found all the principal magazines of the United States, and the daily papers and periodicals of the Pacific Coast. Heavy linoleum covers the floor, and easy-chairs and lounges give the place a home-like appear- ance. Interesting and instructive statuettes, mounted on white and gilded pedestals, placed in appropriate nooks, gratify esthetic and refined taste. Here on a black walnut altar is an elegant and beautifully bound Bible, the gift of A. J. Stevens, a man venerated and loved by all who knew him; and there, suspended from the center of the ceiling, 'is a massive chandelier, a token
OF WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA.
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from the same generous heart. Large oil paint- ings of landscape scenes, photographs of engines and engineers, of prominent civilians and railroad officials, grace the wall. Here in a large frame are the photographs of the organizers of the li- brary; and there, in a group, are the likenesses of Senator Leland Stanford, C. P. Huntington, J. A. Fillmore, A. N. Towne, Judge Crocker, Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins and E. H. Miller, Jr., the friends of the institution, through whose in- strumentality the building was erected, and to whose generosity the association is heavily in- debted. Passing ont we find ourselves on a green lawn of Kentucky bluegrass. Gravel walks lead around the yard, and, shaded by cork elm trees, we view the lovely flowers and inhale their fra- grant odors. Here travelers from the East, after
riding across the dreary desert, give vent to ex- clamations of pleasure and delight; and here many a man is taught that the officials of the Central Pacific desire the advancement of their employes, and, in order to promote it, give every necessary advantage. The building, within and without, the flower-fringed grounds, the appoint- ments all in all, stand as a living monument of a good and great deed, of a Western taste and a Western culture; and nowhere the wide world over is there a village, town or city but Wads- worth which can show in a public library five vol- umes for every man, woman and child within its confines. The doors are opened wide, and you are invited to enter. As a solitary, sparkling and scintillating gem, it gives forth its generous light to gladden the hearts of a grateful community.
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GENERAL HISTORY AND RESOURCES
RENO.
The Queen City of the Eastern Sierra, and the Garden of the Great Basin-The Educational Athens of Nevada, and the new Denver of the West.
PIONEER DAYS.
Following in the footsteps of the Mormon Jam- ison, an emigrant by the name of Fuller made a settlement above him on the south side of the Truckee River in the Spring of 1859. With his ax he entered the virgin forests which clothed the mountain side, leveled the towering pines, and from their trunks hewed out the logs for his habi- tation. In this wayside inn he stored goods brought from California, and otherwise prepared to gather in the shekels of those who were sweep- ing towards the new El Dorado. Shortly after he had comfortably established himself in his new quarters the cry of "Silver in Washoe!" rolled over the mountains and reverberated through the valleys. The travelers, long pack trains, and freight teams, on the way to the Comstock, found a crossing and accommodation at Fuller's Station. In 1861 a road was constructed from Virginia City to this point, and Fuller built a bridge over the Truckee, and was allowed a franchise to col- lect toll. In 1862 the bridge was carried away by the raging torrent of that year, and Fuller dis- posed of his property. The bridge built to re- place the old one became the well of wealth into which M. C. Lake dipped long enough to ac- quire a sum which placed him in the ranks of Nevada's millionaires. The name of the place was changed to Lake's Crossing, and it stood where the Riverside Hotel, formerly the Lake House, now stands.
The Auburn Mill was built in 1865, and the 'uster of homes of those engaged about the mill is known as the town of Auburn. From the
time of the discovery of silver at Virginia City, the freight and passenger traffic from California to the Comstock passed by the way of Lake's Crossing. When the Central Pacific Railroad began to ascend the mountains with giant strides, it was supposed that at some point along the Truckee a station would be established where the supplies for Storey County would be unloaded and forwarded. Glendale was a thriving little village, and the first survey of the road indicated that it would be selected as the site for the pro- posed railroad station. It probably would have been chosen but for the rise of the river, which flooded the town and the surrounding country. The officials sought higher ground, and the man- tle of choice fell upon Lake's Crossing. M. C. Lake deeded forty acres to Charles Crocker in consideration of his causing a station to be estab- lished there, laying it out in town lots, and con- veying a certain number of the lots back again. This was accordingly done. The town was christened
RENO,
In honor ot General Jesse Reno, who fell at South Mountain; and at auction, May 9, 1868, some of the lots brought $1,000. Reno is 39° 31' 36" north latitude, and 4,500 feet above the sea-level. After the selection of the town site and the sale of lots, even before the railroad had reached the new-born city, people flocked in and began to build permanent homes. Auburn was absorbed and the town grew. On the 18th of June, 1868, the first train from Sacramento ar- rived, and brought with it the tangible assurance
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OF WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA.
of a bright future. The news was heralded far and wide, and all rejoiced. California was wedded to Nevada-King of Gold and Queen of Silver. Then began a great stampede of new settlers, and the young fledgling, nestled at the foot of the eastern slope of the Sierra, developed fast.
On the 4th of July, 1868, appeared the first newspaper, the Reno " Crescent," edited by J. C. Lewis. Conscious of her growing strength, Reno began to cast longing eyes upon the county-seat. On August 5, 1868, a petition signed by 765 citi- zens was presented fo the Board of County Com- missioners, asking that the county seat be trans- ferred from Washoe City to Reno. The Board was composed of A. C. Cleveland, H. M. Frost and J. H. Snodgrass. Frost and Snodgrass op- posed the measure, and the petition was denied September 8, 1868.
On the roth of May, 1869, the last spike was driven on the Central Pacific at Promontory Point, and the West and East were linked by bands of steel. Then were the palmy days of Reno; through trains began to arrive; work for all; money was plenty; good wages and prices were paid; saloons and dance-houses flourished; music, revelry and gambling held sway; and the number of bad characters increased. But soon churches and schools were erected; families came and set- tled; the society of good and pure women could be obtained, and the bad element sank into the minority. Reno had advanced, increased in size and business importance, while Washoe City had retrograded still farther. The result was another petition presented to the Board of County Com- missioners February 1, 1870. The Board con- sisted of W. R. Chamberlain, G. W. Brown and M. J. Smith. A protest was filed by the citizens of Washoe City. The petition and the protest were considered February 2d. T. E. Hayden appeared for the petitioners, and William Board- man and William Webster acted as counsel for the people of Washoe City. The petition prov- ing insufficient, Hayden was allowed to withdraw it, and Boardman and Webster filed a protest. On the 4th of April Hayden came with another petition to the same effect, and it was granted the day following its presentation, Chamberlain and Smith voting in the affirmative and Brown in the negative. The Board ordered the county officers
to remove the records and offices to Reno. The people of Washoe City applied to the District Court for an order restraining the removal of the county seat. The order was granted, but when it came up for a hearing the writ was dismissed. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, and by its decision the action of the Commissioners was annulled. The next step Reno took was to bring the matter before the Legislature, and an Act of February 17, 1871, declared Reno to be the county seat on and after April 3, 1871. The people of Washoe City were incensed, and had a bill introduced into the Legislature, asking that they be attached to Ormsby Gounty. The bill failed to pass. The county officers came hither and located in various places, while the District Court was held in Peters' Theater.
In 1870 the town enjoyed a thriving business and great prosperity. The population had in- creased to over 1,000. The hastily constructed shanties gave way to neat dwellings, and brick structures made their appearance. The town had spread beyond the limits as first laid out, and M. C. Lake annexed an addition on the south side, while J. J. Dunning did the same on the north.
INCORPORATION.
Then came vigorous talk of incorporation. When the county seat was secured many of the citizens desired to see the town incorporated, to better insure life and property. A public meeting was called January 7, 1871, and a committee ap- pointed to draft a bill, but beyond this nothing was done, and the matter was dropped for nearly six years. An election was held and 280 votes were cast, giving a majority of 38 in favor of incorpor- ation. Steps were taken to carry out the will of the people, and a bill was introduced into the Legislature and passed March, 1879. The town was incorporated April 8, 1879, in accordance with the Act of March 9. The town, as incorporated, embraces the district described as follows:
Beginning at the corner of sections 2, 3, 10 and II, township 19 north, range 19 east; thence east between sections 2 and 11 and 1 and 12 to the one-fourth corner between 1 and 12; thence south through the middle of sections 12 and 13 to the center of section 13; thence west through the middle of sections 13 and 14 to the one-fourth corner between sections 14 and 15;
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GENERAL HISTORY AND RESOURCES
thence north between sections 14 and 15, 10 and 11 to the place of beginning, containing all of section Is, the west one-half of section 12, the northwest one-fourth ot section 13, and the north one-half of section 14, township 19 north, range 19 east.
The corporation is governed by the Board of County Commissoners, who levy taxes, pass or- dinances and regulate the fire and police depart- ments.
FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
The first effort at organization in this direction was made by Reno Hook and Ladder Co. No. I. There was not enough enthusiasm manitested and it soon ceased to exist. At this time Messrs. Browky, Lake, Howell and Ashton were ap- pointed Fire Wardens. Next came the Bucket Brigade. On April 4, 1871, a meeting was called to consider measures for protection against fire. As a result of this meeting a fire bell was obtained, 7 wooden cisterns, with a capacity ot 1,000 gallons each, were constructed, and 100 buckets were placed near the cisterns so they would be ready for instant use.
RENO ENGINE CO. NO. I.
On November 10, 1876, the above company was organized with 64 members, with J. L McFarlin, Foreman, and Morris Ash and L. Marks, Assistants. Nearly $3,000 was subscribed at the time by the citizens, and more afterwards. It was decided to purchase a steamer, and a La France patent rotary engine was chosen. The steamer, 1,000 feet of hose and two carts cost $5,000. Next the railroad company fitted out Engine 48 and the railroad boys tended her.
WASHOE CO. NO. 2.
On July 21, 1877, Washoe Co. No. 2 was organized, with Allen Bragg as Foreman, and R. P. M. Kelly and N. J. Salisbury as Assistants. The Monumental Engine No. 6 was purchased at Virginia City in 1883. In 1887 the Volunteers complained of lack of support and threatened to disband. In 1888 the Fire Department was reor- ganized with H. J. Thyes, an efficient and ener- getic fireman, as Chief. The volunteers have never had justice done them; they were not supported as they should have been, and it seems to us that the authorities are a little too close-fisted yet. In a nutshell, it is a matter of false economy.
FIRES.
The first serious fire occurred October 29, 1873, when 100 buildings were destroyed. About half-past 10 at night flames were seen issuing from the Western Hotel, on Commercial Row, between Virginia and Sierra streets. The alarm was instantly sounded and the people rushed from all directions to the scene of the disaster. Before the Bucket Brigade could get water the flames were burning fiercely. The citizens fought the fire with wet blankets and buckets of water, but their endeavors availed but little. The fire spread, reaching Masonic Hall on the west and Barnett's brick on the east in a very short time. Around this it went to Virginia street and down to Bell & Burke's brick store on Second street. Crossing Virginia street here it swept back on the other side to Commercial Row. In two hours were burned the two brick blocks bounded by Sierra, Center, Second and Commercial Row. except four stores, a few dwellings, the Journal office and the Masonic Hall, the very business heart of the city. Good service was rendered by the railroad fire trains that came to the rescue from Wadsworth and Truckee. The S. T. Swift came from Carson, but before she arrived, the fire was under control. One hundred thousand dollars went up in the flames, on which there was some insurance.
In the evening of October 25, 1875, George Schaffer's residence on Commercial Row caught fire, and other dwellings followed, with a total loss of $25,000.
On February 13, 1877, the Depot Hotel was partly burned, at a loss of $15,000, the flames en- folding in their horrible embrace a Swedish cham- bermaid named Mrs. Lena Johnson. The body, partly burned, was rescued from the fire ..
The greatest disaster that has ever befallen the young city occurred May 2, 1879. Almost a hurricane was blowing, when a fire caught in a pile of cedar wood near the railroad house, supposed to have been caused by sparks blown from a burn- ing chimney. "Grandmother" Hogan emptied two tubs of water upon the flames, but the wind blew so fiercely they got beyond her control. The Fire Department was called out, and the citizens labored with them for four long weary hours. The work was tutile in the face of the fierce gale,
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OF WASHOE COUNTY, NEVADA.
and the flames licked up everything. The fire lev- eled everything before it, until nothing was left for it to feed upon, when it died out. Ten blocks were laid in ashes, including every business house in town, save two grocery stores, while five human beings perished. The loss amounted to $896,000, and the insurance was only $194,000, leaving $700,000 to be borne by the unfortunate town. Hundreds were rendered homeless, and there was not sufficient food in town to feed the hungry. Sweet relief was sent from Virginia City, Carson, Truckee, Wadsworth, and other places. The Legislature appropriated $10,000 for the relief of the sufferers.
The "Gazette" estimated the most extensive losses as follows:
Approximate on small buildings $329,000
Central Pacific Railroad Company 100,000
Barnett Bros
60,000
Manning & Duck.
50,000
Nevada State Flouring Mills 35,000
D. & B. Lachman .. 35,000
Abrahams Bros 25,000
W. R. Chamberlain, Depot Hotel.
25,000
Gray & Isaacs.
20,000
Courtois & Boyd.
20,000
Farmers' Co-operative Association 18,500
J. Prescott 18,000
Judge I. B. Marshall. 18,000
M. Nathan 17,500
S. M. Jamison. 15,000
Osburn & Shoemaker
14,000
M. C. Lake
12,500
Pollard House. 12,000
D. C. McFarland 12,000
Mrs. Simpson 11,000
Mrs. H. Noyes 10,000
Pat Hogan 10,000
Hill & Oaks 10,000
C. J. Brookins
10,000
Total $887,000
Great as was this disaster to the merchant and citizen, they retained their energy and enterprise, and ere the ashes were cold a new city, fairer and nobler, began to rise. Reno to-day is suffering in her business and commercial enterprises from the effects of that calamity. Several small fires have occurred since then, but they are hardly worthy of notice, with the exception of the burn- ing of several small boarding-houses and a store in May last. We believe the present Fire De- partment is in good hands with Thyes at its head,
and we rest assured that he and his brave boys will do the best that good judgment and circum- stance will allow.
"601."
In 1874 Reno was overcrowded with three- card-monte men, gamblers, burglars, garroters and other blacklegs. Several of the most no- torious of these characters received free passes to leave town within a certain time, and they went. In July, 1874, five men attacked and attempted to rob W. C. Elliott on a back street. Elliott's cries for help, and two pistol shots fired by him, caused his assailants to run, and drew Deputy Sheriff Avery to the scene. Avery pursued the flying robbers, and overtook two of them at the bridge. One of them turned and drew his gun, but the officer covered him with his revolver and took him in charge. Officer Hutton captured a second, and the others were pursued to Crane's and captured by Kinkead. They resisted arrest at first, but the brave Under Sheriff drew a bead on them with his shotgun and ordered them to surrender. The reply was a taunting laugh, as the three stood at bay with drawn revolvers. Pointing his gun at one, the officer warned him to put down his weapon before he counted three, or he would shoot. The warning was not heeded, and the officer fired, lodging two balls in the man's breast. The others surrendered, and were conveyed to Reno by their plucky captor. In two weeks the members of the gang were tried, and sent to Carson for twelve years.
Soon after this trouble an association of citizens was formed and known as "601." Their warn- ings were heeded, and when a bad character re- ceived a note signed with that significant number, he stood not on the order of going, but went.
One of "the ilk," W. J. Jones, a saloon-keeper, by misrepresentation induced a young lady who sought employment to come from San Francisco to nurse an invalid woman. He met the young lady at the train when she came and unknowingly to her conducted her to his saloon. As soon as the light permitted her to see the character of the place she retired, but not before the dastard had insulted her. One Carson, a friend of Jones, hear- ing of the matter, went to the young lady and re- presented himself as a friend who would help her out of the trouble and take her to a place
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