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Death Valley Chuck-Walla
A Town On Wheels
Greenwater is on the move. This
may be thought a peculiar state of affairs
for a town to be in, but such is
the case. The man who procured the
drug which resulted in this extraordinary
condition of affairs is known to
the mining world as Harry Ramsey.
The physician who administered the tablet is known as
the Greenwater Townsite Company. Now both druggist
and physician are busily employed in administering to the
needs of the patient, which is on the run as a result of
their efforts. As yet no effort has been made to stop the
peculiar condition of affairs, and it is probable that the
result will be what was originally intended, namely, the
transfer of the townsite from its original location on the
slopes in the heart of the copper mines to the less valuable
lands two miles away, near the open plain.
At present, however, the move is on, and the Townsite
Company which arranged the affair is busily employed in
transferring the dwellings and belongings of the original
settlers at Greenwater, through the crooked canyons and
over the ridges to the new location.
Meanwhile pandemonium reigns. Saloons and boarding
houses, stores and brokerage firms are doing business
on the run and trying to be on both sides of the mountain
at one time. A barkeep puts down his case of bottles on
a knoll en route from the old camp to the new and serves
the passing throng laden with bedding and store fixtures.
A shot of skee or a glass of lager lightens the load, and
the burden is taken up to the next station, The butcher
kills a cow en route and deals out steaks and roasts to the
hungry multitude hurrying back to the old camp to get
the necessaries for the new. The grocer opens a case of
coffee and a can of cream and catches the business going
both ways. Those who remain in the old camp are walking
two miles to the new to get the eggs for breakfast.
Those who have journeyed to the new are walking two
miles to the old to get their mail, and a pair of socks,
which the travel has made necessary, but which the new
town does not yet afford.
Through it all Jack Salsbury, Harry Ramsey and the
Townsite Company smile. In the main, things are coming
their way. Among other things the cuss words of
.the moving populace are making in their general direction,
but through it all they smile blandly. Questions as
to the. cause of the change are referred to the anti-publicity
committee, and picturesque and forceful language as to
the advisability of the change is noted and filed for reference.
It is costing the promoters money, but everything
is costing money in Greenwater, and that is no hindrance.
It is also making them money, but everything is making
money in Greenwater, and that is expected. Many cuss,
but few are sore. There are legitimate objections to the
move, and there are also arguments in its favor. There
is also a story attached.
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