VIEW FROM THE PAST

Walter Schmidt, the old prospector of the Whiteplains country in northeastern Churchill County, is in town this week calling on his old-time friends. He came to this locality in 1867, and now at the age of 72 years, is developing his fifth great mine. His first was the Alpha at Rye Patch which produced $2,000,000, then the Butte which produced half a million, besides the Taylor in California. For 20 years he has worked on the old Desert Queen in Churchill County. He spent $40,000 on the Desert Crystal Salt Works, and reduced the price of salt from $15 to $4 a ton. Mr. Schmidt came over in Geo. Coffrin’s car and it was his first automobile ride. In speaking of his experience being whirled over the desert in the machine, he remarked “Why, that thing goes like ___!”