Carson City looking north from the top of the Capitol building in 1871.
Saturday
150 Years Ago
Carson and the Sunday Law in the Senate. Mr. Lockwood’s bill for the better observance of the Sabbath was read in the senate, yesterday, and was spoken for forcibly by himself and other senators. Carson is one of the worst towns in Nevada. Whiskey shops and holes in the wall where they gamble and swear meet the view wherever you turn; and all this – to demonstrate the homeless wickedness of the town – in despite of the efforts of a clergy representative in point of culture and eloquence. Gambling in fact has become so universal that the church herself could not keep aloof – they actually gamble for the support of the church.
140 Years Ago
Dancing the can-can. On Monday, a large tomcat belonging to George R. Dobson, while prowling about the yard, stuck his head into a lobster can from which he could not extricate himself. His gyrations for a half hour were such as no one had ever before seen a cat perform. He would allow no one to approach or assist him. Eventually he jumped into the vault of a closet, and that was the last of poor Tom. Was it an accidental death or premeditated suicide?
120 Years Ago
As details come in regarding the tragedy at the Keystone mine, it appears that Taylor acted in self-defense and was conducting the mine according to the instructions from his superiors. Bail has been set for Taylor in the sum of $5,000. James Staggs received a bullet in the stomach and another in the right eye, from which he died before he reached town. J.E. Smith was the next man to fall, the bullet penetrating his heart. Max Lambert was next with one bullet through his lips, the other shattering his left shoulder blade. Sam Johnson was shot in the left breast. Jack Perry was shot in the right shoulder.
80 Years Ago
R.L. Douglas, collector of the Internal Revenue Service for Nevada, has announced that a deputy will be at the federal building in Carson City on Feb. 15 to aid persons in filling out income tax returns.
70 Years Ago
Carson firemen were called out 12 times during January. Last year members of the Warren Eagle Engine Company did not answer their 12th alarm until April 16. The leading cause of fires this year is reported as overheated stoves.
60 Years Ago
The Nevada Senate today passed and sent to the legislators a pay boost of more than 60 percent. The raise would put pay at $40 per day from $25 and subsistence pay to $25 from $15.
Sunday
150 Years Ago
Petition. The citizens of Ormsby County will have an opportunity within the next few days to sign a petition to the legislature for the passage of a Sunday Law.
140 Years Ago
The tramps skipped. On Saturday last, several of the youthful tramps who had for some time been begging money on the streets were brought up before Judge Cary and found guilty of vagrancy. They were ordered to appear for sentencing and allowed to go on their own recognizance. As was expected the young loafers failed to it in an appearance at the appointed hour. The policy says the entire gang left town fearing arrest. It is a good thing as the county will save considerable by their departure.
120 Years Ago
Change of Janitor. At a meeting of the Capitol Board yesterday, A.J. Newman was elected as janitor of the building with vice janitor being Jason Burlingame. Many ballots were taken before the matter was adjusted, as there were three candidates with Mr. Berning being the third party. The new appointee will take the position on the first of the month.
80 Years Ago
William Shewan of Carson City, a graduate member of the advanced Reserve Officer’s Training Corps at the University of Nevada, left for Salt Lake City this week to be inducted into the service of the United States Army. Shewan will be inducted as a corporal and after boot camp, will go to officers training school.
70 Years Ago
Fish and Game commissions of California and Nevada strongly recommended minimum flow requirements and other fish conservation measures for the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake between Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake and for the east and west forks of the Carson River.
60 Years Ago
The Carson City Chamber of Commerce has returned offices to the Civic Auditorium. The office is now located on the south side of the auditorium lobby. Executive director Bob Dill said the move was made for parking and overhead concerns.
Tuesday
150 Years Ago
A little boy in Carson going for the second time to witness a tragedy in which a duel occurs, remembered at what point the firing comes in, and went for his paper of candy to fill his mouth in order to better sustain the coming shock.
140 Years Ago
Although Hank Monk is up and around, he appears to be getting very weak.
120 Years Ago
In the assembly of the legislature there has been a bill introduced to compel the Indian to educate his children. While the Appeal believes in voluntary education, it does not believe in compulsory education, and especially the Indians. The bill is wrong in many particulars.
80 Years Ago
“Shall I walk and save gas, or shall I ride and save shoe leather?” Hope that the answer to this question of the consumer might come in the non-rationing of tennis and wooden shoes shattered yesterday by the office of price administration. Both were put on the ration list.
70 Years Ago
Hank Monk says the weather will be fair and warmer tonight and for the next few days, says Monk who drove his veteran stage into town. “Maybe the Democrats will hold another ‘harmony’ session this weekend,” he chuckled. “But who are they going to harmonize with?”
60 Years Ago
Las Vegas African Americans Nevadans today asked the Clark County delegation to sponsor amendments that would put teeth in the present civil rights law.
Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.