Rails East to Promontory The Utah Stations

West Kosmo - Railroad use: September 1912 - 1942?
751.6 miles from San Francisco
T. 11 N., R. 8 W., Sec. 6 NW1/4 and NE1/4, SLM

East Kosmo - Railroad use: October 1901 - April 4, 1906
752.1 miles from San Francisco
T. 11 N., R. 8 W., Sec. 5 NW1/4, SLM

Two sidings, approximately one-half mile apart, were constructed at Kosmo. Kosmo West (siding) was built in 1912 in conjunction with potash activities and the original Kosmo East (siding), constructed in 1901, served area ranchers.

Potash, used in the manufacture of gunpowder, had been chiefly supplied by Germany. With the advent of World War I, potash became difficult to acquire. The Salt Lake Potash Company responded to the need by building ponds, canals (Fig. 76), a rail spur, and processing station at West Kosmo. Three bunkhouses, a cookhouse, garage, stock corral, general store, blacksmith shop, and coal house were constructed and a train car body served as the depot. In 1924, there were 200 people in Kosmo (Utah Gazetteer 1925). Spellings include Kosmos (Rand McNally: 1956) and Cosmo (Cram: 1908).

Figure 76: Remains of canals associated with Salt Lake Potash Company facilities at West Kosmo. (BLM photo)

The original Kosmo (East) was constructed at the turn of the century to support the growing number of ranchers in the region (Fig. 77).

Figure 77: The siding at East Kosmo looking east towards the Promontory Mountains. (BLM photo)

Although no cultural materials were observed at East Kosmo, substantial evidence remains at West Kosmo. Included are concrete foundations and canals associated with the potash recovery facility.

West Lake - Railroad use: ca. 1877-ca. 1910
755.6 miles from San Francisco
T. 11 N., R. 8 W., Sec. 11 SW1/4, SLM

East Lake - Railroad use: 1869-ca. 1890
756.6 miles from San Francisco
T. 11 N., R. 8 W., Sec. 14 NE1/4, SLM

Both areas were used and occupied simultaneously. East Lake contained the section maintenance facilities, documented by the 1887 cadastral record (Fig. 78), and West Lake possessed a siding and wye built in February 1877 and 1899 (Fig. 79). Although one mile apart, both were inhabited by Chinese, as verified by onsite investigations. During the respective years 1870, 1876, and 1879, populations of 17 (Geological Survey 1900), 25 (Rand McNally 1956), and 100 (Cram 1879) inhabited these locations. The census for 1879 may have included the Chinese, often ignored at census time.

Figure 78: 1887 Cadastral Plat showing Lake T. 11 N., R. 8 W. (click on image for a PDF version)

Figure 79: Lake section station (compiled from Southern Pacific station plans and track plats).

A marsh separates the two Lake settlements today. Mesic conditions prevailing in the 19th century may have required dual settlement. Although on sand/clay dunes above the marsh, both settlements lacked suitable building sites. Dugouts for example, a preferred Chinese shelter, may have been flooded out. Conditions at West Lake are so wet today, that the wye is barely visible (Fig. 80).

Figure 80: The east arm of the wye siding at Lake Station is in a marsh environment. (BLM photo)

At East Lake, field investigations found evidence for a substantial Chinese community (Fig. 81). Time-sensitive artifacts confirm occupation during the 1870s and 1880s.

Figure 81: The cleared area in the foreground and grass covered humps on the left are remnants of the dugouts and section facilities at East Lake. (BLM photo)

At West Lake, dugouts and a brick walkway remain (Fig. 82).

Figure 82: The remains of a stone walkway at West Lake Station. (BLM photo)

Railroad use: 1898 - January 9, 1909
760.5 miles from San Francisco
T. 10 N., R. 8 W., Sec. 1 NE1/4, SLM

Railroad documents date the installation and use of the Metataurus siding, however, structural facilities or cultural materials were not found (Fig. 83).

Figure 83: The siding of Metataurus looking toward the northwest. The siding on the right of this photo is obscured by grass. (BLM photo)