Black and white image of several prominent figures, in front of a crowd outdoors. From left to right: Governor Balzar of Nevada; Carl Gray, President of Union Pacific Railroad Company; Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary of the Interior; Governor of Colorado (possibly Edwin C. Johnson). Gray is handing Lyman the first spike to be driven for the spur line to Boulder Dam. Note: Boulder Dam was officially renamed Hoover Dam in 1947.
George Robert “Bob” Anderson (1847?-1886?) was an early settler in Southern Nevada. He is best known for being the business partner of James Bernard Wilson. On January 31, 1875, they filed the deed to 320 acres located twenty-four miles west of Las Vegas, Nevada at the base of Sand Mountain in Cottonwood Valley. The property formerly known as ‘Williams Ranch’ or ‘Williams Homestead’ was renamed Sandstone Ranch. There they established a working cattle ranch and a goods delivery service.
This photograph has three images. The first one (0272_0078) reads "'Form Raising Crew' - cont. - Whitie, Indiana 'Hoosier', lining the bolt up from inside. Always looking for a hammer, or bar, when it was time to climb over the top." The second one (0272_0079) reads, "Drilling jumbo in mouth of spillway tunnel," as a handwritten inscription. The third image (0272_0080) reads, "Nevada spillway with flood gates lowered. Notice size of man in gates. Constructed to prevent flood waters from overflowing dam. Each spillway - capable of passing 200,00 cu. ft. per second."