[Washoe Valley, San Juan Press article reprinted in the Alta California, December 4, 1859]

Washoe Valley.

            This valley, which has become interesting by the forced application of its name to the rich silver mines of Western Utah, lies at the eastern base of Washoe mountain, and pretty near due east from Nevada county. The mountain is an isolated one, about five thousand feet above sea level at its summit, which had a bank of snow on its northern side late in October, and is separated from the Sierra Nevada by Truckee river. The western wall of the valley is another detached range of high, brown, nearly naked hills, which extend some fifteen miles in width to Carson river. The cañons of this range support a good growth of pine timber, and its eastern slope contain the famous Gold Hill and Virginiatown gold and silver leads. The valley is perfectly level and looks like an immense meadow. It may be fifteen miles long by ten miles wide ; is watered by a creek and contains a lake that flashes like a mirror for several miles along its eastern side, beautifying a landscape that would be charming without it. Narrowing towards each end, the valley terminates in gentle elevations of red soil, boulder strewn, and bearing stout growths of sage and greasewood, the northern neck soon opening again into Pleasant Valley and Truckee Meadows, while the southern one unites with Eagle Valley, the locality of Carson City. Washoe Valley was formerly occupied by Mormons, who commenced building on the bank of the creek a village called Franktown. This still remains, and consists of ten or fifteen small frame buildings now occupied by Americans, one of them as an office of Langton's Express. The land is generally excellent, growing good wheat, corn, potatoes and other vegetables, though it has been cultivated but very little, the settlers being chiefly stock raisers. No attempts at fruit culture have been made. There is one saw mill in the valley, and a dairy where about twenty pounds of butter are churned daily by simple water power machinery.  Very little land has been enclosed. The number of souls inhabiting the valley is perhaps two hundred, of whom forty are voters, and twenty children old enough to attend school, if one is started this winter, as contemplated. The inhabitants are rather indolent and unambitious, but the excitement of the new diggings and the demand that must arise for farm products very near them, will probably stimulate them to go to work and make the valley the lovely home it might be for them and their descendants.— San Juan Press.