["Pioneer," Our Washoe Correspondence, Alta California, March 23, 1860]

 

OUR WASHOE CORRESPONDENCE.

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CARSON CITY, Feb. 13, 1860.

Climate.

            The times here are very exciting. Spring has commenced, the snow has disappeared from most of the hills and valleys east of this place, and vegetation has begun to spring up wherever the genial rays of the sun can make their influence felt. We, here, like you in California, hare great varieties in climate. Taking a south line from the eastern portion of Honey Lake Valley, to the Colorado River, passing by Pyramid Lake, the sink of Carson River, the eastern shore of Mono Lake, and so continuing, the traveler in that section would find the trees budding, the grass already sufficiently grown to afford sustenance to the large herds of cattle grazing at some of those points. Upon nearing the Sierras, the climate of the different valleys is influenced by their surroundings. For example, Honey Lake Valley, whose altitude is quite as great as of some of the adjacent ones, is on an average of ten to fifteen degrees warmer. This difference of climate is accounted for by the residents there, to be owing to the large body of water which is, or at least has been, in the Lake. The evaporation of the water, it is thought, has had the effect to temper the atmosphere. Washoe Valley, which is but six miles from Carson City, owing to the fact of its being surrounded by overshadowing mountain peaks, is yet covered with snow to the depth of one foot. Eagle Valley, in which Carson City is situated, although quite as elevated as Washoe Valley, is entirely clear of snow. This variation of the snow belt is caused, it is supposed, by the heated atmosphere of the various warm springs in the valley, and the inclination which it presents to the morning sun.

Farming.

            In some parts of the Territory, people are making preparation to seed the ground soon. At other points nothing can be planted to advantage until May. The scarcity of seed will be a detriment to farming operations this season. The farmers have quite a good lead, if they will but stick to their ranches. The immense fortunes made by farmers in the early days of California should stimulate them to great exertions. Quite a number of Californians are investing in land ; this fact is significant, and shows the confidence felt in the permanency of the mines.  Our greatest annoyance now is the scarcity of lumber, and the difficulty of getting it hauled. Several saw-mills are on the way here, but will not be in operation for some months. The stock of hay being nearly exhausted, many persons are compelled to turn out their teams to pick up a scanty living, and await the transportation of feed from California, or the growth of the grass.

Wood and Fire.

            As a consequence, it is almost impossible to get wood even for the purpose of cooking, hauled from the mountains.  In our town, numbering over a hundred houses, from actual survey made some days since, there were not ten cords of wood. The price of the article is enormous, $10 to $12 per load, containing much less than a cord. People, however, console themselves by the reflection that when wood is scarce there is not much danger of the town burning down. As most of the buildings here are wood, the people are beginning to dread that we will experience the fate of California towns, and are taking some wise precautions in the premises.  At a citizens' meeting last week, a board of fire-wardens was appointed, whose business it to examine all chimneys and stove pipes, and to report at a future meeting. Fifteen hundred dollars have been subscribed during the past week, for the purpose of building a Jail. Another attempt will be made to organize a municipal government here unless Congress does something for us soon.

More Silver.

            There have been several discoveries made lately, which promise to be of value. The last one is about six miles from Carson City, in what is termed the Carson River District. The ore found there is found to contain a heavy per-centage of silver. A vast amount of copper, plumbago, antimony, lead, and other minerals, are found in the same neighborhood. Very fine quartz and ores of different descriptions, have been found at the sink of the Humboldt River, and at a point about thirty-five miles from Carson City, near the Carson River. They all assay very well. The probability is that the entire country, from here to Salt Lake Valley, will be found to be a mineral region. The general geological features of the American Basin vary but little, and the presumption is that the entire country, from here to Pike's Peak, will, upon examination, be found to abound in mineral wealth. There is a story told by "Apostate Mormons" which warrants this belief. They say that both gold and silver have been found in considerable quantities in the caņons about Salt Lake City ; but that Brigham Young, and the leaders of the Mormon Church, forbid any of the Mormons to engage in mining. The supposition is that he feared an irruption of the Gentiles.

Pony Express, etc.

            The Pony Express is bound to go through. An agent of the parties intending to run is now in Carson City. He says that the entire road from here to Salt Lake will be stocked with California horses in time for the first trip. The time, with the aid of the telegraph, from the Eastern cities to San Francisco, will not exceed ten days. By the first of July the Placerville and St. Joseph telegraph will have their line extended to the sink of the Humboldt River ; this, in connection with extensions which will be made by telegraph westerly, will further reduce the time to eight days. This enterprise is a very important one, and may be looked upon at the precursor of not only the reduction of stage time upon this route, but also the forerunner of a railroad. Private enterprise will do for this country what the Government has so long refrained from doing, that is, establish a speedy communication across the continent. And soon the "iron horse" will be snorting his sonorous tones amid the Sierras, if the mineral wealth here is at great as it is supposed to be. Before next September there will be 75,000 people here ; the necessities of that number of comparatively isolated persons, can only be supplied by a railroad. A road from here to California will be the first step ; after that it can and will be speedily extended to the Missouri River.

PIONEER.