["Tennessee" (Richard N. Allen), Letter from Genoa, Alta California, June 17, 1861]

 

LETTER FROM GENOA.

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[FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.]

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Genoa, June 13th, 1861.

Great Mogul District.

            When I was about to depart from Genoa a week ago, I promised, in a communication which I then addressed to you, to give you an account of my adventures upon my return. Having now got safely back to the civilized regions, and reposed myself for a day or two, I will proceed to fulfil my engagement. We found the great quartz ledge, mentioned in my last. It forms the crest of the dividing ridge between the east fork of Carson River, and the west fork of Walker River. The elevation of this ridge is not less than seven thousand five hundred feet. For upwards of three miles, the quartz crops out from three to five hundred feet thick, and in some places two hundred feet above the level of the earth, forming a solid, white, perpendicular wall. We found the ledge to have been discovered by Mr. A. Cadwalader, of California, who appropriately called it the "Great Mogul" vein. It runs nearly north and south. There are many smaller veins in the neighborhood, running in various directions, many of which had been taken up and claimed by Cadwalader. The best looking of these smaller veins have been named the "Coromandel," the "Malabar," and the "Shanghae." There is also another very large vein a mile east of the "Great Mogul," called the "Hope" vein.

            We found, on our arrival, but one man, a Frenchman, in the neighborhood. He was building a log cabin for Mr. Cadwallader, whom he expected daily from Virginia City. This Frenchman reported the rock as uniformly yielding one hundred dollars per ton, in gold and silver. Shortly after our arrival upon the spot, other parties came in till we numbered five men. It was then determined to hold a miners' meeting, and make laws, etc., for the district. Accordingly, we got together in an enormous cave, in the croppings of the Coromandel vein, and seating ourselves upon the primitive floor, discussed the interests of the neighborhood with all the gravity of the most august body of legislators.

            The district we called the Mogul district, and we resolved that a town should be built alongside the Great Mogul ledge, to be called Mountain City. While all this was going on, a terrific snow storm raged without, and when we arose next morning, we found the ground covered to the depth of six inches. It was the first snow storm we had ever encountered in the month of June ; so we concluded to "make tracks" as fast as possible, for the valley, which we reached in the afternoon, and found the weather as mild and delightful as I ever saw it anywhere.

            Some of the facts I have related above may seem incredible, but they are nevertheless facts; all of them. Whether or not the Great Mogul is a valuable ledge, I am not prepared to say. I saw those who say they have tried it and found good prospects, and I can assure you that the rock has a very favorable appearance.

TENNESSEE.