[Joseph Tyson, White Pine, Alta California, December 25, 1868]

 

WHITE PINE.

__________

            Following are some extracts from a private letter written by Colonel Joseph Tyson to A. S. Gould, of this city:

TREASURE CITY, White Pine District, )

December 19th, 1868. )

            * * * * I arrived here five days ago, and have seen about everything thus far discovered. At first I found the weather delightful, but night before last a snow storm set in which continued until this morning. Now the weather is clear and beautiful again, but the snow will prevent any successful prospecting for the present. * * * You nor anyone living ever saw or heard of anything to compare with the state of things existing here. People are coming in from all quarters, and the moment they arrive they become absolutely crazy. Goods of all kinds are coming in daily, and no place to store them. Lumber has been engaged at all the mills for $275 per thousand, three months ahead. God only knows what the result will be. A cup of coffee and piece of beefsteak costs $1, and a new comer is in the biggest kind of luck if he can find room enough in a house to spread his blanket at $1 per night. * * * * The snow is not very deep yet, but the air is intensely cold, and I expect in a week or two we shall have it rough enough.