[W. W. Bishop, Latest from White Pine, Territorial Enterprise article reprinted by the Alta California, January 19, 1869]

 

LATEST FROM WHITE PINE.

            The Virginia City Enterprise of January 16th says:

            We are allowed to make the following extract from a letter received in this city yesterday by H. M. Eddy, late County Commissioner, from W. W. Bishop, late District Attorney of this county. He says, writing from Treasure City, under date of January 5th: "As to the richness and the extent of these mines it is useless to speak — they are both very rich and quite extensive, and there is as good a chance to locate now as ever. The atmosphere here is light, yet little more so than in Virginia. The snow is about eight inches deep, and the weather clear and pleasant. Snow that fell last week is melting off rapidly. Improvements are going ahead with a rush.  Building lots are higher than they ever were in Virginia. Money is plenty; every one has some money and many have it in large quantities. Mines, mill sites and town lots are all the rage here now, and at Hamilton and Sherman. Every man that will work can get for common labor. $5 per day, carpenters, etc., $8 to $10 per day. Board and lodging $15 per week; wood $30 per cord; merchandise sells at an advance of about 40 per cent. on Virginia prices. Teamsters get all they charge for hauling, but feed is scarce and dear — barley, 15 cents, hay $150 per ton, water eight cents per gallon, and whiskey twenty-five cents per drink. This is the best place I ever saw for a live man, and the worst for a drone. Bill Roberts is making money — good locations and fine prospects; W. J. Forbes is doing a heavy and paying business. Every man that has been here three months is well fixed, if he has used economy. Abe Edgington is located in mines that will make his fortune, and Governor Crossman is doing well. D. W. Perley has made $25,000 in real estate in one month. Lumber is $250 to $400 per thousand feet, furniture sells for all that a man will demand for it. You load a team with anything and bring it here and it will pay you. The route from here to Elko is 110 miles, through a valley full of grass and well watered. An ox team will make money freighting from there, and no snow to bother the travel. There will be large quantities of freight to haul. Chinamen with jacks could get $2 50 per load for wood, and would not have to pack it half a mile — a few pack mules would pay well at that business. There is life here, but money must be earned before it is obtained. I like this country, and I think more of it every day." This is what we call a flaming letter, and we are a little afraid Mr. Bishop has allowed himself to become excited — he talks as though slightly chlorided. John White, formerly President of the Miners' Union in this city, writing from Treasure City under date of January 9th, says that they have held a meeting in that place, and organized a society to be known as the "Miners' Benevolent Association of White Pine," which does not differ materially from the Miners' Union of this city. Mr. White has been chosen President of the association. In regard to the health of the place he says: "Our colds, if not properly treated, usually turn into pneumonia, which in a great many instances thus far have terminated fatally. M. A. Johnson, of Gold Hill, formerly a workman in the Crown Point Mine, and a man by the name of Clark, at one time employed about Stevenson's mill, are both lying dangerously ill of the prevailing disease — pneumonia. Strong hopes, however, are entertained for their recovery." Another letter writer says that there were four deaths at Treasure City on the 9th inst. The same letter also states that the weather is very severe, and several persons had been badly frozen. Board is from $15 to $18 per week, exclusive of lodging, which is difficult to obtain at $1 per night. Little or no work is being done on any of the undeveloped claims. Persons anticipating visit to the new district are cautioned not to do so before spring.