["X.," Letter from White Pine, Alta California, February 12, 1869]

 

LETTER FROM WHITE PINE.

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[FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE ALTA.]

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How the Great News First Got Out — People Waking up Slowly — The Beginning of the Rush — Something About Lodes and Ledges — Confusion of Titles and Prospective Litigation — A Chloride Flat Terror — Real Estate Operations — Weather Items — Etc.

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TREASURE CITY, February 5, 1869.

First Reports from White Pine.

            Editors Alta: Last June there appeared in the Reese River Reveille a series of letters on White Pine, its geology and topography, written by a gentleman of experience in matters concerning mines, and a careful observer of every point of interest. These letters contained facts that have since been proven by thousands who remain here and the thousands who come and go. With all these facts so clearly set forth, very little attention was paid to them, and no papers outside Lander County published the startling news. The Hidden Treasure mine was then open, showing its walls frescoed with silver leaf; and of the "Eberhardt," he says, "it is impossible to do it justice by even a description; and so fabulous would be the truth, if stated, that I forbear the attempt." Of the surrounding hills, he says: "They are filled with veins and chimneys of rich ore, so full that it is impossible to go amiss in striking them." The letters on this district now are tame compared with the descriptions given at that early date, and yet there are ten times as much to be seen. The "Eberhardt" still excites the wonder of all who visit it, and I scraped native silver from the walls of an open cut in the Hidden Treasure Mine for the benefit of an Eastern friend, and he could see more of a mine than probably any Eastern man has yet found. But the few noted mines do not cover all the wealth of this district. The work of development progresses with wonderful rapidity, considering the disadvantages of a winter season, high prices for lumber, scarcity of shops and conveniences for fixing tools. The encouragement to work is very great, for sinking on a ledge of this spar is sure to develop ore at fifteen or thirty feet, and in some places the pay ore lies under a slight incrustation of limestone.

The Beginning of the Rush.

            Work of prospecting commenced in earnest about the first of November, and the great mines developed since that date were entirely unknown before; in fact, the ledges towards Silver Springs were until quite recently considered base, and not of immediate value, but some of the late discoveries a mile or more below the Eberhardt show the best chlorides, free from base metal; and others — as in the case of the Waterloo — with base metal near the surface, improved at a depth of from twenty to forty feet. From this Waterloo Mine I have assays of ore, at a depth of thirty feet, up to $500 per ton, and ore that can be treated in a stamp mill. The Evening Star, Argyle, Poorman, Bruce and Copper Glance, are all idle, but showing plenty of pay ore. The enterprising owners of the Evening Star north and the Poorman had both claims opened at an early day, but their enterprise is mainly directed to working up the price, rather than developing the mines. Both claims, however, are opened sufficiently to show large ledges of rich ore, and they may be classed with the most valuable claims in the district. The Blair, above, and the Mahogany, below, are both fine mines. Southerly, the Mazeppa, Comstock, Herman, Red Cloud, and a number of other claims, are opening large veins, and improving. The Copper Glance (on the map it is called Silver Glance) has some deposits of very rich ore, some solid pieces of silver and very rich chlorides; an offer of forty thousand dollars for this mine was refused. It is mostly owned by Dr. E.  X. Willard, of the Keystone.

            Below and on — I think — the same ledge the Bruce and Argyle are located, both old claims and good ones. On Treasure Hill and towards Hamilton a vast number of claims are being opened. The Independence is one of the most remarkable; it shows a variety of rock high-colored and full of rich chlorides: blocks weighing two or three hundred pounds that will assay from $200 to $250 per ton are on the dump. Very little work has been done on it. Of the younger but very promising claims, which you will probably hear of soon, as preparations are being made for working them, are the Mathilda, LaGrange, Storm King, Excelsior, Charter Oak, Glazier, and in all, perhaps, a hundred choice locations.

The Prospect.

            It is very difficult to be posted on the movements, as such matters are considered "private business," but I think you will find, from the testimony of all who visit White Pine that the prospects are very bright; the clouds that hang over us are cloudy titles, and any one experienced in a new mining district must be familiar with those things. Here the richness and great promise furnish inducements for crowding and jumping, with the tricks of dating locations back, false swearing and the like. The mining vultures look on, ready to pounce upon a new comer, trick and deceive him; or they watch the transfer of claims and frighten a new purchaser into to ms [sic] of compromise by a payment of money.

            The mining laws are very imperfect. Notice of a claim, or location, on file at the Recorder's office is a record of the same. The location is recorded, and it may be made contrary to all the rules and laws of any mining district, for it may be within a few feet of other locations, but they take the chances and try to sell out. Near the Radical may be seen three locations, all within ninety feet of the Radical shaft, and directly on the Radical vein, which may be traced on the surface. The Deputy Recorder, who makes record — of work on each claim to hold it a year — visits the ground in person, and with all the facts staring him in the face, he records the work without comment, and adds one complication to the many that the locator will bring about a title to the ground, as well as giving direct aid to the mining sharp who bonds any claim he can get to dish up for your market.

Some Good Advice.

            Your capitalists had better take clear claims, even if they do not show rich ores, and put a little work on them, rather than buy entirely on the samples of ores placed before them that they cannot trace. Another thing that gives trouble: the Recorder files a dozen claims of same name, or, if you please, fifty, and as the law requires no description of the ground, you cannot tell whore each location may be found until you hunt up the locators and are piloted to it. Even then other parties may be claimants of the same ground. Your sharp man will not scruple at removing a rival notice when he has a purchase in tow. But by careful investigation these tricks may be avoided. Good claims with clear titles cannot be had for a few hundred dollars. the mines are working into stronger hands every day. Some of your sound men are up here looking after them, and all seem satisfied that the opportunities are immense.

The Big Bear of Chloride Flat.

            You may have heard of the big bear that frightens all the boys on the Flat; it is called the Bank of California. But it is a close corporation, and they discount only for themselves. Apparently the Company is now organized and under the management of the best mining talent in the country. Unfortunate, perhaps, in having unpopular assistants, or head men: but there is a kind of work to be done that few are adapted to, or, perhaps, would descend to. This Company have large possessions on the flat; and there has been considerable talk of injunctions of claiming all the ground by reason of their holding some old locations, and this talk has had the effect to make very dull sale of claims on the Flat. The deposits lie from ten to twenty-five feet under the surface of the ground, and they are mostly very rich. Ores of entirely different character are found within ten or fifteen feet of each other, solid walls of limestone separating them. Separate and distinct strata of ore are discovered, and no connecting seam is found by which they may be traced. As there are new veins and new discoveries they are entitled to a separate location, and it will probably hold. I saw posted up on the "Quin" shaft, one of the Monroe Company's claims, a notice of discovery and location of a new vein or deposit of ore. A division or purchase of the ground can be the only mode of settlement.

            I will add, this is called the Bank party, on account of the numerous capitalists from your city who seem to be active in it. Most of them are deservedly popular, and whatever they intend to do with the small fry around them, so far no harm has been done. This Chloride Flat ground is very valuable; the average assay value of ores from it that were milled in November and December was over $335 per ton.

Town Property, Etc., Etc.

            The three towns are building up very rapidly. A new street in this city has been opened, running parallel with Main street, and lots on it have run up in a month from $50 to $850. The 25,000 people that are to come in before midsummer must have room, and property will advance. If the Water Company succeed in raising a supply for the use of the towns, they will be entitled to great credit; but for mills I think the tunnels will be the main dependence, and from that source, if the proper means are applied, there will be an abundant supply.

            I cannot give you the exciting news of the town — fights, sporting, etc., are out of my line, and you will be without the sensational news from White Pine; a paper that has the cash must do that. (This is intended for a joke, but a few only will appreciate it.)

            The weather is warm, with frequent blusters of wind and snow; but roads are good and there is no interruption to our daily mails. We have plenty of provisions in camp, little sickness, and a feeling that the place has at last been struck pervades the entire community. Are we not a happy people?

X.