["W.," Letter from White Pine, Alta California, March 14, 1869]

 

LETTER FROM WHITE PINE.

__________

            [The following private letter to a gentleman in this city is furnished to the Alta for publication]:

TREASURE CITY, White Pine, )

Nevada, March 6th, l869. )

            Since you left, the weather has moderated very much, and there has been so much done here in the last three weeks, so many new discoveries and new developments made, I hardly know where to begin in giving you an account of the status of things here now. The latest "big thing" was struck in the Base Range, immediately west and at about the altitude of Treasure City. About five hundred men were on the ground yesterday, and the town of Greenville, located upon a flat adjoining the mines, was christened and peopled on the same day. I visited the new mines, but did not see anything that could be located or bought at anything in reason. Locations two days old could not be bought for fifty thousand dollars, if there was anything in sight.  The old mines on Treasure Hill are paying well as ever, and on sinking in other locations new strikes are made every day that promise as well as the best of them (Eberhardt excepted).

            The croakers who used to talk about the unreliable character of our mines, when you were here, seem to have left the country.  You never hear anything of them now.  I will give you a limited list of mines that have maintained themselves, and some that have made new developments since you left: The Bacon Mine, situated on Argyle Hill, to the southeast of the famous Eberhardt, and near the Copper Glance, is developing extraordinarily well. They are down about ten feet on the vein, and it shows a fine face of ore; it bids fair to be among the finest in point of real merit and value. Argyle Hill is proving itself to be the best of all the branches of Treasure Hill, and seems to be a mass of ore from one end to the other. Several mines located on this hill changed hands in the last few days. The Banner State and Blair changed hands at thirty-one thousand, find the Comstock sold yesterday for twenty-five thousand; between them lies the Flemington and the Mount Morrah, in both of which they have good ore. The developments are not enough to tell how large a vein has been struck, but there is at least, twelve feet of width of vein exposed in the Flemington, and about ten feet in the Mount Morrah. They are sacking the ore taken out. A short distance above is the El Dorado and Black Cloud, both of which show good ore, but they are not properly opened. Just above the El Dorado lies the Adolph, which, though of recent date, bids fair to rival the Copper Glance and Bacon They have rock on their dump that will pay $800 per ton. This location (and many others) was made on White Spar; they struck mineral at a depth of ten feet.

            So much for the west side of Argyle Hill. The east side is not so well developed, but I will mention one or two that show well. The first in importance on the east tide is the Miner's Delight, which has been opened by a cut twenty feet deep running across the vein and showing a good body of ore. Some very high assays have been made from the rock. Near the Miners Delight ledge is the Snyder, which has been opened much in the same manner as the Miner's Delight, and shows about the same. They are probably on the same vein, but far enough apart so as not to conflict. On the north side of Argyle Hill, and in the vicinity of the Bacon, is the Golden State, Springfield, Second South, Pocotillo, Garber and many other claims that are looking well, and I think will prove to be good paying mines.

            The Chloride Flat Company are prosecuting the work on their claims, and in many instances have traced out claims of later date than those, and I think they will open up an immense body of rich ore by the time their mills are erected. Pogonip Flat is also coming up, as they are getting some fine ore out of the Hemlock and some other claims in the vicinity. I noticed a claim called the Silver Cave, on the upper portion of Pogonip Flat. They were down some distance, and were taking out some splendid ore. It has created some considerable excitement in the neighborhood.

            Some of the old locations, made in1866, are being sought after since the strike on White Pine mountain. I was down towards the California mine the other day, and came back by the Silver Jack mine, a location made in 1866. They have a splendid looking ledge, and large quantities of ore could be taken out now, and parties who are familiar with the location say the ore pays about one hundred and fifty dollars per ton. There is considerable base metal in the ore, but it can be smelted to great advantage. Curtis & Co. are getting ready to start up their smelting works at Silver Springs, and I understand they have about one hundred tons of ore on hand, from the Sailor Jack, to commence on. If smelting proves a success (and I have no doubt but what it will), look out for a big excitement in the Base Range District.

            As soon as there are mills here; the mines of merit will be held firm by their present owners, for there are few mines here of any note but have from ten to fifty tons of ore on their dumps, ready for the mill. Yours, etc.

W.