November 15, 2011

Nevada's Online State News Journal

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Nevada History:

 [Albert S. Evans, Letter from White Pine, Alta California, April 21, 1869]

LETTER FROM WHITE PINE.

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[FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE ALTA.]

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Stretching Out the Silverado — The Mammoth Cave of Nevada — A Rival of the Kentucky Wonder — And Yet Another New Mining District — A Spasm of Virtue at White Pine — Sundry Rich Strikes — Cost of Living Coming down — Etc., Etc.

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TREASURE CITY, April 19th.

            Editors Alta: The results of the White Pine discoveries and attendant excitement predicted in November last are already manifesting themselves in the rapid development of numberless new Districts in southeastern Nevada, and parties are even talked of to penetrate Apache land beyond to Colorado, and lay a region, as yet a terra incognita, under contribution to civilization, by opening to the world the riches which have so long laid hidden beneath the clouds of savage barbarism. I even find a gentleman from Oaxaca, in southern Mexico, collecting samples of "outcroppings" to serve him as a guide in making search for silver deposits, which he believes are to be found in that far-off land, in formation similar to White Pine. In short, there is no limit to the field for research likely to be thoroughly explored; within a few years at least; and I anticipate discoveries upon discoveries until silver will come to be as great a drug in the world's market as copper is to-day. Parties just in from the Reveille District, 130 miles south of here, speak in glowing terms of the mineral deposits there which have been known to exist for years, but until within a few  months past have attracted very little attention. Of the Grant and Troy Districts, I hear less of late. From the Patterson District, east of here, I hear very contradictory reports, and there seems to be a wide diversity of opinion as to its merits. Will know more about it very soon.

A Wonder of Nature.

            From John M. Murphy, Esq., Recorder of the Patterson District, I obtain some very interesting facts in regard to the rival of Kentucky's great natural wonder, the Mammoth Cave of Nevada. This cave is situated in a spur of the Buckskin or White Mountain Range about twenty miles this side of Patterson, or fifty miles from Treasure City. The entrance is on the south side of an isolated butte or hiacacho and near its base. The opening is so low that a man must stoop to enter it, but twenty feet in the vault in the limestone it widens rapidly, turning towards the east, and you pass through chamber after chamber of immense proportions, some of them of such vast height that the light of torches fail to show any sign of a roof. Mr. Murphy, with a party, penetrated 5,000 feet from the entrance — nearly a mile — and found no end. They saw many chambers in which immense tongues of limestone hung from the roof, in places almost touching the floor, and in others stalactites and stalagmites abounded, as in the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky. They found traces of burnt sage brush, showing that the Indians had been there as far as they went; and the guileless sons of the soil told them that they had penetrated five days journey into the cavern, found a lake full of fish, and yet saw no end to the succession of lofty chambers stretching out before them. Lo was always a very poor Indian and given to lying. Mr. Murphy's party got out of material for torches, lost their way and were glad enough to grope their way back as best they might, not caring to make a second attempt to fathom the mysteries deep hidden in the bosom of the mountain. A hotel is to be built there, and it is thought that the Cave will in time become a great place of resort.

Another New District.

            A newly-discovered district called the "Pinto," situated about twenty-eight miles northwesterly from this place, just now causes great excitement in mining circles, and especially among prospectors. It appears that about six weeks ago a San Francisco Company, through their agent residing in this place, through some means got hold of some very rich rock, showing native silver, and after ascertaining all particulars in regard to the locality from whence the rock was said to come, their agent set out at once and succeeded in securing for his Company mining property which promises to become of immense value to the lucky owners. Sacks of ore brought in from that district assayed very rich in gold and silver. The country is represented as being very favorable for mining and milling. It is said there is only one ledge or main lode in the district, extending for a distance of six miles, running due north and south, cropping out all that distance and showing native gold and silver. The ledge is said to be from 500 to 600 feet wide, and wider in some places. Parties coming in from the new district corroborate all that was said of the extent and richness of the mines.

            A town has been laid out and called "Silverado," houses are going up and the place presents already a lively appearance. Many old prospectors here talk of going to Silverado, and indeed if the country is as extensive as it appears to be rich, it cannot fail to create a lively excitement.  Shall speak more of the Pinto District hereafter.

Quit Work.

            In a former letter, I alluded to the fact that the Zabrick Company — a sample of magnificent ore from whose mine was sent to the Alta office a few days since — had drifted through into the Jewett Company's shaft and drifts. Since that time, the Jewett Company have voluntarily quit work. I mention this fact to their credit, as it is an unusual course for Companies or individuals to pursue in White Pine district. As a rule, when rich ore is being taken out, the party in possession treats all process of Courts, and all appeals to reason and honor with contempt, and hurrying away the ore as fast as he can, until absolutely driven out by force. I know come infamous cases of this description, and see them every day carrying off ore worth thousands of dollars, which they know is the property of others, and was stolen outright. Several of the trespassers on the Aurora Consolidated ground also quit voluntarily, having been traced out yesterday.

Strikes.

            Strikes, which show the truth of the theory that "It is only a question of depth," in this district are reported daily. Wonderfully rich rock, chlorides and horn silver, were struck on Aurora Consolidated and Iceberg ground yesterday, near Main street. This week some parties working near the Phoenix on the new Hamilton grade, were run out by the latter Company, and very rich rock struck on the ground which had been in dispute A few rods above the Phoenix, on the eastern slope of the hill, west of the road, O.S. Dawson, a young man from San Francisco, recently took up a claim, which he named after himself, and on visiting there on Wednesday I was surprised to see a pile of rich black conglomerate and chloride ore, taken from within a few inches to three feet of the top of the ground. The loose dirt on the top of the ledge appeared to be full of rich float rock, which would all shell $50 to $70 per ton, and large lumps were brought out with every blow of the pick. Underneath there appears to be a well-defined and very broad ledge, which is all ore. I know not whether the title is clear or otherwise, but of the extent and richness of the deposit there can be no doubt.

            The "Good Omen," on the eastern side of Treasure Hill, south of and above the "Pocotillo" struck it rich this week, at a depth of 20 feet, having run that distance through hard rock, for the most part barren, only a small seam or feeder in the centre of the ledge holding out encouragement to them to go down for it.

            The West Point, on the western end of Pogonip Flat, below the Pogonip Mine, has run through a thick seam of good pay ore, and the shaft is now being sank through the next layer or strata of limestone to prove the value of the mine at greater depth. Should they strike it below, as they are confident of doing they have a good thing at a comparatively small cost for labor and time.

            A rich strike is reported on the south of the California Mine, on the plot of the new town of that name, and some good judges assure me that, in their opinion they hive found a second California there.

            On Chloride Flat, W. H. Hall, formerly Agent of the Freedmen's bureau at San Francisco, has discovered and located a claim showing rich ore, which he calls the "Elevator." He proposes to work it with the aid of and for the benefit of the colored population of California

            On Bromide Flat I noticed a new quartz location called the "Alumus" (Alumni?), on which two shafts of 18 feet each are already sunk, with encouraging prospects.

            Near the above, Dick Ryland, once Superintendent of the famous Planet Mine of Arizona, is sinking a shaft on the Treasure Trove ground.  He is doing a right nice job, is down some 20 feet, with every prospect of being into bonanza soon.

            The Hidden Treasure Company, Capt. Layne, Superintendent, yesterday struck very rich ore at a depth of 30 feet, in their shaft, and will go for it hereafter all the time.

Health of the District.

            Since Spring has set in, the health of the district has materially improved. Small-pox has almost disappeared, and pneumonia is decreasing rapidly, very few cases being reported, and few of the old ones proving fatal. We had a bitter cold day on Wednesday, and to-day it looks like snow, but nevertheless I think we have seen the worst of the season.

Coming Down.

            Prices of the necessaries of life are falling rapidly. Over 100 teams loaded with eggs, butter, potatoes and "valley tan" generally, from Salt Lake, are on the way here at this time, and traders are getting rid of their stock at a sacrifice. Eggs from Salt Lake, quite fresh and eatable — first rate for omelettes and fair for boiling and frying — are retailing at $1 per dozen; and potatoes of good quality at $10 to $12 50 per 100 pounds. Two weeks since, I paid $11 for 50 pounds of fair potatoes. Flour is $16 per 100 pounds. Pork, lard, bacon, hams, beef, mutton, and other not strictly perishable articles and commodities, hold their own, but they, too, must soon give way.

The Ruling Passion.

            "Locating" mines, ranchos, limestone quarries, town lots, wood ranchos, roads, springs of water, etc., etc., occupies the time of our people to the exclusion of nearly everything else. Recently this passion has taken a new form. Snow is becoming a scarce article, and the near approach of a time when water will be water indeed has already caused it to assume a new value. Parties are out over the bills and gulches "locating "every deep snow drift to be found in a sheltered place, claiming them by right of possession under the laws of the State of Nevada. To preserve the snow as long as possible, they clear away a space on the northern slope of the hill and pile it up in an immense bank, in some cases 100 feet long, 50 wide, and as high as it could be thrown by men with long-handled shovels. They then go on it, trample it down with their boots, as hard as possible, then throw on a second layer, trample that down, and so on until the supply is exhausted, when a white sail-cloth or canvas is thrown over it. In this manner the snow may be kept from melting wholly away for months, say until July or August, and the town will be supplied with water of a dirty kind, but water nevertheless, for some time to come.

The Water Works.

            The machinery for Von Schmidt's Water Works is already en route here from San Francisco, and the surveys having all been made and preliminary work begun, it is believed that the delay in bringing water into town will be but brief when the machinery arrives on the ground.

            Meantime T.M. Luther &Co., of Silver Springs, are pushing their tunnel up the caρon under the town, and have already struck a stream of flowing water of from 5 to 10 inches. They expect to get 20 inches or more, and if so the enterprise will prove not only a good success, but a blessing to the public which can only be fully appreciated in a God-forsaken and comparatively worthless country like this.

Mills.

            There are but four mills running in this district, aggregating only 33 stamps, but the high prices charged for crushing ore, on account of the cost of feed for the animals engaged in hauling ore, etc. render worthless for the present many mines which will yield $40 to $100 rock in endless amount.  But this state of affairs cannot last.  A twenty stamp mill (Bailey's) will soon be up and ready for running just below Hamilton.  Obear & Co.'s, of ten stamps, will soon be commenced just below the last named.  McCone's (Nevada Mill) of ten stamps, in the same vicinity, will soon be ready for running.  At Silver Springs (Shermantown) there will soon be five mills instead of two running.  Moyle's little three- stamp prospecting mill will be ready to run in a few days.  Staples has his eight stamp mill under way, and the Metropolitan Company are erecting a twenty-stamp mill.  Reduce milling to $15 per ton — and it will be down to that in time — and ten per cent. of the entire bulk of Treasure Hill  will pay for working, to say nothing of the vast stores of smelting ores in the Base Range and elsewhere.

A New Town.

            The last new town laid out on Treasure Hill — and one of the most promising — is "Mammoth City." The town plot embraces within a fraction of one hundred acres, and covers the bench, mesa, or plateau, next north of Treasure Peak, and north of and just above the Virginia Mine. The Mammoth Mine, the Omega and other prominent mines on that side of the hill are included within the limits of this new town. An easy grade leads down to Hamilton and up to Treasure City. A number of homes are already contracted to be built on it, one or two are finished, and a dozen lots or more have been graded ready for building upon. The lots are selling quite rapidly and the place promises to be built up within a comparatively short period of time.

Increased Facilities.

            This evening we are promised direct communication by telegraph with San Francisco, and Col. Bulkley has kindly consented to allow your correspondent to send the first congratulatory message over the continuous line. This will be a great thing for White Pine. The stage line warfare is more furious than ever, and the Pacific Union and Wells, Fargo & Co.'s lines now carry passengers from here to Elko for $25 in 21 hours, while outside lines carry for even as low as $15, in somewhat longer time. Next, will come the railroad, and — what next remains to be seen.

Yours,

EVANS.