[a collection of articles from Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., 1859-1860]

 

Miscellaneous. 81

MISCELLANEOUS.

            Silver Ore in the Sierra Nevada, California.—The discovery of a vein of rich silver ore in the mountains between Honey and Mud Lakes in California, is reported in the Shasta Republican. The vein is south of Mud Lake and runs in a direct north and south line. In some places the lead is from ten to fifteen feet wide. It can be readily traced. Where the ore does not crop out, its presence is readily determined by the color of the ground. Some of the quartz containing the silver has been brought to Shasta, and assayed by Lewin & Baehr. The yield was at the rate of 164 ounces to the ton. The metal is represented to be of the finest quality. The ore resembles that found in the celebrated Arizona mines. The mine is situated about 65 miles north-east from Honey Lake, and is accessible by a good wagon road. Claims have been taken up by the discoverers and preparations made for working.

(Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., November 1859)

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168      Mining and Scientific Intelligence.

            Carson Valley and Walker's River Mines.—Late accounts from Carson Valley and Walker River mines continue to excite great attention. A stampede of Californians in that direction has already commenced, and promises to equal the emigration to Fraser River. These mines are on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, and are supposed to extend from Honey Lake on the north to Walker's River on the south—a distance of two hundred miles. The principal discovery yet announced is called Gold Hill. It is a mound sixty feet high, five thousand long and two thousand wide, and lies twenty miles north of Carson Valley. It is traversed by veins of auriferous quartz, a part of which, when decomposed, realized from $500 to $2,500 per ton.

            Large quantities of silver ore continued to arrive from Carson valley at San Francisco for shipment to Europe. Emigration in the spring will probably result in the complete exploration of the whole country east of the Sierra Nevada, and the discovery of equally rich mines to any in California.

(Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., December 1859)

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The Washoe Silver Mines.          221

* * * * *

ART. V.—THE WASHOE SILVER MINES.

BY WM. P. BLAKE.

            IN the last number of the Magazine we noticed the great discoveries of silver on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, in Carson Valley. Just after its publication additional information, embodying many interesting details, was received. This intelligence, though in part already given to the public through the daily papers, is too important to be omitted in the pages of the Mining Magazine, which it is intended shall be a record, as far as possible, of the progress of mining discoveries.

            The principal vein now being worked is just over the California line, in the Territory of Utah, and is about 175 miles distant from Sacramento City, and on the travelled route to the Great Salt Lake. The region is nearly due east from Marysville, Grass Valley, and the sources of the American River. It is elevated and pertains to the Great Basin, though there are, all along the mountains, a great number of basins or valleys, with lakes, from which there are no outlets. A good wagon road has been constructed over the Sierra Nevada from Placerville to the Valley, at a cost of $50,000, which was expended by the counties of El Dorado and Sacramento. There is also a line of telegraph.

            The mines were discovered by a man named Comstock, who sold out his claims to different parties for small amounts. The correspondent of the New York Times, who is personally known to us, and upon whose statements we fully rely, writes as follows under date of 5th November

            " One company, known as the Walsh company, are getting out at the rate of two tons a day of the silver ore, besides several tons of the quartz stripped from the vein, which has been yielding, by the Mexican ' arastra ' process, over $400 per day ; but the gold is lessening as they go down, and gradually

222      The Washoe Silver Mines.

merging into silver. The vein has been traced over a thousand feet. The Walsh Company have 1,400 feet ; next comes Bryant & Raymond, who own 50 feet, for which they paid $400 per foot, from which they have already shipped down to this place about 13 tons ore, worth, by actual demonstration, over $3,000 per ton. From the Walsh vein there has been received about 28 tons, and 12 tons more out and ready to come down. This ore goes all the way from $2,500 to $6,000 per ton, containing both gold and silver, but silver principally. These facts I know from the best authority, or ought to, as I have received here, in connection with other parties, the quantity above mentioned, and for the value of it, have the assays and tests of the United States Branch Mint. The proper furnaces are being built, and within a week the ore will be smelted on a large scale. What ore we have on hand, will, doubtless, turn out over $200,000.

            " It is estimated that there are still as rich veins and as extensive 'leads' of ore as any yet discovered, to be found in the vicinity. In fact, Comstock, the original discoverer, told me yesterday he knew where there was plenty more of the same sort, which be would bring in market in the spring, and evidently considered that he held his fortune in reserve, which accounts, perhaps, for his seeming indifference to the small results to himself of his discovery thus far.

            " The roads to the Washoe Mines will be closed by snow by the 1st of December, and no more ore can be hauled before the 1st of March ; but the work of getting it out will not be interrupted in the least, and by spring an enormous amount will undoubtedly be ready for shipment. The ore is hauled to Sacramento in wagons, in tight boxes and canvas bags, and shipped down to this place."

            The following details are extracted from the San Francisco Bulletin :

            " Mr. F. J. Hughes arrived in this city last night from the new mining region in Washoe Valley.

            " Mr. Hughes went to Virginiatown, the locality of the richest discoveries, in June last, and remained there until the close of last week, so that his opportunities of observation have been ample. The existence of silver in that region was discovered by three men who were working a good claim in Six-mile cañon, in June of the present year. Following their surface diggings, they at length struck the gold lead, consisting

The Washoe Silver Mines.          223

of a black soil without lustre, so rich that portions of it yielded eighty dollars to the pan. They found a pocket, as it is called, filled with black metal, from which they made $100 per day with a rocker. A number of Mexican miners from Sonora examined the tailings or refuse dirt, and informed the miners that they were throwing away two dollars of silver for each one of gold that they collected. A company of three or four Mexicans commenced working these " tailings" for the silver, and for some time collected from $300 to $400 per day.

            " About two months ago Judge Walsh took one ton of the black metal, in which the silver occurred, to San Francisco, in order to procure a reliable assay. The result was from $900 to $5,000 per ton, according to the parts of the mine from which the specimens were taken. It is a remarkable property of ' the black metal,' that it decomposes and becomes soft from exposure, to such a degree, that it can even be crushed between the fingers. The claim had in the mean time been divided into six shares, two to each of the original parties. Comstock sold his for $5,500, and McLaughlin his portion for $5,000. Riley is now the only one of the original parties interested in the lead, and he has refused—so Mr. Hughes says —$40,000 for his share. Judge Walsh owns two-sixths, and is said to have been offered $60,000 for half his interest.

            " Mr. Hughes has with him a mass of silver mixed with gold, weighing 47 ounces, valued at $2 per ounce. This bar was obtained from one arroba, or 25 pounds of the tailings before spoken of. Could this be taken as a fair sample of the whole, it would indicate the astonishing result of a mass of refuse dirt, from which the gold had been extracted by the ordinary process, worth four dollars to the pound. The ledge in the Comstock claim has two leads of gold and one of silver ore. The gold rock has been proved by the ordinary test to be worth from $500 to $2,500 per ton. The silver lead consists of the black metal, which is stated to produce $5,000 to the ton, in the proportion of 46 of silver to 4 of gold. The gold leads are from five to nine feet thick, and the dip of the gold-bearing rock is about 80 degrees, or nearly perpendicular. The entire ledge is between 15 and 20 feet wide. The silver vein is from 6 to 24 inches wide. The deposits are at Virginiatown, which is twenty miles from Carson Valley, fifteen from Carson City, and about 160 miles from Sacramento. There is a ledge of gold rock near Washoe Lake, which is said to have yielded $2,100 in gold to the ton.

224      The Washoe Silver Mines.

            " More than twenty other veins have been opened in the vicinity, and are now in the process of development. It is thought that they extend all the way from Honey Lake to Walker River. The prospectings generally reveal gold on the surface ; the silver appears eight or ten feet below. The most magnificent deposit of gold ever discovered in this continent or in the world, is represented to have been opened at Gold Hill, in a cañon, or rather valley, one and a half mile from Virginiatown. The hill is isolated from the mountain spurs, to which it probably once belonged, and is properly a mound, about 60 feet high, 5,000 feet long by 2,000 feet wide. It is traversed by veins of auriferous quartz, partly decomposed, yielding from $500 to $2,500 to the ton.

            " There are now eighteen arastras in operation in Virginia town, and eight or nine at Gold Hill.

            " The nearest timber suitable for lumbering purposes is fifteen miles from the mines, and the mines which can be relied upon for a supply are twenty-five miles distant. The price of lumber at Virginiatown is $50 per M. The habits of the people are necessarily nomadic and sporadic. They live in tents—as many of them as can secure that accommodation ; those who cannot, sleep in haystacks. When meals can be had, they are furnished at the reasonable price of 75c. each.

            " About eighty tons of silver have already been sent to San Francisco, or are on the way ; and Mr. Hughes passed almost a hundred teams going out with provisions and general supplies. The price of freight has been raised to 10c. per lb., or $200 per ton, from Placerville ; but the silver ore is brought this way for half that rate. The rush to the mines is so great that a daily line has been arranged. On the day on which he arrived at Placerville, six full stage loads of passengers had been engaged for the next trip.

            " Mr. Hughes states that ten feet claims are selling at from $2,500 to $3,000 cash."

            During the month of October, silver to the amount of $38,123.58 was deposited at the San Francisco Mint, the greater part of which was from the new mines.

            A private letter from Mr. Guido Kustel, assayer and smelter, states, that he smelted 1,200 pounds of the ore, and got out silver at the rate of $4,600 to the ton. From ore

The Washoe Silver Mines.          225

which yielded some Mexican smelters in Washoe Valley 48 ounces, he obtained 500 ounces in two days without a furnace. The average yield of the ore is said to be about 1,500 ounces. Some of the ore has been shipped to Europe, but the owners generally prefer California smelting. The actual cash sales of small interests in the original vein since last September; are said to amount to $60,000.

            There are reports that rich and large veins of silver ore have been discovered east and south of Genoa, and near Mono Lake. Of the existence of other veins there can be little doubt ; indeed it is probable that this is but the commencement of a series of discoveries, that will soon render the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, and the countless valleys of that great mountain plateau, the field of mining operations on the grandest scale, producing results that will compare favorably with, if they do not exceed, those of the richest mines of Mexico or South America.

            The region is one where metamorphism of the rocks has been most intense and complete, and where eruptive porphyries, not unlike those of the Mexican plateau, abound. It is probable that these extensive silver-bearing veins will be found to be coincident in direction with belts of limestone, and near them. A belt of limestone, probably of the age of the Carboniferous, is found in connection with quartzites, or metamorphosed sandstones, at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada on the eastern slopes, and the formation is, without doubt, extended northwards through the region of Owens River and Lake, Mono Lake, and the Walker River country to Carson Valley, and beyond. This belt of country, extending over five degrees of latitude, and about four hundred miles in length, should be immediately explored. We venture to affirm that it will be found rich in minerals, and in silver-bearing veins. The whole region of the Great Basin—that vast expanse of mountain ridges and valleys—is also one of the most promising fields for exploration, though at present none but the precious metals can be profitably mined there. The rich gold vein of Armagosa, on the Salt Lake trail from Los Angeles*, is an indication of what we may expect to find throughout that great area, which, except along a few lines, is as yet almost geographically unknown.

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* See Author's Report of a Geological Reconnaissance in California, p. 298.

(Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., January 1860)

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SILVER.

            Washoe Silver Mines.—A short article on this new silver mining district of our country, appears in this Number of the Magazine, giving such facts as have been received. By the last arrival from San Francisco, we learn that although snow had fallen to the depth of four feet in the Sierra, the immigration of miners to Carson Valley still continued. The news from the mines was encouraging, and new discoveries of gold, silver, and of lead, were reported. Over three tons of silver ore arrived at San Francisco on the 29th November. A share of one-fortieth in the original or Comstock vein, had been sold for $10,000.

 (Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., January 1860, p. 243)

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            The Honey Lake Silver Ore.—The Red Bluff Beacon, speaking of the various assays of ore from the Honey Lake silver mines, says:

            Quartz taken from the upper vein, assayed at Marysville by Harris & Marchand, paid at the rate of $150 per ton ; some from the same vein, assayed at Sacramento city by Blake & Co., paid $201 per ton, fair looking gold. The silver ore assayed at San

Miscellaneous.  245

Francisco, by J. Mosheimer, (crushed, oxidized, and amalgamated), paid only $51 20 per ton, and some quartz from the lower vein $30 per ton, gold.

(Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., January 1860)

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            Washoe Silver Ore.—Several tons of ore from this locality arrived in New York last month. A small specimen from a previous arrival examined by the editor, was found to resemble an ordinary lead ore or granular galena, mingled with grains of copper pyrites, the whole being in aspect not unlike the lead ore from Ulster county. A close examination shows the presence of grains and filaments of native silver pervading the mass.

            The Territorial Enterprise of the 10th says that the California Mining Company, of Virginia, after six weeks of drifting, struck the main silver lead fifty-five feet below the surface. The ore discovered promises to rival in richness that from the original Comstock lead. Mining claims, in consequence of this discovery, had advanced 300 per cent.

(Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., February 1860, p. 323)

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SILVER.

            Washoe and Carson Valley Silver and Gold Mines.—We find in the San Francisco Times, a series of letters from a gentleman who has spent several months in the new mining district of Carson and Washoe Valleys. As these letters present interesting information and details, regarding the extent and character of the newly discovered veins, and appear to be the result of careful and dispassionate observation, we present extended extracts. The writer

400      Mining and Scientific Intelligence.

was disposed to regard the richness of the region as very generally overrated by the press and public of California, and upon this point observes :

            " To a person not present and seeing, it would seem incredible how trivial a circumstance has sometimes, in the history of these explorations, given rise to reported discoveries of what, with more irony than truth, has been termed ' fabulous wealth ' The finding of such rich silver ore at one point so excited the cupidity and influenced the imaginations of many who repaired to this Washoe country, that they were not only exposed to the impositions of others, but readily imposed upon themselves. Thus it was, every quartz lead found to contain any thing resembling silver ore was claimed to be rich in that mineral; even limestone and granite being sometimes mistaken for argentiferous rock. These mistakes were of course corrected before the discoverers made their fortunes, but generally not in time to prevent the supposed discovery being proclaimed to the eager public as another rich strike, or being claimed as another evidence of the illimitable wealth of this new found Dorado."

            The extent of the celebrated Comstock silver vein at Virginia City is first considered. The portion known to be rich by actual examination, is said not to extend over six or eight hundred feet in length, and beyond this to appear to run out. A cross-cut or tunnel, run in two or three hundred feet south of the point at which the richest ore was raised, showed but faint indications of silver at the point where the supposed line of the vein was crossed. Another tunnel, by the California Company, was run in directly under the first, but thirty feet lower down, and the results at first were discouraging, but at last accounts the main vein had been struck, and rich ore obtained.

            " Beyond these tunnels, both to the north and south, many others, some of them of far greater magnitude, besides several open cuts and perpendicular shafts, have been dug all on the supposed line of this lead, some being on a level with the original opening, some above and others below it, and yet no rich ore, scarce any thing resembling it, has been found in a single one of them. An incredible amount of labor has been expended in this species of prospecting, parties having been steadily at work in some of these tunnels for the last five months. And I am now speaking of operations in the Virginia District alone ; being an area of some three or four miles in diameter about the rich mine. Beyond this, for miles in every direction, like explorations have been going on—and with the exceptions noted, with nearly like results. Of these explorations I will speak in another letter, closing, for the present, with the remark that it is not my purpose to deny the productiveness of these mines, or depreciate

Silver.   401

their value as a discovery. The finding of a rich silver lode, though not yet traced to any great distance, is a fact of immense significance. These veins generally last long, pay steadily, and are not apt to be solitary. The finding of one gives good hope to expect the finding of another. That, when one discovery of this kind is made in a district another will follow, seems to have been accepted as a mining postulate; and I cannot help thinking it is upon this generally well founded assumption, rather than on the actual discoveries yet made, that the public confidence felt in these mines must be based. Of the rich ore, from the claims of various parties, there has now been raised over a hundred tons, averaging about two thousand dollars to the ton. Of this some fifty tons have found their way to San Francisco, which being culled, has, no doubt, paid a much higher figure. Besides this a large amount of poorer ore has been taken out, much of which will, no doubt, warrant being sent abroad for smelting, and the balance even will pay when suitable preparations shall have been made for its reduction on the spot. Apart from the silver ore large quantities of the quartz lead in which it is embedded, and which has to be removed with it, will yield from thirty dollars to two hundred dollars per ton of gold. The owners of the claims have been crushing this with arastras, making enough, in most cases, to pay all current expenses. From these statements it will be seen this silver lode, so far as it goes, is justly entitled to be called the richest in the world. That it is fully entitled to this reputation no one will deny ; it is only against extending this reputation to the many other worthless leads puffed into notoriety that I desire to caution the public."

            The gold Hill and Eagle Valley districts on the south are next described as follows :

            " Contiguous to the Virginia district on the south, and next to it in importance, is the Gold Hill district, which though literally covered with immense ledges of auriferous quartz, has disclosed what can be properly termed silver ore at but one or two points. That this mineral is widely diffused over the entire district, however, is evident, many of the outer opening quartz leads being streaked with the ore, and much of the gold obtained being depreciated from thirty to seventy per cent. by its presence. At Crown Point, about two miles south of Virginia City, silver ore valued at $700 per ton has been found. Whether it exists in quantities is doubtful, not more than a few pounds of this description having been taken out at the time I visited it. The claim, consisting mostly of decomposed quartz, is being worked for gold, and, paying well, the owners not seeming disposed to engage in looking after a metal not so immediately remunerative.

            " Three miles from Hastings and Woodworth's quartz mill, and on the east side of Carson river, being twelve miles south-east of Virginia City, silver ore, proved by assay to be worth $300 per ton,

402      Mining and Scientific Intelligence.

has been discovered. It was found by some Mexicans prospecting in that neighborhood, and by them for a long time kept secret The ledge was afterwards mostly taken up parties engaged in crushing quartz, who, owing to their other engagements and the lateness of the season, have done nothing towards opening it, or securing the ore to be tested on an extended scale. Nothing therefore can be affirmed as to its abundance, or the facility with which it can be raised. I do not know of any other ledge or locality in this district giving sufficient indications of silver to require mention.

            " Coming south, we arrive in what is known as the Eagle Valley district—a section, until recently very little spoken of in connection with mining, as indeed it exhibits but few tokens of mineral wealth on its surface. There are, however, on both sides of Carson river, which runs through its eastern margin, a number of quartz ledges being prospected both for silver and gold ; and although the appearance of the rock would seem to give very little encouragement to seek for the former, no small amount of labor has been expended on these claims—bestowed, as the parties interested assured me, on the strength of assays previously made. A company of Californians at work on the east side of the river, opposite Carson City, have excavated a large amount of rock, and are still going on, in hopes that the faint traces of silver met with will lead to something better."

            Washoe Valley, which, according to the writer, was " at one time the center of attraction to the silver-seeking miner, and the field of some very flattering, but ill-founded expectations," comes next in review.

            "The hills on the east aide of the valley are an entire mass of quartz, a good deal of which looks favorable for gold. Owing to some slight signs of silver at one or two places, most of these ledges have been taken up, and a few of them prospected to a small extent. One only of the number is entitled to notice, and this less, perhaps, for what the rock actually assayed, than for what it was reported to have done. It is known as the Pickering Lead, that being the name of the person claiming to be the discoverer, and, as I have intimated, is worthy of mention only for the notoriety it has gained abroad through an alleged assay of the rock, giving as results $920 gold and $120 silver to the ton. This is now believed to have been a hoax; the ore sent to parties in this city for assay having probably been taken from the Comstock claim. This presumption receives strength from the fact that several subsequent trials made on ore taken from the Pickering Lead showed no silver, and very little gold. It would be useless to notice further the numerous rumors of silver ore having been discovered in this locality, since they all seem to have originated and resulted alike; leaving to this beautiful valley the honor of giving a name to the adjacent mines, without having thus far proved itself the possessor of mineral wealth.

Gold.    403

            " North of Washoe valley are yet two others—Pleasant and Steamboat valleys, having a mining chronology very like that already described. A reported discovery, an excitement, a rush, a speedy taking up of claims, a few days' labor to find them worthless, followed by a general abandonment. In Steamboat valley, however, some of the claims are being vigorously worked, but, as seemed to me, with very poor chance of success, since the substance obtained could neither be called silver or gold, except by a stretch of courtesy unknown to mineralogical etiquette.

            " There is but one other locality calling for notice in connection with these silver explorations, and that some distance from the point where the first discoveries were made. A little more than a month ago, parties prospecting among the hills east of Carson river, and about twelve miles south of Genoa, came upon a quartz lead containing rock that is said to have yielded at the rate of $1,000 to the ton. I had a sample of this same rock assayed myself, which gave but $225 to the ton; but this was of the out-croppings, whereas the other came from ten or twelve feet below the surface, and I doubt not yielded as above stated. The character of the parties concerned precludes the idea of deception, though they might have been misled. This rock is said to exist in great abundance at the point where found, distant from Virginia City some forty miles."

            The auriferous resources of the " Washoe district, are the subject of a separate communication, from which it appears, that the discovery of gold in that region, was made as early as the summer of 1852, by a party of immigrants. In prospecting an extensive bar or flat, at the mouth of what is now known as Gold Cañon, diggings were found yielding an ounce a day to the hand."

            " In consequence a small number stopped, and having done well, the diggings being found to extend several miles up the ravine, there has been a considerable mining camp at that place ever since. Near the head of Carson Valley, fifteen miles above Genoa, gold was also found the same year not far from the emigrant trail. A number of tunnels were carried into the mountains at this place, and dirt sufficiently rich obtained to pay small wages. These operations, however, were soon abandoned and have never since been resumed—the only pay diggings found, until two years since, having been along the banks of Gold Cañon. About that period, coarse gold of low standard value was found on Six-mile Cañon, a ravine taking its rise on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, near the head of Gold Cañon, and terminating on the plain six miles below the mouth of the latter, whence its name.

            " The miners engaged in these diggings at that day were far from being an enterprising or an energetic race of men. Hence they took their time, worked slowly up these gulches, without going at once to

404      Mining and Scientific Intelligence

their heads, where the source of this drift gold would be supposed to exist. Thus years were consumed before they came upon the rich diggings and quartz ledges about Gold Hill, and the still more valuable silver lode at the head of Six-mile Cañon, the discovery of which was more the result of accident, than of persevering industry, or any well-planned project. The deposits of dust on Six-mile cañon, never sufficient to pay large wages, are now pretty well exhausted. At a few points very fair prospects can be obtained, yet they constitute insufficient inducements to undertake work, considering the high prices of provisions, and the scarcity of water. Along Gold Cañon for a distance of seven miles there are many bars, as well as a good portion of its banks, that would pay fair wages—say six to eight dollars a day—had they even enough water to work with a rocker, as is the case, for the greater part of the year, only at a few points. From the first of July till the fall of the winter rains, and often until the melting of the snow in the spring, there is no water running in Gold Cañon, and only enough furnished by springs along it to work a dozen or two rockers. Since the opening of tunnels, many of which have afforded a small stream of water, the supply has been slightly augmented ; yet this has not inured to the benefit of the general miner, the water being mostly used in the arastras employed for crushing the rock taken out.

            Along many of the ravines that made back from this cañon, as well as the ridges that separate them, are excellent surface diggings, and also valuable ledges of quartz, often so decomposed as to be easily crushed, or even washed to good advantage in a rocker, yet the entire absence of water and fuel render them of little avail. The quartz cannot be crushed in quantities without machinery, and careful observation has demonstrated the impossibility of ever bringing water to this locality through artificial channels. For two or three months in the spring, there will be plenty of water in all these gulches, and occasionally they are set running by the rains of winter. This, however, will not happen the present season, the storms thus far having been mostly snow, which now lies, as it will probably continue to do for several months, from one to two feet deep over this entire district. In a conversation I had with a hunter, he told me he encamped some years ago, in the month of January, on the spot now occupied by the hamlet of Gold Hill, and that the snow was over five feet deep. Most of it, however, went off in a few days, being followed by cold weather, producing an almost equally unfavorable condition for mining. About this place there is a great deal of quartz, easily obtained, that would pay well with ordinary facilities for crushing. Some fifteen or twenty arastras are at work here, and by selecting the best rock, are made to remunerate the owners. But it is expensive running even these, with hay costing $70 per ton, and barley ten to fifteen cents per pound. On Carson River, seven miles distant, two quartz mills have been erected, the one propelled by

Miscellaneous.  405

horse, and the other by water power. They are capable of crushing three or four tons per day each. The rock, so far, has yielded about $40 to the ton. The cost of getting it out and hauling is $12, leaving not a large margin, all things considered, for profits to the owners.

            The following is the most recent intelligence from the region, and is extracted from the statements of Mr. F. Hughes, to the National Democrat of California, in January :

            He says that the thermometer has stood, at Virginatown and in the Washoe Valley, from sunset to sunrise, for the last two months, at from six to eighteen degrees below zero. The snow has been from three to four and a half feet deep. Flour is now selling at $20 a hundred, and is scarce.

            Many persons at Virginiatown are living in excavations under the ground, like Diggers, or in the mouths of tunnels, for want of lumber to build houses.

            The region immediately around Virginiatown is exceedingly rich. The Mexican Claim, in which Mr. John Atchison, of this place, has recently purchased a share (one-eighth), is very valuable. A specimen from this claim, shown us by Mr. Hughes, exhibits silver in abundance.

            In Copper Cañon, nine miles east of Carson City, on Carson river, there are alternate veins of copper and silver of great richness. There is also in that vicinity a considerable amount of gold-bearing quartz.

            The American Ravine, seven miles south of Virginiatown, is noted for its gold and silver veins.

            The Grass valley silver lead at Virginiatown, contains large amounts of concentrated sulphate of iron and copper.

            There are, within a quarter of a mile of Virginiatown, eight veins, which prospect silver largely ; the veins bearing north and south.

            Thirty miles east of Virginiatown, rich silver mines have been recently discovered, and are causing great excitement.

            Ten or twelve miles east of Virginiatown, there are ledges now being prospected.

            The Devil's Gate District, seven miles south of Virginiatown, is a celebrated locality. It contains ledges of gold and silver, ledges of silver and lead, which overlap each other, and form a complete network, the lines running north, south, east, and west.

            East of Genoa, there is a vein known as the Dearborn Lead, whence occasionally good prospects are obtained.

            In the Washoe region there is much gold-bearing quartz, but it all assays more or less silver.

            At Steamboat Valley there are rich lead and silver mines. This valley is west of Virginiatown.

406      Mining and Scientific Intelligence.

            An excellent coal mine has recently been found at, the west of the last named place.

            Northeast of Carson Valley, fifteen or twenty miles from Genoa, a rich tin mine is reported.

            Iron ore is very abundant throughout the whole country. Sulphur, salt, and soda springs abound in various quarters of the Territory.

            We omitted to mention that twenty-five miles south of Virginia-town, and east of Carson Valley, rich silver mines abound in what is known as Pine Nut Valley, a locality high up in the mountains. The discovery, which is recent, is producing great excitement.

            Another remarkable feature of this marvellous country, is the great number of hot springs of pure soft water. Many families use the water for making tea and coffee, and for washing, without any fire.

            New York Smelting Company.—We learn that a company with the foregoing title has been organized and incorporated under the laws of the State of New York to conduct the smelting works heretofore established at Staten island The capital is $50,000, divided into 1000 shares of $50 each. This company is prepared to purchase gold, silver, and lead ores for smelting and are now engaged in smelting lead ores from New York, Pennsylvania, and N. Carolina, and silver ores from Central America and Washoe Valley, California.

(Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., March 1860)

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Miscellaneous.  409

MISCELLANEOUS.

            Washoe Silver Mines.—Since the notices of the Washoe mines were in type the following letter, received by the Baltic, appeared in the New York Times, and is from the correspondent, " Podgers," upon whose statements the Editor of the Mining Magazine relies.

            The Washoe Silver Mines, as they are called, continue to create as great an excitement as ever, although covered with snow at the present moment some four or five feet deep. * * * * They were first discovered by Mr. PATRICK McLAUGHLIN, an " honest miner," who was working for gold in a gulch or ravine, and where he was making $100 a day to the hand. As they followed up the gulch it paid even better, until on arriving at a certain point it gave out altogether, and they struck a vein of what they at first supposed to be coal, but observing that it was very heavy they concluded it must be valuable, and at once staked off 1,600 feet as their claim. They sent one of their number to San Francisco with some of the black ore to ascertain its value. It was given to a Mr. KILLALEY, an old Mexican miner, to assay. KILLALEY took the ore home and assayed it—the result was so astounding that the old man got terribly excited. Ho rushed over to communicate the fact to Maj. ALLEN, but not seeing him, returned to the " Tehama House," where he lived, and it was observed that he was very much excited ; however, he retired as usual, but the next morning poor KILLALEY was found dead in his bed. He had long been in bad health, and the excitement killed him. The fact that the ore was valuable finally leaked out, and those in the secret set out for the mine, and bought in—generally at the rate of about $10 a foot—and it has been sold and resold, until at the present moment not one of the original owners has a dollar's interest in it. The " lead " was found to continue, and some hundreds of feet additional were taken up, and it now stands thus : The original Company, under the title of the Ophir Mining Company, own 1,400 running feet of the vein ; next comes the Mexican claim, as it is called, 150 feet ; then 150 feet, belonging to the Central Mining Company; then the California Company, 150 feet. The Ophir Company set to work and opened the vein by sinking a shaft 30 feet deep, and running a gallery 40 feet, from which they took 45 tons clear ore, which is now being smelted in this city, giving an average of $3,600 per ton; besides which, upwards of 800 tons of quartz rock was thrown out, worth $300 per ton of gold, giving $256,000 and odd, as the result of five weeks' labor ;—besides this the Central Company took out nearly 20 tons, and the Mexican has taken out as much more. The Ophir Company's vein is well defined, 10 inches thick, of dense solid ore, and recently the shaft has been

410      Mining and Scientific Intelligence.

sunk 20 feet lower, and no diminution found of the width of the vein or quality of the ore. In the Mexican claim it is found even wider and richer, and it may extend down through to China for what we know. There seems to be but two kinds of ore—a crumbling, black, dull, and a denser and more sparkling kind—showing sulphurets. I sent a piece of each to New York to be assayed, which was done by H. SOLOMON & Co., and I have the result before me; the crumbling ore gives $3,770, and the sparkling ore $9,064 66 to the ton ! to which result that well-known and highly respectable firm set their hands and seals. The shares commenced changing hands in August, at the rate of about $70 per foot ; in September at $100, or $23,300 for a sixth. It sold last week at $500 per foot, or $116,500 for a sixth, and is still going up, up ; 25 feet of the Mexican claim sold for $30,000, and $100,000 was offered and refused for the other 125 feet.

            In addition to these claims, there are parallel ledges taken up just before the snow fell, which, from hasty and imperfect prospecting, are judged to be equally rich. These veins are so distinctly marked that there is no difficulty in tracing them several hundred feet, and there is no doubt that other leads will be found equal to the first, or Comstock lead, as it is called. When the snow melts the work will commence, and the rush will nearly equal the Frazer River excitement. There is no estimating the amount of ore that will be taken out. It will be immense; $500 a foot seems a high price to pay for a mining claim, but when we look at it a moment, it is cheap. The shaft in the Ophir claim is now 50 feet deep; the vein 10 inches to 14 thick—giving 300 and odd pounds to the running foot, so that one running foot 50 feet deep gives 15,000 pounds or 7 1/2 tons, which—at the lowest result yet given, $3,000 to the ton —gives $22,500 to the foot, supposing the vein to be 50 feet deep, which we know it is, not counting the quartz rock, which gives $300 to the ton for 15 feet each side of the vein of silver ore. The vein has been traced and prospected the whole 1,400 feet, and is good. The number of shares for sale now is limited, and doubtless will soon be absorbed. The Ophir Company has been regularly organized, having a Board of Directors or Trustees, composed of men of character and of ability, and the mine will be worked on a large scale in the Spring, and a large quantity of ore taken out. It is probable that it will be converted into a Joint Stock Company in the Spring. The following gentlemen compose the officers of the Company at present; Henry Atchinson, Superintendent ; Major Robert Allen, U.S.A., H. H. Raymond, James Woodworth, Esq., George Hearst, Louis A. Garnet, — Meredith, Esq., Directors; R. S. Ogden, Treasurer. Several other Companies are being formed to work the adjoining veins.

(Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., March 1860)

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            Stephanite—Brittle Silver ore—from Washoe.—In commercial samples of the silver ores from the Washoe mines sent to New York, I have found fine specimens of Brittle Silver ore, or Stephanite in imperfect crystals, weighing from one to three ounces. Before the blowpipe it gives a large globule of silver and decided reactions for antimony, arsenic and copper. This mineral contains about sixty-eight per cent. of silver, and is probably the principal form in which the silver occurs with the other minerals of the vein. In most of the massive specimens of the ore where galena is the principal mineral visible, small filaments

480      Mining and Scientific Intelligence.

of virgin silver may be seen in the cavities or ramifying through the mass. This silver probably proceeds, in part at least, from a change in the Stephanite.

            This species is found with other ores of silver in the principal silver mines of Europe, at Zacatecas in Mexico, and in Peru. This is the first time it has been observed within the limits of the United States.— W. P. Blake.

(Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., April-July 1860)

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            Ophir Mining Company—Washoe.—The first legal organization of a Company to work a Silver mine in the Washoe region has been finally completed by the election of the following officers of the "Ophir Mining Company," viz:

            President—William Blanding.

            Trustees—Theodore Winters, S. P. Dewey, Benjamin Holladay, William M. Lent, Charles F. Lot, Joseph Woodworth.

            Secretary—James W. White.

            Treasurer—W. C. Ralston, (of Fretz & Ralston.)

            General Superintendent—Capt. W. L. Dall.

(Mining magazine; devoted to mines, mining operations, metallurgy &c., April-July 1860, p. 480)