[The Washoe Mines, Sacramento Union, December 27, 1859]

 

THE WASHOE MINES.

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            A correspondent of the Union, writing from Virginia City, December 18th, gives the following intelligence :

            I left Sacramento City on Saturday, November 12th, and had a very good trip until the morning of Sunday, November 20th, when it commenced to snow, and that night we were compelled to stay in the mountains in the snow, and a long, stormy and dreary night night it was, and no mistake. In the morning we were glad to get out and leave all our goods in the snow. The snow in the morning was from twelve to fifteen inches in depth and fast falling. We started at an early hour, and, after three and a half miles travel, came to the hotel of Van Sickles, and glad was I. That night I went on foot (leaving all mules behind) to Genoa, and the next day, at evening (Tuesday, November 22d), I got home. The storm continued almost without cessation for some fifteen days. The snow fell to the depth of four to five feet on a level. It has been currently reported that that venerable individual, "the oldest inhabitant," never saw the like before. We have had for several days very pleasant weather.

            The market for claims still holds good. One share in the Morrison & Walsh lead sold a few days since for the sum of $48,000. The sum of $5,000 was offered for twelve feet five inches in the California Company and refused. Other claims that a few days since could have been bought for $25 and $30 are now held at $800 and $1,000.  In the Grass Valley Tunnel they have got something new. I send you a small specimen ; judge for yourself what it is. The vein is quite large. Many who had commenced running tunnels are now at work, but none of the companies are running arastras. They are all froze up, and business is quite dull. But no matter how dull business or how scarce money, some will always find money to gamble with, and I am sorry to say that there is considerable of it here. A few evenings since a poor devil that, I should suppose, for the first time in his life had so much money, lost $1,200 one night at Rondo. Good for him; he will know better next time. A few months since another smart individual lost $600, and, not being satisfied, a night or two after lost $300 more.

            Some of our patriotic miners sent a block of the silver ore to the Washington Monument. Its size, I am informed by the person who took it from the mine, is in length eighteen inches, and eight inches square at the end ; the weight, with the box in which it was packed, was one hundred and thirty pounds. I saw it weighed at Peashman's store. I hope to be able to send to you soon a specimen of the copper leads on Carson. Two stone houses have tumbled down; no person injured. There is a report that several Indians have died from cold, but I cannot hear of but one. I think that is all. Good night.

            The specimens forwarded by our correspondent are very peculiar. That from the Grass Valley claim of Wm. Caller & Co. appears very much like glass or light colored copperas. The taste is very much like that of copperas. A specimen of lead ore was also forwarded, taken from a locality about twenty-one miles from Virginia City in the direction of Steamboat valley, supposed to be an extensive mine. The alum or copperas mine, or whatever it may be, is also large.