["Itiniter," Carson Valley Correspondence, Sacramento Union February 3, 1860]

 

CARSON VALLEY CORRESPONDENCE.

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Desolate Scene — Severe Weather — Business Features — The Mines — General Reflections.

GENOA, Jan. 27, 1860.

            Having returned to this city after some three weeks residence and observation of the mines in this district, I redeem my promise to give you the result of my experience. I write again, you perceive, from Genoa, and am lost in speculation as to the possible reason for this classic appellation. Certainly, in the cold and desert prospect around me I can see nothing suggestive of, or congenial with, the land of "starry nights and cloudless climes," of which Byron sang. Far as the vision can reach is one vast, dazzling sheen of snow, enveloping valley and mountain.  With here and there a solitary farm house there is nothing to relieve the monotony of a Polar landscape save an occasional flock of carrion birds hovering over the carcass of some starved victim of vigorous Winter. The very signs of life and civilization, in their solitude, but increase the gloom and dreariness of the snow-shrouded desert. The vernal beauty of this valley, robed in the floral vestments of Summer, has charmed every visitor with its loveliness. The stoicism of Philosophy has melted before its sunny brightness, and even Horace Greeley, enchanted with the beauty of the scene, forgot to meditate upon "the irrepressible conflict" and became gallant and poetical in his impassioned tribute of praise.

            Alas, what a change has fallen upon the lovely valley! The song-birds have fled for shelter to the deep forest ; the musical rivulets are voiceless — their ringing melody frozen to silence. Where "the light wings of Zephyr oppressed with perfume " were wont to dally with the water lily and scented cloves, and fat herds roamed in the luxury of matchless meadows, there is a blank and bloomless desert of snow. With all her flowers faded and gone the lovely valley in her icy sheet lies like a maiden in shrouded sleep ; and the green branches of the sentinel pines, that from the distant mountains gleam through their mantles of snow, are like fond memorials of friendship — tributes that Nature has flung above the grave of her loveliest daughter. But I must drop my window curtain upon the scene before me lest I grow sentimental, and detail you those facts I promised and which possess more practical interest to you and your readers.

            For several days after the date of my last there was a continuous storm of intermitting snow and rain. As a consequence there was little atmospheric change of temperature. Old Boreas was perhaps more boisterous, and Eolus seemed to have armed his winged messengers with barbed steel. I have experienced every variety and vicissitude of climate in the Atlantic States, and for intense, biting, piercing cold and discomfort, I have never seen any which equals that here for the last fortnight. As evidence of the inhospitable character of the winds we have "frost bites" as the only prevalent epidemic.

            When I say the only epidemic I must be understood to save and except an "aching void" occasionally felt in that anatomical region where the gastric juices are supposed to play an important part in the animal economy.

            Instead of the usual interrogatories of the season — such as: "How is Mr. So-and-so's cough, cold or rheumatics?" — one is continually startled with a ludicrous inquiry into the condition of somebody's frosted nose or toes. I cannot give a solution of the causes, but the fact is not the less true that there is a singular aptitude in this peculiar climate to produce frost bites. I have a melancholy subject before me as I write, in the rueful person of Hon. John James, late Assemblyman from Sierra. Exposed a few hours the other day, when it was bright and sunny, while fishing in Lake Washoe, he had his great toe frosted. He is now, like a gouty old gentleman, trying to drive care away in fruitless efforts to foot music from a dilapidated horn — and, as he annoys me, I give him no sympathy.

            Shakspeare makes one of his characters degrade the "unkind Wintry wind" in importance as being "unequal to man's ingratitude." Had he seen icicles pendant from "each particular hair," forged in an instant almost by the frosty lungs of Winter, the frailty of poor humanity would have risen in the sympathy of the great poet-artist of nature. The rigor of the Winter has made it desirable, if not necessary, to remain within doors as much as possible.

            The roads, except the main route of travel, have been almost continuously impassable. The difficulty of transportation, together with the great expense, has prevented a superfluity, if it has not caused a scarcity and limited variety of provisions. Freight upon all articles now brought from California, our only market, is fifteen to twenty cents per pound. There has been comparatively little intercommunication between the residents of the different mining camps. Hence, there is little correct general information as to the relative merits of different districts, Only a few active, enterprising persons possess accurate knowledge of the different mines ; and I have found, in some instances, the denizens of one camp in "blissful ignorance" of the character of another camp not twelve miles distant. This is allowing to the difficulty of out-door travel; and the misfortune will not abate until the coming of Spring. It is anticipated that our Spring time will be about the beginning of Summer. If so, the disaster to our agricultural prosperity will be more grievous than that which now so much retards labor in the mines. The snow, as yet, has not abated in the substance of a single hail stone, and seems to have as great promise of longevity as it did three months ago. I can, therefore, heartily renew my admonition to adventurous immigrants to remain a while in California, unless they come with cash sufficient for three months' support. Speaking of cash, let me here drop a timely piece of advice to persons coming here to purchase mines: By all means bring the coin with you, if possible."

            Except for that *'staff of life" so essential to the healthful condition of an Anglo-Saxon as a social animal, fresh beef, I have never seen, in any community, people suffer as they do here for want of a "circulating medium." For once, I could bow down before the golden calf, and acknowledge the divinity of the almighty dollar. I was unfortunate enough to make deposits at home, believing I could readily obtain money upon my certificates. There was no coin in the country, and accommodants became impossibilities. I have been in this delectable office, wherein I write, just one week, appealing to my bankers who won't pay upon telegraphic demand ; and am compelled to remain, perhaps, a week longer to obtain relief upon written drafts through the mail. Therefore, I recommend to all, that they bring with them all the money they conveniently can,

            I have already drawn this letter to a decree of prolixity. I must therefore in default of my promise, crave the indulgence, if I but briefly map out the condition and localities of the mines. You must always take the Virginia diggings as a starting point. The principal discoveries and present mining operations from this pursue a uniform course north and south. At Virginia, along the Comstock lead inclosing the Walsh, Spanish and Bryant claims, large quantities of silver ore are being taken out. The ore is piled up in huge embankments, partly for transportation in the Spring and partly for being worked with arrastras.

            Beginning north some two and a half miles and extending southerly by Gold cañon and Devil's Gate there are perhaps hundreds of tunnels being cut. The grand object of these efforts is to strike the silver vein. Little attention is given to procuring gold dust, except along the cañon where the mines are surpassingly rich in that metal. Still further north, some fifteen miles, at the famous Steamboat spring, there have been discovered very rich mines of galena combined in quartz with gold and silver. These mines are highly prized for the purity and richness of the galena so necessary for working up the silver ore.

            Coming south again, in this neighborhood, recent labors and tests have proved the value of the mines in the immediate vicinity of Genoa and Carson city. Directly east of Genoa, across the Carson, we have Dearbon lead which joins with the Pine Nut valley mines, and thus connects this silver district with the gold fields of Walker river and Mono lake. The Dearbon and Pine Nut are silver mines and are said to give out rich indications. Here I must not forget to mention the Rogers or Flemery diggings, some six miles east of Virginia, which, in the opinion of your correspondent, is next in value to the mines immediately at Virginia. I have mentioned these merely to show that the alleged extent of the mines is no fallacy, and has not been so exaggerated.

            In my next I will be able to make you a comparison between the Carson and Mono mines. It is an important fact not generally known that these latter mines are in California, as surveyed by Gen. Mandeville.

            The best local item I can give you, is the alleged practicability of taking the water of Clear creek by artificial channels to Gold cañon. A company is formed for this consummation so devoutly to be wished.

            This done, our mines will become scarcely less famous for the production of gold than they are now for silver. We have the ordinary, social and political blessings that vulgar humanity everywhere is heir to. We have Gentiles and Mormons, Vigilance and Law and Order fellows, nullifyers and conservatives, bummers, strychnine whisky drinkers, and one preacher. If these will form a suitable and agreeable subject for a stray paragraph, I will notice them in my next.

ITINITER.