New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-07
Interesting Letter on Quartz Mining.

EVANSVILLE April 70, 1854
My DEAR -: l have Just returned
from the mountains and as sm likely to remain here
few dsys yet, wish TO make you acquainted with the
present aspect of things at the mines but In order 10
throw some light on subject which ls every cay be-
coming more important 10 the country and 10 capital
ists both al home and abroad you will pardon me II |
refer to some of my former reports and remarks on
mining to show that many OF the specuisuons 10 quart
mining were entered into upon false imperfect data
or with reckless II may not say dishonest spirit, on
the part Of beginners who might themselves proS by
well blown bubble, let their successors fare as they
might $50 .
You will find by my description Of Gold Tunnel, at
Nevada in 1850 the first quartz mine worked in the
North that II not announced until we had worked 1t
dsy and night for some six months, and gone TO no In
considerable expense in proving It's value theamOunt
OF labor we expended upon il viii show. We found a
terueipous quartz In the vicinity Of Nevada, which
dsued rapidly into the hill and only prospeced FIVE 10
ten cents the pan about gslon) at i've TO ten feet
depib II became richer 1t descended into the nil
tide end decided upon making tunnel IN parallel
lire with the vein, which completed working day and
rebt In about five months. When struck the vein, 10
prospeced about $40 10 the pan found gold abundant
In en- ocheTous elsy and In the quartz described both
sufficiently rich 10 warrant the erection Of machinery at
thsi period. -.
.ue ciiue the quartz Of the country stated that VEINS
ri sod bearing quartz abundant IN the mountains
but none Of them could be worked without large
outlay Of capital in macbineryhat careful tests should
q, u
were too lar from water be sdvsntsgeously worked
AZ the present rates OF expense for labor, power &C
But before my letter copied into papers cut OF the
state ss il sierward was, hfy thousand men at east
plunged into quartz spt euatlons OF ~nien ony
fortunate few are at this day 10 be enVied IL now
evident that many Of these companies were got up
merely as tpecuAtiOns, the ordinary precautions Oh
prospecting sting &c, having IN some instances oeen
culpaby neglected. Seeing the course OF ms sPecu
TOR thought II might be Of use 10 many persons who
we've likely 10 enter into H. to give them some hn on
the nature ard power Of the machinery they required
for If men who bad wandered through me wilderness
of California and labored under every priyanoh sno
bsrd.hp had extracted from the river bed the raylne,
or the ,ubterrsLean cavern, few thousand dohars
they could not De too well advised 70 Us safe invest
ment, or too plainly told that inefficient mscnineIy
would swallow up both their capital and time, winoul
returning anything for either steam engine oi hYe
or six horse power, which would require nearly a.
much attendance as one of fifty. and more repslls,
could scarcely be expected 10 pay In country w.
labor Il so dear Therefore gave TIE e1Tensns oHsoH
in October, ISL the following statement OF Ine
and execution Of the chief mills then IN oPerauSn N VIC
north: ~ q, AVA,
age six tons daily; Messrs Hogan Co. wofkns 1oo
per oay; Messrs Collins Co. are suosttstns nea.r.
power iar hat they formerly used LAsase -.
twenty four per twenty tour nours J1ase ~ -
sy ta thinf /. The best In the valley. 10 works veil
By these and similar statements wished 70 snow tn'
pecessity ofthorouehly tossing the qnAy o. nc ~.
and then Of employing sufficient pow IN -
safety Of inyestus Mt Il 10 believed tnaf al "a
ouarz In the vicinity Of Grass Valley and Nevada WI
paw, IL ju5ciou,ly worked. Late results continue =
siye As much announcement those Of earfer date
especially where the operations have been encienl
n seems TO me rseess TO 70 10 the North 70 look 70
| meu1txips Of GOLD, when the deposScfsne precion
metal are 90 abupdsnfly scattered 90 cal rnoaltsi
sides river bf6s ana rsviles for nne ne r@Isma.e
/. o. Hss. LIS, hcs stleiy G9ssetIss sway nc'A's