The Nevada journal., 1852-01-03
THE JOURNAL.
A. A SARGENT AND W. c, ALDAN.
Saturday Evening, Jan. 3.
Progress Of Improvement at Nevada.


There is probably no portion Of
California that has improved SO rap
idly, or undergone such great changes,
as has Nevada city and contiguous
places. In March last, sweeping
fire destroyed the heart of our city,
and the fruits of the industry ard per-
perseverance of many long day of
our merchants. Since that time, our
city has been rebuilt in a more sub
stantial and beautiful style, and now
far exceeds its value before the fire.
But the alterations in the appearance
Of the city are but slight compared
with the wonderful changes that have
transpired in our outskirts. A year
ago last Christmas we took long
walk down Deer Greek. The whole
extent of the stream was deserted,
save here and there where stood q sol
itary cabin, and at the Gold Tunnel
where operations had commenced
The rich quartz leads since developed,
then slept in their native hills undis-
turbed and unthought of; the lack of
water had discouraged the miners in
the placer diggipgs, and every thing
betokened deserted region. A few
days ago we passed over the same
ground, and the changes contrasted
most forcibly with what we have de-
scribed. AT intervals of thousand
feet apart, often nearer, are scattered
mills in operation and in course of
erection, of the most substantial char
acter. Hundreds of men are employ
ed, as mechanics, as quarters of
quartz, as engineers, fremen, &c. !;
thousands on thousands of dollars are
invested, and the aspect of the whole
region betokens enterprise and pros>
perity. When all these mills get into
operation, no manufacturing district
in the States will have a more busy
appearance. The operations on Deer
Greek are only similar to others on
every side of the city. AT Gold Flat
several mills are operating and
being erected. AT Rush Creek they
are also erecting mills. Grass Val
ley has been almost created the past
year by its quartz, and there more
than any where else in California, on
so large scale, have quartz opera
tions been successful.
The great demand for lumber for
mills and other purposes, has called in
to operation a large number Of saw mills
the past year, some of them Of the first
class in the country. Yet the demand
for lumber is beyond the supply, and
the price is kept up.
The placer aand cayote washings in
this city have greatly changed in char
acter the past year. Sluices and Griz-
zlys have been generally introduced for
washing, anil diggings before unremu-
nerative have been made to pay
Large hills have been dug into and
washed to their base--t thirty, forty and
fifty feet down. Scientific mining has
been SO generally practised that the
general gain has been geater the past
year than it was the previous one, when
raw miners dug into the untouched ra-
vines, and looked for pockets and hooks,
disdaining dirt that would now be con-
sidered rich.
Within the past year, We have had
several beautiful churches erected in
our city. The general character of the
city has improved. There is much less
, gambling carried on, less drunkenness
less fighting, and higher tone in soci-
ETY. generally. We have had also many
families settling down in our midst, and
perhaps to the humanizing influences of
correct female society are to be attribu-
ed many of the beneficial results in
morals we have named.
The Improvements at Nevada, gener-
ally, are not of a superficial character
They bear the stamp of enterprise, and
are destined to continue. The new de-
velopments in quartz leads, of surprising
| richness maka rom, for sk;ll -. -. III