The hydraulic press., 1859-09-03
LETTER FROM CARSON VALLEY.
A friend writes from Genoa, Carson Valley
under date of August 23d:

head. 1t has been pretty Thoroughly worked,
from its mouth several miles up, to where
the banks are narrow and the bedrock ex-
posed. The banks of the canon as we ap-
proach the Carson, are composed of cemen-
ted earth and stone, of dirty blue color,
like that found in the hills of California
This deposit of cement extends out in high
benches on either side for several miles, and
seems to be the principal formation, between
the range of hills in which the quartz is
found, and China Town, the extreme eastern
point.
China Town, so called on account Of the
greater number of its inhabitants being Chi
nese, is the principal depot or trading post
for the miners working the Canon, and the
emigrants now arriving from the Plains.
They have ditch conveying the water of Car
son river, to large fiat at the mouth fthe
Canon, where several companies of miners
are at work with Indifferent success. The
gold is poro US, and does not seem to have
been washed far, and is of finer quality
than that found either at Gold Hill or at the
head of Six Mile Canon. 1t was at this place
we first struck the great Central Wagonroad,
few miles above the desert, lined with weary
emigrants, travelling by every conceivable
mode of conveyance-some on foot with
great packs upon their backs, others with
their packs lashed upon the backs of cows,
oxen and horses, while others still retain
possession of their wagons, many of which
will be deserted before reaching the dread
summit. Many of the emigrants are Pixies
Peakers, who did not provide properly for
journey of this magnitude, and are conse-
quently nov in an almost starving condition,
dependent upon the charity of their more
fortunate companions, and citizens of the
valleys. The traders along the route are little
better than set Of thieves, taking advantage
of the poor emigrant by selling everything at
exhorbitsnt prices, and giving absolutely
nothing for the stock they are compelled to
barter. 1t is true there is disaese that is
killing the stock off very fast, making it un-
safe to invest money ia their purchase, and
in consequence of the high price of food,
emigrants are forced to desert there exhaus-
ted teams and push forward on foot, when
their animals are driven into the enclosures
of the traders and with proper care many of
them recover and afterwards are driven into
California, and sold for good prices. Flour
has been very scarce on tdis side of the
mountains lately, selling as high as $40 and
even $50 per hundred but recent large arri-
walls will bring it down to its usual price,
varying according to the distance between
Genoa and the desert, from Sl2 to $40.
From Chinatown we proceeded up the
river nine miles to Nick's station, where we
encamped few days, searching the hills in
the vicinity for quartz, several lodges of
something, that We pronounced silver, but
not of sufficient richness to iuduee US to
prospect them very extensively. Specimens
from lodges near here have been sent to San
Francisco, that their contents and richness
may be tested.
We again broke up camp and crossed q
sage fiat of four miles in extent, to Carson
City, situated in Eagle Valley. There is
considerable excitement about this place,
consequently it is building up very fast As
this is the smallest aad poorest valley have
seen this side of the summit, there is nothing
here to support a town of any size, and
many of those now settling here under the
exciteznen4 are doomed to be disappointed.
This is the present termination of the Salt
Lake Telegraph line, and battery has been
put up here within few days, in celebration
of which the citizens give grand ball in a
few evenings at the house of Billy Rice, for
medy Of the passenger train between SAN
Juan and Downieville.
Our next place of destination was Genoa,
situated near the center of Carson Valley, to
gain intelligence of the newly reported rich
discoveries on the head of Walkers river.
We called upon Major Dodge, the gentleman
| ly Indian Agent of this Territory, who
showed us specimens of the rock and gold
of that locality. The gold is of that shape
and size commonly called in California
faxseed gold, and is OF: better quality
than any we have yet seen on this side.
| Walkers river is about eighty miles from
this place, and must take its rise in the Sier-
ras opposite the county of Mariposa in CAL
| fornia.
Genoa is place of about one-haH the
size of San Juan, containing printing, stage
and telegraph Offices, several hotels, -four
and saw mill. From the steps of its
principal hotel we have q view of nearly
the entire valley, which is as ine grazing
land as any in the world. Every foot Of