Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-11-28
9ailg a)ir9iuiaa.
The New Mining Excitement in California
Late and Interesting Intelligence from
the Washoe Mines


The New Mining Excitement in California
Late and Interesting Intelligence from
the Washoe Mines.
tFSon no taH Fwnctsco Baiiefin1
Mr.. +. j. Hughes arrived in this city last night
from the new mining region Of washoe valley
mr., Hughes went to Virginia town. tho locality
OF the richest discoveries in June last, aud re-
manned there until the close Of last week, so that
his opportunities ofobservation have bean ample
Tho existence of silver in tha, region was discov-
cred by three nen who were working n good
claim IN Sixmie canon in June Of the present
year. Following their surface digginga. they at
length struck the gold lead consisting of u black
soli without lustre, 80 rich that portions of it
yielded $SO to the yam They found pocket as it
Ii bailed, filled with black metal, from which they
made Sl00 per day with rocker. a number Of
Mexican miners from Sonora examined the tail
ings or refuse dirt, and informed the miners that
they were throwing away two dollars Of silver for
each one of gold that they collected A company
OF three or four Mcxicans commenced working
these "talings" for the silver, and for some time
collected from $500 to $400 per day.
About two months ago Judge Walsh took one
ton Of the black metal in which the silver occur
ed to San Francisco in order to procure relin-
hle assay. The result was from 5000 to 81, 900 per
ton, according to the parts Of tho mine from which
the specimens were taken. 1t - n remarkable
property of this "bluck metal, that it decom-
degree that it can even be crushed between tho
fingers. The claim had in the meantime been di
vided into six shares, two to each of the original
parties. Cnmstock sui his for $500 and Me
Laughlin bis PARTON for $4,000. Riley is now
the only one Of the original parties interested in
the lead, and he has relused-so Mr.. Hughes
says $4,000 f"r his share. Judge Walsh owns
two-sxths. and is said to have been otcrel 500
600 for half his interest,
Mr.. Hughes has with him n mass OF silver mix.
ed with gold, weighing AZ ounces, and valued nt
81 pur onncc. This bar was obtained from ono
nrrola, or - pound of the tnings before spoken
! Of. Could this be taken rs fair sample of the
whole it would indicate the astonishing result Of
mass of refuse dirt. from which the gold had
been extracted by the ordinary process, worth
four dollars to the pound. The ledge in tho
Comstock claim laS two leads of gold anil one Of
silver ore. The gold rock has been proved, bv
the ordinary test, t. lie worth from $500 to 50
500 per ton. The silver lead consists of the black
metal, which is stated to produce s., 600 to the
ton, in the proportion Of 46 of silver 10 of gold.
The gold leads from five to nine feet thick, aud
the dip If the gold bearing rock is about 30 degrees
or nearly perpendicular. The entire ledge is le-
tween Is and 90 feet wide. The silver vein is from
6 to "a inches wide The dcpo-tsare ut Virgini,
| town. which is 60 mile, from Carson Valley. II
from Carson City, and about 100 from Sacram nto
| There il n ledge of ,o.d rock near Washoe lake
which is said TO have yielded 50 100 in goll t,
| the ton.
More than twenty other veins have been opened
in tho vicinity, AMI nre now in the process OF de
veopment. 1t is thought that they extend all the
way from Honey Lake to Walker river. The
pruspectings generally reveal gold on the surface
| the silver appears 4 or ten feet below. The n ,s
magnificent deposit Of gold ever discovered in thi,
continent or in the world. is represented to have
been opened at Gold Hill. in canon or rnthei
valley, one and halfmiles from Virginia town
| The bill is isolated from the mountain spurs. tn
which it probably cncc belonged. and is properly
n mound, about GO feet high, 1000 feet long 10y
1000 feet wide. 1t is trayersed by veins OF nuri
ferrous quartz partly Jeconposel yielding frnn
| $500, to $500 to the ton. This enormous mass
| Of wealth was discovered bv a whiskcy-drnkng
character from Virginia in honor Of whom the
neighboring village has been named. 1t is com.
| puted that this fortunate person has expended
within two months eight or ten thousand dollars
in the purchase Of his favorite fluid, for tho con
sumption OF himself aud his friends.
There arc nuw Is nrnstras in operation in Vir
| ginia town, and Sor 9 ut Gold Hill.
The nearest timber, suitable for lumhering pur.
| poses. is fifteen miles from the mines, ard the
mills which can be relied upon for supply nre
twenty five miles distant. The price of lumhcr at
| Virginia town is $50 per NJ. The habits of tho
people are necessarily nomndic and Sporadic
| They live in tents as many of them as can se
| cure that mmodati,n; those who cannot sleep
in haysacks. When meals can be had they are
furnished at the reasonable price of rs cents
| each.
About so tons Of silver have already ieen sent
| to San Francisco or is the way hither; and
| Mr. Hughes passed almost 100 teams going out
with provisions and general supplies. The price
of freights has been raised 10 Zoe. per H.. $500
per ton from Pacerville; but tho silver ore is
brought in this way for half that rate. The rush
| to The mines is great that daily line has been
arranged On the day On which lie arrived at
Placervie. six full stage l'nds of passengers had
been engaged for The next trip.
Mr.. Hughes states that ten feet claims arc ssll-
ing at from 50, 500 to SO 900 each.