The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-04

the New MululB UHuCteS
&C., &C., 90.
We nom intelligence received from San Fsncisco,
Il the date Of March H. overland mail, that on the
above the public mind in all the principal California
ctes aud villages, was inllamed with regard TO the
newly discovered silver mines in the Washoe valley,
western Utah. the st. Helena mountains California, and
new gold diggings southern Oregon The excitement at
Fam Francisco rendered more intense by the arrival
NJ that place Of tons Of the weshoe silver ore por
ton Of which, from assay at the Branch Mint showed
she following resu5s l0Oths OF an ounce Of ore gave
n lOohs Of an OF metal equal to So per cent OF
she mass-lSol6, 3l1o6 ounces to the troy ton-worh
by an average 81 20 ounce equal to r. The
extent this aurerous discovery Is said to be- at pre-
sent ncalcuable.
ne Californians posve in regard to the Wastos
unes and ii is calculated that large emigration Will
cake place the diggpgs this spring What Will be the
luck Of the hardy adventurers is problem yet The
early discovery ef the Washoe mines was made last fall
and at that time from superficial geological survey the
Abcoverers led to the belief that untold wealth
laad beneath the surface but the statement qualified
In this language" The mines not OF such charac-
Ger afford immediate support TO large population OF
advent without capital and experience and we ad-
wise all who lack the Indispensable requisites Of mo-
ney courage, strength and determination TO stay at
home" Subsequent information confirms the opinion and
deepened the conviction that poor men should stay
home. Organized companies, with excellent machinery,
can only compete for the hidden treasure as 10 embed
cd In cliffs deep laying seams of rock, accessible only
after costly outlay of labor and money.
Ns very evident that great confidence placed in the
mining reports by California capitalists, when mention
The fact that the receipt Of treasure by the last steamer
was only little one half OF the amount usually re-
ceived from California and the smallest amoant received
here in period Of years. evidently showing that
new channel for the investment of capital had been
opened.
was calculated that Is 600 miners from California
would 90 10 Waahoe, Mono lake, Walker river and
other Utah mining districts during this spring.
indeed, washoe and its mineral wealth The leading
topic Of conversation at San Francisco Never,
California in its palmicst days. las such confidence been
felt IN the development Of untold mineral resources Is
now felt in the territory OF western Utah.
The newspapers of the latter Territory and the Cafor
MIA papers give the noet Of their ready space the pub
hcaton Of mining news and 1t has created such feeling
that feared that the rush Of people for washoe dis
tc would scarcely leave enough the ensuing summer to
Keep house west Of the Sierra Nevada.
Rsserving other remarks for another part of this
sount proceed 70 enumerate. from the most reliable
data furnished thus far regard Western Utah. the
Washoe, Mono lake and Walker river mines, all
comprised within ts borders. We will proceed with an
account Of
WESTERN UTAH.
Western Utah may be said TO be region OF volcanic
origin, and geoogcaly speaking, OF recent formation
Much Of the surface has be already stated
plains and drifting sands. Tnreefourt Of the entre
country desolate waste, and, for all agricultural and
composed OF clay granite or deep
sand IN spots mixed with rocks and loose stones In
an anim. SINKS ever the hoof at every step while in
The h Is covered with Of eorescad salt
through whch both man and beast break into the black
mud below when attempting TO pass over it. For miles
the dazzled with saline ncrusatons, covering the
earth like snow. The only inhao,able portions of this
Territory the Valleys much from the absolute
seriy Of the so elsewhere the absence Of wood and
water. Nothing but grass, excep. in few spos, be
Yaieed without irrigation Aided by this much Of the
land, especially In The valleys produces sbundanuy. Ex
cept in the more barren places, sufficient degree Of
moisture alone required good crops OF
grain and vegetables variety Of grasses grows In the
valleys Much bunch grass rs Also found upon tue noun
tAns lasts through the ant very nutritious
THE SOIL AND CLIMATE.
The climate OF this plateau, owing 10 it's elevation ID
rigorous we'll inconstan inau that of
treat plains Of Tsra1y may DC saia 70 be 1satio in s
character the summers being everywhere hot and the
In the latter the weather is generally mild and the snow
hight though these like every other part OF the country,
Ts eulaS s
ranges from ninety degrees TO hundred hactoatng but
he, though the nights, as in California, are generally
cool During the greater part Of the spring aud
the weather s delightful, though subject 70 sudden
changes, with high and variable winds The whole coun
Uy 10 liable to FROST toe valleys being visited by II
eveSy month the year Utah, like California has its wet
and is dry season the latter being Of longer though
Of such uninterrupted continuance with u.s. Showers
are frequent during the spring and fa being often heavy
and accompanied with thunder and lightning 10 the
summer rain is very rare, except upon the mountains.
About these clouds often lowering while in
the winter their ops are constantly enveIoped in msts
and storms Some winters but Little rain or even $40
fsIe For is the cold SO intense rs during others The
depth Of varies with elevation, there sometimes
being many feet upon the mountains When there
q all upon the plains.
ITS GEOLOGY AND MINERALoGY.
or the geology ano mneraogy Of this region as yet but
little Is known. Granite scoria and volcanic; rocks
abound, ard basal; occurs the slopes of the
ians su hur and sats Of various kinds abundant,
Warm and boiling springs everywhere met with, ia
dca,rg lbe proximity OF igpeous agents. Copper, lead
iron az coai are common 2o .ne Mer Two exist
some four hundred miles southeast OF Carson Valley.
Iron OF good quality has been made there for several
years by the Mormons Gold miucs Of considerable rich
been worked ance 1850 points along
the for the last three years the up
per portions Of the Walker and about Mono lake Recent
silver Of uuexampled value has been found extend
ing large scope the area Of which is likely to be
ansme by further explorations That the whole OF
western Utah will prove rich in both the useful and pre-
cious metals now scarcely admits OF doubt
Having given brief description Of western Utah,
within whose borders lie the newly discovered silver
mnes will state that the most important yields OF the
slser CITY. virginia Civ Jefferson CITY, Genoa and Car
aon City The aurerous drict extends over an area OF
less prolific Ia it's mineral Tnis q compa
ravely unknown country few having any definite idea Of
Its geography has been looked upon desert, worth
lees tract which the emigrant has:ened TO escape
DEATH aud into whose silent wastes but the Indian
axapper have dared to penetrate.
The coet OF living 10 western Utah Is enormously high
compared with Cali orns AND quaoruple high as in
tbe Northern sates and should the country rich
rs represented, II must be q long time the returns
for labor expended can be realized.
There is at present no regular communication TO the
mines from San Francisco distance OF over 800 miles,
through seldom travelled, indifferent roai
We propose then, first to call the attention Of our
readers 10 the Washoe mines, embraced In the
wAsHeE VALLEY.
This valley lies about eight miles west Of Virginia City,
and one mile northwest Eagle Valley, being separated
from the former by chain OF rugged hills termed the
Silver Range and from the latter by ridge connecting
this with the Sierra Nevada, portion OF which,