The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-04-20

Interesting Letter from the Wsshoe
silver Mines.
NEW DISCOVERIES OF SILVER, GOLD, AND
COPPER.
We annex an interesting letter from a
reliable gentleman, formerly of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, but resident Of California
for ten years past, from the silver region on
the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains.
he is miner of experience, and his state
ments may be relied upon.
VIRGINIA CITY, NEVADA TER,
February 4, 1860.
From the heading Of my letter you will
perceive that l have changed my location
from the western to the eastern slope of the
Rocky Mountains. l am now in the great
Silver Diggings, about six miles from the
emlgrant road from the States through
Carson Valley to California. This place
Virginia City is the centre of the silver
region, and the point where the silver was
first struck. Since my arrival here, about
ten weeks since, l have not been idle in nv
efforts to "strike" silver " lead" although
the weather has been very severe. now own
ten claims in different companies, and have
reasonable hopes of succeeding in some of
them. One claim or ledge which located
yesterday, assays, 1 am told, $1,000 per ton
but that was only the groupings or top of
the ledge. 1t will take some time yet to
ascertain definitely the actual richness of
the different lodges. A great deal has ais
ready been said about the value of these
mines; much of it is doubtless exaggerated;
but enough is known, to state positively
that this part of the country is rich in min
erals. That the silver ore yields the ave.
rage of six to eight thousand dollars per
ton, is true; that shares or claims in these
mines have sold at prices ranging from three
to fifty thousand dollars, is also true. Silver,
gold and copper have all been found here.
The gold mining is very good-it is found
in quartz. Already there is steam ma
chinery being put up in several places for
crushing and assaying the ORE This will
save the cost of transporting it to San
Francisco.
Although it is but a very short time since
the discovery of the silver ore, and the
weather during the time was very severe,
considerable portion of the country has
been explored. Excitements have been fire.
quent; some parties more hardy or daring
than Others, would go out prospecting, and
perhaps strike some indications of silver If
rich, there would be stampede for that
part of the country. Each man would stake
off his claim of 200 feet, and hold it in
accordance with the mining laws of the
district, by doing work to the value of ten
or fifteen dollars per month. Silver has
not been found anywhere else that will pay
as we'll as in the main ledge. In many places
where silver has been struck, the miners are
in hopes that by going deeper into the ledge,
the yield will prove richer. The main ledge
of silver has been traced $50 to 200 miles
north and south of this point.
send you small specimen of the silver
ore, taken from the Comstock Claim in
which it was first discovered. x X X
In the spring there is expected to be a grand
rush to this country, from California, Ore<
gon and the Atlantic States. The country
here is rather barren. Wood and water
is scarce. Indeed, it is not the country in
which l would like to make my permanent
home but am here, and must make the
most of it. Lumber is so scarce that many of
the miners and traders live in holes dug in the
banks of ravines. Others live in tents, of
which number you may include the SUBJ
scriber." Provisions, of course, are very
high, as we'll as everything else The snow
on the mountains came on earlier than ex-
pected, cutting off the supplies, but it will
be different in the spring, as there is good
wagon road to California. During a resi-
dence Of eleven years in California, never
advised any one to come out to the mines
nor do now advise any one to come out to
Nevada but this much will say. wish
that could see FIVE months ahead, then I
might say, come. But I am satisfied that
there are many fortunes to be made here,
although suppose many will come out
losers in the end but if a man is lucky
enough to strike the silver, his fortune is
made. have seen poor men here who have
made since July last by selling out their
claims, from twelve to forty-fve thousand
dollars. But shall say no more on this
subject, for fear you might become excited
The MOUNTAIN MEADOW MAssACRE.--A
writer in the Valley Tan, of Great Salt Lake
City, says that the bleached remains Of the
emigrant party massacred at the Mountain