The hydraulic press., 1860-02-25
OFF FOR SILVERLAND.

Z
citizens of Sweetland, have gone, or are
going to Western Utah, where some of the
party have secured interests in leads reported
to be rich. Public rumor has it that another
citizen of Swcetland, Mr.. S. T Curtis-who
is now representing this county in the As
sembly-has also valuable interests in the
arsentiferous region, and has realized Si7,-
600 from recent sales of only small portion
of his shares. Whether this be SO or not,
we arc ignorant; but everybody hopes it is
Nevada county is still in luck over there, it
would seem. The Nevada National alluGing
to the newspaper assertion that certain resi-
dents of the county seat had received $50
600 on partial sale of interests which cost
them only $50, 900 altogether. remarks that
according TO recent reports, ''the citizens of
Grass Valley, on an investment Of less than
$4,000 have received $780, ,000, and can sell
ont the balance at any time for more than
five times that amount"-or $3.50, ,O00.-
Whew! We protest against their selling out,
for if everybody becomes wealthy who is 10
fill the Offices?
We quote the above as sample of the
unreliable rumors which, more than positive
facts, are inflaming the public mind with re-
gard to the Washoe region, and will, we
fear, cause prodigious thitherward by the
opening Of spring. We say we fer this, be-
cause we know that the majority of those
who 60 to the eastern slope will be sure OF
nothing but disappointment, with a chance
for numerous disagreeable contingencies be-
side. We made trip to the silver mines
last fall, after the richness of the ledge first
struck had been demonstrated and saw
abundant reason in the geological features
OF the country, to warrant belief that many
other rich veins would ultimately be dis
covered. But we saw also that the mines
were not OF character to afford immediate
support to large population of adventurers
without capital or experience, and advised
all who lacked the Indispensable requisites
of money, courage, strength and determin-
alton to stay at home. Subsequent events
have confirmed onr first estimate Of the min
eral resources Of the eastern slope, while at
the same time they have deePened our con-
yiction that poor men should prefer the CON-
Portable certaintics OF California to all the
brilliant uncertainties Of Utah. If man
has few hundred dollars that he can afford
to lose, and is not proftably employed here
or if he has plenty Of means and does rot
need employment but wants more wealth.
let him go; be will gain knowledge, is moth
ing else, and can afford TO pay a round price
Tor It, But the poor man cannot prudently
risk his time and slender purse on silver
hunting He should reflect that the rich
ores he covetS are mostly imbedded in cliffs
or deep-lylng seams of rock, accessible only
after costly outlay of labor and money, if
even by such outlay they are found in time
TO prevent bankruptcy. He should remem-
Der, also, that the country to which he
would hasten contains but limited placer
diggings, which are chiefly occupied. and
as yet almost entirely without water Until
capital has opened many paying veins, and
machinery has been erected. and canals con
structed, there will be but few opportunities
to get employment at wages. particularly
after the suhsiderce of the first grand rush
hence, the largest number of those who fail
in their prospectings will have no ether re-
source than to hurry back to discarded vet
incompatible California, as best they may
These warning remarks will not, probably,
be needed, but it is our duty to present them,
and their wisdom will be endorsed by every
sensible person who has visited the really
wonderful land that may rival but can never
surpass our own.