New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-07
THE WASHOE SILVER MINES.

THE WASHOE SILVER MINES.
The discovery of rich Silver Mines in the ex-
treme western portion of Utah, within two hundred
miles of Sacramento, is attracting much attention
on the western side of the continent and is looked
to with no little interest by multudes in this por-
ton of the country The gold mines Of California,
wonderfully productive as they have proved, have
always been regarded by many as uncertain sources
Of permanent property; and serious want has
been felt in that region of natural industrial re-
sources that should sustain the commercial proper
ty of the State when ts gold Mines after the usual
manner of all other gold mines, had become COM
paratiyely unimportant 1t has alss been serious
want of the Caifornians to provide some medium to
secure direct trade with their opposite neighbors OF
China and the East Indies whose teas silks Spices
&C., now largely imported into San Francisco, are
paid for at serious cost for exchange with the
"white money" bought up in England with the
gold sent eastward from California. Both these
wants promise to be supplied by the discovery of
the Washoe Silver Mines; and q new and powerful
impetus to immigration is already experienced there,
the effect of which will be to I'll with an industrious
population this heretofore wild portion of Utah
Territory; and, the locality being on one of the es.
tabhshed routes between San Francisco aud Mis-
souri, new facilities of intercourse will thus be a.
forded between the eastern and western portions OF
the continent. To California aad the Eastern
States, these discoveries are therefore OF much
greater importance than if they had been made
in territory upon the Ga the outlet of which would
be the Gulf of California, or in regions far to the
NORTH the products of which would seek the sea BY
the river.
The new silver mines are on the eastern slopes OF
the Sierra Nevada, the "snowy range" which fol-
lows the line OF the western coast, as the Apala-
chan chain does that Of the eastern its crestlne
passing within about 100 miles Of Sacramento, and
in its lowest passes attaining an elevation OF over
900 feet above the level of the sea, or nearly four
times the general hight Of the Aleghanies. From
Sacramento, which is reached BY steamer from San
Francisco, one passes by railroad up the valley OF
the American River 10 Folsom; thence west BY
stage to Placerville, which Is l,755 feet above the
sea-leyel and there taking horses or mules, begins
the ascent of the mountains by the road through
Johnsoas Pass, which is the route followed By the
emgrants. The summit being passed. the road fol-
lows the course Of Carson River, stream which,
flowing down the eastern side Of the mountains,
trends northward for about so miles, and then,
turning toward the east, flows N much further In
this direction, till il is lost in Carson Lake. This
is one of the numerous lakes, without outlets,
ranged along the eastern side of the mountains,
ahich serve as the reservoirs for containing the
drainage of this portion of the country, and return
ing it by evaporation to the surface Of the hills
Along the valley of Carson River, in its northern
course, are numerous mining camps and diggings,
at which gold has been obtained to some extent;
and where the river bends toward the east are
found the veins which have proved 80 productive in
silver. These lie along the eastern side of one Of
the spurs of the main range, to which spur the
name of Silver Range has been applied. Here are
already commenced a group Of villages, there
designated cities, and known as Carson City, yir-
GINA City, Silver City, Johnstown, &c. Genoa is
q settlement further up the valley, and near the
foot of the mountain pass. 1t is fourteen miles
from Carson City, and this is seventeen miles from
Virginia City. Between the two last named places,
a stage now regularly runs for conveying passsn-
gers. This is certainly extraordinary progress for
localities which, when last uncovered of snow, pos
sessed little interest beyond the other wild territory
around Beside the discoveries at this point silver,
commonly associated with lead ores, and gold, also,
is found at numerous points along the range Of the
eastern slopes, from Honey Lake on the northwest
to Mono Lake on the southeast, points about 200
miles apart. The precious metals have also been
found $50 miles east of Carson City, and it is said
that the indications are favorable that large por.
ton of the territory thus included is likely to prove
auriferOus and argentiferous The gold met with is
reported to contain so much silver that it is valued
at only about 80 per ounce, or less than twotbrds
the worth of the gold found on the other side of the
Sierra Nevada. If the reports brought from the
mines are correct there would appear to be native
alloys of silver and gold in which the silver is the
prevailing metal
The accounts, however, as TO the character Of the
metallic products are as yet quite vague so that one
can gather from them little more than the general
statement of silver being procured in such abund-
ance as 10 give immense value to few fee. in
length along the line Of the veins aud to justify ex
pectations Of extraordinary additions during the
year to the silver product Of the world. Though no
correct description Of the veins or Of their products
is to be found among the numerous published state