The hydraulic press., 1860-12-15
wAsHoE CORRESPONDENCE.
MINERAL MISUNDERSTANDING MILLs-NEM


MINERAL MISUNDERSTANDING M1LLs-NEw
Discoveries.
VIRGINIA CITY, Dec. 4th, 1860.
Perhapsa fewiitems of news from this aurifer-
o-argentiferous region may be read with interest
by the people of the Golden State.
1t is with deiicacy I venture to speal, word of
commentator to the citizens of California con-
cern:ng the mines of Washoe, as the larger
number of them think that Washoe is only an
other term for humbug. To those who are skep-
tical as to the reported mineral wealth of the
mines of Western Utah, would say-Come and
see for yourselves. Doubles you will exclaim,
in the words of the Queen of Sheba, ,-"The half
has not been told us.
There already eight quartz mills in opera
ton at this place, Gold Hill and Silver City, and
ten in process of erection.
The Spanish Company's Mill is running. 1t
is a frst-class mil-contains sixteen stamps
straight batteries.
The mill of the Central Company, and also
that of the Gould & Curry, will soon be compile
ted.
The Ophir Company is erecting extensive
works in Washoe Valley, where all their ore will
be transported for reduction.
In the claims Of Rickellar & Co. situated Or
the Comstock lode, and lying about eight hun
dred feet south of the Ophir, rich strike was
made yesterday. The South Potosi Co., one
half mile further south, have struck their lode
Curtis & Co., in the Devils Gate District, have
struck lead of rich gold-bearing quartz. Leads
TOO numerous to mention, in Virginia, Gold Hill
and Devils Gate Districts, bear indications of
being rich. At present the miners laber under
great disadvantages, for want of mills with which
to reduce the quartz. A number of companys
on different lodes have ready for crushing large
quantities of quartz, but the mills have more
than they can crush. Twelve months more, and
Washoe will astonish the world, and prove that
the discovery of gold and silver in Western Utah
is an important era in the history of mining. In
these barren mountains, millions of dollars lie
locked up in the finty grip of the quartz, await
ing to reward the industry of the toiling miner.
THE WEATHER
Is delightful Old Sol shines in his original
splendor, with scarce cloud to obscure his disc
or dot the blue sky. The fierce winds, for which
Washoe is notorious, have lulled 10 gentle
breeze, and the presumption is that Utah will
reclaim her lost laurels by giving us mild win
ter.
THE ROADS.
Freight teams still continue to cross and re-
cross the Sierra Nevada, and report good roads.
CRIMES AND CRIMINALS.
= n
sen for murder. Watkins, guilty Of like crime
is out under bail.
On Sunday, I'd inst, VIM. Fitzgerald killed a
man named Burke, one of the proprietors of the
Grotto Saloon, of this place. 1t appears that
Fitzgerald took something to drink at the Grot-
to, and had not the money to pay for it. Burke
refused to trust him. Fitzgerald told him he
would soon get him the money, and left the
loon. In a few minutes he returned with the
change in one hand, and a concealed knife in
the other He handed Burke the money, then
seized him by the collar and stabbed him six
times Burke died in about three hours. Fitz-
gerald was arrested and placed under strong
guard. In the interim word was telegraphed to
Sheriff Blackburn, who came up Immediately
and took him to Carson City and deposited him
in the lookup to await his trial. Within a year
there has been twelve men killed here at Virgin
ia, bet this is the most cold-booded and unprc-
voked murder that has yet shocked the finer SEN
sibilties of our citizens. Every necessary exer
ton was made by the townsmen to prevent the
guilty culprit from escaping the punishment
such conduct merits. The citizens of Virginia
have requested Judge Cradlebaugh to have him
tried Immediately, as court is in session at this
time.
rr,...z -. r IL, TT J1: D.