Daily national Democrat., 1860-01-14
From the New Dorado.

He left there only few days ago. lie
saws that the thermometer has Stood at VIZ
Chinatown and IN the Washoe Valley from
sunset to sunrise, for the last two months at
from six to eighteen degrees below zero. Ihe
snovy has been from three to four and hall
feet deep. Flour is now selling at $50
hundred and is scarce Other provisions are,
as yet, quite abundant. Hay is worth from
twenty to eighty dollars ton in stacks. A
large number of cattle are dying from hun
ger and cold. In distance of eight miles
between Nicks Ranch and the Clear Creek
Ranch 500 cattle were not long ago counted
as they lay dead Twelve head were seen
lately lying dead around one corral, the own
er having no shelter or provisions for them,
as they stood shiSering and hungry at his
door. Barley costs Is and 20 cents pound.
For putting horse to hay one night, the
charge is So; for feeding him on hay and
barley, $3.50. For board, two meals day,
the price is $l4 and .$l5 per week. Good
beds are scarce, and unless q man travels
with his own blankets he suffers.
Many persons at Virginiatown are living
in excavations under the ground, like dig
gers, or in the mouths of tunnels, for want
of lumber to build houses. A large number
of families are at Virginiatown, many having
come from across the Plains, and society is
improving. In the summer many new build
ings will go up
The above mentioned fourishing little
place is situated fifteen miles east of Washo
Valley, range of mountains lying between
the two localities, and is also halfway be-
tween the Carson and Truckee rivers and
fifteen miles west of the Little Desert on
Carson river. vast mineral range extends
rom Virgniatown and vicinity as far down as
Walker river, a distance of l60 miles.
The region Immediately around Virginia
town is exceedingly rich. The Mexican
Claim, in which Mr.. John Atchison of this
place has recently bought share Zone eighth
is very valuable. 1t is silver mine and APP
parently inexhaustible A specimen from
this claim shown us by Mr.. Hughes shows
silver in abundance.
In Copper Canon 9 miles east of Carson
City on Carson river, there are alternate
veins of copper and silver of much richness.
There is also in that vicinity a considerable
amount of gold bearing quartz
The American Ravine, miles south of
Virginiatown, is noted for its gold and silver
veins.
The Grass Valley Silver Lead at Virginia
town contains a large amount of concentra-
ted sulphate of iron and copper.
There are, within quarter of mile of
Virginiatown, eight veins which prospect
silver largely, the veins bearing north and
south.
Thirty miles east of VirginiOtown rich
silver mines have been recently discovered
and are causing great excitement.
Ten OF twelve miles east Of Virginiatown
there are lodges now being prospected.
The Devils Gate District, seven mile
south of Virgniatown, is a celebrated local
ity. 1t contains ledges of gold and silver
and ledges of silver and lead, which over
lap each other and form a complete net
work, the lines running north south, east
and west.
East of Genoa there is a vein known as
the Dearborn Lead, whence occasional good
prospects are obtained.
In the Washoe region there is much gold
bearing quartz, but it all assays more or less
silver.
AT steamboat Valley, there are rich lead
and silver mines. This valley is west of
Virgniatown.
An excellent coal mine has recently been
found at the west of the last named place.
Northeast of Carson Valley, 3 or 20 miles
from Genoa, rich tin mine is reported.
Iron ore is abundant throughout the whole
country.
Sulphur, salt and soda springs abound in
various quarters of the Territory.
We omitted to mention that, twenty-five
miles south of Virginatown and east Of
Carson Valley, rich silver mines abound in
what is known as Pine Nut Valley, a locality
high up in the mountains The discovery
which is recent, is producing great excite
ment.
We should have stated also that the Mexi.
can Claim at Virginiatown (the foreman be-
ing a Mexican and a half-owner) has two
adobe furnaces which can smelt from ten to
eighteen hundred dollars day with a cord
and half of wood. The result of the
smelling aries from 81 30 to So au ounce
owing to the amount of gold contained
Another remarkable feature of this mar
vellous country is the great number of hot
springs, of pure, soft water. Many families
use the water for making tea and coffee, and
for washing, without any fire.
The soil of the valley produce wheat, bar.
ley, corn and oats, abundantly also cabbage,
potatoes and turnips of fine quality. When
sufficiently settled up. the country will be.a
rich agricultural region. AS yet there are
no orchards in the country, but no doubt it
will bear fruit as we'll as California. Wild
currants, yellow and red, grow in the hills
and ravines, of finer species than we See in
our gardens. A berry also grows in the
glens and bottoms which is known as the
Buffalo berry. 1t is small, has three seeds, is
tart and makes excellent sauce. The settlers
gather good many of them.
ine Indians are not at present giving any
trouble There are two tribes of them. the
"aShoes and the Pah Utes. The washoes
are treacherous and mean. The Pob Irtes