Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-04-19
fron1 SIM frmtisto.
sAs FRAscrsco, March is, 1860.


EDITOR CHRosrcLE: The first newspaper
thst recollect ever to have seen or read
was the Ohio Federalist, printed al St.
Ciair'vi!le 10 1916, and edited by Charlie,
Hammond. That paper I have read over
and over again, and carefully filed il away.
a perusal OF Il short time ago, as a literary
and Historical curiosity, caused me to think
Of Belmont county; and besce I thought
that your readers would like to hear word
or two Of what is rsnspiring and aaost on
the Pacific side Of the American Continent.
The srduous seekers after fortune, who
left the States. in is49, to gather thcir.pile
10 ihis golden land. after the expirstion Of a
decade Of years, during which they have
spent varied and chequered life, present a
wonderful exhibition Of American enter.
prise aud ambition in the pursuit Of fortune
ard Of fame. Many have acquired beth,
while not few, yea thousands, have nobly
perished in their eager desire TO achieve
what to them appeared q praise worthy under.
taking. The bones OF some who crossed the
Plains and Isthmus Routes, now lie bleached
on the wide waste Of the desert and the
mountain and gulch passes of this State;
while the ashes of others repose in New
Granadian boil or lie entombed beneath an
/
Equatorial sun hard by where Lake Nicar.
aqua rolls her waves. Old mother ocean
also has received the last mortal remains of
many weary spirit, who died far awsy
from kindred and friends. and without the
blessing Of father or mother. was consigned
to The dread deep in a canvas coffin with
leaden sinkers for dormicks at the head and
the toe. There are others moreover who
have gathered up smsll fortunes, and re-
turned to the home of their kindred and
friends to recount by the cheerful freside
and family altar, the incidents of travel and
mining luck, and curious scenes through
which they passed. Large numbers, too.
pleased with the climate of California, the
salubrity OF the air. the busting tone Of
society, and the romantic lie which is en-
icyed here with voluptuous abandon still
remain in this land of 'antres vast and
deserts wild, OF rolling iTilis and flow cry
pra iries, here the bear and deer, and ell;
and antelope bound over their native heath
The recol'ections of the past contrasted
with the present recalls Thousand ideas
and pleasant and happy "reminiscences which
invoiuntarily rush TO the brain. To record
with precision and do justice to the themes
and subjects which have loomed up in this
short vista Of years, would require volume;
and my object is simply to give you the news
OF the day-a glance at the passing tidings
Of the times will not trench upon the
paths of those who have gone before me in
G ornering the rich treasures of Caliornis.
and spreading feast of good things to be
enjoyed'with keen relish by your boundless
mulliiudes in the Atlantic slope and the
valley OF the Mississippi. 4.
First, then, may mention that wild
excitement almost equal to the days Of 40
is prevailing here on the subject Of the
Washoe silver mines, lately discovered in
Nevada Terri tory. Hundreds and thousands
are coming the matter over It with great
anxiety, and many are the calculations
made upon realizing fortunes and profting
BY safe investments. Steamers and stages
60 crowded in that direction, and blankets
and all the paraphernaia of 4 miners outfit
are brought into requisition. Should these
mines yield as lucratively as is now declared
upon competent authority they will, it wi
give new impetus to mining operations
and add immensely to the circulating medium
Of the country. The stories of rich placers
are almost fabulous, and it is not necessary
to present you with the minuts q Of this
great source of wealth to the State and
ns.'oh' n-8i'un oai ri lGIaa'l Ia arr4
Both Of the great political parties Of the
country have held their Conventions in this
State, selected their Delegates to Charles.
and Chicago respectively, and adjourned
The Republican, which is the minority
party Of the State, takes the place former ly
occupied by the Old Line Wing and Ameri
can organizations, assembled at Sacramento
, on the 22d Of February. They passed ,
resolution highly complimentary to Gov
. VIM. H. Seward, OF New York, as the grea
gun ofthe Republican party, but left thsi'
Delegates uninstructed to select the bes
and strongest men for President and vic'
President. Next to Gov. Sewsrd, Col. Johr
h C. Freuont stands foremost in the affections
b of the Republican party of this State
although Judge Mclean, Gov. Chase ant
;, other prominent Statesmen, have thei
friends and admirers. The gallant rac'
> which Col. Fremont made in 1856, hi
d ardent patriotism and unbending integrity
{ has somewhat endeared him to the Repub