The Shasta courier., 1861-11-16
Nevada Territory--Growth of Population.


DR.. Degroot showed but about four hundred
persons here in the month of August, where
as. we have now nearly double that number
This accession has been made in part from
the overland immigration, but mostly from
the mining counties of Nevada, Plumas and
Sierra, and is. consequently, largely compo-
sed of experienced miners. Most of those
now here intend remaining through the Win
ter, having made ample preparations for
that purpose. With the coming of spring
we look for large influx Of population,
some calculating it by thousands.
THE CLIMATE.
Notwithstanding these mines are more
| than hundred miles further north than
those of Washoe. the climate is mt ch more
equable the winters being warmer, with
less snow at the same altitude, and the sum-
mers colder here than there. The mountain
range IN which the mines ara situated is
about thirty-fve miles long and fifteen miles
wide, having an average elevation above the
adjacent plains of some two thousand five
hundred feet. Certain points are higher.
and upon these snow is to be seen until the
month Of August, moderating, by its pre-
sence, the heat, and keeping the streams full,
and the water cool throughout the summer.
On the plains the heat is very great during
the suRmer season, but moderates as we as
cend the mountains. Near the Humboldt
Lake and along the river and slough, the
mosquitoes are very troublesome in warm
weather. There is also variety of large
flies in these localities that are terrible among
animals during the day-the mosquitoes at
tacklng both man and beast during the
| night; so numerous and veminious are these
insects that the traveller is unable to sleep,
4 Il -
the whole twenty four hours. For about five
months in the year these pests hold reign,
causing one TO dread a passage through the
region they infest.
There is but little snow in the villages and
upon the plains here, even in winter. 1t
never falls more than five or six inches deep.
ard rarely lays more than a few days at a
time. Occasionally it may continue for a
couple of weeks. when it melts, leaving the
ground bare for the remainder of the winter.
| As we ascend the mountain the snow grows
deeper, the quantity being regulated by alti-
tude and exposure At this place, which is
six or eight hundred feet above the river, it
lays pretty constantly for couple of months;
while in the districts still higher. it remains
proportionably longer-lingering as l have
| said, in the deep ravines on the north side OF
the loftier peaks, until late in summer. For
the past two months the weather here has
been cool and pleasant, nor do we look for
any uncomfortable cold for month or more
to come. We have yet had scarcely any
rain, nor do we look for falling weather till
the middle OF December, about which time,
some years, a few eeks earlier, the rain or
snow commence. Last year the weather re-
manned clear and pleasant until the 10th OF
December, when there was heavy fall of
| Tba hafn hon M
snow fell early in November. 1t disappear
ed in the course of few days, after which
the winter was mild and open until the month
of march.
FUEL AND LUMBER.
The greatest hinderance to the progress OF
this country, especially the developement OF
for coal, and the entire absence of such as
will serve for lumber The only trees with
in hundred miles of these mines are a
stunted kind of cedar, which, at most, will
only answer for timbering up the mines, for
posts, fire. wood, &c. Not stick fit for fra
ming or for log is to be found in the
entire country. There was report that bet
ter trees grew in a mountain range some
thirty miles to the east, but of this | can find
no conformation and the probability Is that
we shall have to get our supplies OF lumber
| from Honey Lake, one hundred and forty
miles distant Of this cedar there is only
enough to last few years, if any eonsldera-
ule number of steam mills shall be set IN
operation. The growth is not only small
but scattered. and the wood being OF hight
and porous texture, affords scarce hall the
heat emitted by the Pines. found further
south. Nor have we any great aliouii. oi
water power as substitute for steam, the
only force of this kind beng anoraso ny 'iie
mountain streams. OF which there are so'ei-
al. though generally small.
with limited water-power, and seanty |
sunnlv of wood. most of the ores from those
mines will. after few years, require to be
sb;nned abroad for reduction, unless coal
sha1i in the meantime, be found near by
an ,.rent of which there is no very good pros
pest. -
Throughout this entire section there have
now been located something like two hun
dred lodges. Of this number, one quarter
nerhaps. are gorth working-or at least
Weld under ordinary tests, lar sho" VI
tho nrecious metals. Some fifteen or twenty
TONS of ro,k taken from various claims, nave
l,a..r sent TO YOUR city for reduction Du'
from which as vet we have received no och.,
;te returns. One lot is reported to nave pau
ox,enses or. in other words yielded some ON,
t.rp or three hundred dollars TO the ton We
sIso see it stated in the Mining d,'d 's1'e'atnc i1
p.sss that certain portions of this rock yield
"a e, three dollars seventy eight cents IN
II IL, 70 the ton. with mere trace OF gold
about This we think here there must have |
heen ae some mistake: unless. to be sure, !.
was Us a small sample of rock, taken i, from
snr,,a ,nanifestlv worthless ledge vi all the
sla;ms spai here making any pretensions to value
we are satisfied the poorest Will do much bet
The silver ore found in this region consists
mainly Of argentiferous galena, and y,eids
b~ b,', ASSAY of selected portions, from one hun
S3ed dollars to one thousand dollars per ton
- s;lTer With the auriferous quartz there
- much greater margin-the assay running
-, few dollars up 10 two or three thou
llg, nd hat il is well known an assay is OF no
line. only as the ore operated upon repre-
MS ,be workable mass of ledge; there
So @ the people here having taken the proper
sanr5,, 10 test their claims. by procuring
fs;r sample of their rock to be crushed, are
now naturally anxious TO learn the results
# these mines will not pay feT working,