The national Republican., 1861-12-20
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
tFrom the San Francisco Bulletin.l
The Gold Discoveries ia the North-Our
Mineral Euturc.

The Gold Discoveries in the North-Our
Mineral Futurc.
The recent discoveries OF gold, bordering the
Salmon river 10 Oregon, some five hundred
miles east from the mouth Of the Columbia
river have created quite an excitement through
out that State. By the latest news from the
North, II seems probable that large numbers Of
miners will next spring move In that direction,
The Salmon River Mountains, in which the
river of the same name rises, are spur OF the
Rocky Mountains, extending westward from
the main chain some two hundred miles.
Although gold has been discovered at in
tervals over an imrIsnse extent OF country
from California northwardly into the British
Possessions, and eastwardly to the Rocky Noun.
tainsAbut very little Of this vast scope OF ter
ntory has been more than partially explored
Much Of Is yet occupied by hostile ssvages, ana
besides Is 40 distant from settlements that pro-
visions cannot be easily transported thlther IN
sufficient quantities to support miners IN pros
pectipp parties, upon uncertainties. But from
time to time, rs few persons have found their
wa7 into the interior, reports have come back
making 1t more and more evident that the
whole western portion of North Am:rica is a
gold field. From Mexico, following the Coast
Range of mountains northwardly through the
United States, and at intervals the Rocky
Mountains also, even to the British Possessions,
gold discoveries have been made. extending
over line Of more than 1000 miles, and in
land 600 or 800 miles.
The recent discoveries at the north-the ex-
tension Of the Nez Perces and British Colum,
bia mines-will encourage further explorations,
and undoubtedly continue to bring to light
new gold fields, which can be probably
worked
These mines, in turn, will encourage farm.
ing operations, thereby building up settle
Ia far In ha ipta vuh oh oil hoxya
an outlet to the Pacific, necessitating, as we
have seen, continued extension of railroads
and rapid growth Of this city to furnish com
mercial facilities. Again, gold Is not to be the
only valuable mineral production of the vas
region Of country bordering this coast Silver
has already become prominent resource, and
other metals will be developed in the future tc
an extent now scarcely imagined. The mines
of Washoe, only two years old, have hardly
commenced to pour forth their treasures, ye
to-day some millions Of money are employed
in developing them, and still investments are
going on in greater proportions than ever
Silver already comes to this MARKET and forms
an important item In our shipments of treasure
but when the Washoe, Humboldt, and Esme.
rslda mines shall be fully developed, an amount
OF wealth will come from O small district Of
Nevada Territory alone, which must add great
ly to the resources Of this country.
we nave stateQ tnat we DelleVe INNING upon
this coast is In its infancy. This idea is
founded upon the fact that the precious metals
have already been discovered at intervals over
more than 100000 square miles Of country
but little more than a speck Of which is ye
explored. In portions of California only hsv,
anything like thorough explorations beel
made. 1t is probable the richest placer de
posits have already been removed from thi
State, leaving quartz mines and subterraneaI
deposits as vast and permanent resource
but further in the interior, for sught We know
to the contrary, rich and extensive deposits o
both gold and silver still exist, the discover.
of which may depend much upon chance. Eas
OF the Sierra Nevada, for instance, the famou
Comstock lead was found by accident, yet tha
discovery has lead to the partial exploration
of an immense silver region previously un
thought Of, extending South to the Esmerald
and East to the Humbo oldt mines-a regio
from which hundreds Of millions will yet b
extracted.