The Nevada Democrat., 1862-02-18
I.ETTEn rRON WAsHOE,
DdmaQes6ythe Floods--The HenneSs Pass
The Washoe Trade Ainihg-An AboDst'
,.abb Winter, &c., &c.

The Washoe Trade Mining-An AooDsa'
,tGbIs Winter, &c., Sc.
GOLD HILL, Feb. 5th; 1862.
En-. DEMocRAr4-fou must not think be-
cause sod hear from men but seldom, that |
have forgotten my old friends as well as my fa-
vorite mountain city. Having spare moment,
1 througtt would devote it to Tell you some-
thing about SilterlaAd, the foods, etc.
As you probably have learned ere this, We,
too, have had our share of this watery winter.
This Is country Where it never rains-so they
always told us--bst we, not the ''oldest inhab-
itants," have come 90 the conclusion it will not
do to listen to what any body says about
weather, and that we can better judge OF
what we get than Of what we are likely to
have. We have had two foods-a big Hood
and Il bigger one. Your readers who have
been over to Washoe can we'll imagin the des-
truction by knowing that some 900 inches OF
water poured down Gold CanohS just below
Colo Hill, which increased to 5000 inches at
the Devils Gate, and all of 5000 inches at the
junction with American Ravine. To ten all
the damage done would take resm Of paperS
consequently win cut short by saying that
some twenty or more houses were swept away
in Gold Canon; number m Flowery Canoni
DAYTON was oyerhowed; one miA swept down
the canon; some ten lives lost, ana 40 less than
dozen mills fot time disabled. The roads
were torn up, preventing the passage Of teams
OF travel. In fact, we were for time brought
to square stand-still. But few mills are now
running--among which am happy to say, is
the big mill Nevada-some on account of wood,
some water, others for want of rock, and few
for want of machinery.
This latter puts me in mind of an important
matter for Nevadans, and particularly those
interested in the Henness Pass toll road, to
consider on. The heavy storms, you probably
all are aware, have carried away 1.-THE bridges,
grades and road of the Placervllle route. In
fact, there is complete destruction on the whole
route by land slides, &c. Now, let me remark,
is the time for your folks to push open she Hen
ness route. We have all looked to this route
for our supplies of machinery, provisions, &C.;
besides, we prefer it for trayek 1 hear every
day the route spoken Of, and it seems to me as
though there was great lack Of enterprise,
judgment or energy, or something else, or this
route would be opened and kept open. II ever
the route is 10 be made an important one, now
is the time to do it, while the other is in so de-
plorable a condition. The resting all on the
fact of its being the natural route viii not do,
as energy and money often beats nature, and
particularly in road matters. Consequently, to
my notion, there should be no time lost in inn
proving this route, rebuilding bridges, &C., at
this suspicious time, asNthe great outlet of
rich mineral country.
The travel and trade of this country is-worth
striving for. 1t is strictly a mineral one;. con-
sequently we have to transport across the
mountains all our eatables,, ma chinery, and all
species of merchandise. Our exports will be
bullionr-silver bars-requiring a number Of
Sonveyanees to transport the yearly shipments.
Itis rot like the "Live Oak or quartz gold
that a small bar makes thousands; of this, il
onlYtakes hundreds to make large bar The
disasters in California will cause many an un.-
fortunate one 70 seek his home in some new
country, and as,wo here think Washoe an atL
tractive one, many a new conner is expected.
In view Of all, it is to be hoped you will not lie
quiet longer in regard to the Henness Pass, but
-
harvest that there is every chance Of your hav-
ing, now that the Placerville route IL. in the
condition it is.
As regards mining. there has been somewhat
Of shutdown. A portion Of Gold Hill caved
in, which oecasioned scarcity of rock, and
this, together with the rains, &C., &c., have
caused stoppage tn the rush Of things.
We are now having big snow storm just
about such one from all accounts, as they
hadiheBe ian the winterof l859--when the first
families" lived in tents, and took their chances
for finding their way back, when they, ventured
out. The weather is. anything but pleasant
this winter-in fact, it is what might be called
abomiaable.
see correspondent renOrts serious losses.
for Yoar old townsman. AZ b. Paul. Being.
somewhat acquainted with his business affairs.
bam' m'happy to state that your correspondent il
mistaken.
lam going to drop you line oftener from
this time on. GbsMoS.
Bill no CLASSIFY TUE U. S. SrATUTES-