Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-12-09
The Silver Regions ofNevada Territory
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Enqu.orI
y JHIlN, LANDER Co.,
NEVADA TERRITORY, Oct. 'G3.

AUSTIN, LANDER Co.,
NEVADA TERRITORY Oct. 'G3,
Our little party left Salt Lake City on
the 22d Of August last, by way of
overland mail road, which il The n.....
but by far the most desoate and barren
of all routes leading to the Puciic coast
When about three hundred miles from Snl.
Lake City, we first learned of the excite
ment at the Reese River mines, AID re-
solved to try our fortunes there. We
approached the place on the lIth Of Sep
tember, weary ragged and hungry
had walked over fifteen hundred miles
while on the way, part Of the time shoe
less and without food. Four Of us only
had come along for hundreds Of miles
through tribes Of hostile saya4es.
We found everything in a state of ex-
citement, and every one crazy about tho
recently discovered mines. Fabulous
stories were told Of the wealth Of the
country. One man, while digging q post
hole, had struck a silver ledge, and sold it
for sixty thousand dollars. A poor emf.
grant stopping for day, had found
vein, sold it for forty thousand dollars,
and gone on his way rejoicing. A thou
sand similar stories are circulated. A
glance convinced me that there wos q
reality about it, although probably not So
brilliant as had been pictured
In February last, silver was discovered
! here, and the first cabin erected where
now stand the united towns Of Austin ana
! Clifton. They at present contain 6,0O0
! inhabitants, and the iuiluN continues at
The rate of hundreds daily. Every facility
| that the country can afford for building
is employed, and houses are erected rs
! il by magic, Several quartz crushing
mills are in operation, "nd many mOrs
are approaching compilation. Everything
is hustle and confusion. Thc mountain
appear to be literally filed with the pre-.
cious ore and tons OF it are daily I..-.
brought in. All day tho clang Of ham
mers are heard, and the slillnoss OF the
night is broken in upon by the rattle 4
stamps and the explosion of mines. NeAt
spring will bring fifty thousand miners
and emigrants to Austin and the ". '0il'
! The wealth Of the country is io0v ..st,.
{ bic, and there is fortune here tJr every
willing worker. Laborers get from FIVE to
six dollars per day, and mechanics nom
eight to ten. We have no currency out
side of gold and silver Greenbacks arc
worth but sixty cents on the dollar. orI
taken reluctantly at that.
10 the unintiaed, mining town pr,,
sents strange appearance, especially
where it springs up in day. This toms
Of Austin and Clifton are situated in
mountain gorge or canon, tho principal
street running through tho centre, and
extending probably three miles. The
mountain is almost perpendicular, ana
for mile up on either side covered with
houses of every ption-stone fronts,
frame, adobe, log and brush huts, tents
&c.,-and chaotic confusion. The main
street occupied by stores, restaurants,
drinking and gambling saloons-is crowd,
ell at all hours,
The recent discovery Of silver in this
section of Neveda is but the beginning
of the end. The entire country is filled
with it. Within ten years the mountains
stretching from the Pacific to the Platte
River will be continuous mining town.
The mineral wealth Of tho country is in
eXhaustibIe, but enterprise and muscle
are required to develop it. These the old
States must furnish