The Shasta courier., 1864-08-13
NUMBER "a.
Letter from the Puebla Mines.
PpEHLa. n. T., July %. 1856

PuEHLA, n. T., July 25, 1864.
EDIroR COURIER Perhaps few items
from Puebla vill not be uninteresting to your
readers, and especially to gold and silver
prospectors. Iwish to state few facts, from
reliable authority, in regard to the distance,
and the nearest and most practicable route
from Shasta to the 0wyhee mining district.
The Puebla mines are situated one hun
dred miles northwest from Humboldt. sixty
miles due north from Black Rock, fifty miles
due east from Surprise Valley, and two hun
dred miles north-easterly from Shasta. Sur
prise Valley is situated twenty-five miles
south of the Oregon line, and the boundary
line between California and Nevada Territory
passes through it. Frem Shasta, by way of
Fort Crook, to Goose Lake, is one hundred
and thirty miles, which is situated fifteen
miles ncfth west from Susprise Nsile. etf
as near Shasta as is Susangiile.
The route to 0wyhee, by way of Goose
Lake, Surprise Valley and Puebla, can be
travelled at all seasons of the year. being
through succession of valleys between the
mountains, and supplied with abundance of
grass and water the whole distance. After
crossing Pit river there is not stream of anv
magnitude to cross until reaching Owyhee
| river.
Puebla Valley extends up north to Fort
Curry, twenty-five miles, where it turns al
most due east course to Owyhee river
Crooked river rises in Puebla Valley, runs
easterly and empties into 0wyhee river near
the mouth of Jordan creek. have obtained
information from two gentlemen who have
prospccted and mined on the 0,Syhee and
| l,,r ~, II
to the route and distance from Puebla to
Owyhee river.
Mr.. w. McGregor, who arrived here from
Jordan Creek last week, travelled the distance
in two days, and says it is not over sixty or
seventyfve miles, and that he travelled up
Crooked river, which heads in forty miles of
Puebla, and runs to the eastward. Mr.. Sam
uel King, who was Deputy Recorder of this
district under Major Harmon, corroborates
the statement of Mr.. McGregor, and says the
distance from Puebla City to Owyhee river is
not over fifty miles, and that he can ride the
distance in one day by taking mp Trout creek
and leaving Fort Curry to the left. Having
assembled Puebla Peak with Mr.. McGregor,
for the purpose of viewing the country,
should judge. from the location of 0wyhee
Mountain, which he pointed out as standing
near the confluence OF Crooked and Jordan
miles.
| Puebla Peak is the highest mountain for
miles around. To the north of Jordan creek,
some fifty miles, you can see the Boise and
Malheur mountains, and to the west Surprise
Valley can be seen stretching in pensiye quiz
etness between the Goose Lake mountains,
and to the south and east Queens river, and
Black Rock plains extend to the southwark,
whilst far beyond, to the south east, St.
PauPs Mountain looms up cold and grand
against the heavens.
Mr.. Weir, of San Francisco, arrived here
last week with his quartz mill, and has loca-
ted it at the Trojan Springs, about half way
the distance of the Puebla mountain. 1t is
now being erected, and he will have it in
running order by the first of August.
Yesterday tFyo gent!emen-Messrs. Spring,
of San Francisco, and Black, of Washoe, of
separate companies-left for San Francisco
for the purpose of purchasing mill machinery
for Vicksburg silver district, located opposite
the Chloride Series, at the lower end of Pu-
eba mountain. They intend to return i'm
medately, and have their mills put up as soon
as lumber can be procured from Surprise
Valley.
1t is unnecessary for me to say anything
in regard to the richness and extent of Pu-
ebla district. Suffice it to say that the work
of opening the mines is progressing steadily,
and at pace which is destined soon to prove
the mineral veins of Puebla as rich as those
of any other district in Nevada Territory. and
even better in many respects, as facilities for
working these mines abound in the district,
Specimens taken from the different lodges,
from Que end of the mountain to the other,
are really as fine and rich as have seen from
any groupings, and there is every reason to
believe that Puebla will become silver pro-
ducing district, and the richest yet discovered
upon this continent.
Puebla district resembles, in its geological
appearance, Pittsburg copper district, having
a mixture of carbonate of lime and talcose
slate, with sulphurets of barytes of dark and
light gray color, resembling pumice stone or
the Stag from an iron furnace, as part of the
out-croppings.
GROVE K. GODFREY.