The Goodhue volunteer., 1864-01-27

JAMES H. PERKER
Dear SH-Minuful of
pro1Aise made you about the time I left
Minnesota, that would send you letter
after arrived in Nevada, and with the
hope that may interest some Of the read
ers Of your paper, will give you some
thoughts and facts relating to this surprising
and in some respects wonderful part of our
country-l had intended to give some Incl
dents Of my tedious and ti1esome journey
over the Rocky Mountains, my>stay at Salt
Lake City, and my trip from that place over
the Alkali Desert, but my time was so oc-
cupied that didn't find it convenient /
first stopped at Aus,in,ln Lander Co. located
in long narrow canon with high mountains
on each side of it, with one narrow street
intersected by two or three streets now
opened, CO ntainipg few good buildings
and about 5000 inhabitants, the growth Of
tho past season. 1t is strictly mining
town, and is what is know there as the
Rsese River Mining District. l remained
there but one day, and then went to Vir-
g'nia loca ted high up on the mountains in
Story county, and IN the centre of another
vast mining District found here dour-
ishing city of about II ,0Oo inhabitants. and
on the sides Of the mountain upon which it
located could sec vast number of o.es
and tunsels from which was being extrac
ted the ore which was to be carried to the
Stamps Mills for crushing. am not able
to tell you exactly how many Of these mills
are in and around Virginia, bu. don't think
l. will err much when say 35, erected at
cost ranging from So 800 to S300,0cO The
streets were pretty we'll filled with 6, Sand
10 mule teams, with very large wagons
drawing the quartz to the mills and return
ing again to the ledses. l only rdmained
here one day, and then went over to
washoe City, hourishing little town Of
about 1000 Inhabitants. Here too | found
several quartz mills and one belonging to
Judge North, formerly Of Minnesota, and
now one Gf the U. s. District Judges for
the Territory. l was much interested in
passing through it and examining the sew.
eral processes OF crushing, grinding, sepe
rating and finally producing the bars Of pure
silver, from the Sd class rock Of the Gould
,& Curry claim which was here being work
ed protitably for half the result ana yield
ing about sixty doll ars to the ton of ore
remained here but one day, and then came
to Carson City, the capital OF the Territory
it>is located in Carson Valley in Ormsby
county and Contains about 300 iuha bi,ants
The Constitutional convention was in ses
sion when Iar:;ved here. 1t has since ad
journcd hav:ng prep rel and submitted to
the voters Of the Territory constitution
upon which i; is proposed to ask admission
into our union Of States. 1t contains but
one provision that Sc Ems to 10 par,clarly
objec ionabIe aud Ma: ,e.a'cs 10 the taxa
ton of the mines, and al the opposition to
II arises from this section. a. The time the
vote is taken on TIE ConS,ilu ion, the
members OF Congress, the Judges Of the
Supreme and Dirtrict Courts, the members
Of the Legislature and the State officers will
be elected. The press Of The Safe anuopn
ccs among tho candidates for office J. w
North for Governor, and J. W. Nye. the
present Governor for one Of the u. s. Sen
ators. have seen here individuals Of twc
tribes OF Indians that are inhabiting this
Territory the Piutcs and The Wa,hoes -
They are now friendly with each other, and
whites, but are SO numerous that fears are
sometimes entertained for ,he;: future rela
lions. II Con judge from what have
seen or heard Of Governor Nyes treatment
OF them, and their feeling for him l appre
hend there is hut little danger of an out.
break, Since left Salt Lake City have
not seen any snow except upon the SUNNI,
of some peaks Of the mountains, and The
weather has bee" mild aud pleasant, yer,
much like our Indian Summer. l Imagine
verp different from what you are having il
Minnesota.
From the time I left Atchison until I ar
rived at Salt Lake City and in that place
heard much o: the direction Of emigration
Iip the spring, being Is l thought s.bou,
iaqually divided between Bannock and Reese
River but west Of Salt Lake City, and west
|of Austin, to include Virginia, Washoe, and
Carson. and in fact fr..m the whole distric,
between here and San Francisco, there IS no
doubt bat great emigration will move to
wards Reese River variously estimated, ba,
don't believe it will Be less than ten
I ousand persons, and many intelligen,
men estimate u not less than thirty thoas
I and There are already there AMI in that
vicinity several mining districts, in each o.