Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-04-15
Letter from Nevada Territory.


to his relatives in Barton, giving de-
scription of the silver mines of NeVads
and of the country generally, we think
will be of interest to all our readers
1t is news from a quarter we do not OF
ten hear :-ED.
The first Silver mines discovered il
the territory was in 1858, by man o
the name of Comstock, and the lead, lode
or ledge, then discovered has proved tt
be the most important one in this or any
other country, in the last hundred years
This lead called the 'Comstock,' afteI
the discoverer, has caused most of the
excitement about silver mines---whict
excitement RACES to a great extent on the
Pacific coast, and il is my opinion that
this lead is the only permanent and val
liable of any yet discovered in Nevada
Territory. There are many other per-
sons who think or pretend that there are
other leads already discovered, that in
time will turn out as rich as the Com
stock While l am writing of leads,
lodes or lodges, which are the same
thing, perhaps had better explain what
they are. Well quartz lead is a
streak or strata ofquartz encased in some
other kinds of rock-most generally
slate or granite. These leads generally
extend in a northerly and southerly di-
rection, and stand on angles, with the
incline in most cases towards the east.
The Comstock lead in some places reach
les the enormous width OF sixty feet
This lead has been traced for the dis
lance of about two miles, and paying
claims found in different places along the
ledge, of different degrees of richness,
owing, perhaps in some measure to the
degree Of development attained. The
ledge has been tapped by tunnel to the
depth of 430 feet below the surface, re
sulting in the finding of rich silver ores.
Along the supposed route of this
lode many companies are continually
sinking shafts to find it, in which work,
hundreds of thousands Of dollars are be-
ing expended. will name some of tie
paying mines on the lead, commencing
with the Ophir, on the north, comprising
400 feet on the lead, and paying a fair
dividend to the stockholders. The pres
ent market value of the Ophir is about
S2500 per foot. The next in order is
he Spanish or Mexican claim, contain
ng 100 feet right in the midst of the
Ophir claim, that company in early times
having traded 100 feet of their ground
o a company of Mexcans for spring
IF water, giving the Mexicsns choice of
ocation anywhere on their claim. This
lain is owned by two or three rich
Bankers of San Francisco, and is not
,fered for sale. The dividends are sup
posed to be very large per foot as the
hahn is known 10 contain rich rock, and
| small claim can be worked 10 better
advantage than large one. The last
ales reported in the Spanish, was last
pring, at ten thousand dollars per foot.
Next on the lead are some claims not
'et paying dividends, but showing en-
ouraging prospects, among them the
Central, the California, Dick Sides, &c.
Now comes the Gould & Curry Gold
nd Silver mining Co., mine Of 1900
eet, the most important, perhaps, in the
world. 1t is worked through two tunnels
nd has paid the company large divi-
ends the past year. They have not
ong been taking rock out of their second
lnnel, which taps the ledge at the depth
{ 430 feet below the surface of the
round. They are still driving third
lnnel into The hill, calculated to tap the
edge one thousand feet below the sur
ace of the ground, and when they get
} taking pay ore out of the three tun-
els, and when all expenses for improve
rents is stopped, and all other expenses ,
kept those necessary for the working
the mine, the lucky stock holders may .
'ok for monthly dividends of wonderful
lsgnitude. The present market price
about $4,000 per foot. South of the
!. & c., on the Comstock lead, are the
avage Gold and Silver mining Co., the
Iale * Norcross, the Chollar, the Po-
81, &c. Neither of these last named
ave yet paid any dividends, except the :
avage, which joins the Gould & Curry ;,
/ the south, and commenced to pay
vidends last fall. The others named :,
i'll doubtless prove to be paying claims
the course of year or so. The '
aims at Gold Hill are rich, and are also
opposed TO be on the Comstock lead
You may reasonably ask, why if one
him on the lead pays, another does not ? "
d l will answer, that in some claims y