Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-11-26
DEAD CATS.

rude and rugged mountain within whose
depths lies the mighty and world-renown-
ed "Comstock." From Cedar Hill, north
OF Virginia, down past Gold Hill, to
where Gold Canon narrows into the dark
chasm of the Porte dEnfer, is AO!e-y
ground. At every step is yawnlng
tomb, and every tread is upon the bones
of dead wildcat. Here an open or care
lessly covered shaft, there dark tunnel
and everywhere pile of CHASTITY, ghostly,
cadaverous-looking rock, and each sur
mounted by a sign bearing the high
sounding, the ludicrous or the romantic
name of the once llustrious defunct.
Once the scenes of busy, hopeful labor;
the imaginary Golcondas, from which
were to be delved the diamonds which
were in fancy, destined to deck arms then
soaking in the soap-suds of San Francis
can wash-tubs; the Branch Minis"
which were to coin the glittering double
eagles, of which each sanguine owner of
feet saw rising in his future like the Py-
ramid of Cheops-look at them now
Deserted, abandoned, desolate; these are
feeble terms with which to describe the
utter loneliness and gloom that hangs
around the place where the wildcat was,
but-isAot! The very halls where, one
short year ago, their names were shouted
in fierce and eager rivalry by Boards of
sleek and shining Brokers, with "fair
round belly, with good capon lined" are
now silent and deserted. and the whilom
sleek and shining broker, has changed his
profession to that of Corporation Survey
or, and in seedy garb and shocking hat
slowly measures the sidewalk from George
Lewis to Wood & Wilson's with melan-
choly pace. Their name is Ichabod.
The place that knew them once is likely
to know them for sometime to come, for
they have joined the Cant-get-away Club.
They couldn't leave the country if they
wanted to, and they don't want to argu-
ing that when mans money and credit
are both gone, it matters little which side
of the mountains he is on. Besides, poor
devils, they hope that something will
turn ups" that the bright days of the
past will return again; that the Wildcat
is not dead but sleeping. Vain thought
The Wildcat is of a verify dead; it was
not immortal, and the last trump will not
resurrect it. 1t was of the beasts that
perish" and it has gone forever. Wildcat
had its day; brief, feverish and I'M
healthy lifetime, and although in that
short existence it gave an impetus to
trade and all things looked business-like
and prosperous, and though in the crash
and storm in which it died many good
men suffered, yet it was well that it died
when it did, and it is better for all to
know that it IS gone forever. The solid
basis of the counry's wealth is here still,
and its steady development is restoring
the confidence which was for q season
shaken when Wildcat gave its last screech
and died. The long list of names which
once made up our daily "Stock Report
has dwindled down to few. But there
is satisfaction in the knowledge that every
one of those now quoted represents fact,
a mine, tangible thing, and not the CHI
mera of dreamer or the lie of scoun-
drel. The solid wealth is here. The
booming of the blast, the heavy laden
wagons, and the laundering of innumer-
able mills which is in our ears even as we
write, tell the story of the bona fde working
of our mines; the daily shipments of the
bullion prove the result, and the constant
opening up of new lodges, and the in
creasing demand for and building up of
new mills, shows the healthy progress of
the mining interests of Nevada. 1t is not
alone in this principal district of Gold
Hill and Virginia that this healthy de-
velopment is visible. Humboldt, Esmer-
aida and Reese River, once the very
stronghelds and Businesses of the wildcat,
have slain that ferocious beast, and now,
from the substantial lodges of those dis
tricts are being extracted and shipped
of bullion that speak well for
their future importance and prosperity.
The day of humbug is past in Nevada,
and as burnt children fear the fire, so will
people henceforth be wary in their in
Developed lodges, and those
which from immediate contiguity offer
prospect of value, are the only
ones which attract any attention what
ever, and of such there are already suffi-
Gent in the State to give employment to
a vast population for generations to come.
Experience has taught US many things
besides caution, and even the wild rush
of speculation was not without its bene-
fetal results. During the unhealthy ex-
citement of which we have spoken, vast
amount of labor was performed which,
although pro6tless to those who performed
and paid for it, was the cause of many
useful inventions and improvements in
the science of mining, which, adding to
the stock of knowledge, rebound to the
general good. A casual remark about
"wldcat" led US into the foregoing train
of thought which, starting at humbug,
closes with realities which are satisfactory
to all who have an interest in the future
welfare of Nevada.