Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-03-29
THE EVENING NEWS.

We started on the rampage through the
good town of Virginia, to see what might
be seen in the way of progression. We
Arst halted at the
.. GOULD AND CURRY SHAFT
which is being sunk on D street, directly
east of the office of Wells, Fargo & Co.
At this time the shaft has attained the
depth of three hundred and eighty-fve
feet, and it is proposed to continue the
same to depth of one thousand feet,
with prospecting drifts branching east and
west, each one hundred feet. After look
ing around the works and finding the
whole labor of the most perfect kind, we
CHANGED to fall in with Bob Coryell and
Frank Denver, who are jointly in charge
of the erection of the magnificent new
machinery, which consists OF an engine of
the Corlis' pattern, and of eighty-h horse
power, which is supplied with steam from
three boilers soon TO be put in place at a
point north of the shaft; already one
boiler, four feet in diameter and sixteen
feet long, is on the ground, and will i'm
mediately be se;-and two more of
larger size are already on the road from
the Vulcan Works at San Francisco. The
engine will not only do the work of hoist
ing. but will drive twelve-inch pump,
at q speed of thirteen strokes per minute,
dischsrging each minute sixty cubic feet
of water, or about four hundred and fifty
gallons, and supposed to be of sufficient
capacity to free the mine Of such water as
may be struck at the above mentioned
depth. The huge smoke-stack, seventy
feet long and forty-two inches in diane
ter. will be hoisted to-day, and the entire
machinery will be in working order in
thirty days. It is magnificent work, and
we trust will meet with success in develop
ing the famous mine of Nevada. We
next pass to the
CENTRAL MILL,
which is situated at the head Of six mile
canon, and is working Savage ore through
the dry crushing and roasting process
with good success. We next ramble
down the canon and find the new
PLANTATION WORKS,
located short distance below the Central
Mill. Considerable excitement has re-
Gently been had relative to the discovery
of what is supposed to be platina, and
which is procured from quartz taken from
the Gold Bluff claim, on Cedar Hill, north
of Virginia At a depth of forty feet a
ledge has been found about three feet in
thickness, and which produces about three
hundred dollars to the ton in gold, as
worked by the arastra process. The pro-
priesors, Messrs. Boahn, Dunsing and
Others, some time since built small aras-
ira and commenced working the ore for
gold, but by using blankets in their
sluices discovered an unknown Ito them)
metal land which is believed to be plati-
num- in considerable quantities. A
quantity has been sent to San Francisco
for assay, and we shall soon be apprised
of the result. The process of working
the ore at present is that of the common
Mexican method. and after the amalgam
has been ground out, the taihngs are
worked through blanket sluices, where the
unknown substance is collected. What
that metal may be, we are incompetent
even to guess, but from what we saw we
can positively state that its specific gravity
is greater than that of gold. Bidding
sd:eu to the new idea" we next strike
the
LArRoBE TUNNEL,
which at present is being worked by
small force. A fine stream of water Of
about one hundred and Fifty inches flows
therefrom, and supplies the Gould & Curry
and other mills in the canon with water.
which is about its only practical value.
The next object of interest on the route IS
the headquarters Of
UNCLE SANS TEooPs,
at the gate of which We receive " stand
and give the pass" from a mounted guard.
We call for the officer in command on
noficial business" and after time are
warmly welcomed by our old friend Lieut..
Edwards, who at once courteously exhib-
tied TO US the entire surroundings of our
volunteer force. The officers quarters are
commodious and in perfect order, and
close by we observe two twelve pound
howitzers and accompanying equipments
one of which is the old Fremont gun,
found some years since at the head waters
of Walker river. Next in course Is the
guard house and Orderly's rooms, and
further west the sleeping quarters of the
soldiers, in which we found number OF
the men engaged in various occupations.
We pass to the mess room where every
thing in and around is as neat as maid
ems toilet, as is the cook room, where we
found in process of cooking, nice fresh
and salt beef, pork. potatoes, beans, tea.
coffee and the finest looking bread we
have seen for many days. Below are the
stables containing twenty-five horses, all
in good condition; while to the east, there
has been recently erected commissary
house and ammunition room; and yet
further to the east is the dwelling Of Gen.
Van Bokkelen, Provost Marshal Of this
district. The whole appurtenances are IN
perfect order and show good military dis
cipline. The routine is as follows Rev
ellie and roll call at daylight-breakfast
at 7 o'clock-drill at S O'Clock, for one
hour-grand mount at 9 o'clock-dinner
at u M-drill from 2 &c. 8 P. N-supper at
S o'clock-retreat at sunset-tattoo at
o'clock, and taps for retiring at % o'clock
OF the whole regime we cannot say TOO
much in praise, and Of our host, Lieut..
Edwards, who has shown US much kind
ness, and to whom we are indebted for
valuable information. The day being well
nigh spent, and Lib. and our lean self, be-
ing very tired and dry, we made line OF
march for Doyle & Goodman'sinvigorating
establishment, where we revived some
what through the aid of light draught Of
mint and water! We shall ramble again.
TIE LEGITIMATE DRANA.-The Opera
House opened last night to a densely
crowded audience. The play of the Scar
let Letter was presented, in which Miss
Heron took the leading part, and really
made poor piece acceptable to some
what critical audience. Her acting is
above our powers to criticise. Frank
Mayo, ever Virginia favorite, was well
received, as was the balance of the excel
lent company. Tonight will be presented