Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-06-28

There is evidently strong oisPos'Noa
on the part of the Government to become
acquainted more intimately than ever De,
fore, not only with the administration OF
affairs in our Territories, but with the
character of those sections in mineral ana
other resources. The late Secretary OF the
Interior (Mr. UsheD displayed through
out his term of service marked desire 70
develop the wealth of the mountain re,
gions to New Mexico and Arizona, ana
advocated strongly the requisite facilities
of railroad transportation for the purpose
The country is, indeed, OF sufficient lnter-
est to Justify this attention and it can.
not be doubted, if the Government shall
follow up the design which the present
expression and movement on the part OF
our officials indicate, most favorable re-
suit will be realized.
The precious metals are to be found to
an unlimited extent throughout the vast
mountain range of that midway region
living between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans; but the great hindrance IN the
way of realizing this wealth is the dlfh-
Guilty of reaching the country. and the ex-
pense of Transporting the necessary ma
chinery. Sand washings for gold and
surface scrapings have turned out rather
unremunerative. Occasionally pocket
is found with fair accumulation, the de-
no,it of centuries, and now and then a
nugget near the top rock; but the mass
of the metal is suffused with the quartz
formations, and requires heavy machinery,
driven BY steam power for its extraction.
Late inventions for the more thorough
separation of the gold from the rock dust,
demand almost ponderous castings, the
freight on all which exceeds in amount
the first cost of the articles.
Besides this serious clog to the prosecu'
sion of mining, the delays incident to ma
chinery by breakage and otherwise, may
be reckoned as another drawback. En-
e,neers are scarce, too, and proper assist
ants in other parts of the work, in conse-
ouence of the long, tedious, expensive and
often dangerous journey from commune
ties in which mechanical and other labor
may be engaged to the mines. The ex-
pense of living may be mentioned, like
wise, as an obstacle of no little moment,
resulting from the same cause Of heavy
transportation charges. It will be seen,
therefore, that q quartz mill requires
considerable capital to begin with, and
with considerable one 10 90 on to meet
the accidents, delays. and expenses of q
commencement. It is not a matter for
wonder, in view of the facts, that capital
in the Territories-particularly in New
Mexico-is invested in other enterprises.
To overcome these difficulties railroads
are absolutely necessary. Not only the
wealth Of the country, in the richest min
erals, invite to such connection, but the
level plains stretching from the Missouri
at Kansas City or I.eavenworth, or Law
renee. to any Of these Territories, or min
ing regions, present the least difficulties
for work of the kind. But few streams
are in the way, and but light distractions
TO be overcome. The distance to Denver,
in Colorado, or Albuquerque, in New
Mexico, from Kansas City, is not greater
than that from st. Louis to New York.
As regards the richness Of the mines
there can be no doubt whatever. Two Or
three years ago the leads near Denver were
in great measure abandoned and pro-
nounced worthless. CLAIMS were sold for
little or nothing, which now command
fortunes. New processes for extracting
the gold dust from the crushed rock were
introduced, and the yield became i'm
mense. The Placer Mountain, near Santa
Fe. is known to abound in gold and sill
yer, as the most su cessful experiments,
ON small scale, by the Spaniards. Next
cans and Americans, for a hundred years
past, and the old excavations, showing
long and earnest labor, sufficiently attest.
It was the object Of the Secretary OF
the Interior to recommend to the con-
sideration of capitalists and Others the
advantages TO be derived from railroad
running down the valley Of the Rio
Grande to the boundary of Old Mexico.
A communication of the kind on that
route would accommodate rich and
extensive mining region, and open up
source of wealth of unprecedented extent.
The benefit the country might derive
from the large accession Of gold these mines
are capable Of yielding. is not the only
one within the compass Of railroad facili-
ties. One Territory alone taxes the Ma
tional Treasury at this time some five or
six millions annually for simply keeping
the Indians in order and with this heavy
expenditure we have murders and rob-
berries almost continually. The history OF
all frontier settlements shows that the In
dian is more quickly and thoroughly sub
dued by thickly settled communities in
their midst, than BY military raids, or any
other method. Although agriculture can
not become leading interest in those Sec
tons, the pastoral resources Of the country
are extensive. There is enough of avail
able land. however, to sustain large
population. and we add to these the in
ducements to immigration, presented By
the extensive mineral fields, of which we
have spoken, there need be no apprehen-
sion, but in a few years after the compile
ton of railroad, our Indian troubles
would come to an end, and the heavy ex-
penditures now required TO protect, chas-
tise and support the various tribes. be re-
duced to very moderate SUMS. Lo'ets
Democrat. .........