Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-11-08
Eaafarn Nevada.

AUSTIN, Nevada, Oct. l, 1867.
There are two ways Of reaching the
Silver State, the overland route now
much shortened, and to be in q few
weeks still further shortened by the
railroad to Cheyenne, from thence
through Salt Lake City to this point by
stages mail time now from Philadel-
phia to this place two weeks; the other
mode is by steamer from New York to
San Francisco ; thence by steamboat to
Sacramento, railroad to Cisco, and finish
the journey in stages; mail time about
thirty days. The latter was my route.
Austin, where I now reside, is q city
Of about 1000 inhabitants, scattered
about on one main street Quilt on the
ravine) and numerous other streets on
the thills, with cross streets. The city
is built on Union, Cedar, Central, and
Lander hills, with Mount Promotheus
keeping grand watch over oil from the
eastward, looking like o great giant
down upon the puny hills and their
busy occupants, and across all to the
Reese River Valley and the Mount Airy
range farther west. The range of noun
tains that run along here are called
Toiyabe, and contain in their many
cauons bodies of silver ore, to be devel-
oped in the future history of the State.
The population Of this city are mostly
engaged in mining and its kindred pur-
suits, and were it not that many settlers
have brought families with them, or
those coming have found companions
here, and commenced keeping house,
the population, like that of all mining
camps, would be uncertain. However,
independent of mining, Austin is favor
ably located for business, being in the
center of the State, and surrounded by
mining camps. Very few of the houses
here arc over one story high, and they
arc builtof stone, wood, adobe and brick,
many of more permanent finish than the
original miners cabins, which are still
standing and occupied by the bachelor;
if of stone these latter are roughly stuck
together with mud, rooted with logs
covered with mud if of wood they are
stockaded, and chinks flled..with mud,
and rooted in som style. When adobes
or bricks are used the houses are COW
cred with shingles or shakes. Houses
and stores now being built are Of a
much better class and more ornamental,
| showing a greater faith in the perma-
nency of the place. OF churches we
have two, the largest being owned by
the Methodist Episcopal denomination,
and the other by the Roman Catholics.
| The Methodist church is of brick, n
somely finished, with tower, steeple,
and bell, and inside contains a fine
organ, pulpit, aud pews, to seat about
four hundred persons. The pastor is
the Rev. j. L. Trefren, who is very much
liked by every one in the city. The
| Catholic church is Of brick, rector's
residence and school room below; audi
ence chamber above; it is not finished
on the inside. Father Monteverde has
charge of it.. Public buildings, are a
| Court House Of frame cruciform shape,
| contains u court room, in which the
Presbyteriaus hold service on Sundays,
and Recorders, Sheriff's, Clerks
and other offices, the Jail being in the
rear, under the hill. City Hall is Of
brick, with Jail first floor and Council
chamber above. Masonic Hall, occupied
by the Odd Fellows and Masons above;
| Wells, Fargo Il Co.'s Express below.
The building is ofbrick and stone, metal
roof. There are two public halls; the
eastern and western portions Of the town
hold ono each, for meetings, balls, fairs,
etc. We have two fro companies, with
out apparatus to extinguish fires, and
one military company, over which there
is one General, one Assistant Adjutant
General, and any number of Majors.
Now having given you some little idea
of the place, | would mention that the
| climate is good for those not too far
gone in consumption, as we are located
seven thousand feet above the sea, and
it remains clear for long stretches Of
time; when q change comes, though, it
may be snow or rain any time of the
year. With only stage communication
for individuals, oxen, mules, or horse
teams for freight, the getting about is
rather slow and expensive compared
with that on east but the Pacific Rail-
roads (both Union and Central are draw
ing nearer to each other, and q change
will be for the better. AS to wages,
miners are paid from four to five dollars
per day carpenters and blacksmith, six
to seven dollars; engineers, FIVE to six
dollars per day in coin, and q steady
man can get steady work but am
sorry to say that there are many induce
ments to drink and gamble, as they are
both more publicly done than we are
accustomed to see at home.
But now we will come to that which
most interests the people here, many Of
our Philadelphia friends, and tho u
try at large" our silver mines -
which this year will send into the cir
culation of silver in the world over two
millions of dollars from this district
alone, and, adding the amounts from
Washoe and other districts, the silver,
circulation this year will have in the
neighborhood of $l5, 900, 900 added tot t
from this new State of Nevada, which
six years ago commenced Its existence.
The agriculture Of the State is being
much improved and attracting much at
tention, as it is found that the land only
needs irrigation to make it largely pro-
ductivc ; but I have no figures to illus
trate its improvement, as it, as most
other pursuits, is held second to the pur-
suit of the precious metals.
Hlyrs.-We have probably all Of US
met with instances in which a word