Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-04-09
From Our Western Correspondent
WHITE PINE SILVER MINES.
Rootani Gold Diggings.
HELENA. M. T., March 9th, 1869

HELENA, M. L., Marcn otn, 1901.
EDS. CHRONICLE II promised to search
out few facts, to give you an idea of the
excitement raging here, about White Pine
and Rootan. So varied are the reports
and many of them so inconsistent, that it
is impossible to give reliable account of
either. What California, Nevada and
Utah papers say Of White Pine you may
know as well as l.. Generally, they will
speak to their own interest. Our papers,
publish all the absurd reports, and but
little that looks reasonable Many private
letters have been received here, and all
agree that the White Pine district pro-
duces the richest silver rock of any coun-
try in the world. All are not equally con-
fdent of the great extent of the mineral
wealth. Business men and houses are
there in abundance, and there are too
many laborers for the employment offered.
The excitement has now abated. Several
hundred persons have left here for that
land of silver Some by stage, some in
wagons, and others on horseback. Horses
and mules were in such great demand that
they brought exhorbitant prices. The
distance from this place is about 500
miles, and the country to be travelled
through is almost uninhabited, and little
better than a desert, for considerable
portion of the way. Now when we take
into consideration, these things, added to
the danger of crossing the Rocky Range
and two or three spurs, in mid winter, we
can readily conceive how wild the excite
ment was.
Perry Creek is tributary Of the Roota-
nj river, and is said to be about 30 miles
from the old Rootani mines. These latter
are about $50 miles northwest from here,
and Perry Creek about north of them. 1t
has been reported that 40 miles of the
creek had been prospected, and as much
as two ounces of gold obtained from one
pan of dirt. Later accounts say that the
creek is 40 miles long. Three miles only
will prospect satisfactorily for wages.
The country is covered with dense forests
of small pines, which, in many places
have been blown down, and prove a Sc
rious obstacle to travel, outside a main
trail. The greatest part of the year IS
winter, and deep snow covers all the noun
tains. Prospecting therefore is slow
business. The chief excitement about
these mines, was in that portion OF this
| LerTllOTY lying WSSt vi tuS ~ AZ
cooling fast, and the people are taking a
good think before they conclHde whether
to go or stay. The prospects for laboring
men do not look very brilliant in this ter
ritory at present, but do not think many
of US will go to Rootani.
Fire alarms are of daily occurrence, for
we have got over our big scare. All the
buildings that were only damaged are re-
paired, but nothing has been done toward
firing up the gap. One log building has
been Gemoved this week to make room for
stone Ere proof building, two stories high
which viii be erected this summer.
! The third drawing of the Helena money
lottery transpired on the % inst, 600 tick
cts were drawn. and the prizes amounted
to $4,000.
On the Sd inst, CorMshman about 81
years of age named Sam Mitchell, former