The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-12-13

reverence for the noble character OF
the red man, and are so full Of poetical
inspiration for, "Lo the poor Indian"
would doubtless undergo n great change
if compelled to live upon the borders q
few years. On Sunday the 32d day Of
our journey we reached Fort Bowey, in
Apache Pass, and found the sutlcr store,
bakery and butcher shop closed according
to army regulations. Upon enquiry we
were directed to the billiard saloon, where
VIC found the officers engaged in a social
game making known our wants they
Immediately suspended their pleasures
and furnished us with meat, bread, and
groceries sufficient for the balance of the
trip.
The second day from Fort Bowey, late
in the afternoon, We reached n watering
place eight miles distant from Ralston,
the representivc town of the most extern
sive silver mining camp perhaps in the
world. We were upon a road not much
travelled, from which only an indistinct
trail led into town. All were anxious to
reach town that evening, so we started
out,myself on horseback in advance pros.
pecting for road which we failed to find.
The teams got discouraged and turned
back, but we kept on looking until i'm
penetrable darkness shrowded hill and
vale, when all at once our horse gave out
and refused to 60 a step farther. We
%dismounted for dcliberation, viewed and
reviewed our isolated condition, and like
Artemus Ward on the plains cncompassed
by twenty stalwart Indians, concluded
that we were a long ways from our base
Of supplies, with little or no prospect Of
reinforcement, covered with the deep
shades of night, surrounded by thorny
shrubs and cactus, craggy peaks, rough
and rugged gorges, and mountain passes,
and that consequently we had best sur
render ourself prisoner to the situation.
Accordingly we unsaddled and hitched
our horse to a bush, made a bed without
bedding upon the soft rocks,an lay down,
reposing our weary head upon IL fire
arms, not the most agreeable arms in the
world to pillow ones head upon but we
had the musical murmur of insects, and
the dolelul howl of wolves to lull us to
sleep, and we were soon lost in refreshing
dreams Of comforts past, and to come.
Man can endure any amount Of comfort,
ease and luxury, so he can suffer many
privications and hardships and still pass
on to new enterprises unframed. Some
gardian angel kept us safe until early
dawn, when we mounted and rode into
camp to find IL party just on the point
of starting out to search for the lost.
About II o'clock the same nay we reach
ed Ralston; situated in the low and
smoothly rounded hills, forming a gently
receding and beautiful base to the noun
tains in the immediate vicinity of the
mines. Still sloping to the east they
blend in the waves of rolling ground Skin
ted by a most beautiful valley 90 miles
wide and extending either way to where
the dim haze of the horizon rests on its
bosom. The Burro mines are named
after the Burro Mountains, which lay
20 miles to the northeast of here, and
which derived their name from a legend,
asserting that many years ago the Span
iards sent out large trains of Burros
Gackasses) from the interior of Mexico to
these mountains for silver. Upon the
second Or third trip they were lost and
never heard gilmore. 1t was supposed
they were destroyed by Indians. Hence
the name Burro. Some two years ago
tcamster picked up a small piece Of quart
or float rock beside the old migrant roaG
which passes through the valley two mile.
distant from the mines eventually it was
taken to San Francisco and by accident
!, it was shown to parties who became a
once interested. and accordingly sent GU
an expert to try md find the ledge from
whence it came. On the 22d of las
Feb, Mr.. Arnold,i in company with other.
arrived here, and at once discovered thu
lodges which crop out of the ground &C
feet in height, varying in width from II
to 500 feet, 1t hardly seems possible
that such mammoth vein of rich silver or,
!, looming up like the walls of some i'm
mense fertilization, hooking the gaze o
the passer-by, could so long remain un
| discovered.
} Thousands Travelled this road to Cali
fornia in early days, saw these lodges
%supposing they consisted of barren coun
try rock, and passed on to the land o
gold. Many of the main lodges are from
three to four miles in length, and there
is probably more ore above ground thar
a thousand stamps can crush in twenty
, years; out Of 300 assays that have beer
made, from the groupings the averages il
$50 per ton.
And so they go down on the lodges
which proves to be the case with all Mex
lean mines, they grow richer and richer
and they find stratas that go as high al
$4,000 per ton. Many Of the capitalists
in California have secured interests here
and already four large companies have
been Incorporated with a capital stock Of
over $4,000, 600. One of Middlebury's
} noted and most worthy citizens, A. j
Severance is a large owner in some of the
best lodges, ont of which he is sure tc
realize n mint of money. Fortune ia.
vors the brave, and we hope that soon he
may become thrice n millionaire.
Most of the ore from these mines will
be reduced on the ella river, which runs
down the opposite side of the valley, %
miles distant from here. 1t affords water
power in great abundance, and its timber
forests are unlimited. A railroad is to
be constructed early in the spring, mills
erected. and the whole train of minino
Operations i%naugurated.
Soon the Southern Pacific Railroad will
pass through here, and the future of the
Burro mines, New Mexico and their de-
pendent surroundings can scarcely be
realized. In our next W will give you
items more in detail, and give some facts
concerning other rich mines near here
general of the country, its
climate and seasons.
Most Respectfully Yours,
r. w. p.