Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-02
LETTER FROM NEVADA.
TREASURE CRY, WHITE PINE COUNTY,
NpvApA Oct 9TH lS-

ally obtain the perusal of the 'Journal." Its
mention of names and places familiar in the
daysof "Auld Lang Syne" gives peculiar
pleasure, apprcciable only to those of the
wandering feet aud weary breast who have
nothing of home but the recollection, none OF
its pleasures but the retrospection. What
seems stale to the home reader, is eagerly
read by the absent as reyifying the recollec-
ton of old and happy associations.
The writer has travelled through most of
the States and sojourned in maryland has
heard the name of his native State used
everywhere as a synonym for sterility and
barrenness. Once upon answering the ques-
ton as to my nativity, the inquirer generous
ly remarked" Maine possesses one superiori-
ty above all others in the Union" pleased to
have met one congenial spirit, l asked to
what he referred-his answer, ''i:s the best
State to emigrate FROM" disappointed me.
have always disagreed with Names ira
ducers. IT'S true its soil produces not
equally with the rich alluvion of the Missis-
sippi, or the richer valleys of California, but
it is not barren, and its climate, although
rigorous, is far preferable to the miasmatic,
fever brooding low lands of the South and
West, or the terrible inclemency of the noun
tain regions of the Pacific Coast and while
the above mentioned localities, they go far
more surely and happily. Those who have
taken our own good State as a standard for
barrenness, should take trip from the Mis-
souri, River across the desert plains of Lara
mic, up the eastern slope ofthe Rocky Noun
| tains, down the other side into the "Alkali
Lands" which are as unproductive as the
sands of Sahara, and where nature hasn't been
generous enough to provide water except Of
poisonous quality, and even that in many
cases, as if to mock the thirsty traveller,
comes boiling hot from Tartarus-should
ascend again into the mountains of Nevada,
every one an "Ossa upon Pelion," peak above
peak and crag above crag, without green
| blade of grass or running stream of water
to vary the eternal monotony of the scenery.
Fifteen hundred miles of natures refuse, with
only occasional small valleys interpreted
like Gases in Sahara, would convince the
most discontinued son of Maine, that although
his native State is in instances surpassed, it
is much above the average, and would cause
him to bless his happy stars that he was born
in that happy land. Treasure Hill, upon
which this letter is written. is in White Pine
County, Eastern Nevada; I mention the
county, that many of your readers will re-
member the great excitement in regard TO the
discovery of silver mines here, about three
years since. Doubtless some of them aniici-
pated availing themselves of Names peculiar
superiority" as above mentioned and are
now glad they did not--at least they ought TO
be. The ''Hill" is very respectable noun
tain, $1,000 feet above sea leyel-twice the
altitude of Katahdin. On its summit is
Treasure City," "sitting on millions enough
to pay the National debt" The City has a
population of about 800 souls it may safely
be called mixed, every nationality under the
sun being represented The chief business
is silver mining, which gives business to
limited number of grocers, clothiers, &c., and
an unlimited NUMBER OF saloons.
The White Pine mines extend over an area
of about IL miles square; they are of two
characters, demominated ''Free" and Base,
the former containing silver alone, and the
metals mixed l shall not attempt to de-
scribe the 'modus operandi of silver mining
it may serve as subject for future letter.
The City presents dilapidated appearance,
like that of all mountain towns which have
been built up during undue excitement.
White Pine has been known as a mining
camp for six years, yet no excitement at
tended its discovery until the summer of '65,
when the celebrated "Eberhardt" mine was
discovered. This was probably the richest
silver deposit ever known, but like all ex-
tremely rich deposits was not permanent.
With the date of the discovery of this mine
commenced the greatest excitement ever
known on the Pacific Coast since the discovery
of gold in California. Six daily six-horse
coaches from the railroad could not accom-
modate' one-tenth of the crowd of treasure
seekers on their way to the new Ell Dorado
they came on foot, on horse back, in wagons
and for months "the cry was still they come"
Town sites were surveyed, and lots sold for
fabulous prices, which now could not be given
away. Buildings were hastily put up at i'm
mense cost, which have since been abandoned
to the tender mercy of old Boreas by their
owners. Lumber sold for (S40O) Four Hun
dred Dollars per thousand, and the demand
exceeded the supply at that price. The ex-
travagance Of the people could not have been
sustained even had the mountain been solid
mass of silver as some foolishly proclaimed.
The unreasonable expectations of the fortune
hunters were not realized, and the panic
came. The crowd left poorer but no wiser,
(the miner profits little from such expert
ence,) an hundred times disappointed, is ever
ready to leave moderately 'good thing
and tramp to a new excitement. The farther
the distance and the greater the difficulties