The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-02-07
From the Mines.
Virginia Mining District, Ralston

Virginia Mining District, Ralston |
n. NJ, Jan. 10, 1871.
Mr.. EDITOR 1t is quite natural for
ones thoughts to be engrossed with OBJ
jects and incidents Immediately connected
with the locality, and most intimately
associated with the place of his sojourn
whether it be in the midst of rough and
rugged mountains, surrounded by monu.
ments, castles and domes, crude from the
hand of nature; or whether it be in the
center of large city, encompassed by
mansions, palaces and magnificent struc.
lures, fashioned by the hand of art.
Hence we foreshadow an apology for the
sameness, or monotonous hue blended in
the coloring of all our communications
based upon the great mineral resources of
New Mexico. And you will please ex-
cuse any depression from the subject of
our letter, that may chance to intrude in
calling to our aid the light of compari.
son. Daring our sojourn of two.and.a-
half years upon the Pacific Slope, our
whole time and attention, has been devo.
ted to mines and mining, and as natur-
al consequence, we have become more
conversant with this branch of industry
than any other, and while he have been
thus engaged, and gaining a knowledge
Of, and becoming familiar with the va.
rious modes OF working mines and reduc.
ing ores, as well as the ever varying in.
trlcate, and mysterious geological phases
presented in the formation Of all great
mineral regions, We have been no less in
terested in noting the important and
wonderful changes incident to their de.
velopment. Changes that have added
States to the Union, built railroads, aud
established steam ship lines with foreign
countries, forever redounding to the
growth and opulence Of great nation.
Few people in the Atlantic States com.
prehend the magnitude of the mineral re.
sources of the Pacific coast. The great
changes attending the lapse of the last
twenty years, have been the direct result
of the product sl400,OO0,0OO in sill.
yer and gold in California s150,000,-
900, in Nevada; 100000 in Idaho,
Oregon, Montana, Utah, Arizona, and
New Mexico. To-day, California is sec.
ond to no State in the Union in wheat
growing and stock raising, and her fat.
tering condition is attributed to her gol.
den harvests in the first degree and
from the same natural cause Nevada be.
came state at much earlier period
than she otherwise would, and can now
boast of coming mint, fine churches,
schools and Aourishing villages, while she
is still producing her Sl3,000,000 a
year, in bullion, aside from other sources
Of wealth and internal improvements.
The early building of the Union and
Central Pacific railroad, is another result
depending upon the massive towers of sill.
yer and gold. Aside from the Unreasonable
benefit the government and nation al
large derives from this road, il is to-day
developing gold, silver and coal mines il
Utah, that lay dormant before. Besides
this, it is neutralizing the Mormon ele
ment, the result of which, will be the ad
dition of another great State to the Uniol
in a short time.
All the mineral centers in Nevada anC
Utah to-day, are alive with visitors, ira
ders and speculators from oil parts of tn
world, and still they keep coming as tim
and labor develope new fields for invest
ments. Although this has been going o.
for the last twenty years, legitimate min
ing in this country is but just in its in
fancy. Judging from the past and pres
ent, we always have a right to draw
Aattering or gloomy picture of the fu
ture, as the case may be. Assuming tn
right, we make the assertion, but nc
without having many facts and figures t
base it upon. Private and public staff,
tics show that the coin results Of mimi
enterprises have increased more than
per cent. per year for the past ten year
The same indomitable perseverance an
Z unbridled energy that wrested Nevad
from the wild Indians, and made II Il
most noted and opulent silver mining Gel
ter on the continent. is now turning i
attention to the vast unlimited miner
regions Of Arizona and New Mexico, en-
bracing with their borders 800, 0C
square miles one broad ocean Of pr