The New York herald., 1878-12-30
THE COMS7OCK LODE
First Discoveries Of Silver Ore in The
Mining Centre Of Nevada.
"OID VIRGINIA."
How He ''Saw Some Queer Looking
Stuff in a Gopher Hole"
CHRISTENING VIRGINIA CITY.
Early Records Of Mining Claims that
Are Now "Bonanzas."
DEPTHS OF THE SEVERAL MINES.
Digging Out the Ore by Operations on
Colossal Scale
rAn0AsrltC NlEt nc Oc DlulInA
CHRISTENING VIRGINIA CITY.
Early Records Of Mining Claims that
Are Now "Bonanzas."
DEPTHS OF THE SEVERAL MINES.
Digging Out the Ore by Operations on
Colossal Scale
ENORMOUS YIELDS OF BULLION.

yIRGrNIA CIIY, New, Dec. 10 1873
Nlcn the last war between the United States and
Mexico terminated in treaty of peace at Guadalupe
Hdago, in 1s4s, there ceded to the United States
large portion Of Northwestern Mexican territory.
embracing what are the States of California Ne
vada small portion Of the south of Colorado. the
Territories of New Mexico. Utah and large portion
OF Northern Arizona. In 1850 California admit
ted into the federal Union sovereign State, and
Territorial form OF government extended
Utah. reaching westward to the eastern boundary OF
California. Up to March. 1861. period OF eleven
years all the territory. with its rich mountains of
gold and silver which constitutes the State of
Nevada, known in political geography the
part of Utah. and at the period of the great
discovery the Comstock Lode, whatever law existed
in Carson county framed by the Mormon Legis-
lature Salt Lake and Orson Hyde, the leading apos
tie was the chief Judicial authority for both saints
and sinners.
In 1861 a Territorial government extended over
Western Utah under the designation Of Nevada. and
three years later October 81 1864 by proclamation of
the President OF the United States Nevada all
lnited into the federal compact the thirty third
State of the Union. On May ., 1866. Congress
tended the boundary Of the State TO the
lltth meridian and thus Nevada is bounded north by
Oregon and Idaho east by Utah and Arzona-from
orado River. its only southern boundary and south
west and west by California 1t il situated between
latitude 35 deg. and AZ deg. porth. and longitude
ia deg. and 40 deg. west extreme length north
and south in the east, 4s5 miles, and the west
boundary 30 miles; greatest breadth the thirty
ninth parallel, 800 miles north Of which it contracts
to about 80 miles and south of it it contracts
point The of the state l04 25 square miles.
DISCOVERIES.
In the beginning of 1850 number Of Mormons-
were en- route for the ''god dggIngs" in California.
They reached Carson Valley before the passage
the serras could be attempted with safety. and it
while thus awaiting. with the wornout and be-
lated emigrants Of the previous year. for the depart
ure of the snow that these Mormons discovered the
first gold east Of the Serras, and which led subse-
quenty the discovery of the greatest body Of silver
known TO tho world.
The gold first discovered here was found at the
mouth OF what is now called Gold Canyon, Ave
miles from where / now write For some time it
was found fine "dust." and only III sufficient
quantity pay small daily wages, which was far
from the realization of the golden dreams OF the
emgrants Accordingly. grass grew. they
pushed on to California, where they had heard Of
huge nuggets" and fabulous wealth. and left their
discovery to he taken mp by others in after time
THE FIRST TOWN NEVADA.
Two years later other prospectors replaced those
who had departed for the great III Dorado, and pro
ceeded further mp the canyon in search OF the gilt
tering metal and were measurably successful. by
the summer OF 1868 the prospectors numbered sew
eral hundreds. Roaning higher ami higher, from
bar TO bar. up the canyon and finding the gold in
.paying quantities. convenient place for . camp
was selected rude cabins were constructed "tllg-
outs" wagons and tents brought together and
Johnstown was created and thus began the cities
Of Nevada. Among this group Of settlers were two
somewhat eccentric notorietes who subsequently
inscribed the page OF history the two mpcris:sabe
names. ComstocE and Virginia City,
While Cold canyon. 70 the south ~ the mountain
on which Virginia City stands. being actively
worked BY small groups Of prospectors, washing,
wherever they could ind water. The bearing
grave and sand the bed OF the guch. other pros
pectors we're search Of the precious metal the
north of the mountain. called si1-Mle Canyon.
aud had similar rough experience and s occasional
strcaks OF fortune
uSwELcoME DISCOVERY SILVER.
without particle OF knowledge Of mineralogy and
having only actve pursuit Of gold their minds
the prospectors unTrepared for the discovery
Of SILVER. It's first appearance was in the
form of annoying enemy. Associated
with the gold they began 70 find grsyish
and heavy black sand. which deterorated the gold
and rendered il more difficult 10 work. They ioathed
the sight OF II and cursed q in profuson. The only
persons in the camps who formed favorable opinion
of the unwelcome sands two Germans by the
name n Grosch AZ early 1853 they appear have
believed that there was a body Of silver quartz on
the mountain. They had some knowledge OF geology
and are said to have made 'claim" somewhere
within the boundaries Of this municipality. The
lack Of machinery and other appliances for mining
left this claim among the numerous unaccom-
plisbed projects with which all mining camps
abound Hosea GrOsch struck his foot with
n pick and soon sfterwari died: his brother,
Allen set out for California TO procure the
necessary aid Of mechanics and chemicals with which
% operate the quartz claim before taken up;"
hdt he oyertaken In snow storm. was forced 10
subsist on his mule. and when discovered he was
nigh exhausted. His life only short time pro-
hinged, and he died OF fever. aud with his demise
persisted for time the project Of silver quartz
mining. This was in 1850
ruE DrscovErrrs or rHE cossrocK.
The work Of prospecting for gold continued with
undated vigor and labor was frequently richly re-
warded though great fortunes had been STRUCK,
Among the well known prospectors were Peter
OTeilly aud Pat Mclaughlin no doubt natives OF the
Emerald Isle; James Finney, u native Of the
state Of Virginia. and Henry Thomas Paige
Comstock, "son Of old Noah CoInstock, living
in Cleveland, Ohio. III. 4. r." however,
born in Canada, and grew up he says. regular
born mountaineer." o'Reiliy and Mclaughlin
to have been industrious miners 80, too, Finney
most OF the time, but he frequently afflicted with
thirst, aud from his hunor and easy habits became
The subject of liberties and was famIisry known as
''uld Virginia." Comstock lived under the sobriquet
Of "od Pancake" derived IL il said from his prefer
snces of that simple article ok camp cookery.
wv SOMETHING of cossIocK.
Irom associations with tho two brothers Csrosch.