Year: 1860

uaDle paper was more tnat occuP'eo WIN
the great political issues Of the day, wa have
Fefrained from writing to the present. Now
that winter is fast approximating, if not al.
ready upon Us, as on Friday last We had
quite sprinklipg of snow, covering mother
earth with that element to the depth Of some
two inches, we can give the green uns" a
hasty description Of our summer weather.
Fair and beautiful but much troubled Italy
with all her boast Of CLINE apd country
cannot excel the weather we have enjoyed
here, commencing the second week of June
and extending to Friday last, excepting only,
the wind rain, hail, and snow Of the third
instant, which doubtless visited the Golden
State Of the Pacific in a milder form-rain,
&c. During q period Of four months not
word Of complaint have we heard from any
one against the weather-that il was too
warm or too cold. Invariably when the day
became unusually warm the cool breezes Of
the Sierra Mountains came along broadcast,
and moderated the otherwise too hot day.
And if perchance, we had blowing buster
ing day-a thing seldom-though during our
last brief summer the warm rays Of the
mighty orb of day tempered all the cooling
effect of the otherwise unpleasant, but hur
ried passing away wind. This is fair but
short description Of the weather at Washoe
for the last four and one half months, as
taken compressed from my daily diary. Nor
have we been idle here as a people during
this while. Ever since the termination Of
the Indian war-Indian Hullabloo, the mi.
ners have steadily and vigorously been pen.
etrating and tapping these naked and barren
looking hills-eXposing to view rich depos-
its of both gold and silver. Silver mining
is slow, tedious process, as compared with
that of gold. The labor to reach the lode
is the same Of course in both, but there is a
vast difference in the reduction of the ore.
AS you are aware the reduction of the silver
ore is slow, tedious and expensive opera
tion, but when the silver ledge is secured it
is far more certain than that of Gold-there
is scarcely no giving out in it; the deeper
you 60 the richer it gets, as general thing.
As our winter has unceremoniously made its
first gentle bow among the free men Of Yves
tern Utah, it is not likely that much more will
be done in the development Of claims until
spring of the coming year Besides those
now taking out pay silver ore, the Central
Co. Rogers Co., Cherokee Co., Norman Co.,
Cole Co., Rickleton & Co., Vermill,on Co.,
Burning Moscow, Uncle Sam Co., Rock Is
and, Pony Express, Constitution, and o great
many others will gladden. the hearts of many,
and astonish an incredulous world next sum-
mer. Have patience, we'll prove it to you; a
little time is all we need. Toward the close
of Fall we shall have some 81 or 20 Mills
in operation here, and hope next year to
add thereto some 200 or 800 more, and
thus do away with the shipping Of ores to
San Francisco for reduction, &c.


Our Towns are growing giantlike. Vir-
giniq, the Emporium, as it must be the seat
Of Capitol. is extending its boundaries north,
south, east and west. Tents are giving way
to substantial buildings of brick, Stone and
frame. Our society is fast improving. In
our peregrinatiQns through town We often
hear the piano and the sweet bird like voice
of the female--next to religion, mans best
boon companion in the great work Of civil
zation; and we also have our churches and
some church going members. Have hope
in us-the leaven of piety and COED morals
is spreading and will ere long affect the en-.
tire whole.


Three-fourth Of the people are we'll pre-
pared in all that is necessary to stand siege
Of cold weather. Provisions throughout
the summer have been reasonable, more SO
than in the mountain towns Of Cali
fornia; but now traders are beginning to
plaster it on. Flour has arisen already to
$l3 and $l4 per 100 lbs. and other things
in proportion; but very many have antcipa.
ted all this by laying in stocks for winter
consumption. Washing has been and is
still paying business; this work is being
done by women of all nations, as also by the
Chinese-sons Of the celestial world. Five
months ago we had to pay for washing
white shirts so cts each, and this high price
induced many females to embark in the busi
ness; but opposition, the great life Of trade,
became so great that the price came down
10 its present rate, 25 cts.


One thing we lack greatly in Virginia, and
that is good Hotel, and with persons suit
able for its management. Boarding houses
we have an abundance, and only one house
called hotel-the observation-disclosures in
character like barn than hotel Surely
there is a fine field here for house Of this
kind; one properly put up with view to
comfort; such one as stranger would find
it home like on his arrival. How pleasant
it is to hear a stranger in particular, on his
arrival say, we'll, this comfortable house
and home any how--instead Of d-n the
house, and necessarily everything else. A
good house, invariably induces men to tarry,
whilst bad one hastens travellers either
away or to some other quarters.


Gold Hill and Silver City are very much
improved in the erection of good buildings
as also in size.


Gold quartz leads thersabouts are with.
out number and every one of them known