Year: 1868

EDiroR REpoRrER:-I arrived here day be,
fore yesterday, two days from Austin. There
are a large number Of adventures here at
present, and every day Increases the namber,
attracted by the reports circulated all over
the country Of the fabulous richness of the
silver mines Of this district. The general
character Of the nha bitan,s is the same as
that Of all newly discovered mining districts
Whisky drinking gambling, prospecting, etc.
occupy the time of this people Everybody
here seems cheerful aud hopeful Of striking
it rich" Many of the old pioneers OF Vir-
ginia and Reese River are TO be seen here, n
great portion Of them as poor and as happy
as they were at the discovery Of those mines.


l have had but two days to look at the
mines in this district, and, of course, am not
prepared to give you as definite an opinion
Of their merits as others who have been here
for months. However, have seen enough
TO satisfy me that the seemingly exaggerated
reports. received in California before | left
that State, did not tell half the tale of the
great wealth Of the mountains Of White
Pine.


Yesterday made visit to the famous
Eberhardt and keystone mine, and were | to
tell the immense richness and great extent of
that mine, you would surely set me down as
one possessed Of an exceedingly brilliant i'm
aginstion. In company with Mr.. Bcknell.
the polite and intelligent Superintendent, |
descended, by rope ladder, a shaft to the
depth Of thirty five feet, which is the great
est depth attained by this company, and iheS
behsId sight that would gladden. the avari
ciuos heart of miser. Above, below,
and at each side Of the tunnel in
which stood, were tons upon tons Of silver
ore that will yield from five hundred to seq
enteen thousand dollars to the ton. |
picked from the side of the tunnel several
pounds of specimens with my own hands
that will work fifteen thousand dollars to the
ton. The Superintendent of the mine in
formed me that from the point where we
we're standing in the drift, We could see in
view at least one million of dollars. The
best feature of the mine is the great extent
aud the unlimited quantity of ore, OF an ex
traordinary rich quality. it contains. 1t has
been prospected to depth of thirty five feet,
10 length of about two hundred and a
width of one hundred and t,penty, and in all
its length and breadth, the very richest kind
Of silver ore is found. The quality of the
ore found here differs from that of Virginia
and Reese River in the fact that it contains
but lillle base metal, and is quite easily and
cheaply worked. 1t requires no roasting
The Keystone, Blue Bell, Richmond, and
other mines, bordering on the Eberhardt, are
equally rich, and thousands of dollars in ore
have been taken from them, but have not
vet been worked to the extent Of the origi
nal mine.


saw one block in the Keystone mine,
weighing one hundred and forty.two pounds,
which has been ascertained to contain eight
hundred dollars in pure silver. Mr.. Apple-
wath and DR.. Willard, the owners Of this
mine have eleven tons of ore taken from it,
sacked aud stored in their cabin, worth ten
thousand dollars per ton. Northeast OF the
mines referred to, at distance Of about half
mile, is Chloride Flat, where are a large
number of rich locations. | visited a num-
Der of the claims here, and found that ore
averaging from one hundred to three thou
sand dollars per ton bad been taken from
several Of the claims. One PECULIARLY Of this
fiat is that metal is found wherever hole is
sunk. and the ore is not found in lodges as is
generally the character of the silver mines of
other countries. A large number of pros
pectors are at work on this fiat, and the IT,
ties to claims here are very much mudd'ed.
When a miner strikes pay be drifts until he
comes in contact with some other one from
different direction. Each miner seems to
consider that be has no perfect title to any
thing but the ore be takes from bis shaft
The effect of this character of the mines is
that hundreds OF holes are sunk all over the
hat-soms within few feet OF others.


From what have seen Of this District,
believe it to bs the richest yet discovered in
the world. Itss certainly. far superior in
richness to those Of Virginia City or Reese
River, or Humboldt, in their early history
Notwithstanding the richness of this country,
it is not to be expected that every one com
ing here will "strlks it," There are hundreds
here now, some of whom have been pros
pecting Tor two months, and found nothing,
and who will certainly get very hungry be
fore ,hey are 10 the country much longer.
Living here is very high, and unless you bave
q plethoric purse, or are successiul IN making
a strike, you will have TO seek country
where provisions cost less, and especially at
this time of the year, when the climate Is 50
unfavorabls.


The altitude Of Treasure Hill is represent
ed to be over eight thousand feet, and to toll
you the truth, the air is "excesdingly pure,
and from the appearance OF the weather to-.
day, a large number of those here now will
have to seek different climate. 1t is snow
ing to day in a perfect "torrsnt," but the
oldss. inhabitant tells us that we will have
few weeks of good weather after the storm
abates.


| think this will be good country for the
capitalist, the business man, and the honest
miner, next Spring; but it is entirely useless
to come hero this Winter, as within four or


five weeks the country will be covered win
several feet Of snow. 1t is said to at!a,n
depth of ten fee, at Treasure Hill, which OF
course precludes the possibility Of much work
h.;n, dona in a country 30 new az this. l