Year: 1862

some old Butte county friends who, like my
self. are wooing the tickle goddess, Fortune


in this land of silver, l write you this for pub


ication. and will endeavor to give you some
little information concerning this new mining
region, which is fast gaining notoriefy and
must come in for its full share of popularity
with the wandering fortune seekers of Califor-
MIA. which, l think, will prove more lasting
and permanent than the eeidt pertaining to
Salmon, Cariboo and other localities of the
North.


The mines are situated in long. rugged
and lofty mountain ridge, ranging north aud
south. The Humboldt river winds its serpen-
tine course within FIVE miles of its northern
base, then makes an elbow and bears south
ward to the sink, some IS miles distant. Las
sens Meadows, or Lander City, is directly op-
posite the mountain on the north side of the
/ river, about fifteen miles from this town. Ac-
cording to Col. Lander's roadometer, it is l35
miles from that point to Susanvie, which lies
directly west. The distance to Carson City
is LIS miles. I'VE are ll0 miles north and
I so east of that place.l


This mountain range, which embraces all of
the principal mineral discoveries, is surrounded
by vast alkali plains, portions of which are too
barren and worthless TO vegetate even sage
brush; but the mountains are sparsely clothed
with small-sized cedar and juniper trees-so
called-cottonwood poles ard an abundance of
bunch grass, upon which stock subsist the
year round and upon the foot hills and plains
are immense forests of sage brush some of
which tower grandly above the plain and at
tain the magnificent hight of six feet All
the fuel will eventually have to come from this
source unless, perchance, coal should be found,
of which there are said to be plenty of indica-
tions, and parties are on the prospect for it, up
the river


Numerous streams Of pure, excellent water,
sufficient for mill purposes, course down the
western slope of the mountain. and the towns
of Santa Clara, Star City and Unonville are
situated on this side, and are all improving
and building up rapidly Humboldt City and
Lassenville are on the western slope. Union
vile, the county seat, is situated in a broad,
beautiful canon fifteen miles south of this
place The town is laid out along the creek,
one mile in length the buildings are of stone
and adobe, and are going up the entire dis
tance Star City, three miles south of Santa
Clara, was originally laid out, about one mile
in length along Star Canon, portions of which
are sufficiently wide for a wagon-road and
small sized lots on either side; but the Town
Directors have recently caused an extension of
the town limits Said extension embraces a
very eligible site for town, or rather city it
is laid off at the mouth OF the canon, one mile
square, and has been surveyed and mapped by
the County Surveyor, and laid off into streets,
blocks and lots, of proper dimensions. The
lots were thrown open to the public, for loca-
tion a few days since, and there was consider
able of rush and strife for the first choice :;
but the admirable town laws and gentlemanly
I
regularity and order To become an owner Of
real estate in this town, person must apply
to the Town Recorder, and upon advancing
FIVE dollars, he is put in possession of any lot
he may choose, then vacant; and within the
specified time, he must pay twelve dollars in
addition, or perform that amount of labor in
IL e, Il
town authorities and a certain amount of i'm
provements must be put upon each lot within
ninety days from date of location. Having
complied with the town laws the person is
then entitled to a deed to his lot from the
Town Directors No person is allowed TO To-
cate more than three lots in the town, and but
one on the same street. The laws are stringent,
in order to bar out spectators and preserve
the lots for actual settlers. l would here in
dulge in some reflections on the grand and
mighty future of this young city, and predict
the beautiful silver palaces that will most as
suredly rise in lieu of the sage brush, were it
not that | am an interested party-being con-
cerned in the prosperity of the city, that is
soon to be, in lots, to the extent of the limit
of the law before alluded to, modestly for
bear


Santa Clara is governed in about the same
manner as Star City is situated in a beauti-
fu canon with a passable wagon-road leading
up the same to the town, and is busy thriv-
ing and growing place.


J Having said so much about the general fea-
lures of the country and its prospective towns
and cities. leaves but little space. without
crowding on your columns. to speak of the
mines and different ledges but as the univer-
sal Judgment pronounced by all on the country
is that it is not worth a d-n, except for the
mineral wealth it contains, it is natural to con-
eude that those here, or at least such of them
as are interested, think so hence their enter
prise in building towns, preparing comfortable
homes. removing their families and making