Year: 1859

GlBsONvILLE, Nov 22d.


EDITOR DEMOCRAT THE conclusion of nv
last communication left Inc in an incipent
descriptive stage of the "blue lead" dig
gings. The New York Company were the
first to strike gold in the vicinity of New
Amsterdam-an embryo city, slumberng
| over the "blue lead" about one mile east of
Whisky Diggings-and their claims pay
steadily from SIS to SIS per day to the hand.
The Vermont Co. struck rich gravel, about
year ago; but in consequence oftheir tunnel
proving too high to drain their ground, they
have been ever since occupied in running an
other. The Vigilance Co. have suspended
operations for the present, in consequence
of misunderstanding between their mem
bers. In fact, Mr.. Editor, to particuarize
the precise degree Of progress that that great
mining district has made, and is now making


would be too heavy tax upon your columns
will, therefore, close my observations on
that district, by profering you the assurance
that more prosperous or lasting mineral
section is not this day discovered Talk about
the Washoe mines; long long after those
diggngs shall have been numbered with the
things that were the mines of New Amster.
day will be enjoying an ascending end in
creasing greatness. | should not like to be
understood as disbelieving the existence Of
gold at Washoe | would only be understood
as opposing the doctrine that there are rich
er mines on the opposite of the Sierra Neva
da than are those on the Pacific side. Even
admitting that the native deposit of gold is
greater in the Great Basin than it is in the
Sierra Nevada mountains, what then Why
Just this; Were the natural deposits ten
times as rich there, as they are on this side
of the mountans-and | can't be made to
believe that they are-the general prospect
for the miner would not be half SO good there
as it is here, and will tell you why. The
native deposit of gold is always in white and
grey quartz; and wherever it is found dis.
connected from the rock, its dissolution has
been effected by either volcanic action or
decomposition, or BOTH Now, any one who |
has travelled over both sections could easilv |
discern from the generalaspect of the country
that these mountains have been subject to
far, far heavier volcanic motion than has any
part of the Great Basin. | Travelled through |
that vicinity last summer, and | really saw
no evidence that the country had ever been
visited by volcano. But how different is it |
on this side of the Sierra range. You may |
travel these mountains over and over, from |
the foothills to the summit, and you will |
meet with one unbroken mass of volcanic |
debris am inclined to the opinion that
the principal mining in the Washoe country |
will be quartz mining and consequently |
none will prosper in those mines who have
not fortune to operate with. However, no |
man is infallible, and may be mistaken.
Time proves all things and will eventually
prove the extent of the Washoe mines


You will perceive 10y the Messenger, that
there is to be meeting at La Porte, on the
26th of the current month"; to take into con-
sideration the uest means to adopt to build
road from this place to the Washoe country
The project is a worthy one, and doubt not
will be crowded right through.


Yours in haste,


n