Year: 1860

The whole country is affected with a silver
mania. From one end Of the State to the other,
our exchanges tell us, hundreds are preparing
to go in quest of argentiferous deposites. Humid
reds are already on the road, or searching in the
supposed silver districts. Washoe is the princi-
pal point on which the hopes of the itinerant
multitude are fixed. But scores are making
tracks in almost every direction impressed with
the belief that mountains of silver lie undiseov-
cred here. there and every where. Some emf
grant of tenacious memory in crossing the des-
ert in 40, saw shining rock in abundance at a
particular place. He has taken square look at
specimen of ore from the Comstock lead and
is sure the stuff be saw ten more years ago a
thousand miles away is precisely the same, and
forthwith prepares to prove his surmises true.
Thus We hear of parties going to San Bernardino,
and the desert beyond; to Mono lake, to Tuare,
and the Lord knows how many other places, in
search of silver. Gold mines have deprecated
in value. 1t may be seriously questioned if gold
bearing quartz paying ten dollars a day would
be looked at by the wandering silver hunters of
to-day. Silver is the theme. Every body wants
silver. We want it for spoons, plate and for
change. The nation wants it for the Asiatic
tEdut WHtCu we arc DOuuu 10 cOniTOl Us soon as
the Pacific Railroad is completed. Silver will
build that great work and keep it in running or
der. In the Imagination of half the people our
mountains are full of silver, and perhaps it may
be so. As is believed by many, there may be
continuous veins of silver from the rich mines
of La Plata through Mexico TO Oregon, or even
as far as the mountain chain hanking the eastern
shore of the Pacific extends. Who knows? For
the first time silver ore has been impressed upon
the retinas of the eyes of most of us. We have
never known till now by actual sight in what
shape, cOfsr or combinations silver is found in
state of nature. Ninety-ninc miners ont OF
hundred might have dug in rich silver ore in
search of gold and given up fortune for want
of a knowledge of argentiferous rocks, But our
eyes have been opened at last upon the real sub
stance. Specimens of silver in its various forms
are distributed over the country, and kept in
Banking Houses, Assay Offices, Saloons, Stores,
etc. Hundreds of miners arc traversing the
country with small pieces of the ore in their
pockets, by which all suspicious looking rock is
compared and judged As knowledge is spread
and search and euterprize enlisted, the chances
for valuable discoveries are increased. Every
mountain peak and valley. every nook and
Granny in the most God forsaken looking part
of the country, will now he explored for silver
We expect to hear of wonders brought to light.
Gold, silver tin. lead, copper and every other
mineral known in the arts we expect will be
found on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The
restessness of the people will never he quoted
till the last foot of ground is explored and the
last hill exhibiting sign of promise is perfora-
ted. Hidden wealth, in its matrix since creation,
can lie concealed no longer The age demands
it to come forth. A troop is on the search and
earth's jewels and treasures arc soon to be dis
gorged.