Year: 1863

from Reese river, March 9th, to friend
in Petaluma:


"Reese river valley is from Ave to ten
miles vide, and sixty to seventy miles
long, running from southwest to north
west The river, which runs through
the center Of the valley, is aSmall stream,
1FNsV$A wide nNeA tYN feet deep, with a
fdree suds ssa6errt, 6as low banks and
some very good bottom land, but not a
stick of timber, not even willows. The
land Of the valley generally is similar to
Humboldt, covered with sage and grea sc
brush. On the whole, however, they
beat Humboldt little on land. There
il no grass in the valley, except on the
low ground near the river.


Clifton is situated on q small spring
branch which heads in the range Of
mountains east Of the river, and ru1a
vest. Il is at the head Of this creek that
most Of the ledges are found. The mines
are on the western slope Of the noun
tains, which mountains are the highest
in the vicinity, and are covered with snow
IN places 80 deep that it is impossible to
get up them. The formation is entirely
different from Humboldt, the rock being
old gray granite, exactly similar to Nor
mon Island or Salmon.


There is not one-fOurth as much as !
expected to flpd from what had heard,
although there is much more here than
at Humboldt. The timber is on the west
side of the mountains and on the foot
hills. Il consists Of scrub cedar and very
scrubby pine, and is used to some extent
for building, although hardly available
for any other purpose than fuel. There
is none that will answer for lumber, nor
can hewing timber be found Uf sufficient
length for buildings. When used for
this purpose it is hattened and set on
end in the form Of picketS. Most Of the
miners cabins are made in this way, and
covered with poles, willow or pine
bOughs and dirt The supply of timber
would soon be cut short if a number Of
steam mills were in operation. There
are other mountains on the west, south
west and northwest which show some
timber, but it would have to be hauled
twenty or moro miles.


The lodges are very small so far as |
have seen in fact, this is the universal
complaint. have visited several Of the
So-called BEST neither Of which being
over one foot vide. They are in soft
granite bed rock, generally lying quite
dat, and are very uniform in appearance.


visited the Blue Ledge, from which
LOO pounds Of rock were taken and
sent to Virginia City, aud which is re.
ported to have yielded 81 per pound-an
account Of which you may have seen.
This ledge is but few inches in thick
ness, and SeeiRS to have exhausted itself
in producing that amount Of rock. Ii is
but little streak Of mineral stuck in the
bed rock. Several Of the lodges visited
are similar, being evidently nothing but
mere spurs or indications aud it is ex-
ceediNgly doubtful if a real ledge has
been struck iR this mountain. There is
no doubt Of the richness uf their rock,
but they have not yet found it in large
lodges.


One great advantage this country has
over Humboldt, is being situated directly
On the stage and telegraph line.


can learn Of but one creek large
enough (Or mill purposes, which is about
eight miles south of here, and is called
Veach's canon. Reese river might per-
haps be used to some extent, but il be-
ing so fiat it wouli back the water some
miles to obtain sufficient fall to run a
mill and that would ovcriIow the bottom
land.


This country is considerable higher
than Humboldt valley, and much colder.
II is said to be too frosty in the river bot
toms for successful gardening. II ,his.i>
the case, | cannot see what advantage
they have over Humboldt The foot hills
so far as have seen, are rather gravelly,
being covered several feet deep with de-
composed granite.


The oldest inhabitants seem TO think
they have a sure thing for speedy for
tune, with . certainty that the Pacific
Railroad will pass directly up this liz lc
canon, and that the capital of the future
Out not far in the future) State will be
exactly on this spot"