Year: 1870

Jan. Goth, 1870.
Mr.. EDIroR -


Having number Of friends in the
States who are anxious to hear from the
mines in this section, thought struck Inc
the best and most practicable way would
be to answer them all by one letter, and,
knowing that the most Of them were pat
rons Of yoar paper, l thought you would
me the favor of publishing this brief note.


1t is not my intention to induce any one
to pack his valsc and come out here. To
all who are doing well my advice would
be for them to remain where they are
Those who start from the East with the
intention Of making fortune in a few
DAYS with little or no cXerti0n, will find
that they are mistaken to their SORROW
In the best mines in the world there is
not one in twenty who leave them with
enough to settle down in business. 1t Is
a mistaken idea that every man becomes
rich in gold mine. Back East you may
hear occasionally of men atrlking rich
mines, and making fortune in a short
time, but you do not heai of the hundreds
who work hard, prospecting tor years per-
haps, ever doing so,-inuced, most Of
them never get sufficiently ahead to take
them home.


In this camp the miners are making
great preparations for the coming season.
All appear to feel confident that they will
reap golden harvest. For ten miles a.
long the mountains quartz lodges are
found. Some are very rich and extensive,
while others have not been worked enough
to test their value.


Last season there were several mills
brought into the camp, all of which crush
ed more or less quartz, and which has
given the miners encouragement to pros
pect.


Within the last six months there have
been more lodges discovered than were
ever found before Some appear to be
far richer than former discoveries. | was
at mill few days ago and saw then
clean up four thousand dollars after a rur
of seventeen days.


There are some lodes that yield fal
better than that Some Eastern compa
uies arc buying mining property here
One end Of the miners Delight" lode
was sold for forty thousand dollars. An
other company has made an offer Of sixty
five thousand dollars for part of tho
ledge.


The long-sought.for Hidden Hand
lode has at last been discovered by a young
man named NJ. II. Vincent, formerly 0,
Morristown. Vt. There has been an i'm
mcnsc amount of digging after this lode
as it was known to be rich from the foat
found along the line of where it is located
One company had twelve men working
the whole season to find it, but without
success. 1t is assuredly the finest looking
quartz, aud shows the most free gold O
any lode | ever saw.


Aside from quartz, there is some goot
placer mining. A large number have beer
prospecting for gulch diggings. and fine
that the most Of the many gulchcs coming
down from the mountains are rich. They
will be worked us soon as spring opens.


There is not much of demand for la
borers at this season of the year, but wber
spring opens there will be work for al
who feel inclined to work for good wages
Wages command at present four dollars
per day; in the sumner, from five to SIX
dollars.


In the valleys below there is to be found
as rich, fertile land az exists in any coun
try. There are quite a number now farm
ing here. They would have good success
| if il we're not for those "poble red men,
who are always proving around, stealing
thei stock and occasnalIy killing some o.
the settlers. The grazing tire best il
the world. Stock viii winter well run
ming on the commons. They never Trims
of feeding horses through the winter.--
Many horses are raised here without know
ing that there is any such thing as groil
or hay.


The winters arc rather long and tedi
Gus. This is one great drawback to
ward settling the country. AT present
the weather is fearfaIly cold, and snowin.
nearly every day, so that it is imposeibl