Newspaper Clippings, Daily Union, 1863-64

LETTER FROM PALMYRA.

Como, July 28, 1864 VIRGINA DAILY UNION:--You are not to suppose that because times are a little hard with us, and greenbacks scarce, that the people of Como have given up to the general spirit of depression, and settled themselves into a fit of the blues. That's not the case by any means, but, on the contrary, we endeavor to "keep a stiff upper lip," and smiling countenance, gathering numerous crumbs of comfort from the fact that we are no worse off than our neighbors.

C. A. Witherell, Esq., who has just returned from a trip to the Silver Mountain country, whither he went seeking for a chance to better his condition, reports things there fully as dull as here; very little doing anywhere; no money lying about loose; in fact, he came to the conclusion that he could get along as well in Como as he could anywhere that he went, and as far as future prospects are concerned, this district had decidedly the advantage. The only places where there appeared to be much going on in the way of improvement, was at a little place called Silver King, where there had been a saw mill recently erected, and twenty-eight houses just built, but only four of which were occupied as yet. The intention was to build a few more houses and quit.

We have very little to note in the way of improvement here in Como, although of course something is done in that line every day, people generally seeming to be inclined to arrange things comfortably for the present, and wait patiently for "the good time coming" to arrive. Mr. H. B. Hammer has just finished his fine drug store on Main street, and furnished it in the most complete manner. A better selected stock of goods cannot be found in the Territory. He has everything that is ever likely to be required here in his line, from balsam copaiva to cherry pectoral, and from a quill toothpick to a nursing bottle. The telegraph office also has just been removed into the drug store. In looking around at the vast array of patent medicines and potent drugs displayed on Mr. Hammer's shelves, one is naturally led to the firm conviction that it is the easiest thing in the world to regulate the health of the entire community to a perfect nicety, so that any one can be sick or well just as it suits them, with such a drug store in their midst. He has a specific cure for every known disease or ailment human flesh is heir to; also, all varieties of poisons, enabling one to choose their own style of death—together with specific antidotes for each and every one of them, in case one should change their mind after imbibing a poisonous draught. There will be no more deaths in Como, except by suicide or accident, unless, indeed, some fool growls himself to death over the idea of "hard times," or works himself into such a painful condition of sore-headedness over imaginary slights that his crabbedly jealous disposition won't allow of his living in peace with his fellow man, but that all jokes directed towards his own immaculate self are intended as an earnest insult, which, sooner than endure for a moment, he would rather growl himself into the last stage of pusillanimous imbecility. To all such I would recommend marriage and the daily use of a gallon of beer from the Como brewery.

We have been anxiously and closely watching the action of the Convention assembled at Carson to frame a Constitution for our proposed new State of Nevada, and incline to the opinion that they are about perfecting a Constitution that will be accepted by the masses of the people in this Territory. The article on the Judiciary, as also that on Taxation, commend themselves to the approbation of all who have the true interests of the country at heart. Copperheads are not expected to fancy the true loyal sentiments of that Constitution; not that I wish to class any one as a Copperhead who don't happen to view things in the same light that I do—but all true Union men cannot fail to respond to those sentiments. The indiscriminate taxation of the mines was the rock on which the other Constitution split. That rock has been carefully avoided this time, and the Legislature will be left to decide as to whether the net or the gross proceeds of the mine shall be taxed. This is as it should be. Our last Legislature would insist on taxing the mines, but we'll try and put competent men into the next Legislature.

Prominent among the claims being actively worked here now is the Monte Cristo—lying within the town limits and one of the claims in the district which may be classed as A No. 1. It shows a wide, well-defined ledge, in portions of the surface of which gold is distinctly visible to the naked eye. It is owned mostly by Frenchmen, and the work on it is being carried forward with great energy, both night and day, running two shifts. They are sinking a new double shaft, five by ten feet, which will strike the ledge at the depth of two hundred feet. It is now sixty-five feet deep, and is to be thoroughly planked from top to bottom. The shaft of the Como company is now forty-one and a half feet deep, and a drift is run from the bottom thereof thirty feet due east. It is a fine piece of workmanship, and the indications are splendid. The shaft of the National is now down to the depth of twenty-nine and a half feet, blasting through solid ledge all the way. They have now struck a strong vein of water, which promises to be a valuable acquisition. Mr. Cross, the Superintendent, informs me that, with the present arrangements, they cannot go much deeper, but it is his intention to erect hoisting works soon. The rock at the bottom is of an excellent quality, and a piece of it shown to me yesterday, by the efficient foreman, Mr. Nason, was filled with splendid sulphurets.

Since the Indian difficulty, which we had in May last, the Pi-Utes have kept away from about here entirely, but within the last few days several have arrived from the Sink of the Carson, and are now encamped on the hill opposite town, with their squaws, papooses, &c. The Indian who was shot at the time of the difficulty of which I speak, was badly wounded, the thigh bone being shattered. He was brought into town, where he received every care and attention that humanity could dictate, and several of his brother Indians attended him, but he was shortly removed by them to Walker river, where he died some four days ago. A. D.

PALMYRA CORRESPONDENCE.

COMO, Sept 3, 1864.

Things in General.

VIRGINIA DAILY UNION: Summer having passed on in its usual course to join with the numerous bright summers of the past, and the chilly blasts and snows of next winter being only a few weeks in perspective, we are naturally inclined at this time to take a cursory view of our prospects, and endeavor to judge, from the experience of the past, what the future may be. A year ago all was life and animation here. Prospecting for rich silver mines in the numerous fine ledges was everywhere being vigorously carried on, and every day some new discovery or development in the way of "splendid looking rock" or most encouraging "indications" was exciting the public mind. The taking up of claims and incorporating companies to work them under fine sounding and auspicious titles was all the rage and no one felt satisfied until he had obtained by trading or actual purchase, a few feet in some one or the other of these claims which he had become convinced was an "almighty good thing," and one of the claims which was to make him independently rich, and transform all his splendid future plans and fine castles in the air into living, tangible realities. The dream was glorious while it lasted; town property was held firmly at big and increasing prices, and the exhilarating sound of the busy hammer and saw was heard on all sides, hurrying up buildings to accommodate prospecting visitors, and the daily new accessions to our permanent population.

We are quiet enough now. Nobody wants any more "feet;" town property is low in the market; carpenters' tools are pretty rusty, and our population is not so heavy as it was. The prospecting visitors, and temporary portion of the community have moved on to other portions of the country, where they will tarry awhile with newly excited hopes and prospects, and again "move on." Prospecting is at a discount, as far as new discoveries are concerned, and the numerous pieces of mining stock, so prettily gotten up and upon whose face we were so anxious to see our name representing us as the fortunate proprietor of so many "feet" or "shares" in such and such a rich claim, are all carefully filed away for future reference and carried round in the pocket book no longer. None but some among the best or most prominent of our claims are being worked, but these are being operated with an energy and stability of purpose that must eventually prove successful in developing good paying mines; for all the assays and milling tests we have had thus far, tell us that our ledges are among the best in the country, and only require to be gone down on to a sufficient depth in order to develop rich paying ore. This we are bound to do, but the process is necessarily slow, greenbacks or anything else in the way of circulating medium being very, very limited in circulation here as elsewhere.

But our hopes are high as ever, and faith in our mines not abated at all. Our society is of the very best; sociable, happy and content, as circumstances will admit; so we shrug our shoulders at the past, and look forward with confidence to the future, feeling that we can weather the hard times and come out all bright when the spring of prosperity shall open over this embarrassed Territory once more.

Political.

We are going in strong for the new Constitution, and I predict that throughout the Territory the vote for it, and the adoption of a State government, will be carried by a larger majority than that by which it was refused last January. The political cauldron is seething and boiling fiercer and fiercer as election day approaches; the numerous candidates are out prospecting around among the voters, and all the prominent corners and door posts are disguised and beplastered with the announcing placards of the legion of aspiring candidates. Oh ! the long faces there will be after that eventful election day is over, and how the Salt River boat will be crowded. There will have to be extra boats put on the route this time, sure, for never before were there so many candidates in the field, in this county at least. Our County Union Central Committee—a set of droll cusses—put their mirthful heads together and with a facetiousness worthy of a better cause, concluded to put a grand practical joke upon their dear constituents—the people. So they would not allow the usual privilege of primary meetings, but told everybody that wanted office to pitch in and get it. Now, strange to say, there were several who, although they didn't want office at all, yet were willing to sacrifice themselves upon the altar of public interest, merely for the benefit of the dear people. So they all "entered" for a grand scrub sweepstakes race, and the consequence was, that in the next issue of the Sentinel came out a list of candidates as long as the moral law with the ten commandments tacked to the end of it. It was funny to see how many there were that thought themselves well qualified to fill the various offices, and to reflect upon the number that were fully as eligible and deserving, but whose natural modesty held them back from announcing their names in the paper or on big placards, as candidates for the Assembly, for Sheriff, for Recorder, and down to the smallest kind of a public office. And, now in order to highten the joke, the committee gleefully hook hands together, and concluded to call a convention to nominate a ticket for the people to vote for. So, feeling that the people were incapable of selecting their own delegates to represent them, they just appointed a lot, who of course held a very harmonious convention and did things up according to programme. But will this satisfy the people? Will Copperheads take advantage of such a jolly state of affairs or not? We can tell best about it after election. In a few weeks again, the Central Committee will have to act in relation to the election of officers to govern our new State, and will of course do as they did before and tell all aspirants to sail in. So, therefore, in order to be in season, and forestall several I know of in this town as well as elsewhere, I hereby announce myself as Independent Union Candidate for Governor.

A. D.

PALMYRA CORRESPONDENCE.

COMO, Sept 21, 1864.

Times in Como.

VIRGINIA DAILY UNION: Notwithstanding the pressure of hard times consequent upon the lamentable stringency of the circulating medium, we Comoites manage to retain our usual salubrity of spirits, and when occasions requires wax jolly and even festive over our present and future prospects; empty pockets not preventing our having dances, musical soirees and little social evening parties as usual, the cares of wealth troubling us but little. In regard to grub we are all right, for we have three butcher institutions all in full blast, and in their mad competition "bearing" mutton chops down to eight cents per pound; of this article we have an abundant supply for some time to come, as there are seventeen hundred fat sheep being herded in the hills near town. Of pine nuts, however, there is a great scarcity, the crop having almost entirely failed this season. What few there are will soon be ripening, but will probably fall into the hands of a few unprincipled monopolists, who will "bull" them up to famine prices.

A Mysterious Visitor.

An individual with a rosy proboscis and registering his name as James Martingale, from San Francisco, was here a few days ago, and although Sam. Nason and myself pumped and pried into his business all we could, we utterly failed to discover what he came here for. He wandered about all day, looking at the mining operations, and asking all sorts of questions with reference to the prospects, etc., and when he left he carried off a large sack full of pieces of quartz which he had collected from all the prominent claims. He seemed to be "flush," for he showed plenty of money, but he was undoubtedly deranged, for he ordered chicken, oysters and wine for dinner. He was remonstrated with in a kindly manner, but he would have it. Next morning he offered a twenty dollar gold piece to pay his bill with, but not being able to change it, we just quietly seized it with the bill, and he left perfectly satisfied.

The Mines.

Our mines are still being actively prospected, and in a concentrated and systematic manner. The Dayton Company, on the Montgomery ledge, have their big shaft now down to the depth of 130 feet, and have just struck the outskirts of the ledge. They will, however, have to go down some 20 or 30 feet further before they get into the main ledge; they are now running in a mixture of quartz and porphyry, and the quartz shows very flattering indications of the close proximity of a rich ledge. May they realize all their most sanguine expectations! The Amazon Tunnel is also still being energetically driven ahead, and must sooner or later prove a most valuable investment to the fortunate shareholders, for it will strike the Walker, Montezuma, Shiloh, Sharon, and other ledges at a great depth, besides the immediate ledges belonging to the company. The shaft of the Monte Del Rey is 200 feet deep, and from the bottom of it they are drifting east and west to strike their ledge running both night and day with two sets of hands. Symonds & Buckley, on the old Goliah ledge, at the depth of 100 feet have struck a heavy stream of water; they have quit sinking and are trying to drift to their ledge, but so much water renders their progress exceedingly slow and difficult. The Comet Company, on the same ledge, have their big shaft still energetically going down, and they have struck some very fine looking rock.

Politics.

Since election politics has quietly simmered down, but still we are looking anxiously forward to the campaign now about opening, and will soon marshal our forces in the shape of a Lincoln and Johnson Club. The "unterrified" are also already organizing, for they hold a meeting for that purpose to-night. The results of the late election in all parts of the Territory was so unexpectedly favorable to them that they feel very confident of being able to carry their ends in the coming contest. In this, however, they will reckon without their host, for they will have to meet the Union forces aroused, united and ready for them. Lyon county went Union, notwithstanding the split which existed in the party at the late election. We will have no split this time. "United we stand, divided we fall," and woe be to the man or men who shall in any wise cause a split in the ranks, for their traitorous heads will also get split by the outraged community. So mote it be.

A. D.