Newspaper Clippings, San Francisco Herald, 1869

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.]

VIRGINIA, NEV., August 1, 1869.

About Ways and Means.

Those seven wise men from the East composing the Congressional Committee on Ways and Means have been here. And they have gone again. They didn't stay long; at any rate, it didn't take long for them to stay what time they did, and they left precious little, if any, wiser than when they came. They arrived, via Donner Lake, Carson, Warm Springs, Empire and Gold Hill, last Wednesday, consigned to William Sharon, arriving in this city about 4 P. M. They were hilarious when they left the lake, and continued so throughout the trip. They must have driven at a fast rate, too, for they contrived to kill one valuable horse, and had to have another one at Warm Springs. Neither did they lack an abundance of good whiskey to keep up their flow of spirits, and aid them in seeing doubly well the sights and resources of the country. Sharon showed them his long water chute for sending railroad ties down out of the foothills back of Carson for his railroad between there and Virginia. When he showed them the long winding, serpentine route of that railroad, crookeder than the San Joaquin River, and when they arrived at Empire he showed them two of his quartz mills, used for reducing ore from his mines in this vicinity, and the transportation of which ore to these and other mills of his on Carson River, was the main object in constructing the road. At Gold Hill he showed them the Yellow Jacket and other mines, principally owned and controlled by him, also some at Virginia; and after showing them the California Bank in this city, Sharon took them to his private residence and treated them to a sumptuous banquet, which lasted all the evening—and next morning too. They had a glorious time. They managed to get their obfusticated ideas collected sufficiently next forenoon to go with Sharon and examine the interior of the Yellow Jacket mine, and at noon they were summarily shipped off by private conveyance to Reno, en route for where they came from in the East.

Sutro Tries to Call their Attention.

Fully appreciating the importance of having this Committee take a look at his famous projected tunnel from Carson River to the Comstock Ledge, a distance of four miles, and through which these mines can all be worked to a depth of 2,000 feet or more, Adolph Sutro, the far-seeing and enterprising projector thereof, came here all the way from San Francisco just on purpose to see, converse with, and show those gentlemen all the points in the case. He tried his prettiest to edge himself in upon their attention, but Sharon was too much for him, and overshadowed all his hopes. Sutro, however is a man of resources, and so he quietly watched his opportunity and managed to secure a couple of the Committee next morning, and get them up on the roof of the International, where they put up. He spread his map before them, showed them the profiles, diagrams and estimates, and then pointed out the lay of the land, topographical localities and course of the tunnel. They were struck with the idea immediately, and agreed with Sutro in every respect. He took them on top of a high building, but he did not promise them half the stock in that tunnel if they would fall down and worship him. He talked good square sense to them, however, and they may be able to digest some of it.

Senatorial Fit.

Last Thursday evening, as Senator William M. Stewart was on the coach in front of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s, about starting for Reno, he was suddenly seized with some sort of a fit. His outcries were terrible, and quite a sensation was created for a short time. There were plenty to rush to his assistance, and he was taken at once to the International, where every requisite attention was rendered him. He was insensible for some minutes, and remained speechless for half an hour, but afterward rapidly recovered and was all right next morning.

Wanton Shooting.

Last Wednesday afternoon a drunken fellow named George Hall shot Emerson Cain, an old man nearly sixty years of age, employed as weigh-master at the Chollar-Potosi works, inflicting a very severe and dangerous wound, without any provocation whatever. Hall came past the works, and made such an awkward job of climbing a high bank near by, that some of the workmen laughed at him considerably. This irritated him so, that when he got on top of the bank he drew a six-shooter, and soon after seeing Cain come out of his office near by, he raised his pistol, took deliberate aim across his left wrist, and fired. The distance was nearly 100 yards, but the ball hit the old man in the right breast, broke a rib, and glancing around under the skin and flesh, was afterwards taken out of his back. He is doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. As soon as Hall saw the effect of his shot he left in a hurry, but was soon afterwards overtaken and lodged in the County Jail, where he still lies awaiting the result of Cain's wound before the examination takes place. He feels that he must have been crazy. Hardly.

Sickness.

Only one case of small-pox has developed itself during this past week, but there is plenty of scarlet fever, diphtheria, cholera morbus, whooping cough, etc., especially among children, proving fatal in many instances. A sort of dumb ague, commencing with the cholera morbus, is said to be quite prevalent among the millmen on Carson River.

Weather.

We have had some pretty hot weather this season, but the thermometer has never run higher than 90 degrees in the shade; it is two or three degrees warmer at Gold Hill than here, as a general thing. During the past week we have had showers of rain nearly every day—some pretty heavy ones—which had the effect to cool and purify the air. To-day, however, it is hot and sultry again, with the thermometer at 88 degrees in the shade.

Expected.

Senator Nye is expected here within a day or two, as a telegram from him at Chicago states that he is on his way. The old "Gray Eagle" didn't state what he is after. A detachment of those Chicago merchants who have been prospecting and sight-seeing about California for the last two or three weeks are also expected here very shortly.

Changed His Base.

The foot-pad, said to infest the Divide between here and Gold Hill, has apparently changed the scene of his exploits to Gold Canon, half-way between Gold Hill and Silver City. Last Wednesday evening he waylaid Ed. Ruffner, engineer of the Ione mill, but, on taking a near view, let him go on, remarking, "You are not the man I am looking for." The next evening he waylaid John Minnoch, near the Justice-Independent works, and robbed him of his watch and chain, twelve dollars in cash and whatever else he had worth stealing. The very next evening he went to John's cabin, in that vicinity, before he got home, took the key from its usual hiding place, entered, took blankets, bedding, clock, and all except the bedstead, cookstove and water bucket. John stays at home evenings now, and swears that the scoundrel shan't carry off his cabin, too, if he can help it. That foot-pad is liable to smell powder and experience cold lead one of these nights. There's a job put up on him.

Mining Items.

The fire still burns in the Crown Point and Kentuck mines, but is not supposed to extend into the Yellow Jacket. All the drifts communicating with the region where the fire is are still tightly closed, but the escaping gas and smoke indicate the existence of that obstinate and unquenchable fire. It may continue burning for many a long month yet. Meanwhile the three crippled mines are being worked as best they may, the companies each striving to work under or around the fire, and with good success.

The Kentuck yields an increased quantity of better ore from its upper level, and a good opening is being made into the lower portion of the mine through the 900-foot level of the Yellow Jacket, and as there is plenty of good ore at that point, very satisfactory developments are confidently looked for. The stock has risen very materially in consequence of this move.

The Yellow Jacket yields over 200 tons per day from the 800 and 900-foot levels of the south mine and the old Yolo tunnel in the upper workings of the north mine. It will take a month yet probably before the water is all bailed out of the north shaft, as there is still 150 feet of it, and a large space of the ledge northward of the shaft has to be drained by it. There is an immense body of excellent pay ore in this portion of the mine, and in two months from now it will be coming out of there.

The Crown Point still remains a non-producing mine, and is fully entitled to a good heavy assessment soon. Money must be had to work the mine, and not a pound of ore is produced. The explorations at the 1,000-foot level, has evidently reached the vicinity of the west wall, for they struck a huge body of water last Thursday night, about two hundred feet from the shaft, which increased in spite of all pumping and bailing arrangements, and soon drove the men out of the drift, rising thee feet above the top of the station. It then began to decrease, and is now very materially reduced.

The Belcher is looking better, and showing more good ore at present than for a long time past. It will be a producing mine soon. A drift is being commenced to run northeasterly, and connect with the Crown Point 900-foot level, giving increased and important air circulation to both mines.

Some very promising developments are being made in the Justice-Independent, from the 200-foot level up. An assessment of $5 per share, aggregating $15,000, was levied last Saturday, delinquent August 24.

At the Imperial-Empire a hoisting reel was broken last Wednesday, causing a stoppage to the shaft repairs, also a great rise of water in the mine. The reel is repaired, and hoisting water is progressing to-day at a lively rate. The usual amount of ore is yielded from the upper levels.

The second clean-up of the Sierra Nevada for the present month was made yesterday, and it yielded fully up to the rich general average. This mine pays regularly and well, and the body of excellent pay ore is apparently inexhaustible. The finances of the company are in an exceedingly healthy state, and another dividend may be looked for soon. It is a good mine, well managed.

The Gould & Curry continues to yield about forty-five tons of ore per day from the upper workings, averaging about $50. The drift east through the ledge, from the seventh station, has progressed about ten feet, and is going ahead finely with no encouraging indications as yet.

I have nothing further to add, except that Tom Thumb and the rest of his little crowd are advertised to appear at Piper's Opera House next Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

ALF.

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.]

VIRGINIA, Nev., August 8, 1869.

The Eclipse.

The great sensation of yesterday was the eclipse of the sun, which we sage-brush barbarians were permitted to look at, same as good Christians in other parts of the country. A big cloud got in the way just as the thing was about to commence, but soon it raised like a big drop-curtain, and all hands had a good view of the new attraction. Smoked glass and similar contrivances were in demand, and the streets were filled with people, all curiously surveying the eclipse. The Chinese style was to view its reflection in tubs and wash-basins of water. As to the Piutes, after taking numerous smoked glass observations and holding some little consultation among themselves, they shook their heads ominously and came to the conclusion that the sun was "heap sick, and 'spose he catch 'em all black he gone dead sure." I believe, however, that it was the general opinion of all good critics in the matter that the eclipse was well conducted throughout, and a perfect success. It might have been run for several days longer with the same degree of popularity.

Colfax To-morrow.

Vice-President Colfax and party are expected to arrive here to-morrow, and in order to give him the proper reception, committees composed of prominent citizens of Virginia and Gold Hill, and also of Odd-Fellows, are already appointed to escort them in from Reno. The freedom of the city will be donated to them, which means a free run at all the lunch-tables, and freedom from arrest in case they get too much beer on. Colfax, though, doesn't drink, at least he didn't when he was here before. There will be gay times to-morrow when Colfax comes. He will be as popular as the eclipse. It is understood to be their intention to stop here for two or three days before they go to Carson or anywhere else.

Undertaker in Mourning.

One of our city undertakers was down to Reno the other day, when he got into a small difficulty with a boy connected with the telegraph office at that place and would have slapped the boy's chops for him, only the boy up and knocked him over. When he got up again the boy would have run, but Nels Hammond and others who were near by and didn't like to see the boy rode over, patted him on the back and made him show fight again. He got that undertaker down, pounded him good, and he came back home with two of the gayest black eyes you ever saw, both being dressed in deep mourning. He thinks that telelgraph boy is a lightning striker.

A Piute Contractor.

Ike James, the well known surveyor in this city, tells the best joke on himself I have heard lately. The back yard at his residence being considerably filled up with rubbish, and in need of a good cleaning, he let the contract to an enterprising Piute warrior for $2 50, day before yesterday, with no particular stipulation as to where he should throw the dirt, other than that he would get it off the premises. Our Piute made his squaw help him and they made a splendid job of it, getting through by the middle of the afternoon. He took a look at it and never was better satisfied in his life. He paid the $2 50 willingly and considered it mighty cheap at that. It was all well enough till his neighbor Collins, the blacksmith, came home from work, when a new phase of the matter developed itself. Collins' office was built on the line of James' back yard, and confound that Indian, if he hadn't opened the back side of the vault and dumped all the dirt from the yard into it, filling it jam full, and then shut up the hole again. He said grace a few times, while Collins stood by shaking his fat sides like an old elephant with the ague. He knew 'twas no use hunting up that Indian, so he went right off downtown and let a contract with Patsey Brown to come that very night and clean out the vault for $25. No more Piute contractors for Ike James.

Express Racing.

During the past few weeks, since Wells, Fargo & Co. hauled off their pony express between Reno and this city, the Pacific Union Express folks have been having it pretty much their own way as far as coming in ahead every evening from Reno on the arrival of the cars at that place. Wells, Fargo & Co. have been running a sort of four wheeled go-cart, called a "buckboard," bringing in the United States letter mail, their treasure boxes, express, etc., at a very fast rate, yet behind the pony. The last four or five evenings, however, that two-horse buckboard has been getting after the pony pretty lively, coming into Virginia only a few seconds behind, making the distance—twenty-tree miles—in only a few minutes over an hour, with a single change of horses. The pony I think changes twice. Last evening they came in on two different streets, in order to avoid the huge crowds of waiting and excited spectators, and the buckboard is said to have passed Union street first. They certainly make big time over the road, and create a nice little daily sensation.

Fizzled.

Those challenges between some of the engine companies of the Virginia Fire Department, of which I have heretofore made mention, are apparently ending in smoke. Their mutual defiances are still published in the papers, but when they come down to business neither of them are there; at least that's the way the thing looks at present. There will be no coin put up, and there will be no trumpet race nor trial squirting. That's so. It is a fizzle.

Mining Items.

Of all the mines in this section, outside of the Comstock ledge, the Occidental has thus far proven itself to be the best and most reliable. The ore in it is all low grade, but very regular, extending in an unbroken sheet from the summit of the hill 600 feet down to the lowest working level, or tunnel. Winzes have been sunk over 200 feet below that, and all the way in ore of an improved quality. Indeed the ore constantly is found richer as depth is attained. A tunnel is being run from away down on the hillside, which will work the ledge 400 feet deeper than the present working level. It is already over 1,000 feet in length, and judging from the softer and more favorable character of the rock, as well as surveys, the tunnel must be near the ledge. A fine stream of water is developed by this tunnel which will be made available for mill purposes. The pay ore of the vein varies from six to twelve feet in width and there is plenty of it in sight to last for many a long year to come; besides which, an immense extension of it has been recently developed by the 600-foot, or lowest working level being run 400 feet further north, beyond the old workings. The mine looks well throughout, and the company finances are healthy.

The mines along the Comstock were never worked to better advantage as far as this side of the Divide is concerned. Those at the Gold Hill end have a dampener thrown on them by the continued disability of the Crown Point, Kentuck and Yellow Jacket on account of the fire, which still burns within their depths, yet they, in the course of a few months, will recover even from that terrible blow. North of the Gould & Curry the ledge may be set down as dead and expensive property, except in the case of the Sierra Nevada mine, which is one of the best paying of any on the whole ledge, and is worked at the least cost. It is a valuable and well managed mine.

The second clean up of the Sierra Nevada for last month yielded 411,000, and the mill is regularly at work again as usual on another run of superior ore. The yield for the present month will be even better than that of last month; the first clean up will be made on the 16th. The huge deposit of ore does not decrease, but on the contrary increases in size as working development progresses. It will take many years to work it out. The finances of the company and the excellent yield warrants another dividend soon.

The Gould and Curry still yields well from the old upper workings, about forty tons per day of $45 ore being produced, with good prospects for a still better yield shortly. Good progress is being made with the drift east at the Seventh station, near the bottom of the shaft.

The Savage is in rather a quiescent state at present. It yields considerable good ore, but the developments at the lower levels are not satisfactory. Good bodies of ore are hoped for in deeper sinkings.

Hale and Norcross is also down, owing to less yield of good ore of late. The repairs to the shaft will be completed in three or four weeks, when, with better facilities, a better yield will be the consequence. There is one splendid body of rich ore at the lowest levels, and another in the old upper workings, which assays $40 per ton.

The recent burning of the new Chollar-Potosi hoisting works did not impede the working of that mine at all or injure it; on the contrary, it has yielded better ever since, and more and richer ore is developed in the main workings. A dividend of $2 per share, aggregating $56,000 was declared last Thursday.

The water in the north shaft of the Yellow Jacket is reduced to about seventy feet. It will take a month yet to get it all out, and also the thirty feet of mud and debris at the bottom of the shaft. It will be at least two months before any ore will be taken from the north mine through this shaft. The air in the north mine is tolerably good, and it is yielding the usual amount of ore.

No good ore developments are yet made in the 1,000-foot level below, which is not near or into the west wall of the ledge. The upper levels in the west ledge are being cleaned out, in order to get at the large amounts of low grade ore known to exist there. An assessment of $5 per share, aggregating $60,000, was levied day before yesterday.

In the Belcher mine a raise 130 feet in length was completed day before yesterday from the 850 to the 730 foot level, furnishing an excellent circulation of air in that part of the mine. The proposed drift northeast to connect with the 900-foot level of the Crown Point was commenced yesterday.

The Overman yields twenty-five or thirty tons of $20 ore per day, and a very good showing of ore exists at the fourth level, improving in both quantity and quality. The prospecting going on in other parts of the mine develops nothing important in the way of more good ore just at present, although there are prospects of something better soon.

Theatrical.

The Tom Thumb crowd of little folks did splendidly here, as well as at the other town where they appeared. Piper's Opera House never was better or more fashionably attended than it was at their two entertainments given last Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The little folks were much pleased with their reception, the country, and the people; and the people were much pleased with them. They have gone your way, and you cannot fail to like them. Last evening, Miss Emma Forrestell, the wonderful female contortionist, gymnast, etc., put in her first appearance at Piper's Opera House, to a very fair audience. She was assisted by Master Tommy McLaughlin, a very good jig dancer, and Billy Wilkinson, a tolerable Ethiopian actor. She is the whole attraction, however; her two companions could not draw a corporal's guard. She can tie knots in herself, scratch her off ear with the toe of her near leg around the back of neck, and stand more pounding from a fourteen-pound hammer smashing huge stones on her breast, besides other rough usage, than any other woman that I ever saw. She is a wonders of india rubber suppleness, and, like Tom Thumb, is just from the East. You will see her soon.

George Francis Train.

Big posters stuck up to-day about the streets, everywhere, announce that "George Francis Train is coming," but don't state when he is coming. 'Tis well. George is the coming man. He always was coming it over the people sensationally, and now he cometh in big letters to the land of Washoe, where flourisheth the sage brush and the silver brick. It is gratifying to know that he is coming.

ALF.

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.]

VIRGINIA, NEV., Aug. 15, 1869.

Still Coming.

In a confidential conversation with Piper, last evening, he told me that George Francis Train was actually coming, notwithstanding all assertions to the contrary; that he would be here on the 20th. Now such may be the case, but I don't believe it. He has been coming for over a month, and very few here believe he is coming at all; in fact, that he is a baggage train—a carpet-bagger—and too easily run off the track, anyhow. Like the proposed grand squirting trial for "big coin" between some of the engine companies of the Virginia Fire Department, he is a fizzle.

Indicted.

The Grand Jury of this county have met and made their report, and the result is that Bob Dedman, arraigned for the murder of Albert Springer, has his trial set for August 30. George Hall, arraigned for the murder of Emerson Cain, trial set for September 2. Grace Kerrison, arraigned as accessory to the murder of Albert Springer, trial set for September 3.

Insurance Agents.

That old profane expression of "thicker than fiddlers in hell" may not be precisely applicable to the numerousness of Insurance Agents in this section. Every other man dressed in good clothes is an insurance agent, and the way they do bore a fellow and make nuisances of themselves generally, is terrific. Old residents know them pretty well and keep tolerably clear of their blandishments, but woe unto any stranger from the country who happens along. He is at once systematically assailed, and if he don't leave town without his life safely insured in some company or other, it won't be their fault. If he escapes one, another will come at him in an entirely different shape. He can't possibly escape the fourth or fifth one. Even old residents are not safe from these social nuisances at all; they attack a fellow under the garb of friendship and in the most familiar style, so that you don't know or even suspect that your friend Jones has become one of them until he begins to talk life insurance to you. They all seem well enough, of course. Your friend Jones, too, if he finds you totally impervious to his kindly attempts, will, ten chances to one, ring in a genial good fellow on you, who knows it all, and before you know it you engage to take a $10,000 endowment policy in what you are thoroughly convinced is the best and safest company in the world; yet a day or two afterward a capital good boy from San Francisco, whom you have just discovered is the prince of good fellows, develops to be a full-blooded insurance agent, and you find yourself insured for $5,000 or $10,000 in still another company, which you are easily made to perceive and fully understand by demonstrated figures and tabular statements, is a much better company than the last mentioned, which, according to the system upon which it works, you now plainly see is sure to "bust up" within the eleven months and a half, mathematically sure calculation. You wonder that anybody should be so ignorant and reckless as to insure in any other company, yet in less than a week you are similarly brought to the conclusive belief that some other particular company is a long way the best of all, and up goes your coin. Thus it is that I am engaged for about $250,000 worth of endowment policies in various companies, when it would be rough on me to raise coin enough to pay up the premium for a $250 policy, and begin to look with suspicion on all well-dressed or sharp-looking chaps I make the acquaintance of, lest they should turn out to be insurance agents. Oh ! They approach you in all styles of shape and conversation, and hit you over your guard before you know it or think of fending off. The next insurance company should be one against being bored to death by insurance agents. One insuring against losses speculating in mining stocks would do well over here.

Stocks Down.

I don't know whether stocks have reached bottom or not, but they are certainly mighty low at present—away below zero. Most of the mines are now quoted below their actual merits, but some are not. These last are those which never or seldom have paid a dividend, and when they did had to assess the stockholders to do it. Some never have paid a dividend, and never will; and others, even those considered among leading mines, which have paid dividends in times past, will never do so again, according to present developed prospects. There is hope for all, though, and let us always hope for the best. For true, unbiased information on this particular subject, let your readers always read and critically consider our

Mining Items.

Inside of three weeks the water and mud will all be out of the Yellow Jacket north shaft, and after the timbering thereof is properly repaired, which will take two or three weeks longer, and a winze is sunk to the 800-foot level, that portion of the mine will be in a proper condition for advantageous working. It contains a vast body of good paying ore at the lower levels. The south mine yields about 150 tons of ore per day from the lower levels, and the old Yolo tunnel in the surface workings of the north mine yields fifty tons. The Yellow Jacket is a good mine, and will come out all right this winter. The Crown Point yields nothing, as usual, and same as it has done for many a long month. No ore is developed at the 1,000-foot level, and still less at the 1,100. It was yielding but little ore, and looking rather sick before the fire, and since then it has yielded nothing and looks worse. It may recuperate and produce, by and by, but not just yet. It is a year next month since it paid a dividend.

The Kentuck still yields ore enough from the upper levels to run the Sunderland and Pioneer mills, and a winze connection of 100 feet was completed last evening from the 900-foot or lower level of the Yellow Jacket, up to the 800-foot or lower level of this mine, thus opening out good facilities for increased ore extraction, as well as a much needed circulation of air at that point. The Kentuck is fast recovering from the effects of that fatal fire, which still burns, hemmed in with certain and impassable boundaries.

The Overman has a huge body of 425 ore developed at its 400-foot level, sixty feet wide and over thirty feet high; now much larger it is will be found out as further development progresses. The mine yields about twenty-five tons per day, but will increase on that soon.

Nothing new to report in the Bullion or the Imperial-Empire. Both are doing the best possible with poor present prospects. The old Imperial yields about fifty tons per day, and the Empire about thirty.

The average yield of the Chollar-Potosi is about 200 tons per day; the assays of which average over $50. The mine is looking well throughout, and new bodies of good ore are being developed. The yield will be increased during the next week or two.

The Hale & Norcross yields about 100 tons per day on the average, principally from the fourth station, or next to the lowest level. Considerable ore is also coming from the upper levels. The yield from the lower levels will be better when the repairs to the shaft are completed.

The Savage is rather on the sick list, the yield dropping off very considerably during the last few weeks, both in quantity and quality. The prospect for more ore in sinking from the lowest level deeper is not good according to present indications. The ore dips south into the Hale & Norcross.

The Gould & Curry yields, as usual, about fifty tons of $45 ore from the old upper workings. The drift east, through the ledge at the lowest level, is getting along well.

The Ophir tunnel, being run west from the new shaft, at the 700-foot level thereof, is now in about 530 feet, with poor prospects of ever striking anything.

The Sierra Nevada still runs along at its regular old rate, paying regular monthly dividends, without fail, and with a prospect of long continuance, judging from the excellent management and the vast amount of ore in sight. The first clean-up of the mill for the present month will be made tomorrow, and it will be a good one.

The Occidental also gets along admirably, and not only pays its way, but pays for all improvements and prospecting. It is one of the regular paying mines of the county, and never calls for assessments. The new lower tunnel, over 1,000 feet in length, is in proximity to the ledge, and will cut it 400 feet below the present lowest working level. Great expectations are indulged in regarding it.

Theatricals.

The Murphy and Mack Minstrels arrived yesterday, and put in their first appearance at Piper's Opera House last evening. They are billed to appear at Salt Lake just as soon as they can get there, where a good reception awaits them; therefore they will only appear here once more—this evening. They had a $750 house last evening, and will have another big one to-night. Our theatre-goers are much pleased with them. They should, however, run a little more on the great talent, both vocal, delineative and instrumental, that they are possessed of, and not at all on little trashy plays, which people of refined taste do not care to see more than the first time at most. Our people always appreciate, admire, and will patronize true talent. I don't know what comes next, unless George Francis Train does—the Martinettis, perhaps.

ALF.

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA CITY.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.]

VIRGINIA, Nev., August 22, 1869.

Little Fiddlers.

Either this has been an extraordinary good season for little fiddlers, or else there has been an unusual exodus of them from all parts of the world, for they certainly have appeared here in marvelous numbers during the last few months. Here they come, little girls and little boys, and the way they do torture that sacred instrument, the fiddle, is a caution to Ole Bull. I never knew till now how small a boy could play the fiddle, but having seen several little exiles from Vesuvius and other Italian volcanoes, travelling the county, playing on fiddles bigger than themselves, I conclude that there is no limit to their capacity. Little bits of boys and little bits of girls invade this section with fiddles, travelling about the streets from one saloon, store or dwelling house to another, and will insist on giving you a tune or so, whether you like it or not, fully expecting you to disburse a bit or so therefore, anyhow. And they do murder poor "Captain Jinks," slaughter "Champagne Charlie," climb over the "Flying Trapeze," and devastate the "Grecian Bend" in a manner debilitating to contemplate. Organ-grinders this season have been limited exclusively to those travelling with maimed soldiers, and the entire amount of vagrant music is monopolized by little fiddlers.

Our Railroad.

The railroad between here and Carson, misnamed the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, is not progressing very fast in construction at the present time. Considerable grading has yet to be done, but as the iron for the track will not arrive for six or eight weeks yet, Sharon & Co. have concluded not to push things too fast, but to wait awhile and so save the use of the money. They have taken off the hands employed on the last tunnel near Virginia, which can be finished in a week, and during the next three or four days will discharge 600 Chinamen and over 200 white men. It will not require a very large force to complete the grading. The track-laying will not be done so fast as one the great continental railroad, as there are no straight lines worth speaking of, but most of the rails will have to be curved. It is the crookedest road anybody ever saw.

The Sutro.

Adolph Sutro, the famous projector of a certain tunnel between Carson River and the Comstock ledge, is here. He is trying to put his grand project through now, by means of small subscriptions from miners, or anybody else who will take small or large amounts of the stock. That is his best chance of success now, as for interested reasons, the capitalist are averse to investing in it, regarding it with an unjustifiable degree of jealousy. This tunnel certainly is a very important work, and would be a great advantage to the country. Through it to Carson River is less than four miles, straight track, and the tunnel once completed, cars could be run backward and forward regularly, regardless of snow, rain, or any other vagary of the elements, at all seasons of the year. It would also tap the Comstock mine hundreds of feet deeper than the present lowest workings, and afford the best possible drainage. Sutro has fought against all manner of discouragements for a long time, but that tunnel will eventually be run whether Sutro has anything to do with it or not. You can just chalk that down as a settled point.

The Occidental Mine.

Day before yesterday I paid a visit to this famous "outside" mine. I was all through it six months ago, but considerable development has been made since then, and I thought it required another critical inspection. The lower working level, 600 feet from the surface, has been extended several hundred feet further north—1,200 feet in all. The extreme north end of the main drift show the same continuous sheet of ore so prevalent and unbroken throughout all other parts of the mine, and so characteristic of it. "Raises" have also been made to the extent of sixty feet above this new work, simply developing the same thing; in fact, this mine is practically inexhaustible, there being now enough ore in sight to last for many a long year to come. It is all low grade ore, but pays very evenly, is extracted cheaper than any other in the country, mills easily, containing little or no base metal, and yields a small profit to the ton. The yield of bullion is simply limited by the amount of ore worked. About forty men are employed in and about the mine. The body or vein of ore is in one continuous, unbroken sheet, from two to twelve feet thick, extending from the croppings at the summit of the hill, 600 feet down to the 600 foot or lower working level. Winze sunk 250 feet below this develops merely a continuation of this ore, but it is found to be somewhat richer as depth is attained. How far it extends northward is not of course known at present. No assessments ever have to be levied, the mine being a self-sustaining institution, paying for all prospecting, improvements, etc., and the day is fast approaching when the Occident will occupy a prominent position in the front rank of dividend-paying mines. I base this opinion upon actual observation of the present developments, and the new measures progressing for opening out new facilities and putting the mine in still better producing shape.

The tunnel of which I have heretofore made mention as being run from the ravine down below the ore dump of the mine, to strike and open the ledge 400 feet beneath the present lowest working level of the mine, is progressing very well, being steadily worked by six men on eight-hour shifts, two men on a shift. The rock, however, is very hard, so that they can only make about a foot in twenty-four hours on the average. A contract was let yesterday to run the tunnel fifty feet further, which will probably carry it to the ledge, as there is every indication that it is close to it, and judging from the "feeders" or stringers of quartz encountered within the last few days, it is apparently in the foot wall of the lead. Both giant and black powder is used in blasting. This tunnel is a little over 1,000 feet in length, and within the last few feet, a material change in the character of the rock is noticeable, also indicating the ledge to be near at hand. Great anticipations are indulged in relative to what will be developed by this tunnel. Some weeks ago a fine stream of water was tapped, which has settled down not to about fourteen inches. This is made to turn a water-wheel at the mouth of the tunnel, driving a fan, which, by means of a long tube, supplies fresh air to the farthest end of the tunnel. The water, after serving this purpose, is then led in a small flume around the hillsides and supplies two or three mills at or near Silver City. Everything connected with the Occidental mine is under excellent and fully competent management, therefore, it has a perfect right to be a success.

Other Mines.

The north shaft of the Yellow Jacket will be rid of water, mud, etc., in about two weeks longer, when an incline will be opened from the 700 to the 800-foot levels, and the extraction of ore will be commenced. The south part of the mine is yielding as usual. The present assessment of $10 per share became delinquent on the 18th instant. I hear it hinted that another similar assessment will be levied as soon as it can be legally done, as the expenses have been in excess of the receipts for some time past, and still are so. That probably will be the last assessment, for the good ore in the north mine will make things all right as soon as it can be got at advantageously.

The Chollar Potosi shows an improved yield at present; about 230 tons per day being extracted; average assays, $45 per ton. The new shaft where the hoisting works were burnt is being repaired and put in order for future use. The Sierra Nevada mine is progressing excellently, as usual, and the mill is pounding away on another run of extra good ore. The next clean up, at the last of the month, will be a highly gratifying one.

No ore is developed as yet by the drift east in the lower level of the Gould & Curry mine from the seventh station. The old upper workings yield about fifty tons of $40 rock per day.

The repairs to the Imperial-Empire shaft are nearly completed. It was badly caved between the 1,000 and the 1,100 foot stations, but is nearly all solidly re-timbered, both sinking deeper and drifting southward will be resumed shortly.

The new shaft of the Virginia Consolidated is to-day 245 feet deep, and excellent progress is being made, the rock being of a very favorable character. It is the best piece of work in that line I ever saw, the timbering being especially well done. Thoroughly practical workmen have that job in hand, and are putting it through energetically.

The Belcher mine shows a great degree of improvement generally during the past two or three weeks. A good body of ore over 100 feet long and five or six feet wide is developed near the south line above the 300 foot level, assaying over $100 per ton. A contract is let to run the 850 foot level 100 feet farther south.

White Pine.

The fabulously rich new Silverado is not in so good repute here as it was, from the fact that the greater part of those who joined in the rush for there last fall and spring have got back; and even the latest arrivals during the past week all agree that White Pine is a bursted bubble, and for true, substantial merit is no more to be compared to Virginia or Gold Hill than New Jersey is to California. They all tell of hard times and great scarcity of money out there, and express themselves delighted to get back to old Washoe. White pine will doubtless be a good country next year, but it isn't now.

Theatrical.

George Francis Train will show at Piper's Opera House, commencing Tuesday evening next. How many lectures he will give will be limited and regulated by his first successes. If he gets cabbaged and rotten-egged the first night, he will have crowded houses for a week. The Murphy & Mack Minstrels are doing a fine business at Salt Lake, and are to be back here, to perform at the Opera House, on the 1st and 2d of September. The Martinettis are coming on the 6th, and will draw crowded houses for ten nights or more. Lotta will probably come next, and Elise Holt about the last of the month; so you see we will not lack for good theatricals over here in the land of the sage-brush and the silver-brick.

Belligerent Piutes.

A couple of Piutes got into a quarrel on South C street, yesterday forenoon, all just because one of them had run off with the other one's wife and daughter. The Mormonish culprit was fiercely collared, but fearing the police, further demonstrations were desisted from, and both agreed to go out in the hills and fight it out. They went to a secluded spot, and inside fifteen minutes tore each other's shirts completely off, when both expressed themselves satisfied and threw up the sponge.

ALF.

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA CITY.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.]

VIRGINIA CITY, September 5, 1869.

Our Railroad.

The railroad between here and Carson, misnamed the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, is in rather a quiescent state at the present time. Before George Francis Train came here, there were 2,500 men of all sorts employed on that road, but now there are scarcely 500. I don't mean by this statement to give the impression that George has slaughtered the road—he is too light a Train to crush down any railroad—but the fact of it is that the grading is nearly completed and they are only waiting for the iron, which is now fully due, when the track-laying will be proceeded with at once. Some people affect to think that this extensive cessation of work on the road is owing to the Bank of California getting cramped for money. But this is not so.

The Pandering Train.

Just as might have been expected from the way George Francis Train tried to ride the winning horse while here at Virginia, pandering to whatever he recognized as the prime local power, he has done the same at Salt Lake. You will recollect that I stated in my last letter that if he talked woman's rights out there, same as he did here, old Brigham would cave his head in for him. But no, the time-serving George didn't have anything at all to say about woman's rights out there, except to tell them they were all right as they were. On the contrary, he went the whole Mormon hog, and indorsed them in all their peculiar institutions. If Brigham had thought him worth while, he would have anointed his bumps with sweet oil and taken him into the bosom of the church. But no, the Mormons simply let him go on and talk, while some of them did the listening. He pandered to them in every way, yet he got rather poor houses and poorer pay that he ever experienced before in all his lecturing. Says he" I say you have been the most outraged people on the face of the globe, and if our Government dares to interfere in the future with any of your notions, you must fight. You remember how, in 1857, six hundred Mormons, at the head of Echo Canon, kept an entire army at bay. If you could frighten them under such circumstances, what can you do now, with 100,000 Mormons ready to fight for their religion and rights?" Of course those obstreperous people were hugely tickled at this idea, whatever their private opinion might have been. George was simply playing for the Mormon vote. That's his style. If the wild, hostile Indians on the Plains had a vote he would go among them at once, advocate their cause like a Major and have them scalp the Quaker Commissioners forthwith. George won't do. He will hardly be President in 1872.

Disabled Firemen.

Owing to the frequent fires occurring here lately, there are more crippled and injured firemen than I ever saw before. Engines or hose carriages get away with them in running down our steep cross streets, and so they get run over or dragged, or else they get burnt by running straight into the fire. You never saw the like; they just deliberately walk into the flames with their pipes, stand it like salamanders, and afterward, when the cooked skin and flesh peels off or festers on the side of their faces or hands, they wonder how it was done. A fire here generally starts out in good, respectable style, but ends ingloriously—our firemen are too much for it.

Weather.

Here in Washoe the weather at this season of the year is the very best. We are enjoying our regular "Indian summer." We have no birds to sing among the trees, and no trees for any birds to sing among; but rich, temperate, clear, pleasant days, just warm enough and just cool enough—and such glorious nights for sleeping! This suits Crooks, and is considerable of a quietus on the

Bed Bugs.

I don't know why it is exactly, but, although fleas are plenty throughout California, we have none of them this side of the mountains at all. They won't live here, but bed-bugs do. Those infernal stinking little nuisances thrive here and multiply at a disgusting rate. Cheap lodging houses are full of them, and even first-class hotels cannot always be kept entirely free from them. They are in nine-tenths of the houses in this city, and they abound in every roadside tavern throughout the country; they are worse, however, in Dayton, Carson, Reno and other valley towns than in this elevated region. They are simply indigenous to the country, and can never be wiped out entirely. There is one thing for comfort, though, they don't follow a person about and bite in the daytime like fleas do.

White Piners.

The White Piners are coming back at a pretty plentiful rate just now. They have got chloride enough, and are looking for winter quarters. Quite a lot of printers have got back within the last two weeks. Of the three newspapers out there, only one, the Inland Empire, will live till next spring. The Telegram is dead, and the White Pine News will be a weekly in two months; it is pretty weakly now.

Mining Items

Quite a stir was made day before yesterday, relative to a reported rich strike in the Overman mine, and the stock took a jump of $6 per foot in consequence; yet, after all it was not justified by the facts of the case. They certainly did find some very good ore at the 500-foot level, but not a very large body of it. The Overman abounds in low grade ore, with occasional isolated bunches of rich ore among it; these, however, are like angels' visits—"Few and far between." The general average of the best ore does not yield $25. A huge body of fair milling ore is developed at the 400-foot level, which breasts out 60 feet in width. I saw an assay from it yesterday, which showed $45 to the ton. The yield of the mine is increased to 60 tons per day, averaging $20 per ton, but, as I have before stated, no new and rich discovery is made in it at present. The air is very bad at the 500-foot level, therefore little work is being done there. A winze is being excavated to connect this and the level above, which will be finished in about ten days, giving a good circulation of air.

I have nothing new to report relative to the Crown Point mine. It still continues to yield no ore, and none is yet developed at either of the lowest levels—the 1,000 and the 1,100. A small streak of good ore was found at the 1,000 foot level, but it did not amount to anything. A "raise" at that point might develop good ore above that level, but the prospects below are decidedly not good.

The Kentuck upper levels continue to yield a goodly quantity of fair grade ore, enough to supply two mills, and some very good ore is being developed at the 900-foot level, through the same level of the Yellow Jacket. The fire still burns in the mine, somewhere about the 600-foot level.

The Yellow Jacket yields about 240 tons of ore per day from the lower levels of the south mine, and the old Yolo tunnel in the surface workings of the north mine. There remain to-day fourteen feet of water and mud to get out of the north shaft before the track floor of the 700-foot level is reached. Owing to a considerable increase of water-flowing, progress is necessarily slow, and it will take probably a couple of seeks yet before that shaft can be cleared out.

The repairs to the Imperial-Empire shaft are completed down to the 1,080-foot station, and it is not supposed to be much injured below there. Drifting southward toward the Holmes ground at that level will be resumed to-morrow. The old workings of the upper levels continue to yield at their usual rate—some 60 or 70 tons per day.

The Chollar-Potosi yields 225 tons of good paying ore per day, principally from the old Blue Wing section. At the northern end of the New Tunnel section quite a body of extra good ore has recently been developed. A dividend of $2 per share was declared last Monday, payable to-morrow.

The Hale and Norcross shows a greatly increased yield at present, nearly or quite 200 tons per day being extracted. Over half of this comes from the fifth or lower level, which by the completion of the repairs to the shaft is once more brought into productive service. A new pump is being put in, and very shortly the shaft is to be sunk 100 feet deeper in order to open another level.

The savage is paying expenses, but does not show well at the lower levels. About 6 o'clock last evening, the pump-bob broke at the seventh station; it will take four or five days to repair it. This will stop work at the lower level, but above there it will be proceeded with as usual.

Nothing but porphyry and clay, with here and there a thin streak of quartz, is yet found in the drift east at the lower level of the Gould and Curry. The old upper workings yield nearly 40 tons of ore per day, averaging $38 per ton.

The new shaft of the Virginia Consolidated is 274 feet deep to-day. Very little water is yet encountered, and excellent progress is made. The new hoisting works operate well.

The Ophir drift has penetrated 575 feet west from the shaft, with nothing new or encouraging yet encountered.

A large quantity of excellent ore, filled with free gold, has recently been developed in a drift west from the surface workings of the Sierra Nevada, and another rich streak, three feet wide, is developed in the car track tunnel. The mill is being run on ore from both these places, and an extra good yield is therefore looked for this month. The regular monthly dividend will be declared to-morrow or next day. It is a profitable mine.

The Occidental mine, it is unnecessary to state, continues its regular yield. There never has been an assessment upon it, and probably never will be. The face of the lower tunnel is undoubtedly in the west casing of the ledge, penetrating it to the extent of over thirty feet; yet as the tunnel is being run at an angle of about twenty degrees, or comparatively parallel with the ledge, it has not in reality approached the ledge more than twelve feet from the outside of the casing. It is gradually nearing the ledge and will probably cut it by next Sunday.

The Lady Bryan yields about forty tons of $25 ore per day, a streak of gold-bearing ore, five feet wide and assaying as high as $200 to the ton, is developed by a wins, forty-five feet below the surface. Sinking the main shaft deeper will be resumed in four or five days, and a new station opened at the sixty-foot level. About the 10th instant the mill will be started running again.

The Union mine, Silver City, yields about $10,000 per month, and is being actively worked. It is purely a gold vein, and the ore is worked at the Ione mill, and arastras on Carson River. The mine is principally owned by S. A. Chapin, Esq., of Silver City, and certainly is a very lucrative piece of property.

Theatrical.

The Murphy and Mack minstrels performed to good audiences at Piper's Opera House on Wednesday and Thursday evenings last, and then left for the Bay. They took well with our theatre-goers—Ben Cotton especially with his pretty little mouth, jolly laugh and gay song of "Love Among the Roses." The Martinettis open at the Opera House to-morrow evening for a two-weeks' run. They will take well.

Religious Troupe.

A little stub of a stray preacher, with two ladies, arrived this morning from the East, and this afternoon they collected quite a big crowd in front of the International, on C street, by singing, after the style that a band wagon collects customers to the circus, and then the little preacher preached to the crowd. After he was through the three went about giving away little tracts. No collection was taken up, therefore, I couldn't see the margin for the profits. It will probably be soon developed. They are coming your way soon.

ALF.