STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 183 



Silver mountain, a name first applied to a single district, and afterwards 

 extended, like Esmeralda, Humboldt, and Reese River, to the surround- 

 ing region, embracing many districts, occupies an extensive basin formed 

 by the Sierra Nevada on the south and west, and a lofty spur putting out 

 from that chain toward the northeast. This basin, which lies nearly due 

 south from Virginia, is situated on the head waters of Carson River. 

 Its surface is exceedingly rugged, being cut by numerous deep ravines — 

 the channels of the various branches of that stream. The entire region, 

 though east of the Sierra Nevada mountains, is wholly in the State of 

 California, being mostly within the limits of Amador County. The ledges, 

 large and numerous, are remarkably well defined, and under the applica- 

 tion of three years' stead}^ labor, are now in a forward state of develop- 

 ment. Owing to its isolated position, however, being hedged in by moun- 

 tain ranges, impassable to teams, but little, comparatively, has been heard 

 of this district beyond its own precinct. Without wagon roads, it has 

 been impossible to get in machinery, and as a consequence there is not as 

 yet a single quartz mill within the district. During the past summer 

 wagon roads were commenced, which, having just been completed, there 

 is now every facility for taking in heavy freights, and arrangements havo 

 been made- for the erection of several mills early in the spring. Apart 

 from the very promising character of the ledges, there is not among all 

 our silver bearing districts another so favorably situated as Silver Moun- 

 tain, whether we consider its greater security for person and property, 

 or its advantages for the cheap raising and economical reduction of ores. 

 Located in a community where mining interests are amply protected by 

 legislative enactments, and the laws governing them have become fixed 

 and certain by frequent adjudications; within hardly more than a day's 

 journey of San Francisco, the great mining mart and point of supply ; 

 in the midst of splendid forests, suitable alike for fuel and lumber, with 

 a water-power capable of driving a thousand stamps, and enjoying the 

 benefits of a staid and industrious population, a fine soil, much of it 

 adapted to tillage, and covered with native grasses, and a climate highly 

 equable and salubrious, it would seem to open a field alike inviting to the 

 laborer and capitalist; and, unless we greatly overrate the resources of 

 this region, California will be able soon to boast of silver mines quite as 

 rich, and even more profitable than those of Washoe, or any other country 

 outside her borders. At least, we would recommend, at the hazard of 

 seeming a little partial, that such of our citizens as contemplate engaging 

 in this business when the spring opens, take Silver Mountain in their 

 way while journeying to other more remote but less promising localities. 



Of Eeese River, as a permanent and productive mining region, perhaps 

 not enough is yet known to warrant an absolute opinion of its merits, one 

 way or the other. That a metalliferous country of great extent exists 

 in that quarter is not open to question. Throughout an area fully one 

 hundred and fifty miles long, by twenty-five or thirty broad, gold and 

 silver bearing lodes, some of them rich, at least upon the surface, have 

 been found. In certain localities, as about Austin, the centre of the origi- 

 nal Reese River District, these ledges are exceedingly numerous, and, 

 though narrow, and showing but little outcrop, many of them are highly 

 impregnated with the precious metals, silver being largely in preponder- 

 ance. Should it turn out that these ledges expand, still carrying a good 

 body of rich ores, on being opened to a considerable depth, then their pro- 

 ductiveness and permanency may be considered tolerably well, if not suffi- 

 ciently established. But this is precisely the point that remains to be' 

 settled, very few of these veins having yet been penetrated to a depth cal- 



