Willow creeks and several smaller rivulets, all of which are lost in the valley. There have been many locations of mines made in the district, but they have been generally neglected until the present year. Latterly labor has been prosecuted upon the Smoky Valley ledge, which has developed, at the depth of 200 feet, a lode or series of veins 50 feet in thickness, of which about 20 feet contain pay streaks of ore. Average specimens assay $60 to $150 per ton. The upper part of the lode has proved quite barren, but the results obtained from below give encouragement to the miners. In this district the lodes are generally large, and exhibit themselves in some instances for miles in length upon the surface. They are situated conveniently for mining, and the district possesses advantages of wood, water, and arable land for carrying on cheaply extensive operations.

SANTA FE DISTRICT.-South of Smoky Valley district, in the same county, is that of Santa Fé, 18 miles from Austin. It is composed of high peaks, precipitous ridges, and deep, rocky cañons. The bare rocks of the ridges and cañons expose to view the white ledges of quartz in great numbers. A feature in the mineralogy of the district is the presence of gold in considerable quantities in some of the veins. Notwithstanding the undoubted value of the veins, however, in both gold and silver, no successful mining has yet been carried on.

.

BUNKER HILL AND SUMMIT DISTRICTS.-Bunker Hill and Summit districts, Lander county, occupy both sides of Big Smoky creek, and are 20 miles south of Austin. Öre paying from fifty to some hundreds of dollars per ton has been mined; but the veins have been found broken and irregular, and but little success has attended mining operations. This is generally attributed to improper management, and lack of scientific knowledge of the business of mining and the reduction of ores. The stream is one of the largest flowing out of this monntain range, and affords water-power sufficient for a number of extensive mills. Some failures have retarded progress in what appears a superior district. This cannot long continue, for where nature has done so much by offering valuable minerals, building material, and inexpensive power, a pleasant climate and a rich soil, man will sooner or later take advantage of it and reap the reward.

BLUE SPRINGS DISTRICT.-Blue Springs district, in Nye county, 30 miles south of Austin, is so named from a number of deep springs or ponds which lie in the valley at the foot of the mountains. It contains veins of quartz of large size, reputed to be rich in silver, but developments upon them are so slight that their value is not really known.

SMOKY VALLEY SALT FIELD.-Near Blue Springs, in the great Smoky valley, is an extensive field of 2,000 acres of salt lands, from which is obtained most of the salt used in Eastern Nevada both for domestic purposes and the reduction of ores. Upon this salt field, as upon some others with which the State abounds, the salt rises as an efflorescence, half an inch or more in thickness, upon the surface of the ground, from which it is gathered. A slight rain drives the salt beneath the surface, but under the influence of the sun it soon reappears. Hundreds of tons are obtained from this field annually, and the supply coming from deep springs seems to be inexhaustible. It is furnished for the use of the mills at from $30 to $50 per ton. When it is known that salt in large quantities is essential to the reduction of silver ores, the beneficence of a Divine Providence in furnishing it in such vast deposits and at convenient localities throughout the country can be appreciated.

NORTH TWIN RIVER DISTRICT.-Forty miles south of Austin, in Nye county, is the North Twin River district. Although this region was examined and many claims located early in the settlement of the country, it was not considered of importance until recently, when work upon some of the veins has proved them to be of large size and great value. Deep cañons, with running streams, open to the plain, offering access to the mines and sites for reduction mills.

The La Plata Mining Company, owning mines in this district, is organized

under the laws of Pennsylvania. Its chief stockholders are residents of Reading. This company owns the Twin Ophirs, the William Bigler, and other veins situated in Park cañon. Some of the veins are large, and have shown bodies of good pay ore. Work upon one of the Twin Ophirs has developed a chimney or mass of ore of a very singular character, being chiefly iron and resembling steel, but containing from $70 to $150 per ton in silver. A mill is in course of construction, which, in a few months, will probably add something to the stream of bullion already beginning to flow from the districts bordering the Smoky valley. It is mainly built of stone, with furnaces and chimney stack of brick. These materials are conveniently obtained in the neighborhood. It will contain 10 stamps of about 700 pounds each, crushing the rock dry and in a condition for roasting. The property of the company is managed by G. B. Montgomery.

The Buckeye Mining Company is a New York company, and, under the superintendence of Mr. Stephen Kidd, is developing the Buckeye mine, situated in Summit cañon. The vein was discovered and located in 1865. The claim consists of 1,400 feet of the lode running north from the cañon. The vein is encased in limestone, and, although it sometimes narrows down to a mere clay seam in the rock, it appears to be a true fissure vein. Its general width is five feet, occasionally reaching to seven. It has been developed by an incline following the dip of the ledge, which is westerly 65°, to the depth of 100 feet, and by different levels several hundred feet north and south. From these excavations a quantity of ore has been taken which has yielded, at the Austin mills, $106 per ton. The company has located, under the laws of Nevada, 800 acres of woodland, mill-sites, &c. Neither lands nor mines are entered under any law of Congress, nor are any lands or mines throughout this region. The lands are unsurveyed, and there is no land office in eastern Nevada. The laws of the United States give permission to occupy the mines subject to the local rules of miners. Survey and purchase appears to them a useless expense, serviceable only to the surveyors and land officers.

In Summit cañon are other claims, as the Scottish Chief, which is an extension of the Buckeye south of the cañon. This has been but slightly developed, having a shaft 40 feet in depth; its real worth is therefore known only from the greater explorations on the Buckeye. A short distance to the southwest is the Canada vein. This appears on the surface to be about nine feet in width, but the explorations upon it are not sufficient, it being encased in limestone, to determine its extent and character. From the surface several tons of ore have been taken, which give promise of worth.

TWIN RIVER DISTRICT.-The Twin River district, Nye county, is 50 miles south of Austin, on the castern slope of the Toiyabee range, and is at present regarded as one of the most important districts south of Austin. It receives its name from two pretty streams on the southern border, which, flowing through deep and rugged cañons, enter the valley near each other, and continuing parallel for some miles sink in the plain. The characteristics of the district are its ruggedness, high and precipitous mountains, deep cañons, and its geological formation being granite and slate, while the districts north of it are of limestone. The principal mines are situated in Ophir cañon. These were discovered in 1863 by S. Boulerond and a party of Frenchmen, who located several veins, but did not publish to the world their discovery nor do much towards developing their property. The year following the cañon was entered by George H. Willard and others, ledges located, a district formed, and laws made. From that date the district has been somewhat noted. In entering the cañon from Smoky valley, one feels almost forbidden to advance, so towering and precipitous are the rocks on either side, which appear to close the narrow pass; but winding along at the base of the cliffs is now a well-constructed road. Following this a mile or more the narrow gorge of granite is passed and a cañon of more gently sloping sides, a slate formation, is reached. The granite is generally barren of soil, but upon

the summits of the ridges a few low and dwarfed piñon trees are found, which are cut for fuel and with great labor brought to the brink of the precipice and tumbled into the cañon below, whence it is hauled to its place of consumption. Fuel is difficult to obtain, and costs about $10 per cord. At the present date a mill is in operation, and a village called Toiyabee, of 300 inhabitants, has been built.

The Ophir.-The first vein noticed in passing up the cañon is the Ophir. This was discovered and claimed by S. Boulerond and Company in 1863, and is still owned by the same parties. It is a large vein, showing chiefly white quartz, but deposits of good ore have been found in it. The claim consists of 2,400 feet along the ledge. A shaft has been sunk to the depth of 60 feet, from which a small quantity of ore was obtained, worth at the rate of $500 per ton. The developments upon the mine are very slight.

The Orphee, Central Favorite, and numerous other claims have been slightly developed, but have not yet been productive.

The Murphy is the only developed and productive mine in this neighborhood, and its success has given celebrity to the district. It was located by G. H. Willard, John Murphy, Jo. Patty, and others, in 1864, and is 1,000 feet in length. Its course is north and south, dipping to the east at an angle of 46°, and the lode is about 20 feet in thickness. It has been developed by an incline 130 feet in depth, from which levels have been run and ore extracted, worth about $130 per ton. It appears from the working that the ore is not continuous throughout the vein, but exists in chimneys of one to seven feet in thickness, and from 100 to 150 feet broad, with nearly a corresponding interval of barren rock. These chimneys are inclined, having a dip to the north of about 30°. Although much valuable ore has been extracted, a map of the mine, showing its whole size and the excavations made, indicate that but a small portion is touched. There are 41 men employed in the mine, working eight hours each, at $4 per day, and keeping up the labor without intermission. The miners are usually natives of Cornwall, England. The hoisting of water and ore is done by steam power.

The Murphy Mill, belonging to the Twin River Mining Company, is a substantial structure of stone, having 20 stamps and corresponding machinery, driven by an engine of 95 horse-power. The ore is brought from the mine, a few hundred feet distant, in cars. The first process is to pass it through a Blake's rock breaker, which will in a few hours break sufficient rock into fragments of less than a cubic inch in size to supply the stamps for 24 hours. This effects a saving of $2 per ton in the cost of crushing the ore. From the breaker the ore is placed upon a large pan or dryer, which is heated by the gases passing from the roasting furnaces to the smoke-stack, and is thoroughly dried. It is then ready for the stamps. Of these there are 20, weighing 850 pounds each, and they crush 16 tons per day fine enough to pass through a No. 60 screen, or a screen with 3,600 holes to the square inch. Falling from the screens into a tight bin, it is removed into cars standing on a track passing over the tops of the roasting furnaces, and is thus transported to the furnaces, of which there are eight, capable of roasting 16 tons in 24 hours. Seven to nine hundred pounds of ore mixed with a certain quantity of salt, according to the composition of the ore, varying from eight to fifteen per cent., constitutes a charge, and this is roasted from five to seven hours, being constantly stirred. It is then taken to the amalgamating room, in which are six pans taking one ton of the roasted pulp, now mixed with water, at a charge. Here the silver, which in the furnaces was changed from its native condition to a chloride, is again changed to metallic silver, and is amalgamated with quicksilver. The pulp is agitated and ground by revolving iron mullers for about six hours, when it is drawn off into settlers, of which there are six, where more water is added, and, after several hours' agitation, the quicksilver bearing the silver is drawn off, the pulp allowed to run to waste, and the silver taken out. This, after being strained and pressed in

leather bags, exhausting the quicksilver as far as possible, is placed in a close retort, and the remaining quicksilver expelled by heat. The crude bullion remaining is then taken to the smelting room, where it is melted and run into ingots, ready for the assayer and for commerce. The establishment is very complete, and presents an imposing appearance. The officers of the company having charge and carrying on the works, are R. B. Canfield, general agent; H. M. Grant, bookkeeper; H. Richards, mining superintendent; Charles V. Baesler, assayer; and Alonzo Monroe, engineer. In working the mill at full capacity, 41 men are required. Besides those in the mine and mill are blacksmiths, ore assorters, and wood choppers, making 100 men employed. In one month 417 tons of ore were milled, producing $36,865. The assay of the ore was over $100 per ton. At the present date the mill is working to its full capacity, and better results than formerly are obtained.

The McDonald mine.-The Murphy and McDonald are locations upon the same lode, the first extending from the cañon northwardly and the latter south of it. It is anticipated that they are of equal value, although the McDonald is undeveloped. Preparations are making, under the superintendence of John H. Boalt, for a New York company to commence explorations and developing the

mine.

These mines constitute the basis of support to a busy and prosperous little village, called Toiyabee City, of about 300 inhabitants. This place is connected with Austin by a tri-weekly stage, carrying the United States mail once a week. The distance is 55 miles, and the time of passage about nine hours. From the valley to the town is about two and a half miles along the cañon, and through this distance a road has been constructed at a cost of about $6,000. The work has been very heavy, and under the circumstances a good road is constructed, although its grade at some places is as great as 10°. The road continues through this cañon over the summit of the Toiyabee mountain, and forms a convenient avenue for summer travel, but the passage is generally impeded by snow during the winter.

The books of the county assessor, according to the Silver Bend Reporter, give the following returns of bullion and yield per ton of the mines of Nye county for the quarter ending September 30, made under oath. The amounts are for coin:

Following are the returns of small lots of ore from this county, worked at mills in the vicinity of Austin, and forwarded by the assessor of Lander county. We merely give the number of pounds of ore worked and the gross product:

Gross yield.

1,915

$90 80

3,630

206 24

11,314

753 30

3,083

474 86

2,277

149 69

1,172

68 75

2,639

292 01

2,254

106 85

600

8 84

2,792

30 68

The books of the county assessor show the following annual product of two of the leading mines of Nye county: From October 1 to December 31, 1866, the Buel mill (now the Bel

SOUTH TWIN RIVER, HOT SPRINGS, EL DORADO, AND PEAVINE DISTRICTS.— The districts of South Twin River, Hot Springs, El Dorado, and Peavine, all in Nye county, continue in the order in which they are named to near where the mountain, which we have traced for 150 miles, falls away into the plain. Although but slightly explored, the opinion is expressed that the mines in the southern part of the Toiyabee range will equal those of other parts, and that this extensive country offers an inviting field to the explorer and the capitalist.

SMOKY VALLEY.-The great Smoky valley, traversed by Frémont in 1845, who mapped Big Smoky creek and Twin rivers, is worthy of special mention. In the centre of it are found remarkable springs of boiling water, throwing a large and constant stream, in which meat and vegetables are readily cooked, and tea and coffee quickly prepared for use. The basin of the spring is from 20 to 30 feet in diameter, and the fountain of boiling water rises in the centre, a constant column ascending by its subterranean force several feet above the surface. There are several smaller springs in the neighborhood, one of which furnishes cold water. The soil about them is fertile, and the climate pleasant and healthy.

The fields of salt in the northern part of the valley have already been mentioned. Throughout it are found good agricultural lands. The climate is more agreeable than generally prevails in Nevada, without extremes of heat or cold. Snow seldom falls and frosts are never severe, although there are localities where frosts have occurred as early as September, sufficient to blight certain species of vegetation. The valley continues, although slight elevations divide it into dif ferent basins, into the desert upon the southern borders of the State. In it are other vast fields of salt, and beds of sulphur, alum, and soda, and bordering upon it are the mountains of San Antonio and Silver Peak. These are isolated and singular in their formation, and appear as if thrown into position by some violent convulsion of nature. The mining districts of this region are among

the most important of the State.

SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT, comprising the mountain of that name, is situated about 20 miles southeast of the southern terminus of the Toiyabee mountains, and about 90 miles from Austin. Several companies are engaged in mining here with some success, and ore is extracted which returns from reduction an average of $200 per ton.

The Liberty mine, owned by George Seitz, has been continuously worked during the present year. It is, so far, the most extensively worked mine in the mont Company's) reduced 904 tons of ore, producing bullion of the value of $52,712 24, being an average per ton of $58 31; the three months following-January, February, and March, 1867-554 tons and a fraction were reduced, yielding $33,041 39, or $59 64 per ton; the next quarter, 125 tons, 1,339 pounds, producing $6,903 02, $54 93 per ton; and 676 tons, 1,010 pounds, which produced $26,439 77, or $39 08 per ton. The amounts added to the production of the quarter ending on the 30th of September, of 736 tons, yielding $28,856 88$39 33 per ton, and 21 tons, yielding $837 06-$39 86 per ton, swells the total product of this mine for the past year to $148,790 36 in coin. The aggregate number of tons of ore worked is a fraction over 3,917-averaging very nearly $50 per ton. It was reduced in a 10-stamp mill, at best but an inferior one, by the wet crushing process, by which it is not claimed that more than about 65 per cent. of the silver is saved. In connection with the fact that the mine from which the ore was obtained is practically inexhaustible, and can be made to furnish almost any amount of ore, the above figures will furnish a basis upon which to estimate its great value. During the same period, the Murphy mine, of the Twin River Company, situated in Ophir cañon, as is shown by the books of the assessor, has yielded as follows: first quarter-6264 tons, averaging $132 49 per ton, $83,007 96; second quarter1,161 tons, averaging $84 18 per ton, $97,775 08; third quarter-8044 tons, averaging $92 94 per ton, $74,863 17; fourth quarter-800 tons, averaging $134 43 per ton, $107,544, making a total of $363,190 21 in coin in a twelvemonth. The aggregate quantity of ore worked is 3,393 tons, and the average yield per ton a fraction over $107. We are informed that the Murphy mine is now in a condition to supply ore for another mill of equal capacity as the one in use, a number of levels having already been run which disclose hundreds of feet in length along the vein, and for a depth of near 200 feet a compact mass of solid ore some 10 or 12 feet thick.