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Have no fears of the mineral resources of Humboldt county。 They are
immenseincalculable。
Let me state one or two things which will help the reader to better
comprehend certain items in the above。 At this time； our near neighbor；
Gold Hill； was the most successful silver mining locality in Nevada。 It
was from there that more than half the daily shipments of silver bricks
came。 〃Very rich〃 （and scarce） Gold Hill ore yielded from 100 to 400
to the ton； but the usual yield was only 20 to 40 per tonthat is to
say； each hundred pounds of ore yielded from one dollar to two dollars。
But the reader will perceive by the above extract； that in Humboldt from
one fourth to nearly half the mass was silver！ That is to say； every one
hundred pounds of the ore had from two hundred dollars up to about three
hundred and fifty in it。 Some days later this same correspondent wrote：
I have spoken of the vast and almost fabulous wealth of this
regionit is incredible。 The intestines of our mountains are
gorged with precious ore to plethora。 I have said that nature
has so shaped our mountains as to furnish most excellent
facilities for the working of our mines。 I have also told you
that the country about here is pregnant with the finest mill
sites in the world。 But what is the mining history of Humboldt？
The Sheba mine is in the hands of energetic San Francisco
capitalists。 It would seem that the ore is combined with metals
that render it difficult of reduction with our imperfect mountain
machinery。 The proprietors have combined the capital and labor
hinted at in my exordium。 They are toiling and probing。 Their
tunnel has reached the length of one hundred feet。 From primal
assays alone； coupled with the development of the mine and public
confidence in the continuance of effort； the stock had reared
itself to eight hundred dollars market value。 I do not know that
one ton of the ore has been converted into current metal。 I do
know that there are many lodes in this section that surpass the
Sheba in primal assay value。 Listen a moment to the calculations
of the Sheba operators。 They purpose transporting the ore
concentrated to Europe。 The conveyance from Star City （its
locality） to Virginia City will cost seventy dollars per ton；
from Virginia to San Francisco； forty dollars per ton； from
thence to Liverpool； its destination； ten dollars per ton。 Their
idea is that its conglomerate metals will reimburse them their
cost of original extraction； the price of transportation； and the
expense of reduction； and that then a ton of the raw ore will net
them twelve hundred dollars。 The estimate may be extravagant。
Cut it in twain； and the product is enormous； far transcending
any previous developments of our racy Territory。
A very common calculation is that many of our mines will yield
five hundred dollars to the ton。 Such fecundity throws the Gould
& Curry； the Ophir and the Mexican； of your neighborhood； in the
darkest shadow。 I have given you the estimate of the value of a
single developed mine。 Its richness is indexed by its market
valuation。 The people of Humboldt county are feet crazy。 As I
write； our towns are near deserted。 They look as languid as a
consumptive girl。 What has become of our sinewy and athletic
fellow…citizens？ They are coursing through ravines and over
mountain tops。 Their tracks are visible in every direction。
Occasionally a horseman will dash among us。 His steed betrays
hard usage。 He alights before his adobe dwelling； hastily
exchanges courtesies with his townsmen； hurries to an assay
office and from thence to the District Recorder's。 In the
morning； having renewed his provisional supplies； he is off again
on his wild and unbeaten route。 Why； the fellow numbers already
his feet by the thousands。 He is the horse…leech。 He has the
craving stomach of the shark or anaconda。 He would conquer
metallic worlds。
This was enough。 The instant we had finished reading the above article；
four of us decided to go to Humboldt。 We commenced getting ready at
once。 And we also commenced upbraiding ourselves for not deciding
soonerfor we were in terror lest all the rich mines would be found and
secured before we got there； and we might have to put up with ledges that
would not yield more than two or three hundred dollars a ton； maybe。 An
hour before； I would have felt opulent if I had owned ten feet in a Gold
Hill mine whose ore produced twenty…five dollars to the ton； now I was
already annoyed at the prospect of having to put up with mines the
poorest of which would be a marvel in Gold Hill。
CHAPTER XXVII。
Hurry； was the word！ We wasted no time。 Our party consisted of four
personsa blacksmith sixty years of age； two young lawyers； and myself。
We bought a wagon and two miserable old horses。 We put eighteen hundred
pounds of provisions and mining tools in the wagon and drove out of
Carson on a chilly December afternoon。 The horses were so weak and old
that we soon found that it would be better if one or two of us got out
and walked。 It was an improvement。 Next； we found that it would be
better if a third man got out。 That was an improvement also。 It was at
this time that I volunteered to drive； although I had never driven a
harnessed horse before and many a man in such a position would have felt
fairly excused from such a responsibility。 But in a little while it was
found that it would be a fine thing if the drive got out and walked also。
It was at this time that I resigned the position of driver； and never
resumed it again。 Within the hour； we found that it would not only be
better； but was absolutely necessary； that we four； taking turns； two at
a time； should put our hands against the end of the wagon and push it
through the sand； leaving the feeble horses little to do but keep out of
the way and hold up the tongue。 Perhaps it is well for one to know his
fate at first； and get reconciled to it。 We had learned ours in one
afternoon。 It was plain that we had to walk through the sand and shove
that wagon and those horses two hundred miles。 So we accepted the
situation； and from that time forth we never rode。 More than that； we
stood regular and nearly constant watches pushing up behind。
We made seven miles； and camped in the desert。 Young Clagett （now member
of Congress from Montana） unharnessed and fed and watered the horses；
Oliphant and I cut sagebrush； built the fire and brought water to cook
with； and old Mr。 Ballou the blacksmith did the cooking。 This division
of labor； and this appointment； was adhered to throughout the journey。
We had no tent； and so we slept under our blankets in the open plain。 We
were so tired that we slept soundly。
We were fifteen days making the triptwo hundred miles； thirteen；
rather； for we lay by a couple of days； in one place； to let the hors