pitch of extravagance to which all previous mining excitements were tame. Lander Hill, Central Hill, and Mount Prometheus, soon became riddled with claims, looking like naked giants, lying on their backs, sprinked with smallpox. Every man who had a pick or a shovel dug a hole two or three feet in the ground, and called it the "Grand Magniff," or the "Great Stupendous Ledge;" and thereupon he took to speculation. It was all feet-but little or no mining. Every body wanted to realize the grand result without delay. This was the memorable period to which I alluded in a former article, when lodgings in a sheep-corral had to be paid for at the rate of fifty cents per night in advance; when no man could safely undertake to sleep under the lee of a quartz-boulder, in consequence of that claim being guarded by a prior occupant armed with a six-shooter; when it was a luxury to sit all night by a stove, or stand against a post behind a six-feet tent. I have heard of men who contrived to get through the coldest part of the season by sleeping when the sun was warm, and running up and down Lander Hill all night; and another man who staved off the pangs of hunger by lying on his back for an hour or so at meal-times with a quartz-boulder on his stomach. Of the wild speculations in mineral ledges it is needless for me to speak in detail. The subject is a sore one for some of my friends in San Francisco. A notable instance was related to me as characteristic of the spirit of the times. An adventurer, with nothing to sus place much confidence in the honesty of the discoverer, whom he at first regarded as a singularly verdant man to sell out at such a price, but now considers a cunning rogue. ceived that the ore was the best kind of chlor-"Post-hole Ledge" attracted much attention id silver; and he staked off his ledge, putting at the time. I am told the purchaser does not down himself and numerous friends as locators. But speculation was too keen and too grasping for him to profit by the working of his mine. An immediate offer of $60,000 was made him for his discovery, and he was fool enough to sell out, pocket his money, and retire from the mining business. At least every body thought he was a simpleton, till an assay of the ore was made. It was not chlorid of silver, it was only chlorid of lead-which may be valuable some day, when lead rises to a dollar a pound. The ABORIGINAL CITIZENS. Foreseeing that mills would be necessary to work the ores, Messrs. Buel and Dorsey took time by the forelock, and in June and July, 1863, erected a five-stamp mill in the cañon, which is now known as the California Mill. During the same summer the Rhode Island, Union, Pioneer, and Clifton mills were built. The Oregon Mill was commenced in May, but not finished and in running order till January, 1864. This and the Pioneer were ten-stamp mills. All the rest had but five stamps each. The work of building mills in this new country was attended with enormous labor and expense. Suitable timber for joists and beams was exceedingly scarce. Labor of every kind was high. Lumber was from $250 to $500 a thousand. The cost of transportation from California was a heavy item-freight being eighteen cents a pound from Sacramento. To get the necessary machinery across the mountains was a most laborious and expensive undertaking. There was scarcely any thing in the country but the stones upon which to build the foundations. The mines had produced comparatively nothing as yet, and the greatest difficulty was to procure the capital for the prosecution of these enterprises. Besides, little was known of the quality of the ores or the proper manner of treating them. It was a mere experiment-but a very bold one. By the rude process of crushing and amalgam- | was about $80. It is now, as announced, ation the wastage was great, and the result by somewhat less. no means encouraging. Mr. Vanderbosch, finding from the working of the first ores that it would be a losing business, and that a different plan must be adopted, erected a roasting furnace in March, 1864, which was a perfect success. It was the great event in the history of Reese River. Many had begun to despair of getting any thing out of the ores; but the roasting process proved at once that they could be successfully and profitably worked. The experiment was made under the most discouraging circumstances. The weather was so cold that the bricks of the furnaces had to be covered with blankets to keep any heat in them; and the machinery was of the most primitive kind. Still it was a success. The yield was remarkable considering all thingsranging from $150 to $1750 to the ton. The first class chlorids averaged from $300 to $500; second class from $150 to $300; and the third class would have yielded from $100 to $150; but it was not considered profitable to work them so long as there was an abundance of superior ores. The cost of working VOL. XXXIII.-No. 193.-C During the latter part of 1863 the natural result of the wild speculations which had been going on during the year became apparent. Little or no work had been done on the ledges. Miners had expended all their means, and nothing was coming in to keep them in food and raiment. Outsiders began to feel their pockets and wonder if there was any thing in this Reese River country. The success of the Vanderbosch's mill, and the development of the Oregon ledges during the ensuing spring, had an encouraging effect. Things began to brighten up; and San Francisco capital began to flow in. About $2,000,000 were invested in mines, mills, etc. during the year 1864. The total amount of bullion shipped to San Francisco in 1863 was $50,000; in 1864, $600,000. The shipments during the year 1865 up to August averaged about $100,000 per month. Very little, so far, came from the outside districts. Before the close of 1864 a panic took place in the Reese River stocks. Some of the lead ing mines, which had been opened to the depth | dozen inhabitants must have its Mayor and of sixty or seventy feet, had reached poor or Common Council, its primary meetings, and barren rock, and a general impression prevailed election excitements. An American could no that the ledges were not permanent. A fear- more live without making speeches or hearing ful state of depression followed. Money was them, holding office or voting somebody else scarce, and it was impossible to go on working into office, participating in a torch-light proceswithout capital. The supplies from San Fran- sion, or flourishing his hat over it, than he could cisco stopped. Those who owned stocks be- without his newspaper or his daily "tod." came tired of paying assessments; and now that there seemed no hope of returns in the future, many allowed themselves to be sold out. The miners themselves remained confident -never for a moment losing faith in the mines. Such of them as were able continued to work on the ledges, hoping in time to get through the barren streak. It is a leading peculiarity of the American people that they carry with them into every new territory their municipal and political institutions. A "city" of two houses and half a Austin was not exempt from this notable feature in American life. The city charter was passed with due solemnity in April, 1864. Public rejoicings followed as a matter of course. There was immense excitement at this time touching the political issues of the day. Republicans and Copperheads were pretty evenly divided; and the state of feeling between them was exceedingly lively, if not hostile. A great deal of betting took place on the test questions, the chief of which was the election of Mayor. Every man felt not only a local and personal but a national interest in the result. The two candidates were well matched. On the Democratic side was my friend David E. Buel-"Uncle Dave," as his fellow - citizens familiarly called him-a man of imposing presence, six-feetfour, and large in proportion, without a fault save that of being always on the wrong side, and with a frank, generous, offhand way about him that was wonderfully attractive to the honest miners. Buel was a miner himself, and enjoyed a high reputation for energy and honesty. A more popular candidate could not have been chosen to give strength and respectability to a bad cause. It was expected that he would carry a large portion of the Republicans, and doubtless he would have done so at any other time. The other candidate was Charles Holbrook, a young man of excellent character and fine business capacity. Holbrook had just erected a handsome store, built of cut granite, and was one of the leading merchants. His integrity was undoubted, his intelligence of a superior order, and his political faith ultraUnion. The gladiators went heart and soul into the fight. Betting was the order of the day. Each party was perfectly confident of success. Among the bets made was one of a somewhat eccentric character. Dr. H. S. Herrick entered into an agreement with R. C. Gridley to the following effect: If Buel was elected, Herrick was common sympathy for the suffering soldiers. It was a clever stroke of policy for the Republicans. The procession halted in front of the store owned by his Honor the Mayor. By this time the crowd was immense. Every body turned out to see the fun: miners from their holes in the ground; Reese River capitalists from their shanties; business men from their stores; women and children from their cottages and cabins. Gridley, true to his engagement, was on hand at the appointed time with his sack of flour. An immense concourse of people had assembled in Upper Austin to witness the novel performance. Laughter and good-humor prevailed on all sides. The best feeling existed between the victorious and the defeated candidates. Winners and losers enjoyed the scene with equal gusto. A grand procession was formed, headed by an excellent band of music. The newly-elected officers, including his Honor the Mayor, followed the musicians, mounted on horseback. Next to them came the hero of the day, the redoubtable Gridley, with a sack of flour on his back. On each side marched a standard-bearer, carrying high in the air the flag of the Union. Gridley stood up to his task like a man, never flinching before the glorious emblem of liberty. If the truth were known, he worshiped it in his heart, though he had an eccentric way of showing it. Friends, citizens, and strangers followed. Never was there seen such a lively crowd in Austin. "Go it, Gridley!" "Stick to it, Gridley!" "Nev-ley was with it, body and soul. He would er say die, Gridley!" were the encouraging words that cheered him on all sides. Arrived at Clifton, it was suggested by some enterprising genius, whose speculative spirit kept pace with his patriotism, that the sack of flour should be sold for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission. The proposition was received with unbounded applause. In a moment an empty barrel or a dry-goods box was found, and an auctioneer mounted upon it. The bidding was lively; but the crowd were not quite warmed up to the joke, and the flour only brought five dollars. It was then determined that there should be another auction held in Austin. The sack of flour was taken up again, and the procession started back with it-this time marching to the tune of "Dixie." The most uncompromising Copperhead was won over; and all united in The sack of flour was once more put up at auction with a general hurrah. This time the bidders were in earnest. They bid by the hundred, and by fifties and by twenties, many bidding against themselves. Republicans and Democrats bid without distinction of party. The best feeling prevailed; and $3000 was the grand result! The last purchaser always donated his purchase back to the Sanitary Fund. A third auction was held on the following day. The result on this occasion was $1700. nucleus of so large a fund thus formed aroused the patriotic fire in the soul of Gridley. It was a glorious cause that could thus win the sympathies of every party. Henceforth Grid The make an institution of this sack of flour. He would immortalize it-make a magnificent donation to the sick soldiers and a reputation for himself. So Gridley set forth with his sack of flour. It was sold at Virginia City for $8000; at Sacramento for $10,000; and at San Francisco for about $15,000. I was witness to the procession in San Francisco. It was the memorable event of the times. Never did Montgomery Street present a more imposing appearance. The beauty and fashion of the city were there; and so was Gridley, decked out in glorious array, the observed of all observers. Who would not have been Gridley then-gazed at as the great man of the age? What would Grant or Sherman have amounted to when Gridley was in view? Thus did Gridley draw the surplus cash from the pockets of the generous public; and thus did he do good service |