Volume 11 (1865) (424 pages)

The Rlining and Scientific Press. Or oo (Welsten for the Mining and’Sclentine Press.) Letter from the Santa Olara Oil Region. Forrors Press:—I havs becu spending a few days in the hills above Lexington. and thiuking that perhaps you would like the facts in regard tu the cil toterests of this: county. . huve written the following, which, if you deem it of public interest, you ure at fiberly to use : A ride of two hours, along grin fields, con: . tradicting the oft repeated assertion of * poor erups.” found us ut the Forest House, sixteen miles from San Jose, and one und a hulf above Lexington. bis ts the headquarters of the “oil meu,” of whose presence we were soon made conscious, by their oily looks und talk, and their bottles of dark liquid, which they were convincing the crowd was ulmostas elear as mud; though they affirmed it was “ very pure,” and though it might smoke a little, it was a very superior article, etc. We soon cuught the oil fever. and found ourselves ‘smelling round” iike the others; so, after lunch, we started for a tour of inspection of tho various oil lunds in the vicinity. ‘I'he first clain visited is being worked by Messrs. Shaw & Weldon, and is near the Santa Cruz road, about one and u hulfinilesahove the Forest House. Itis at an elevation of 1000 or T100 feet above tids water, and not far from half way up ths ridge, in a narrow cajion, which widens, however, at this place, and makes room for the suw mill of the Moody Brothers. Messrs. Shaw & Weldon had no surface indicutions of their own, but were indoced to sink a shaft by the indications upon the ground of the Ssnta Clura Oil Co., some 350 yards above them. ‘beir shsft is down 124 feet; is three by four feet inside the timbers; they have passed shals, limestone and sandstone, alternately, and are now working iu sandstone, which is saturated with petroleum. The first indications were feand At 30 feet, where they passed a stratn smelling like a “ lamplighter ;” at 105 feet another, and from 115 to 124 feet, the water, after standing a little, is covered witb ol. Phiscompany purposes to sink as far as practicable, their open shuft, and then to put on steam or borse power and bore a 5-inch bole. Tbey have the boring machinery on the ground. THE SANTA CLARA COMPANY. Tbe superintendent of tle Santa Clara Co's. works, is G. B. McClaren. ‘This company had fine surfuce indications, and commenced work with a small engine, putting in a 7-inch tubing. At the depth of fifty lect they fonnd a strutum which yielded about three. gallons per day; at 93 teet another, of the same yield ; at 117 lect another, yielding a little inore, and at 140 feet, one yielding 40 gallons per day. After tho work bad been suspended one day, the company commenced with a ‘-inch pipe, but at the depth of 70 feet, they struck hard rock, and supposing they would have to put no more pipe iu, they drilled a little smaller hole, and sogm.pierced the rock and had to put ina 6-ineb pipe, and went down 119 feet, where the same thing was repeated, and they put in a 534-ineli pipe to the depth ol 136 leet. Now, nt 143 feet, they find themselves obliged to put ina 4%%4-inch pipe. ‘I'he country seems much broken by volcanic actiou, aud they may have to go toa great depth. The experience of this company is a valuable lesson to the others. GOULD & CO's. CLAIMS. Nearly one and one-half’ miles due north from here, Gould & Co. found indications, and have commenced boring a 4-inch well; they expect to use horse or steam power soon, THE AURORA DE LOS GATOS COAL COMPANY, In prospecting tbcir claim for coal, in this same neighborhood, have «also caucht a " sniff at the stuff” in their sbaft, which is down 180 leet. Going south from here, until the ridge is crossed, we gradually descend for two miles to the head-waters of Soquel creek, where we find . HALEY & CO. At work, and confident of “ striking it.” The sand here upon the hill side is impreenated with oil, as 1 found the sil in the valley, soine six or seven miles below, at one of my camping places. This company have an engine, and are putting in 44-inch pipe, but have just commenced work. ‘he country upon this slope towards tbe bay ol Nonterey, does not pressnt. so broken an appearance as it does upon this side,and I expect to hsur, ere long, of “ strikes,” The most of those who are developing this branch of mining here, are men from the oil regions of the Eust, and they seem tu be quite willing to bivest their muney, und think they vill anccerd in astonishing the uations before long, and convincing the world that California is on vil-producing State, not iuferiur to her sister States of the Atlanti: slope. Sunta Clara, July 12, 1865. iT. iB. —e eee (Written for ihe Mluing and Scleutiic Press.] Markleeville Correspondence, Messrs. Mprtors:—Froin the midst of tow‘erin mlonutuins, roaring streams and sighing pines, F again drop you few lines, There is something romantic in the thonght of “living in the wountuius,” ond Ihave ofteu wondered low sume persons cun be contented to settle down upon some vast plain, and hehold only flucks and herds, sage-brush und sund, all their dnys ;_or ou some sea-shore, aud spend their liletime, with littlo elso to bo seen save the “waste of waters.” ‘To the mountaineer, who is necustomed to a variety of mountain scenery, there is scarcely any nssociation that is more saddening to the mind than to conio in close proximity with “ wind and wuve;” and slithough he may be nequainted with frequent perilsand storms in the mountains, yet the howling tempest and the roaring sea afford no music to his ear. He loves not to hear the deep murmor, the requiem of the vast number whoni it has entombed, and fears, lest perchance a storm may rush forth lrom his hiding place, at some unsuspected hour, and awaken the deep in all its *‘ feurful power.” But he ever loves to behold the huge, old, heaven-towering peaks around his own mountain home, and to reflect that the storms of centuries have spent their strength against them, but still they staud as everlasting monuments of tbe Almighty's power. In the immediate vicinity of Markleeville are two noted peaks,which rise sevcral hundred fest above the tors of their surrounding brethren. Carson peak isin the rear of the city, and although it looks to be only a few miles away, yet a person wonld have to travel a distance of nearly eight miles to reach its summit. On the 4th of July, 1864,a party from this place visited the top ol’ this mountain, taking with them an Indian. provisions and blankets. They had a grand view of the surrounding country ; for from its surnmit can be seen the greater portion of Carson valley, Carson cajion, the valleys of Faith, Hope and Charity, besides a world of mountain scenery. Alter feasting their eyes to their heart’s content, they planted there that glorious old banner which shall continue to “ wave o’er the land of the free and tbe home of the brave;” and then giviag three hearty cheers for every thing they could think of, they pitchsd their tents, and lodged in the region of the clouds. But a better view can be obtained from the summit of Mount Pisgah, which lies in full view of the city, in Great Mogul District. I had often thought that I should like to visit the top of this mountain, so ss to take a yiew of “the promised land ;” and only a few days ugo I set rout for that purpose, in company with a good looking hombre. We had a hard old tramp up the rugged sides of the mountain, climbing over precipices, tumbled rocks, and creeping through bushes, without a drop of water to cool onr parched tongues, save here and there a patch of snow, into which we plunged, like the thirsty ox. But the summit once gained, I was abundautly rewarded by a magnificent prospect—a prospect surpassingly grand and impressive. I fslt that I was above the rest uf. mankind; the world was heneath my feet, and Iknew not which way to look first. I found myself entirely fuscinated, charmed and spellbound, with nothing to break the solemn silence, while there was a spiritual existence so intense—a dreamy enchantment, so inexpressibly beautiful—that I was reminded of naught but Nature and Nature’sGod. Istood upon one of the hoary monarchs of earth, over whose summit the storms of centuries have swept, and while nations have arisen, flourished aud passed away, this. sammit has stood firm as the everlastiug hills, and will continue to stand till time shat] be no more. ~ Ja tbis relation I found a solitude, which to be realized, must be felt. It is in such a place as this that a mat can think without an effort; for thoaghts crowd upon him thick and fast, there hitog a voice in Nature, solemn, but . grand; He can retire into the depths of bis . own spirit, nud hold converse with sell, and feel tlmt he is immortal. It was not in vain that the early Persian made the everlusting Dwuntains of our eath his altars, and thus siuchifed an nowalled temple tothe worship of the Eternal Spirit. Compared with Nnture’s realms of worship —the hosom of the deep, the clear, culil stinosphere, the summit of the mountains, and the ' glides of tue forests—how utterly insignificant . ave all the temples ol earth, reared by the! hands of nan! And if this beuntifil world, . with ull its Mowers und sweets, ita lnkes and . rivers, its broad phiins and Jertile vulleys, and . its towering mountains that overlook half the ! world, he only the "foatstool” of the great Creator, what must [His throne be? Wen we are perniitted, Irom an eminence like this, to behold the beautiful works of creatian; to gaze upon the handi-work of the greut Creator, and to reflect thut millions of planets, of greater magnitudo than our enrth, sre revolving throngh unlimited spnce, and all obeying the fixed laws of tha Aloighty, it is saddening to remember, * The fool bath said in his heart, there is no God.” Tt has been often said that the beauties of an ocein sunset, or a storm at sea, cannot be fully described on paper, and it is equally true that a correct descrijition of the surroundings from such a place as this cannot be told with pen and ink, ‘The great Curson valley is spread ont like a janorama at my feet; the bed) of the valley reposing at a depth of fully . three thousand leet below. The large ranches, containing sevetul hundred acres, look like mere corrals. while dwellings, barns and haystacks dwindle away nearly to the size of anthills, and numerons herds of flocks are hardly discernable. ‘the center of the valley is entwined hy the crystal waters of the Carson river, winding its serpentine courss to meet the foaming surge that breaks upon the sand beach at its—tut! tnt! my pen—no sentimental thoughts here—the Carson ginks under a lot ol’ sage-brush ’way ont toward Reese. Mt. Davidson and the mountains of Washoe lie in the “ regions beyond.” and look to he only a few miles away, while the Ophir grade is plainly seen withont the aid of a glass. * The whole range of the Sierras, with their snowcapped peaks, lie to the west. Thea tall peak . in the rear of Silver Monntain, whose snowcapped summit towers aloft, reminds one ofthe “frosts of many winters.” The city of Markleeville looks but a rifle shot distant, and the deep gorge of the Carson’s bed is readily traced for miles away towards its source. Some of the principal mines of this region are also seen from this ‘‘stand-point of silence.” The stars and stripes are seeu fluttering over the Good Hope works in Alpine. The nink-colored hill, on which is situated the Lord Byron and Great Republic claims,.is also in full view, and so is the Morniag Star claim, witb its massive croppings. On looking around for something on which to cut my name, I saw a sign-buard nailed to a tree, with simply the words “ Mt. Pisgah, ” and near by a pile of rocks, with the corner of an envelope exposed to view. I hastened to obtain items of the adventurer before me. It contained a sheet of letter paper, written with a pencil, and had the appearance of havin been written and exposed to, atleast, two winters, as some of the writing was’Talmost illegible. Some sentimental individual had doubtless visited this peak in the year 1863, to take a view of the promised land, prior to his exit from the country. The docninent bad neither signatnre or date, but read as follows : “This peak shall be known as Mt. Pisgah, aud as Moses was enabled to behold from Pisgah’s top the land of Canaan—a lund flowing with milk and honey—so we can behold froin this lofty suinmit a land of promise, filled with gold and silver, and big with future prospects ; for the time is not far distant when mines shall be opened in all these mountains, and thousands of claims shall produce an abundance of the one thing ueedful. ‘Then this solitary place sball be a delight, and ths wilderness shall blossom as the rose. Ths mountains, also, shall rejoice with the music of mills, they sbalt echo abnadantly with the sound of tbe whistle, even with the sound of the steam-whistle shall the mountains awake, and the clatter of ten thousand stamps shsll be music in the ‘land. ‘Then shall be seen the glory of Alpine, . and the excellency of Mogul. Monitor and Silver King shall: strengthen the feeble knees (of capitalists). Silver Mountain, also, shall say to them: that are of a fearful heart, behold our mines ave good ; ouly invest thou,and you shalt find silver bricks in your hats. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened and they. shall, see for themselves and not another. The ears, also, of the deaf shall be unstopped. and they shall hear and believe. Then, ehall:the poor man be lifted up, and the desponding) soul shall sing for joy, becanse the time fone-. told hag come, and thousands from the endg of . the earth shail behold the richness of our ratnes. . And a highway shall be opened, and'it shall bg cailec, a tqliiroad., Tbe strapped shal? not ‘pass Over: i, but it shall be for, thoae.who bye the . the seco! spondulix ; aud teamsters shall bear merehinndizs thereon. No jackass shnll be there, nor pick-train go up thereon. They shall not be Yound there ; but miners shall ride there, and they shall return to the Bay with joy upon their heads, and the everlasting rhino in their pockets, and the blues shall fleo away.” I wondered how the ndventurer got down from the mountain. and thouxzbt, perhaps, hs sat down and took a slide; lint then world he not desire te change lis base? and 1 saw no place where he could make a flank movement, and thus reach level ground. As for inyself, I found it quite dificnlt to reach the regions below, aml alter visiting severul mines in the course of my travels, J reached my domicil at a late hour, lungry, lout-sure and tired. PROTECTION AGAINST THE TERREDO, An officer of the Imperial Navy of France, Lieut. Mariot, being in Cochin China, learned that the natives possess a secret for protecting wooden vessels sgainst the depredations ol the terrsdo, an insect which does imniense damage to ships and tiniber on the shores of the Blsck Sea, the Mediterranean, the Asiatic, and other waters. The Cochin Chinese reluse to tell the secret ; hut Lieut. Mariot, by diligent inquiry, ascertuined that it consists in the employment ofa mixture of resin and oil obtained from trees in that country. He further ascertained that it is so effective as a preservative, that junks—so old thut the precise year of their construction is forgottun—are, though constantly plying in waters in which the insects abound, still sound und strong. He hus communicated his discovery to the French Kmpsror, who has-manifested great interest in it; and, at his wajesty’s request, Lieut. Mariot is to return to China to make further inquiries, and to bring back some ol the wood steeped in the mixture. Revaaks.—It is more than likely that ths “mixture” above referred to may be either the eruds petroieum, which abouuds in that region, or the residuum after a partial evaporation or distillation thereof. It is well known that both petroleum and bituminous coal contajn a largs quantity of carbolic or phenylic acid, which is death to all animal life. Weare told ~ that the terredo has been gradually disappearing from the harbor of San Francisco since the establishment of the gas works on Howard street. ‘he cause is no doubt riglitly attributed to tbe fluid refuse from tbose works Which is disebarged into tbe harbor, and which con~ tains a large quantity of this acid. It may of* ten be scen in still weatber, upon the surfuce of © the water, in the vicinity of the gas works, and,. as the tide falls, it adheres to the piles, forming a coating, which by repeated applications, penetrates the wood sufticiently to render it extremely unpleasant, if not absolutely impossible for these pests of our harbor to pursne their accustomed work upon the piles. ‘Vhe extraordinary antiseptic power of this acid is well known, and largely employed to preserve railroad sleepers and other timber from decay. Probably a creosoting or kyauising process night be externally applied to piles, before being placed in the water, which would also completely prevent all trouble from the rayages of the terredo. Tre Pirca Laxr or Trintnan.—This lake covers an area of ninety-nine square miles, and ~ is of very great depth. “The bitumen is solid and cold near the shores of the lake, and pi'adually increases in temperature and softness toward the center, where i is boiling. Tho ascent from the lake to the sea, a distance of three-quarters of a mile, is covered with ie bardened pitch, on which trees and vegetables flourish, aud about Point la Braye, the masses of pitch look like black rocks among the foliage.” Mr. G. P. Wall describes the lake ° as yielding three kinds of asphaltum : “1. Asphaltnm glance, which is hard and brittle, of an intensely black, brilliant lustre, and conchoidal fracture. 2. Ordinary asphaltum, of a brownish-black color, containing from 20 to 35 per tsnt. of earthy admixture snd considerable proportion of water and possessing the property of plasticity, which it gradually loses on Jong exposure-to the sun and atmosphere. 3. Asphaltic oil, occurring associated and diluted with water, hut appearing, when eoucentrated, as a dense black fluid with a powerful bituminous odor. I! collected in aa open vcssel, the more volatile part of tlis oil evaporates after a few months, loaving:a solid black substance, of similar appearance and analagous properties to asphaltne. glance. A Corton Mrz, it js said. is about to he aracted at North Beach, im this city. Chis ig nd cotton mil} projected in this State.

The Rlining and Scientific Press. Or oo (Welsten for the Mining and’Sclentine Press.) Letter from the Santa Olara Oil Region. Forrors Press:—I havs becu spending a few days in the hills above Lexington. and thiuking that perhaps you would like the facts in regard tu the cil toterests of this: county. . huve written the following, which, if you deem it of public interest, you ure at fiberly to use : A ride of two hours, along grin fields, con: . tradicting the oft repeated assertion of * poor erups.” found us ut the Forest House, sixteen miles from San Jose, and one und a hulf above Lexington. bis ts the headquarters of the “oil meu,” of whose presence we were soon made conscious, by their oily looks und talk, and their bottles of dark liquid, which they were convincing the crowd was ulmostas elear as mud; though they affirmed it was “ very pure,” and though it might smoke a little, it was a very superior article, etc. We soon cuught the oil fever. and found ourselves ‘smelling round” iike the others; so, after lunch, we started for a tour of inspection of tho various oil lunds in the vicinity. ‘I'he first clain visited is being worked by Messrs. Shaw & Weldon, and is near the Santa Cruz road, about one and u hulfinilesahove the Forest House. Itis at an elevation of 1000 or T100 feet above tids water, and not far from half way up ths ridge, in a narrow cajion, which widens, however, at this place, and makes room for the suw mill of the Moody Brothers. Messrs. Shaw & Weldon had no surface indicutions of their own, but were indoced to sink a shaft by the indications upon the ground of the Ssnta Clura Oil Co., some 350 yards above them. ‘beir shsft is down 124 feet; is three by four feet inside the timbers; they have passed shals, limestone and sandstone, alternately, and are now working iu sandstone, which is saturated with petroleum. The first indications were feand At 30 feet, where they passed a stratn smelling like a “ lamplighter ;” at 105 feet another, and from 115 to 124 feet, the water, after standing a little, is covered witb ol. Phiscompany purposes to sink as far as practicable, their open shuft, and then to put on steam or borse power and bore a 5-inch bole. Tbey have the boring machinery on the ground. THE SANTA CLARA COMPANY. Tbe superintendent of tle Santa Clara Co's. works, is G. B. McClaren. ‘This company had fine surfuce indications, and commenced work with a small engine, putting in a 7-inch tubing. At the depth of fifty lect they fonnd a strutum which yielded about three. gallons per day; at 93 teet another, of the same yield ; at 117 lect another, yielding a little inore, and at 140 feet, one yielding 40 gallons per day. After tho work bad been suspended one day, the company commenced with a ‘-inch pipe, but at the depth of 70 feet, they struck hard rock, and supposing they would have to put no more pipe iu, they drilled a little smaller hole, and sogm.pierced the rock and had to put ina 6-ineb pipe, and went down 119 feet, where the same thing was repeated, and they put in a 534-ineli pipe to the depth ol 136 leet. Now, nt 143 feet, they find themselves obliged to put ina 4%%4-inch pipe. ‘I'he country seems much broken by volcanic actiou, aud they may have to go toa great depth. The experience of this company is a valuable lesson to the others. GOULD & CO's. CLAIMS. Nearly one and one-half’ miles due north from here, Gould & Co. found indications, and have commenced boring a 4-inch well; they expect to use horse or steam power soon, THE AURORA DE LOS GATOS COAL COMPANY, In prospecting tbcir claim for coal, in this same neighborhood, have «also caucht a " sniff at the stuff” in their sbaft, which is down 180 leet. Going south from here, until the ridge is crossed, we gradually descend for two miles to the head-waters of Soquel creek, where we find . HALEY & CO. At work, and confident of “ striking it.” The sand here upon the hill side is impreenated with oil, as 1 found the sil in the valley, soine six or seven miles below, at one of my camping places. This company have an engine, and are putting in 44-inch pipe, but have just commenced work. ‘he country upon this slope towards tbe bay ol Nonterey, does not pressnt. so broken an appearance as it does upon this side,and I expect to hsur, ere long, of “ strikes,” The most of those who are developing this branch of mining here, are men from the oil regions of the Eust, and they seem tu be quite willing to bivest their muney, und think they vill anccerd in astonishing the uations before long, and convincing the world that California is on vil-producing State, not iuferiur to her sister States of the Atlanti: slope. Sunta Clara, July 12, 1865. iT. iB. —e eee (Written for ihe Mluing and Scleutiic Press.] Markleeville Correspondence, Messrs. Mprtors:—Froin the midst of tow‘erin mlonutuins, roaring streams and sighing pines, F again drop you few lines, There is something romantic in the thonght of “living in the wountuius,” ond Ihave ofteu wondered low sume persons cun be contented to settle down upon some vast plain, and hehold only flucks and herds, sage-brush und sund, all their dnys ;_or ou some sea-shore, aud spend their liletime, with littlo elso to bo seen save the “waste of waters.” ‘To the mountaineer, who is necustomed to a variety of mountain scenery, there is scarcely any nssociation that is more saddening to the mind than to conio in close proximity with “ wind and wuve;” and slithough he may be nequainted with frequent perilsand storms in the mountains, yet the howling tempest and the roaring sea afford no music to his ear. He loves not to hear the deep murmor, the requiem of the vast number whoni it has entombed, and fears, lest perchance a storm may rush forth lrom his hiding place, at some unsuspected hour, and awaken the deep in all its *‘ feurful power.” But he ever loves to behold the huge, old, heaven-towering peaks around his own mountain home, and to reflect that the storms of centuries have spent their strength against them, but still they staud as everlasting monuments of tbe Almighty's power. In the immediate vicinity of Markleeville are two noted peaks,which rise sevcral hundred fest above the tors of their surrounding brethren. Carson peak isin the rear of the city, and although it looks to be only a few miles away, yet a person wonld have to travel a distance of nearly eight miles to reach its summit. On the 4th of July, 1864,a party from this place visited the top ol’ this mountain, taking with them an Indian. provisions and blankets. They had a grand view of the surrounding country ; for from its surnmit can be seen the greater portion of Carson valley, Carson cajion, the valleys of Faith, Hope and Charity, besides a world of mountain scenery. Alter feasting their eyes to their heart’s content, they planted there that glorious old banner which shall continue to “ wave o’er the land of the free and tbe home of the brave;” and then giviag three hearty cheers for every thing they could think of, they pitchsd their tents, and lodged in the region of the clouds. But a better view can be obtained from the summit of Mount Pisgah, which lies in full view of the city, in Great Mogul District. I had often thought that I should like to visit the top of this mountain, so ss to take a yiew of “the promised land ;” and only a few days ugo I set rout for that purpose, in company with a good looking hombre. We had a hard old tramp up the rugged sides of the mountain, climbing over precipices, tumbled rocks, and creeping through bushes, without a drop of water to cool onr parched tongues, save here and there a patch of snow, into which we plunged, like the thirsty ox. But the summit once gained, I was abundautly rewarded by a magnificent prospect—a prospect surpassingly grand and impressive. I fslt that I was above the rest uf. mankind; the world was heneath my feet, and Iknew not which way to look first. I found myself entirely fuscinated, charmed and spellbound, with nothing to break the solemn silence, while there was a spiritual existence so intense—a dreamy enchantment, so inexpressibly beautiful—that I was reminded of naught but Nature and Nature’sGod. Istood upon one of the hoary monarchs of earth, over whose summit the storms of centuries have swept, and while nations have arisen, flourished aud passed away, this. sammit has stood firm as the everlastiug hills, and will continue to stand till time shat] be no more. ~ Ja tbis relation I found a solitude, which to be realized, must be felt. It is in such a place as this that a mat can think without an effort; for thoaghts crowd upon him thick and fast, there hitog a voice in Nature, solemn, but . grand; He can retire into the depths of bis . own spirit, nud hold converse with sell, and feel tlmt he is immortal. It was not in vain

that the early Persian made the everlusting Dwuntains of our eath his altars, and thus siuchifed an nowalled temple tothe worship of the Eternal Spirit. Compared with Nnture’s realms of worship —the hosom of the deep, the clear, culil stinosphere, the summit of the mountains, and the ' glides of tue forests—how utterly insignificant . ave all the temples ol earth, reared by the! hands of nan! And if this beuntifil world, . with ull its Mowers und sweets, ita lnkes and . rivers, its broad phiins and Jertile vulleys, and . its towering mountains that overlook half the ! world, he only the "foatstool” of the great Creator, what must [His throne be? Wen we are perniitted, Irom an eminence like this, to behold the beautiful works of creatian; to gaze upon the handi-work of the greut Creator, and to reflect thut millions of planets, of greater magnitudo than our enrth, sre revolving throngh unlimited spnce, and all obeying the fixed laws of tha Aloighty, it is saddening to remember, * The fool bath said in his heart, there is no God.” Tt has been often said that the beauties of an ocein sunset, or a storm at sea, cannot be fully described on paper, and it is equally true that a correct descrijition of the surroundings from such a place as this cannot be told with pen and ink, ‘The great Curson valley is spread ont like a janorama at my feet; the bed) of the valley reposing at a depth of fully . three thousand leet below. The large ranches, containing sevetul hundred acres, look like mere corrals. while dwellings, barns and haystacks dwindle away nearly to the size of anthills, and numerons herds of flocks are hardly discernable. ‘the center of the valley is entwined hy the crystal waters of the Carson river, winding its serpentine courss to meet the foaming surge that breaks upon the sand beach at its—tut! tnt! my pen—no sentimental thoughts here—the Carson ginks under a lot ol’ sage-brush ’way ont toward Reese. Mt. Davidson and the mountains of Washoe lie in the “ regions beyond.” and look to he only a few miles away, while the Ophir grade is plainly seen withont the aid of a glass. * The whole range of the Sierras, with their snowcapped peaks, lie to the west. Thea tall peak . in the rear of Silver Monntain, whose snowcapped summit towers aloft, reminds one ofthe “frosts of many winters.” The city of Markleeville looks but a rifle shot distant, and the deep gorge of the Carson’s bed is readily traced for miles away towards its source. Some of the principal mines of this region are also seen from this ‘‘stand-point of silence.” The stars and stripes are seeu fluttering over the Good Hope works in Alpine. The nink-colored hill, on which is situated the Lord Byron and Great Republic claims,.is also in full view, and so is the Morniag Star claim, witb its massive croppings. On looking around for something on which to cut my name, I saw a sign-buard nailed to a tree, with simply the words “ Mt. Pisgah, ” and near by a pile of rocks, with the corner of an envelope exposed to view. I hastened to obtain items of the adventurer before me. It contained a sheet of letter paper, written with a pencil, and had the appearance of havin been written and exposed to, atleast, two winters, as some of the writing was’Talmost illegible. Some sentimental individual had doubtless visited this peak in the year 1863, to take a view of the promised land, prior to his exit from the country. The docninent bad neither signatnre or date, but read as follows : “This peak shall be known as Mt. Pisgah, aud as Moses was enabled to behold from Pisgah’s top the land of Canaan—a lund flowing with milk and honey—so we can behold froin this lofty suinmit a land of promise, filled with gold and silver, and big with future prospects ; for the time is not far distant when mines shall be opened in all these mountains, and thousands of claims shall produce an abundance of the one thing ueedful. ‘Then this solitary place sball be a delight, and ths wilderness shall blossom as the rose. Ths mountains, also, shall rejoice with the music of mills, they sbalt echo abnadantly with the sound of tbe whistle, even with the sound of the steam-whistle shall the mountains awake, and the clatter of ten thousand stamps shsll be music in the ‘land. ‘Then shall be seen the glory of Alpine, . and the excellency of Mogul. Monitor and Silver King shall: strengthen the feeble knees (of capitalists). Silver Mountain, also, shall say to them: that are of a fearful heart, behold our mines ave good ; ouly invest thou,and you shalt find silver bricks in your hats. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened and they. shall, see for themselves and not another. The ears, also, of the deaf shall be unstopped. and they shall hear and believe. Then, ehall:the poor man be lifted up, and the desponding) soul shall sing for joy, becanse the time fone-. told hag come, and thousands from the endg of . the earth shail behold the richness of our ratnes. . And a highway shall be opened, and'it shall bg cailec, a tqliiroad., Tbe strapped shal? not ‘pass Over: i, but it shall be for, thoae.who bye the . the seco! spondulix ; aud teamsters shall bear merehinndizs thereon. No jackass shnll be there, nor pick-train go up thereon. They shall not be Yound there ; but miners shall ride there, and they shall return to the Bay with joy upon their heads, and the everlasting rhino in their pockets, and the blues shall fleo away.” I wondered how the ndventurer got down from the mountain. and thouxzbt, perhaps, hs sat down and took a slide; lint then world he not desire te change lis base? and 1 saw no place where he could make a flank movement, and thus reach level ground. As for inyself, I found it quite dificnlt to reach the regions below, aml alter visiting severul mines in the course of my travels, J reached my domicil at a late hour, lungry, lout-sure and tired. PROTECTION AGAINST THE TERREDO, An officer of the Imperial Navy of France, Lieut. Mariot, being in Cochin China, learned that the natives possess a secret for protecting wooden vessels sgainst the depredations ol the terrsdo, an insect which does imniense damage to ships and tiniber on the shores of the Blsck Sea, the Mediterranean, the Asiatic, and other waters. The Cochin Chinese reluse to tell the secret ; hut Lieut. Mariot, by diligent inquiry, ascertuined that it consists in the employment ofa mixture of resin and oil obtained from trees in that country. He further ascertained that it is so effective as a preservative, that junks—so old thut the precise year of their construction is forgottun—are, though constantly plying in waters in which the insects abound, still sound und strong. He hus communicated his discovery to the French Kmpsror, who has-manifested great interest in it; and, at his wajesty’s request, Lieut. Mariot is to return to China to make further inquiries, and to bring back some ol the wood steeped in the mixture. Revaaks.—It is more than likely that ths “mixture” above referred to may be either the eruds petroieum, which abouuds in that region, or the residuum after a partial evaporation or distillation thereof. It is well known that both petroleum and bituminous coal contajn a largs quantity of carbolic or phenylic acid, which is death to all animal life. Weare told ~ that the terredo has been gradually disappearing from the harbor of San Francisco since the establishment of the gas works on Howard street. ‘he cause is no doubt riglitly attributed to tbe fluid refuse from tbose works Which is disebarged into tbe harbor, and which con~ tains a large quantity of this acid. It may of* ten be scen in still weatber, upon the surfuce of © the water, in the vicinity of the gas works, and,. as the tide falls, it adheres to the piles, forming a coating, which by repeated applications, penetrates the wood sufticiently to render it extremely unpleasant, if not absolutely impossible for these pests of our harbor to pursne their accustomed work upon the piles. ‘Vhe extraordinary antiseptic power of this acid is well known, and largely employed to preserve railroad sleepers and other timber from decay. Probably a creosoting or kyauising process night be externally applied to piles, before being placed in the water, which would also completely prevent all trouble from the rayages of the terredo. Tre Pirca Laxr or Trintnan.—This lake covers an area of ninety-nine square miles, and ~ is of very great depth. “The bitumen is solid and cold near the shores of the lake, and pi'adually increases in temperature and softness toward the center, where i is boiling. Tho ascent from the lake to the sea, a distance of three-quarters of a mile, is covered with ie bardened pitch, on which trees and vegetables flourish, aud about Point la Braye, the masses of pitch look like black rocks among the foliage.” Mr. G. P. Wall describes the lake ° as yielding three kinds of asphaltum : “1. Asphaltnm glance, which is hard and brittle, of an intensely black, brilliant lustre, and conchoidal fracture. 2. Ordinary asphaltum, of a brownish-black color, containing from 20 to 35 per tsnt. of earthy admixture snd considerable proportion of water and possessing the property of plasticity, which it gradually loses on Jong exposure-to the sun and atmosphere. 3. Asphaltic oil, occurring associated and diluted with water, hut appearing, when eoucentrated, as a dense black fluid with a powerful bituminous odor. I! collected in aa open vcssel, the more volatile part of tlis oil evaporates after a few months, loaving:a solid black substance, of similar appearance and analagous properties to asphaltne. glance. A Corton Mrz, it js said. is about to he aracted at North Beach, im this city. Chis ig nd cotton mil} projected in this State.