Beschreibung:

Title: Autograph Letter Signed - 1863 Grass Valley Miner to the Comstock Lode Author: Handy, Samuel W. Place: Star City, Humbol[d]t County, Nevada Territory Publisher: Date: March 12, 1863 Description: 2 pp. To M[ichael] Horan, French Lead [Mine, Grass Valley], California. “…There has not been any regular or steady work or employment for any one man in this…County since I arrived out here. The folks are not given to steady work. Prospecting, selling feet and gambling for same or paying in feet for grub, lumber, etc. is common. A steady good man could have had enough of job work to meet his requirements and a chance of an interest in Ledger if they turn out as supposed to make quite a little pile…There are very few good Mines here and as yet few of the right sort of men to give employment to good Miners , having quite a number of good Silver Leads in this range of Mountains, as does several discovered quite lately in the range East from this some 20 miles distant amongst which are two very promising Gold Leads…which… would command a big figure in California. There can be no doubt but a demand for Miners and Labour is only a matter of a short time…price of Labour so far $4 per day…This is not a desirable Country to live in. A long cold winter, a hut summer and alkali all over the country. Still it will be one of the principal mining countrys of the world. And if a fellow is lucky about as quick a place to find yourself with a few thousands as any other I have heard of…I do not wish anything I saw should induce people to ramble into frontier country. I have no cause to regret coming myself. I am only the servant of a Company myself and can not guarantee anything certain, but any of my Grass Valley friends may rest assured if there is any thing in my power it will afford me much pleasure to forward their views. I regret to hear the French Lead is not looking so well, any one feeling an interest in Grass Valley (as I do) must desire prosperity to its Quarts Lead…” Both Handy and Horan were Irish immigrants who originally settled in Grass Valley during the Gold Rush. Star City, in a desolate area 150 miles northeast of Reno, was established when rich silver ore deposits were discovered near there in 1861; when Handy arrived, the town was just beginning to boom, soon offering two hotels, a Wells Fargo office, one church and a dozen saloons. Within five years, after producing $5 million in silver, the ore deposits began to run out and Star City became a ghost town almost overnight. Lot Amendments Condition: Two tiny corner stains; very good. Item number: 243550